the stream, and being dashed against the fragments of the bridge, or of being crushed by the falling of the heavy stones, that not one of the vast multitude of spectators had courage enough to attempt such an exploit. A peasant passing along, was informed of the promised reward. Immediately jumping into the boat, he, by amazing strength of oars, gained the middle of the river, and brought his boat under the pile, when the whole terrified family safely descended by means of a rope. Courage," cried he, now you are safe!" By a still more strenuous effort, and great strength of arm, he brought the boat and family on shore. Brave fellow!" exclaimed the nobleman, "here is your promised recompence." "I shall never expose my life for money, 66 66 66 66 answered the peasant, my labour affords a sufficient livelihood for myself, my wife, and children;-give the purse to the poor family who have lost their all." Con fi-dence, trust; ren'dered, made; ti'ny, little; cu'rious, amusing; an'ec-dotes, secret histories; ar-tic'u-late, speak. THIS delightful little warbler, equally sacred to the cottager's hearth, the farmer's hall, and the squire's mansion, is well known through the popular and piteous story of "The Children in the Wood." Its confidence in man has rendered the redbreast a general favourite; and its familiarity has cured for it, in most countries, a peculiar name; such as might be given to some welcome annual visitor: with us it is called Robin Redbreast. pro The plumage of the redbreast, though harmonious, is plain; and it is rather remarkable that all our finest songsters have but few showy colours. Though the redbreast is so well known to man, yet naturalists are still doubtful whether to consider it as a migratory or stationary bird. Buffon says that it migrates singly, not in flocks: many, however, remain with us through the winter; but these appear to be all males. During severe storms, when the ground is covered with snow, this bird approaches the habitation of man with a confidence and winning familiarity which always ensure to the tiny stranger kindness and protection. He has been known to come to a window-to tap, and if it be opened, to enter, to eye the family in a sly manner; and, if not disturbed, to approach the board, pick up crumbs, hop round the table, and catch flies, if any remain; then perch on a chair or window cornice. Finding his situation comfortable, he is often seen, in this familiar way, to introduce himself to the family, and daily, throughout the winter, to repay their hospitality with seeming gratitude, by the melodious warbling of his little throat. We know a gentleman who caught a young redbreast, one of a brood just flown in his garden. A short time after, the bird was lost; several days elapsed, and robin did not appear; when the gentleman, walking in the garden with a friend, saw a bird of this species, which he thought very like his, hopping among four or five others that seemed to be all of the same age. He requested his friend not to move, and returned to the house for a few crumbs, which he held in his hand, and calling" Robie!" the bird appeared to recognise the name it had been accustomed to, perched upon his finger, and was instantly secured. This bird being in full plumage, sings delightfully: he ranges at liberty through the room; for, though he has a large, light, and airy cage, the door of which stands open, he seldom enters it. In the same room is a chaffinch, still more tame than the redbreast; also a tit-mouse, and a mule bird; but the moment they are out of their cages, the redbreast pursues, attacks, and drives them from place to place, so that he remains chief of the room. If his master takes a seed of hemp, and calls Robie!" he instantly flies at it, picks it from between the finger and thumb, darts off, and this so rapidly, that one cannot detect how he extracts the seed. He is a fine healthy bird, in full feather, though only fed on hemp-seed, loaf bread, and what flies he can catch, with now and then a spider. 66 His manner of feeding is rather curious:- -a slice of bread is put down, which he pecks at from one point, generally near the centre of the piece, until he has made a hole through it; he then begins at another place, and does the same. He is very inquisitive, and it is amusing to observe him when any thing is brought into the apartment, such as books, paper, &c. At first he advances with great caution; but finding the object motionless, he ventures nearer, hops round it, but never appears content till he has got upon it, and never quits unless disturbed, until he has examined it with the eye of a curious inquirer. One morning, a roll of paper, more than two feet long, being laid on the table, Robie instantly saw it was a new object, flew to it, hopped round and round it several times; and at last, finding it impossible to satisfy himself without a narrower inspection, he hopped in at the one end and out at the other. We have heard many anecdotes of the redbreast, but what we have mentioned will suffice to shew its manners in a state of domestication. This bird may be taught various pretty tricks, and even to articulate words. We know that a lady 66 in Edinburgh possesses one which very distinctly pronounces, How do ye do!" and several other words. Her method was, early in the morning, before giving it any food, to repeat very often what she wished it to learn. In a wild state, these birds are very pugnacious. Each cock seems to have certain bounds, which he considers his own, and within which he will allow no other bird of the same species to range. The nest is composed of bent, dead leaves, grass roots, and other fibrous substances, mixed with moss, and lined with thistle-down, hair, and feathers. The eggs, four or five in number, are of an orange-coloured white, freckled, particularly at the large end, with pale orange-red spots, inclining to brown. The redbreast will learn the notes of other birds; but his own being so fine, it is a pity to spoil it by teaching him to imitate other warblers. His song is rich, full, melodious, melting, and tender. It is very various, at one time it has a deep melancholy tone, broken with sprightly turns between, and at another, it is mellow and plaintive. The spring and autumnal notes are different: in spring his melody is rich, but quick, softly melting, and dies away in harmonious cadences; in autumn they are plaintive, but still more rich and sweet,- -as if he sung the dirge of summer, or wailed the departing year. Syme. 18.-Saturday Evening. THE week is past, the Sabbath-dawn comes on, Spirit of good! on this week's verge I stand, That hand, which leads me gently, kindly, still, A thousand graves my footsteps circumvent, A thousand writhe upon the bed of pain- Em'i-nen-ces, heights; pro-pri'e-tors, owners; sub-sist' ence, livelihood; tol-er-a'tion, permission; Ar-magh', a city and county of Ireland. SITUATE between Britain and the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland has a still more humid atmosphere, but at the same time a milder temperature, than the sister island. Its verdure, aecordingly, is fresher and deeper; and ntitles it to the distinction of the Green, or the Emerald Isle. Ireland has comparatively few mountains; and none of them can vie in heigh |