legs all packed close to its body: he did not know what it was, and was going to pick it up. His mother forbade him, lest he should hurt the spider. She told him that the poor creature had rolled itself up from fear; that, if he stood still, he would soon see the spider move. The little boy kept close and quiet for some time, watching the spider: he saw it unfold, first one leg, then a second, till, at last, they were all loose, and away it ran. His mother then told him a great deal about the cunning tricks of spiders. She talked to him, also, of other insects, which disguise themselves, to escape the dangers which they meet with. She picked up a wood-louse, and gently laid it on his hand. "There," said she, 66 you see the wood-louse roll itself into a little ball, like a pea: let it lie awhile, and when it thinks you do not observe it Boy. Ah, mother, it begins to unroll now.-O! it will run away: shall I not hold it? Mother. No, my dear, you would hurt it. Boy. I would not hurt any creature, mother. Mother. No, surely.-HE, who made you, made all creatures, even the little insects, to be happy; and we must never molest them without cause. LESSON XL. Abram and Lot. ABRAM was very rich in cattle, in silver, and gold. And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell with each other. And those who kept the cattle of Abram, had a strife with those who kept Lot's cattle. And Abram said unto Lot, "Let us have no strife, and let those who keep our cattle have no strife with each other. "Is not the whole land before thee? Go, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take to the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou go to the right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan; that it had much water every where. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot moved east. And they parted from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain. THE cat is thought by many persons to be cruel, and not grateful for favors. She is not so fond of her master or mistress as a dog; but if we treat her well, she soon becomes fond of us. There was once a cat brought up in a man's house, that became very friendly to. the oldest child, a little girl, who used to play with her. When she got hurt in their sports, she did not bite, nor scratch, nor show any anger about it. She used to catch a mouse and bring to her friend alive, and, if she wanted to take it away, the cat would let it run, and wait to see whether she was able to catch it. If she did not, the cat darted at it, seized it, and laid it again before her. And so they played as long as the child pleased. At length the little girl was taken sick. The cat staid by her bedside. When she grew worse, the cat was taken out of the room and locked up. The child died. Next day, the cat got loose, and ran to the room where she used to play with her friend. When she did not find her, she began to lament, and went to the room where the corpse lay. Here she lay down still and sad, till she was taken away and locked up again. When the child had been laid in her grave, the cat was let cut of her prison, and went off from the house for two weeks. She then came back very lean and poor. Still she would take no food, but ran away with dismal cries. At length, forced by hunger, she came home every day at dinner time, and, after being fed, went off again. Where do you suppose she spent her time? Under the wall of the the grave of her friend. grave-yard, close by Winter and summer, for five years, she lived there; till the father of the little girl moved to a distant town. She used to let his other children play with her; but she did not love them so well as she did the poor little girl that died. LESSON XLII. The Winter is past. Lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. THE wintry winds are hushed; The earth is now unbound The flowers are spreading out |