to make any stay, he couldn't do* better than go* to Doubledot's.

Doubledot. Well?

66

Pry. Well, would you believe it? out pops a saffron-coloured face from the carriage window, and says*, You're an impudent rascal for stopping my carriage, and I'll not go* there if another inn is to be found within ten miles of it?"

Doubledot.

There! that comes* of your confounded meddling. If you had not interfered, I should have stood* an equal chance with the Green Dragon.

Pry. - I'm very sorry, but I did* it for the best.

Doubledot. Did it for the best indeed! Deuce take* you. By your officious attempts to serve, you do* more mischief in the neighbourhood than the exciseman, the apothecary, and the attorney, all together.

Pry. Well, there's gratitude! Now, really, I must go*, good morning (Exit Paul Pry).

Doubledot. I've got rid of him at last, thank heaven! (Re-enter Paul Pry). Well, what now? I've dropped one of my gloves.

Pry.

Doubledot. You have not dropped it here.

Pry. Well, I didn't say* I did drop it on that spot, but I have dropped it, and I suppose I may look for it. Well, that's very odd: here it is in my hand all the time. Doubledot. Go to the devil!

Attempt, tentative

Attorney, avoué

Believe (to), croire
Confounded, exé-
crable

Deuce, diantre
Devil, diable

Drop (to), laisser
tomber

Exciseman,employé de la Régie

Face, figure

Get (to) rid of, se débarrasser de

Heaven, ciel
Indeed, en vérité
Inn, auberge
Interfere (to), inter-
venir

Look (to) for, cher-
cher

Meddling, indiscré-
tion

Mile, mille

Mischief, mal,méfait
Neighbourhood, voi-
sinage

JOHN POOL.

Pop (to) out, sortir
brusquement

Odd, étrange
Rascal, fripon
Saffron, safran
Sorry, fâché
Spot, endroit

Stand (to) an equal
chance, avoir une

chance égale

Stay, séjour

Window, fenêtre

Within, dedans, à

61. A CHILD'S EVENING PRAYER

Ere (1) on my bed my limbs I lay*,
God grant me grace my prayers to say*!
O God! preserve my mother dear

In health and strength for many a year;
And oh! preserve my father too,
And may I my best thoughts employ
To be my parents' hope and joy!
My sisters and my brothers both
From evil guard, and save from sloth;
And may we always love each other,
Our friends, our father, and our mother!
And still, o Lord, to me impart

A contrite, pure, and grateful heart,
That after my last sleep I may

Awake* to thy eternal ray !

COLERIDGE (1772-1834).

Be just and fear not :

Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,

62. THE CARRIER-PIGEON

"Where do you come* from, Pigeon, I pray,
And what has brought* you here to-day?"
"From Scotland I come*, and under my wing
A letter from Grandmamma I bring*.

"Oh! Pigeon, what does the letter say*?"
"It says*, that though she is far away,
Grandmamma loves her darling well
A great deal more than she can tell*.

"And she hopes that you are a good little child,
Gentle, obedient, docile, and mild;

And she sends* in the letter kisses three,

For Mary, and you and the baby wee.

"Oh! pretty Pigeon, fly* back once more:
The fields are covered with golden store,
But stay* not a single grain to taste -
Fly* back to my Grandmamma with haste;

Darling, chéri

Deal, quantité; ici: beaucoup

Far, loin

Field, champ

Golden, d'or

Huste, hâte
Here, ici

Hope (to), espérer

Kiss, baiser

Love (to), aimer
Mild, doux
Once, une fois
Pretty, joli
Scotland, Ecosse
Single, seul

Store, provision; ici:
moisson

Taste (to), goûter
Wee, tout petit (mot
écossais)
Wing, aile

"And tell* her, you pretty white-winged dove,
That I send her a kiss, and I send* her my love;
And tell* her, I wish she would come* and see*
The new little baby, and Mary, and me.”

63. LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH AND
LE NOTRE

Lewis the Fourteenth had a gardener who became* a celebrated man.

Every one knows* the name of Le Nôtre.

Gardening becomes a science when the gardener understands* all about the plants, and an art when he knows* how to lay* out grounds artistically.

The king conferred a title on Le Nôtre, and asked him to choose* a coat of arms.

-

I have one already, said* Le Nôtre.

What is it? asked the king.

Three snails crowned with oak-leaves.
Is that all?

No, there is my spade, which has procured me the favour of my king.

Le Nôtre showed* much talent in the laying* out of gardens and parks, and he proved himself to be a sensible man by continuing to follow his modest profession.

Cont-of-arms, ar-
moiries
Dove, colombe
Follow (to), suivre
Gardener, jardinier

Lay (to) out, dispo- Sensible, sensé
ser, tracer

New, nouveau

Oak-leaf, feuille de

chêne

Snail, escargot

Spade, bêche

White-winged, aus ailes blanches

64. THE VOICES OF SPRING

I am coming! I am coming*!
Hark, the little bee is humming*;
See*, the lark is soaring high
In the blue and sunny sky;
And the gnats are on the wing
Wheeling round in airy ring.

See the yellow catkins cover
All the slender willows over;
And on banks of mossy green
Star-like primroses are seen*;
On their clustering leaves below
White and purple violets blow*.

Hark! The new-born lambs are bleating,
And the cawing rooks are meeting*