last fifty years from a people whom we hold to be uncivilized. Did you ever hear of the Cataract of Niagará ?" Never," replied Clara.

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"Nor you, William'?"

"Never."*

"Well, then'," said Mrs. Mills', "imagine to yourself an immense river', increased by a number of lakes, or rather seas', falling perpendicularly from a rock one hundred and thirty-seven feet high', and you will form an idea of the Cataract of Niagara."

"I think'," said William', "that I recollect Mr. Smyth, our geographical master', describing it': is it not in Canadá, a province of North America ?"

"It is," said Mrs. Mills', "and is esteemed one of the greatest curiosities in the world'; for two leagues above the great fall, the river is interrupted by a variety of less ones, and runs with such rapidity', that the largest canoe would be overturned in an instant. Higher up the river is navigablè, as you will find by the story I am going to relate."

"Two Indians went out one day in their canoe, at a sufficient distance from the cataract to be', as they imagined, out of danger'; but having drank too frequently of some brandy which they unfortunately had with them', the fumes of it created a drowsiness', and they were so imprudent as to stretch themselves at the bottom of the canoe', where they fell asleep.

"The canoe in the mean time, which they had been towing against the stream', drove back further and further', and would, in a very short time, have precipitated them down the fall', had not the noise of it, which is heard at the distance of six, and, at certain times, fifteen leagues', awakened them. Figure to yourselves, my dear children', what must have been the feelings of the poor creatures at this moment', and how dearly they repented the intemperance' which had hurried them into such danger. They exclaimed, in an agony not to be expressed', that they were lost'; but exerted their strength to work the canoe towards an island which lies at the brink of the fall. Upon this, exhausted with labor and fatigue, they at last landed'; but, on reflection, they were sensible that unless they could find means to escape from this island', they had only exchanged one kind of death for another', since they must * The speakers, here, lived in England.

unavoidably perish with hunger. The situation of the isl and, however, gave them some hopes'; the lower end of it touches the edge of the precipice whence the water falls', and divides the cataract into two parts'; a space is consequently left between', where no water falls', and the rock' is seen naked. Necessity supplied them with invention'; they formed a ladder of the bark of the linden tree', and fastening one end of it to a tree that grew at the edge of the precipice', descended by it to the water below', into which they threw themselves', thinking, as it was not rapid in this part', to swim to shore."

"Had it been my case'," said Clarà, "I should rather have died of hunger in the island', than have attempted my escape that way."

"The Indians'," said Mrs. Mills', "acted more wisely`; while hope remains, it is our duty to exert our efforts to avert the misfortune that threatens us'; when unavoidable', it is the highest wisdom to bear it with fortitude and resignation."

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"And did they reach the shore, aunt'?" said William`.” Nò," replied Mrs. Mills'. "The waters of the two cataracts, (for you know I told you that one part of the fall was on one side of the island, and the other on the other,) meeting', formed an eddy which, when they began to swim', threw them back with violence against the rock. They made repeated trials', but with the same ill success': until, at length, worn out with fatigue', their bodies much bruised', and the skin in many parts torn off', from the violence with which they were constantly thrown against the rock', they were forced to climb up the ladder again, into the island', from which they now thought nothing but death I could deliver them.

The

"Their hopes once more revived, when they perceived some Indians on the opposite shore. By signs and cries they at last drew their attention`; but such was the perilous situation of the island, that though these saw and pitied them', they gave them small hopes of assistance. governor of the fort, however, being acquainted with their situation', humanely conceived a project for their deliverance. He reflected that the water on the eastern side of the island, notwithstanding its rapidity, is shallow', and thought that by the help of long poles pointed with iron', it might be possible to walk to the island. The difficulty

was, to find a person endued with sufficient courage and generosity to attempt their rescue at the hazard of his own life."

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Indeed'," said Clarà, "if their deliverance depended upon that', I should think that small hope remained." "It was nevertheless effected`," said Mrs. Mills'. "Two generous Indians undertook to execute the governor's project', resolving to deliver their poor brethren', or to perish in the attempt."

"Is it possiblé ?" said William'; "what noble souls!"

"Yes," said Mrs. Mills'; "they prepared for their perilous expedition, and took leave of all their friends', as if they had been going to death. Each was furnished with two poles pointed with iron, which they set to the bottom of the stream', to keep them steady and support them against the current', which must otherwise have carried them along with it. In this manner they proceeded', and actually arrived at the island', where, delivering two of the poles to the poor Indians, who had now been nine days upon the island', and were almost starved to death', they all four returned safe to the shore."

