Carpenters forced open the windows, in order to play the engine', and cut away the wood-work to prevent the fire from increasing. This lasted for two hours', after which the fire was extinguished'; but there remained nothing of the house beside a heap of ashes and embers. Clothes', linen', books', furniture, and articles of every description', were consumed by the destructive element'; the pretty canary-bird, which was the delight of the house', was burnt to ashes'; and Rosalind herself received, in the confusion, so many hurts' that she was hardly able to stand.

At this juncture, Mr. and Mrs. Seaford arrived', and were, of course, overwhelmed with consternation. Their first object was to seek their children among the crowd'; and, having found them, they led them to the house of a friend', begging that they might be lodged there during a few days. This friend was a very obliging man', and he received them with a hearty welcome': "My unfortunate friends'," said he, my house is open to you', and is entirely at your service. I should have found an asylum with you, if the fire had happened here."

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The children, with many tears', related the way in which this sad accident had happened. My dear children," said Mr. Seaford," why did you not immediately throw water upon the fire', or call immediately for the assistance of our neighbors'? See to what a sad condition you have reduced me! With a little courage and presence of mind', you might have prevented my house from being burnt'; but, by abandoning yourselves to alarm', you have rendered the heedlessness of Rosalind irreparable.'

Rosalind grieved much on hearing this observation, as she felt and knew that all the terror which had been excited', had been occasioned entirely by her heedless conduct.

LESSON XVIII.

INTRODUCTION TO A LADY'S ALBUM.

THE wanton boy that sports in May'
Among the wild flowers', blooming, gay',
With laughing eyes and glowing cheeks',
The brightest, freshest, fairest, seeks';

And there, delightedly, he lingers',
To pluck them with his rosy fingers`;
While, like the bee, he roves among
Their sweets', and hums his little song.

He weaves a garland rich and rare',
And decorates his yellow hair':
The rose, and pink, and violet',
And honeysuckle, there are set';
The darkest cypress in the glade
Lends to the wreath its solemn shade',
And sadly smiles', when lighted up
With daisy', and with butter-cup.

Thus fair and bright each flow'r should be',

Culled from the field of Poesy';

But with the lightsome, and the gay',
Be mix'd the moralizing lay

Of those, who', like the cypress bough',
A thoughtful shade of sorrow throw
On transient buds', or flowers light',
That smile at morn, and fade at night.

That floats on high o'er vales and hills',
When, all at once, I saw a crowd',
A host', of golden Daffodils',
Beside the lake', beneath the trees',
Flutt'ring and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine',

And twinkle', on the milky way',
They stretched, in never-ending line,
Along the margin of a bay';
Ten thousand saw I, at a glance',
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced', but they'
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee';—
A poet could not but be gay

În such a jocund company.

I gazed and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought :

For oft', when on my couch I lie
In vacant, or in pensive mood',
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude';
And then my heart with pleasure fills',
And dances with the Daffodils.

LESSON XX.

THE RAINBOW.

Beautiful bow-in mercy given',
A token of love to earth from heaven',
When thou art beaming bright and fair',
May I ever behold the promise there.

Beautiful bow'I will look on high',
For thou wilt appear to paint the sky',
And bid earth's mourning children see'
The sign of a covenant God in thee.

Beautiful bow-when the rain-drops fall,
And the cloud is dark like a funeral pall',
When the sun has hidden his shining ray,
And the birds seek shelter beneath the spray.

Beautiful bow-a brighter one'

Is shining round the eternal throne';
And when life's little storm is o'er,
May I gaze on that bow for evermore!

LESSON XXI.

THE SLEEPING CHILD.

A BROOK went dancing on its way,
From bank to valley leaping',
And by its sunny margin lay
A lovely infant sleeping.
The murmur of the purling stream
Broke not the spell which bound him',
Like music breathing, in his dream',
A lullaby around him.

It is a lovely sight to view,

Within this world of sorrow',
One spot which still retains the hue
That earth from heaven may borrow`;
And such was this'-a scene so fair-
Arrayed in summer brightness',
And one young being resting there',
One soul of radiant whiteness.

What happy dreams, fair child, are given',
To cast their sunshine o'er theé?
What cord unites thy soul to heaven,
Where visions glide before theé ?
For, wondering smiles of cloudless mirth
O'er thy glad features beaming',
Say, not a thought—a form of earth'-
Alloys thine hour of dreaming.

Sleep, lovely babé, for time's cold touch
Shall make these visions wither';

Youth, and the dreams which charm so much',

Shall fade and fly together.

Then sleep', while sleep is pure and mild',

Ere earthly ties grow stronger',

When thou shalt be no more a child',

And dream of heaven no longer.

LESSON XXII.

WISHES.

Anna.

I WISH I was a small bird,
Among the leaves to dwell',
To scale the sky in gladness',
Or seek the lonely dell';
My matin song should celebrate
The glory of the earth',

And my vesper hymn ring gladly
With the thrill of careless mirth.

Ellen.

I wish I was a flow'ret,

To blossom in the grovè,
I'd spread my opening leaflets'
Among the plants I love.
No hand should roughly cull me
As I looked up to the sky';
1 silently would ope to life',
And quietly would die.

Mary.

I wish I was a goldfish,

To seek the sunny wavè,

To part the gentle ripplé,

And amid its coolness lavè;

I would glide through life delighted',
Amidst the glow of day',

And when night came in softness',
Beneath the starbeam play.

Mother.

Hush! hush! romantic prattlers',
You know not what you say',
When soul, the crown of mortals',
You would lightly throw away.