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The Silly Girl.

1. A LITTLE girl, whose mother was so kind as to teach her to read, had a great many pretty books given to her; but she was so silly, that she would not take care of them, but used to spoil, and tear them so, that they could not be read.

2. One day, her aunt gave her a new book, full of spelling and reading, and pretty pictures, desiring her to take care of it, and not let it get soiled or torn. The little girl said she would be sure and keep it very choice.

3. But it was not long before she forgot to put it into her box, after she had been reading in it; and so it was tossed about, and some of the leaves were pulled out, and the back broken off; and at last a little dog, in playing with it, gnawed it all to pieces.

4. Then the little girl could not read in it any more, nor see the pretty pictures again. She was now sadly vexed that she had been so careless, and wished for a new book; and her father vas so kind as to give her one. But she soon let that be spoiled, as the others had been.

5. All her friends grew tired of giving her books, when they saw that she took no care of them; and she was obliged at last to go without any to read in.

6. What a sad thing that was, to have no book, but to grow up and not to be able to spell or read. I hope all the little boys and girls who hear about this careless child, will think of her, and take care not to let their own books be so spoiled and torn, as 1er's were; but, when they have done reading, put them away in some place where they will be safe, and ready for the next time they want them.

The Brother and Sister.

1. A GENTLEMAN had two children, a son and a daughter. The boy was often more admired for his beauty than the little girl. They were both very young, and happened one day to be playing near their mother's looking-glass. The boy, pleased with his appearance, viewed himself for some time, and observed to his sister, how handsome he was.

2. The poor little girl was very much hurt at his remark, and went quickly to her father to be revenged upon him; and, in the height of her resentment, said, it was a shame that a boy, who was born to be a man, should make so free with a piece of furniture which entirely belonged to the ladies.

3. The good gentleman clasping them both in his arms, with all the tenderness of a fond parent, said, My dear children, I

wish that each of you would view yourselves in the glass every day of your lives; you my son, that you may never disgrace your beauty by an unworthy action; and you, my daughter, that you may cover the defects of your person with the charms of virtue.'

Amelia and her Canary-Bird.

1. As Amelia was one day looking out of the window, a man happened to pass by, crying, Canary-birds; come buy my canary-birds." The man had a large cage upon his head, in which the birds hopped about from perch to perch, and made little Amelia quite in love with them.

2. Will you buy a pretty bird or two, little girl?' said the man. I have no objection, (replied she,) provided my father will give me leave. If you will stop a little while, I will let you know.' So away she ran up stairs to her father, while the birdman put down his cage at the door.

3. Amelia ran into her father's chamber quite out of breath, crying, 'O dear father, only come here! here is a man in the street who has a large cage on his head, with a great many canary-birds in it.' Well, and what of all that? (replied he ;) why does that seem to rejoice you so much-?'

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4. Amelia answering, that she should be happy to buy one of them; her father reminded her, that the bird must be fed ; and should it be neglected, even only for a day, it would certainly die.

5. Amelia promised that she would never eat her own breakfast till she had fed her bird; but her father reminded her that she was a giddy girl, and that he feared she had promised too much. However, there was no getting over her coaxing and wheedling, so that her father was at last obliged to consent that she should buy one.

6. He then took Amelia by the hand, and led her to the door, where the man was waiting with his birds. He chose the prettiest canary-bird in the cage; it was a male, of a fine lively yellow colour, with a little black tuft on its head.

7. Amelia was now quite cheerful and happy, and pulling out her purse, gave it to her father to pay for the bird. But what was to be done with the bird without a cage? and Amelia had not money enough to buy one. However, on her promising that she would take great care to feed the bird, her father bought her a fine cage, of which he made her a present.

8. As soon as Amelia had given her canary-bird possession of her new cage, she ran about the house, calling her mother, her

brothers and sisters, and all the servants, to come and see her pretty canary-bird, to which she gave the name of Cherry.

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9. When any of her little friends came to see her, the first thing she told them was, that she had one of the prettiest canarybirds in the world. It is as yellow as gold, said she, and it has a little black crest on its head, and can sing most harmoniously. Come, you must go and see it. Its name is Cherry.'

10. Cherry was as happy as any bird need wish to be, under the care of Amelia. Her first business every morning was to feed Cherry; and whenever there was any cake on the table, Cherry was sure to come in for a share of it. There was always some bits of sugar in store for it, and its cage was constantly decorated with the most lively herbage.

11. This pretty bird was not ungrateful, but did all in its power to make Amelia sensible how much it was obliged to her. It soon learned to distinguish her, and the moment it heard her step into the room, it would flutter its wings, and keep up an incessant chirping. It is no wonder, that Cherry and Amelia became very fond of each other.

12. The little bird soon began to sing the most delightful songs. It would sometimes raise its notes to so great a height, that you would almost think it must kill itself with such willing exertions. Then, after stopping a little, he would begin again, with a tone so sweet and powerful, that it was heard in every part of the house.