"What a providential escapè!" said William'; "how rejoiced the poor fellows must have been to receive the poles that were to assist them in getting away!"

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"Their joy'," said Mrs. Mills', on the prospect of their deliverancé, must certainly have been great, but, I will venture to affirm, it did not exceed that of the generous Indians', who hazarded their lives to effect it."

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"It certainly could not`," said William', but what a risk they ran !"

"True," said Mrs. Mills', "but on the other hand', what a gratification! do you think there could be a pleasure equal to that felt by the generous Indians', when they effected the deliverance of their poor countrymen'?"

"They were certainly noble creatures'," said Clarà; 66 one does not often hear, even in civilized countries', of persons who act so disinterestedly."

"Though instances of such generosity," said Mrs. Mills, "do not occur daily, they are, nevertheless', more frequent than we are aware of."

" Do you think só ?" said William.

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"Yes," replied Mrs. Mills', "the most generous actions are performed in secret', and shun the noise of public fame':

on this account it is that they do not so often come under our observation. I know, nevertheless, of several that might be put in competition with this which I have just recited': one', in particular', at this moment occurs to my remembrance." "Dear aunt'," said William and his sister, at the same instant, "do relate it."

*

"The fact I allude tó," said Mrs. Mills," happened within these seven or eight years in France, at a place called Noyon. Four men, who were employed in cleansing a common sewer, on opening a drain', were so affected with the fetid vapors, that they were unable to return. The lateness of the hour, (for it was eleven at night,) rendered it difficult to procure assistance', and the delay must have been fatal, had not a young girl, a servant in the family', with courage and humanity that would have done honor to the most elevated station', at the hazard of her own life attempted their deliverance. This generous girl, who was only seventeen years of agé, was, at her request, let down seven different times to the poor men, by a ropé, and was so fortunate as to save two of them pretty easily'; but, in tying the third to a rope, which was let down to her for that purpose', she found her breath failing', and was so much affected with the vapor' as to be in danger of suffocation. In this dreadful situation, she had the presence of mind to tie herself by her hair to the rope', and was drawn up, almost expiring', with the poor man in whose behalf she had so humanely exerted herself."

"I will answer for it'," said Clarà, "she had not courage to venture down for the other."

"You are mistaken'," said Mrs. Mills'; "far from being intimidated', the moment she recovered her spirits, she insisted on being let down for the poor creature that remained', and she actually was'; but her exertions at this time failed of success', the poor man being drawn up dead." "Is this really a true story'?" said Clara. "It is an undoubted fact," replied Mrs. Mills', "the corporation of the town of Noyon, as a small token of their approbation, presented the generous girl with six hundred livres',† and conferred on her the civic crown', with a medal engraven with the arms of the town, her name, and a narrative of the action. It is also said that the duke of Orleans sent her five hundred livres', and settled two hundred yearly on her for life."

"But to return," said Mrs. Mills, "to our first point': these, and many more examples of the same kind that I could cite', prove, that when our blessed Lord commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves', he does not exact that which is beyond the ability of his creatures to perform."

LESSON XXXV.

THE SPIDER.

"A SPIDER'," exclaimed Clarà, starting on one side'—“ I am so frightened !"

"Do not alarm yourself, my dear'," said Mrs. Mills', "I am not going to put the poor thing upon you', and I am sure it will sooner run from you than tō you."

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'Oh," said Clarà, "I am sō terrified'! I have such' an aversion to spiders'!"

"On what account', my dear'?" said Mrs. Mills. "Let us take the other path, and talk this matter coolly over. Tell me, from what does your aversion to these inoffensive insects arisé ?"

"Oh là !* aunt', I can't tell'; they are such ugly creatures, the very thought of them makes me shudder."

"But, my dear child', if you have no bêtter reason for disliking them', you must allow me to say, it is a prejudice which a little resolution would enable you to surmount."

"Oh aunt',” replied Clarà, "it is impossible that I should ever endure the sight of a spider'; I took a dislike to them when I was a very little girl', and I am certain, if one was to be put upon me, that I should fall into fits."

"If you think so," said Mrs. Mills', "it is your duty to surmount a prejudice which accident might render fatal to you."

"Oh dear," said Clarà, "it would be in vain for me to try'; when people have such an antipathy to a thing', it is impossi

ble to overcome it."

"If I convince you'," said Mrs. Mills', "that it is pôssible to overcome such an antipathy', will you promise me to use your endeavors to get the better of your dislike to spiders'?"

* Pronounced law;-vulgar.