make the purchase, conversing all the way, though above a mile, on the beautiful clothes with which she intended to decorate her new favourite.

3. At length they reached the town; the shop was in full sight, and the desired prize stood temptingly in the window, the width of the road only between that and Flora.

4. "Look, my dear Mrs. Martin," said she, skipping, "what a charming wax doll! I shall be the happiest girl in the world when I have got

her."

5. A crowd that had collected in the high-way, and prevented their immediately crossing, rendered Flora somewhat impatient, until, insensibly attracted by their discourse, she almost forgot her intended purchase.

6. "You are a cruel wretch," said an old woman to an ill-looking man, who appeared to be one of the principals in the dispute; "a merciful man has mercy on his beast, and you ought to be ashamed to load your ass so unmercifully, and beat her so cruelly."

7. The man made a brutal reply, which made the mob laugh; and he began again to strike the poor ass, who, overloaded and oppressed with weariness, had sunk to the earth, unable to proceed.

8. The brandishing of his stick, and the vehemence with which he struck, made the people in some measure draw aside,

and

gave

Flora a full view of the poor beast, which in a moment obliterated all thoughts of the doll.

9. "Oh! Mrs. Martin," said she, her eyes streaming with tears, "I did not think there was such a wicked man in the world; see how the poor creature bleeds.-Oh, I wish my mamma was here; he would not dare do so before her."

10. "Perhaps not," answered Mrs. Martin; "but if restrained, his blows would in all probability be redoubled when he found opportunity."

11. "If you do not unload the beast and give her immediate relief," said one of the crowd to the ass-driver, "she will die; her strength is quite exhausted; she has done you good service in her time, and might again, if well fed and rested for a little while."

12. "I'll neither feed her nor rest her," said the brute; "she is worth no more than the value of her skin, and I will sell her to any body for half a crown.

13. "Mrs. Martin," exclaimed Florà, "I wish you would give me leave to buy it; I don't think mamma would be displeased; and the poor creature would be put into the orchard or the fields."

14. "If you spend half a crown on the ass,' answered Mrs. Martin, "you cannot buy the doll that you have wished so earnestly for."

15. "I do not mind the doll," replied Flora; "she is very pretty, to be sure," glancing her eyes across the street; "but then, Mrs. Martin, she cannot feel, and may be put off till another

time, but the poor ass cannot be put off, and will be killed if you do not let me buy it."

16. Mrs. Martin well knew that her lady would rather be pleased than otherwise, at this trait of character in Florà; and therefore, calling to the man, she said, "Here is a young lady who will give you the half-crown you asked. Unload the ass, and we will employ somebody to lead it home for us."

17. Surprised at an offer that he did not expect, and perhaps vexed to have a helpless victim snatched from his power, he refused the offer, and added, “I would not take a farthing less than I gave, which was five shillings, and that is too cheap, for though she lies here sulky now, a poke or two with my stick will set her off as brisk as a bee."

18. As he spoke, he attempted to accompany his words by the action, and Florà screamed involuntarily, when Mrs. Martin, advancing, said, "There is five shillings; unload the ass; you have now double what you first demanded, and have ample reason to be satisfied."

19. The driver, who doubtless thought five shillings a capital price for a dying ass, took the money with a sneer, which seemed to express his contempt for the credulity of the purchasers.

20. "And pray, ladies," said he, "where is

she to be taken to? If you will pay me, I will

drive her for you."

21. "I thank you," said Mrs. Martin; "we will not trouble you;" and, calling a boy from

the crowd, she requested him to lead the beast, unloaded and had risen from the

who was ground.

22. The poor animal walked slowly; but Flora did not choose to lose sight of her; and, leaping and skipping, regardless of the waxen doll, she took the way homeward, perfectly satisfied with her bargain.

23. In the front yard before the house was Mrs. Friendly, tying up some flowers which she particularly attended to. "Well, my love," said she, "I hope you have gratified your inclination. What have you purchased?"

24. "I have not bought the pretty doll, mammà," said Florà: "I have bought a poor, old, dirty ass, that a wicked man would otherwise have killed, for he beat it so cruelly that indeed I could not help crying.

25. "It made me quite forget the doll; and Mrs. Martin was kind enough to suffer me to buy it. I hope you will not be displeased, for it was quite my own fault, and I thought you would give me leave to put it into the orchard."

26. Mrs. Friendly, setting Flora's heart at ease respecting her displeasure, asked a further explanation of her woman, which, when related, delighted the good lady.

27. "My dear Flora," said she, "you have given me great pleasure in thus proving that your humanity is superiour to your self-gratification: the men or women who live only for themselve

are beneath the esteem of all good and thinking minds.

28. "Young people, who can unconcernedly see the sufferings of animals, will, as they increase in years, be equally able to look with indifference on the sufferings of their fellow-creatures."

29. The poor beast was put into the fields, where ease and plenty of food had their customary effect. In a short time she became fat, and her hair smooth and glossy. And Flora frequently amused herself by riding upon her back, an exercise that gave her great satisfaction.

LESSON XV.

TENDERNESS OF CONSCIENCE.

1. A LITTLE boy, about six years old, was in general a very good child, and behaved well; but even good children sometimes do wrong, which was the case with this little boy.

2. One afternoon, after he had been at play, he looked very dull and sorrowful.

asked if he were ill.

He was

And though he said he was not, yet he talked so little, and so often sighed, that his mother knew something was the matter with him.

3. In the evening he bid his mammà good night, and went to bed; but was observed to be very restless, and frequently to sob.