13. Amelia would often sit for whole hours by its cage, listening to its melody. Sometimes, so attentively would she gaze at it, that she would insensibly let her work fall out of her hands; and after it had entertained her with its melodious notes, she would regale it with a tune on her bird organ, which it would endeavour to imitate.

14. In length of time, however, these pleasures began to grow familiar to its friend Amelia. Her father, one day, presented her with a pretty book, with which she was so much delighted, that Cherry began to lose at least one half of her attention.

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15. As usual, it would chirp the moment it saw her, let her be at what distance she would; but Amelia began to take no notice of it, and almost a week had passed, without its receiving either a bit of biscuit or a fresh supply of chickweed. It repeated the sweetest and most harmonious notes that Amelia had taught it, but to no purpose.

16. It now appeared too clearly, that new objects began to attract Amelia's attention, and poor Cherry was neglected.

17. One day, however, as Amelia's father accidentally cast his eyes upon the cage, he saw poor Cherry lying upon its breast, and panting as it were for life. The poor bird's feathers appeared all rough, and it seemed as if it were breathing its last.

18. He went up close to it; but it was unable even to chirp, and the poor little creature had hardly strength enough to breathe. He called to him his little Amelia, and asked her what was the matter with her bird. Amelia blushed, saying in a low voice, Why, father, I forgot the poor little bird;' and ran to fetch the seed box.

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19. Her father, in the mean time, took down the cage, and und poor Cherry had not a single seed left, nor a drop of waAlas poor bird,' said he, you have got into careless hands. Had I forseen this, I would never have bought you.'

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20. All the company joined in pity for the poor bird, and Amelia ran away into her chamber to ease her heart in tears. However, her father with some difficulty brought pretty Cherry to itself again.

21. Her father, the next day, ordered Cherry to be made a present to a young gentleman in the neighbourhood, who, he said, would take much better care of it than his little thoughtless daughter; but poor Amelia could not bear the idea of parting with her bird, and most faithfully promised never to neglect it any more.

22. Her father, at last, gave way to her entreaties; and permitted her to keep little Cherry, but not without a severe reprimand, and a strict injunction to be more careful for the future.

23. This poor little creature,' said he, is confined in a prison, and is, therefore, totally unable to provide for its own wants Whenever you want any thing, you know how to get it; but this little bird can neither help itself, nor make its wants known to others. If ever you let it want seed or water again, look to it.'

24. Amelia was sensible of her fault, and took her father by the hand; but her heart was so full, that she could not utter a syllable. Cherry and Amelia were again good friends, and for some time it wanted for nothing.

25. Not long afterwards, her father and mother were obliged to go a little way into the country on some particular business; but, before they set out, they gave Amelia strict charge to take care of poor Cherry. No sooner were her pa rents gone, than she ran to the cage, and gave Cherry plenty of seed and water.

26, Little Amelia, now finding herself alone, and at 'liberty,

sent for some of her companions to come and spend the day with her; the former part of which, they passed in the garden, and the latter, in other innocent amusements. She went to bed very much fatigued; but as soon as she awoke in the morning, she began to think of new pleasures.

27. She went abroad that day, while poor Cherry was obliged to stay at home and fast. The second and third day passed in the same playful manner as before; but poor Cherry was not thought of. On the fourth day her father and mother came home, and, as soon as they found that she was well, her fathe inquired after poor Cherry. It is very well,' said Amelia, ittle confused, and then ran to fetch it some seed and water.

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28. Alas! poor little Cherry was no more: it was lying upon its back, with its wings spread, and its beak open. Amelia screamed out, and wrung her hands, when all the family ran to her, and were witnesses of the melancholy scene.

29. Alas poor bird, (said her father,) what a melancholy end hast thou come to ! If I had given thee thy liberty before I went into the country, it would have saved thy innocent life; but now thou hast endured all the pangs of hunger and thirst, and expired in extreme agony. However, poor Cherry, thou art happy in being out of the hands of so merciless a guardian.'

30. Amelia was so shocked and distressed on the occasion, that she would have given all her little treasure, and even all ner playthings to have brought Cherry to life; but it was now too late. Her father had the bird stuffed, and hung up in the room, to remind Amelia of her carelessness.

31. She dared not even to lift her eyes up to look at it, for whenever she did, it was sure to make her very unhappy. At ast she prevailed on her father to have it removed, but not till after many earnest entreaties and repeated ́acknowledgments of the fault she had committed.

32. Whenever Amelia was inattentive or giddy, the bird was hung up again in its place, and every one would say in her hearsuffered !' ing, Alas, poor Cherry, what a cruel death you

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33. Thus you see, my little friends, what are the sad consequences of inattention, giddiness, and too great a fondness for pleasure, which always make us forgetful of what we ought carefully to attend to.

The Little Girl and the Lamb.

1. A LITTLE girl, whose name was Matilda, one morning was sitting by the side of the road, holding on her lap a pan of

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