to look out a great block of hard wood, which I found, indeed, much easier; and, getting one as big as I had strength to stir, I rounded it, and formed it on the outside with my axe and hatchet, and then, with the help of fire, and great labour, made a hollow place in it, as the Indians in Brazil make their canoes. After this, I made a great heavy pestle, or beater, of the wood called iron-wood; and this I prepared and laid by, against my next crop of corn, when I proposed to myself to grind, or rather pound, my corn into meal, to make my bread. My next difficulty was to make a sieve to dress my meal, and to part it from the bran and the husk, without which, I could not have any bread. This was a most difficult thing, even but to think of; for I had nothing like the material of which to make it; I mean fine, thin canvass, or stuff to sift the meal through. Here I was at a full stop, for many months; nor did I really know what to do. Linen, I had none left, but what was mere rags. I had goat's hair, but neither knew how to weave it nor spin it; and had I known how, here were no tools to work it with. All the remedy I found for this, was, at last recollecting I had among the seamen's clothes, which were saved out of the ship, some neckcloths of calico or muslin. With some pieces of these, I made three small sieves, proper enough for the work; and thus I made shift for some years. The baking part | was the next thing to be considered, and how I should make bread when I came to have corn; for, first, I had no yest: as to that part, there was no supplying the want; so I did not concern myself much about it. For an oven, I was indeed puzzled. At length, I found an expedient for that, also, which was this: I made some earthen vessels, very broad, but not deep; that is to say, about two feet in diameter, and not above nine inches deep. These I burned in the fire, as I had done others before, and laid them by; and when I wanted to bake, I made a great fire upon my hearth, which I had paved with some square tiles, of my own making and burning. When the fire-wood was burned into embers, or live coals, I drew these forward upon the hearth, so as to cover it all over, and there let them lie till the hearth was very hot; then, sweeping away all the embers, I set down my loaf or loaves, and, covering them with the earthen pot, drew the embers all around the outside of the pot, to keep in, and add to, the heat. Thus, as well as in the best oven in the world, I baked my barley-loaves, and became, in a little time, a good pastry-cook* into the bargain; for I made myself several cakes and puddings, of the rice which I had." LESSON XLVIII. VISIT TO A FARM. SERENA and her mother had walked out to a farm; and, while her mother was inquiring about some poultry, Serena diverted herself by observing all that was going forward. In one corner, a fine brood of young chickens were picking up the grain, which their mother, the careful hen, scratched up and showed them. The farmer's daughter stood near, watching their motions; for they were her chickens, and she daily fed them. "These are your chickens," said Serena, addressing the little girl. "Yes, ma'am, they are all my own, and I am so fond of them,and I have a lamb too; shall I show him to you?" Serena asked her mother's leave, and having received it, followed the little girl to the home * One who prepares and bakes pies, tarts, &c. "What a pretty field.* There, snug under the shelter of a hedge, lay a fat little lamb and its dam. They both jumped up, and came, skipping, at the call of their young mistress. Serena was delighted. creature!" she exclaimed. "How innocent it looks! how gentle!" "It is very quiet, indeed," said the girl; "you shall see it feed from my hand." She then gathered a handful of fresh grass, which the lamb nibbled from her hand. In the same field, Serena saw a young calf, that was capering about, in great glee. "Everything seems happy, here," said Serena. "Sure, ma'am," answered her companion, "we have nothing to make us sad." They returned through the garden: it was filled with various useful vegetables,—the fragrant bean, and gay-flowered potato; whilst one little patch,-the only one devoted to flowers, presented clusters of pinks, roses, and heart's-ease. "This is my garden," said the little girl; "father gave it to me, and I work here every holiday." She gathered a charming nosegay for Serena, who thankfully received it. "What else have I to show you?" said the little girl. "Oh! the bee-hives." *Field nearest to the house. "Will not the bees sting you?" said Serena. The girl laughed. "No, surely, ma'am, unless, indeed, I should plague them, which I never do." The bee-hives were ranged under a sunny wall, over which a vine hung in rich folds. The cottage-window | peeped through the glossy leaves, whilst the hum of the busy bees | soothed the listening ear. It was a scene of peaceful industry; it was a scene of beauty, of humble happiness. Serena, though young, felt all its charms, and stood gazing with unmixed delight. LESSON XLIX. THE IDIOT BOY. 'Tis eight o'clock,—a clear March night,— 66 Why bustle thus about your door? |