PRE FACE. This work was undertaken in the hope of making an agreeable companion for youth, to be consulted every day in the year. It was not intended for mere children, but for those who had advanced to the age of twelve or fourteen years, or had arrived at that degree of maturity, which would enable them to understand the language, and estimate the value of such counsel, and such entertainment, as mighi be drawn from the best writers in our language. I wished to put within the reach of all youthful readers an unobtrusive friend ; one that would lie upon the shelf, or remain snug in a corner, ready at all times to appear when called for, but never forward to exact attention ; one that would mingle pleasure with instruction, and counsel with knowledge ; one, that, when friends are absent, and companions away, would speak to them, sometimes as a parent deeply concerned for their welfare, and sometimes as a talkative old man, who likes nothing so well as a good listener. Such a one I have attempted to prepare, and I have sought aid from a variety of sources. I have gathered legends from one author and lays from another ; I have collected fables and proverbs, aphorisms and allegories; and never forgetting that my book should be useful, I have also tried never to permit it to become dull. He who undertakes to wile himself into the good graces of the young, should never allow his stories to be top long, or his homilies too frequent and prosing ; and I hope I have taken due care that this little volume should not be a trangressor of this politic rule. After all, I offer the book to the public with much diffidence; I have ventured to step beyond the gentle and kind little audience who have so patiently listened to many of my stories ; and now that I appear before more critical and knowing readers, I may not find the same indulgence as heretofore. Let them, however, consider the design of this work, which is, to furnish some useful or amusing passage for each day, and if the idle or vacant moments that occur are used in perusing them, I trust that at the end of the year, the reader will not regret that the volume has fallen into his hands. P. PARLEY. CONTENTS. W E EK DAY LESSONS. 101 17 - - 21 The B Ingrain Mary;d the A Lily and Rose, Honor, - . 93 94 Making Resolutions, - - 16 Council of Horses, Voyage of the Philosophers, 104 20 The Rats and the Barley, - 112 Civility, . Resentment, - - . ib. The Eagle, and the Assembly Adventures of a Rain Drop, 123 Cricket and Nightingale, - 36 The Vessel without a Pilot, 131 Vain Jackdaw, - Ostlack Boy, . ib. | The Frogs who desired a King, 133 The Passions, - ib. The Fly and the Mule, . ib. Parental Affection, - - ib. Conduct to Equa . ib. Flora's Party, - - - - 74 Conscience, - Cruelty to Animals, - - 78 | The Apostles, - - . ib. Philip of Macedon, . . 143 Honor dearer than Life, The proud Frog, • - • 144 To an Infant at its Birth, - : 203 Conduct to Inferiors, . . ib. Keeping Secrets, . Cleanliness, - - - ib. Choice of Company, - - ib. Faithful Spaniards, - - 14 Mercy, . . . Song, - - - - 158 | Warren's Address, - - ib. To an Insect in a Flower, 159 | Good for Modesty, - - ib. The Case altered, - - 160 | The Browning Boy and Dog, Aphorisnis, - - - ib. Ingratitude, - - - - ib. Dr Franklin, - - - - 161 Ant and Grasshopper, - 209 ih. Virtue Indispensable, - - 210 ib. Peasant of the Alps. - 211 Conscience, - - - - 163 | Duties of Pupils, - - 217 The Playthings, - . ]64 | Lark and her Young Ones, - The Wind and the Sun, - ib. Kosciusko, - - - 219 'True Greatness, - - -' 166 Boat Song, - - - Aphorism, - - - . ib. The Study of Natural History, 167 Improvement of Time, - 221 Zoology, - - - - 169 Asking Questions, - - ib. . 172 “ He never told a Lie," - 223 Peevishness and Anger, - 186 Proverbs, . ib. The Angler and little Fish, 188 | Food, - Patriotic Address, - - ib. All that's bright must fade," 232 The Valley of Vision, - - 190 Old Bulfinch and young Birds, 233 The Old Knight and his Gray Sensible Answer of Socrates, 236 Peruke, - - - 191 Proverbs, - . - - ih. Admonitions, - - - ib. Mules and Robbers, - - 193 wallis, - - - Death of an Infant, - . 201 Powder and Balls, Wollis, 21 Art of Happiness, - ib. Lines to a young Lady reading 246 Lights and Shades, - - ib. On a Lady's Writing, Artifice, - - - - ib. 17 Blank Book and Printed Book, 29 i b. The Spaniel and Chameleon, 297 248 Prudent Simplicity, - - 298 Family Sympathy 250 Pilot and Sailors, - - ib. Anecote of Dwight and Dennie. 251 Patrick Henry, - 253 | The Candle and Candlestick, ib. Last hours of Washington, - 254 The Christian Revelation - 303 28 Pride the Bane of Happiness, ib. The Countryman and Raven, 259 The empty Bird's Nest, Against Anger, - - - ib. | Unreasonable Fear, The Juniata, - - - 262 Modesty, - - Advantages of Virtue, - - The Fear of God, - - - The Farmer and his two Sons, ib. Cruel Spider, - - . ib. Improvement of Time, ib. The Bird Catcher, - - 273 Inquisitive Monkey, - - 315 The Alpine Horn, 275 Proverbs, - - - - ib. . 276 Old Man and his Sons, - 316 The Archer and the Ar ib. | Forbearance, 279 dicated m . ib. . The Friende best Policy, - - |