land of Goshen amid the plagues of Egypt. But then he must be extremely cautious, and ever on his guard; for, should he inadvertently go abroad, and leave the key in his door, the housemaid, who is always on the watch for such an opportunity, immediately enters in triumph, with buckets, brooms and brushes; takes possession of the premises, and forthwith puts all his books and papers to rights—to his utter confusion, and sometimes serious detriment. LESSON XLVIII. Importance of considering both Sides of a Question.BEAUMONT. In the days of knight-errantry and paganism, one of the old British princes set up a statue to the goddess of Victory, in a point where four roads met together. In her right hand she held a spear, and her left hand rested upon a shield; the outside of this shield was cf gold, and the inside of silver. On the former was inscribed, in the old British language, "To the goddess ever favorable;" and on the other, "For four victories obtained successively over the Picts and other inhabitants of the northern islands." It happened, one day, that two knights, completely armed, one in black armor, the other in white, arrived from opposite parts of the country at this statue, just about the same time; and, as neither of them had seen it before, they stopped to read the inscription, and observe the excellence of its workmanship. After contemplating it for some time, "This golden shield," says the black knight-"Golden shield !" cried t white knight, who was as strictly observing the opposite si “why, if I have my eyes, it is silver."-"I know nothing of your eyes," replied the black knight; "but, if ever I saw a golden shield in my life, this is one."- "Yes," returned the white knight, smiling, "it is very probable, indeed, that they should expose a shield of gold in so public a place as this! For my part, I wonder even a silver one is not too strong a temptation for the devotion of some people who pass this way; and it appears, by the date, that this has been here above three years." The black knight could not bear the smile with which this was delivered, and grew so warm in the dispute, that it soon ended in a challenge: they both, therefore, turned their horses, and rode back so far as to have sufficient space for their career; then, fixing their spears in their rests, they flew at each other with the greatest fury and impetuosity. Their shock was so rude, and the blow on each side so effectual, that they both fell to the ground much wounded and bruised; and lay there for some time, as in a trance. A good Druid, who was travelling that way, found them in this condition. The Druids were the physicians of those times, as well as the priests. He had a sovereign balsam about him, which he had composed himself; for he was very skilful in all the plants that grew in the fields or in the forests he staunched their blood, applied his balsam to their wounds, and brought them, as it were, from death to life again. As soon as they were sufficiently recovered, he began to inquire into the occasion of their quarrel. "Why, this man," cried the black knight, "will have it that yonder shield is silver."-" And he will have it," replied the white knight, “that it is gold." And then they told him all the particulars of the affair. "Ah!" said the Druid with a sigh, "you are both of you, my brethren, in the right, and both of you in the wrong: had either of you given himself time to look at the opposite side of the shield, as well as that which first presented itself to view, all this passion and bloodshed might have been avoided: however, there is a very good lesson to be learned from the evils, that have befallen you on this occasion. Permit me, herefore, to entreat you never to enter into any dispute, for the future, till you have fairly considered both sides of the question." LESSON XLIX. The Flight of Xerxes.-MARIA J. JEWSBURY. I saw him on the battle-eve, When like a king he bore him ; The warrior, and the warrior's deeds- He looked on ocean; its broad breast On earth; and saw from east to west, While rock, and glen, and cave, and coast, He heard the imperial echoes ring,- I saw him next alone :-nor camp, He, who with Heaven contended, Fled like a fugitive and slave! Behind, the foe;-before,—the wave. He stood,-fleet, army, treasure,—gone, Alone and in despair! But wave and wind swept ruthless on, For they were monarchs there; And Xerxes, in a single bark, Where late his thousand ships were dark, Must all their fury dare:- LESSON L. Pairing Time anticipated.-CowPER, Ir chanced, upon a winter's day, And with much twitter and much chatter, At length, ́a bulfinch, who could boast I fear we shall have winter yet." A finch, whose tongue knew no control, A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried By his good will, would keep us single Or (which is likelier to befall) Till death exterminate us all. My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?" Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling, Of an immediate conjugation. All paired, and each pair built a nest. But, though the birds were thus in haste, The wind-of late breathed gently forth- Stepping into their nests, they paddled; Soon, every father bird and mother Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other, Parted without the least regret, Than to neglect a good adviser. MORAL. Misses, the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry ; Choose not alone a proper mate, |