any how help it. Pray now, my good friend, be kind and gentle to your horses. It is a pleasure to travel in a post-chaise, when the driver is mild and steady with his horses. Why should I wish him to distress the poor animals that I may get home a little sooner. Poor things! they are worked hard enough, and we should spare them when we can. "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." (Prov.) I like Sunday for many reasons. It comforts me too, to think that on the Sabbath, many of the poor horses get a day's rest. Teach your children to be kind and gentle to dumb animals. When I come home of a night after a long ride, my little girl often repeats to me a few verses about my horse, and I think I never hear them without liking my old Dobbin the better. Now, perhaps, you have got a little girl, or a little boy; and, if I hear that they like these verses, and can repeat them to you, I shall perhaps be able to find them a few more by the time I come to see you again next month.

O thank you, good Dobbin, you've been a long track,
And have carried papa all the way on your back;
You shall have some nice oats, faithful Dobbin, indeed,
For you've brought papa home to his darling with speed.

The howling wind blew, and the pelting rain beat,
And the thick mud has cover'd his legs and his feet,
But still on he gallop'd in spite of the rain,
And has brought papa home to his darling again.

The sun it was setting a long while ago,

And papa could not see the road where he should go,
But Dobbin kept on through the desolate wild,
And has brought papa home again safe to his child.

Now go to the stable, the night is so raw,
Go, Dobbin, and rest your old bones in the straw ;
Don't stand any longer out here in the rain,
For you've brought papa home to his darling again.
Nursery Rhymes.

When we see the patience and perseverance of a horse, and how resolutely he goes through his

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about them, and see whether they are endeavouring to go through the appointed duties of their stations with like patience and perseverance. We have all a work, let us all seek to perform it, and not be weary in well doing.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE PHILOSOPHER, 'WE have seen that some instruction may be had from the example of the horse. There was once an old grey headed shepherd, who said he could find instruction from every animal that he looked at. Here is a little description of this shepherd, as it is given in Gay's Fables.

Remote from cities lived a swain,

Unvex'd with all the cares of gain;
His head was silver'd o'er with age,
And long experience made him sage;
In summer's heat and winter's cold
He fed his flock, and penn'd his fold;
His hours in cheerful labour flew,
Nor envy nor ambition knew ;

His wisdom and his honest fame,

Through all the country rais'd his name.

There was a philosopher too. A philosopher, you know, means a lover of wisdom. There were a great number of these philosophers in times of old. They read a great number of deep books, and had a great deal of learning in their heads. Many of them, indeed, have left behind them some excellent works, and very wonderful too, considering that they had not the Holy Scriptures to guide them. But now that we have the light of the Gospel in the world, I rather think that many a poor shepherd, with his Bible in his hand, has got more real wisdom than all the philosophers put together. And, besides the book of Scripture for our instruction, God has opened to us the book of nature for our example. I think it was Dr. Johnson who said that "few men knew how to

take a walk." A man who knows really how to take a walk, will find objects of instruction, and reasons for praise, whichever way he turns his eyes. But I must not forget my story of the Shepherd and the Philosopher. The philosopher had heard of the wisdom of the old shepherd, and accordingly went to see him. He asked him how he got his knowledge, and in what deep and learned books he had found it.

The shepherd modestly replied:-
I ne'er the path of learning tried:
Nor have I roam'd in foreign parts,
To read mankind, their laws, and arts.
The daily labours of the bee
Awake my soul to industry...
Who can observe the careful ant,
And not provide for future want?
My dog (the trustiest of his kind)
With gratitude inflames my mind:
I mark his true and faithful way,
And in my service copy Tray.
In constancy and nuptial love,
I learn my duty from the dove.
The hen, who from the chilly air
With pious wing protects her care,
And ev'ry fowl that flies at large,
Instructs me in a parent's charge.

This poor old Shepherd, you see, gained instruction from all the animals he saw around him.

Thus ev'ry object of creation

Can furnish hints to contemplation,
And from the most minute and mean,
A virtuous mind can morals glean.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

It is sometimes asserted, that the understandings of children are not sufficiently enlarged to compre hend the full force and beauty of the Scriptures.

It is true, that children, particularly those of the poor, whose opportunities for receiving instruction are, of necessity, much limited, cannot be expected to enter into the deepest parts of a book so difficult as the Bible, when older and wiser heads than their's are often at a loss, and compelled to confess that even they are not sufficient for these things." Many dark sayings, many mysteries, must remain unfolded. In this world none can expect to remove their veil. It is enough for us to be assured, that in the beautiful and perfect world to which good and pious Christians are every hour approaching, there is

nothing hid which shall not be made known." Let us be satisfied that all have understandings sufficient for what is required of them. Even a child may, from the holy Scriptures, acquire a full knowledge of whatever is necessary for his salvation; and in their artless, simple answers, I have often received more instruction than from a large and learned book. I can never look at my Sunday School classes without thinking, that of a little society like this, perhaps our Saviour said "of such is the kingdom of God." Who can say how many may, from these few moments of early instruction, date the commencement of a holy life, which shall render them future saints in heaven? To how many of these tenants of humble life may the Saviour of the world have revealed himself; when those in the higher or wealthier walks of the world, choaked with cares, or riches, or pleasures, can bring no fruit to perfection.

I have been led to these reflections, by the answer of a little girl this morning. The parable of the unjust steward had been the subject, and I know not a parable, which, at first sight, appears so contradictory, and so unsatisfactory. Some, on reading it, are led to exclaim, "how wonderful it is, that one so good and just as Jesus Christ should approve the conduct of one so bad as the unjust steward." Not so this little girl. Being asked what the parable

taught us, she replied, "it teaches us to be as wise in doing good things as the steward was in doing evil things. Such was her explanation; and a better could not be given. In one short sentence we have the sum and substance of this seemingly obscure parable, and I would recommend all who read it in future, to have this answer ready at hand, as a clear and practical explanation.

I cannot conclude, without recording the answer of another girl, who, a few Sundays before, was asked the meaning of our Saviour's words, "I am the truth." Her reply was," Sir, they were the words of one who knew not what was falseness." Who could draw a more comprehensive picture of our blessed Saviour's character?

Having just seen a prospectus of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor, I send the above, which I conceive to be the description of article the editors require; if so, it may be inserted at their own convenience: in the mean time, should they approve of it, others may occasionally be sent.. Y.E.S.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR,

I AM glad, very glad, that you have undertaken the new publication of which I have just seen a pros pectus. I think your "Visitor" will be a very welltimed publication, and will be patronized by many.. I send you an anecdote which occurred in the parish. of G- ; and I can vouch for the truth of it. I think it shews the real blessing of a Christian educa tion. What a happiness it is that the National System of Instruction, which now so generally prevails, makes religion, so prominent a part! Begin