they flatter themfelves they were almost in poffeffion of. So it fared with little Anthony; for just as they were ready to fet out, the fky darkened all at once, the clouds grew thick, and a tempeftuous wind bent down the trees, and raised a cloud of duft.

Little Anthony was running down the garden every minute to fee how the fky looked, and then jumped up ftairs to examine the barometer; but neither the sky nor the barometer feemed to forebode any thing in his favour. Notwithstanding all this he gave his father the most flattering hopes that it would foon difperfe. He doubted not but that it would be one of the fineft days in the world; and be therefore thought, that the fooner they fet out the better, as it would be a pity to lose a moment of their time.

His father, however, did not choofe to be too hafty in giving credit to his fon's prediction, and thought it more advifeable to wait a little. While Antony and his father were reafoning on this matter, the clouds burft, and down came a very heavy flower of rain. Poor Anthony was now doubly difappointed, and vented his grief in tears, refufing to liften to the voice of confolation.

The rain continued without intermiffion, till three o'clock in the afternoon, when the clouds

began to difperfe the fun refumed its fplendor, the element its, clearness, and all nature breathed the odours of spring. As the weather brightened, fo did the countenance of little Anthony, and by degrees he recovered his good humour.

His father now thought it neceffary to indulge him with a little walk, and off they fet. The calmness of the air, the mufic of the feathered fongfters, the lively and enchanting verdure of the fields, and the fweet perfumes that breathed all round them, completely quieted and compofed the troubled heart of the difappointed Anthony.

"Do not you obferve, faid his father to him, how agreeable is the change of every thing before you? You cannot have yet forgotten how dull. every thing appeared to us yesterday; the ground was parched up for want of rain; the flowers had loft their colour, and hung their heads in languor; and, in fhort, all nature seemed to be in a ftate of inaction. What can be the reafon, that nature has fo fuddenly put on fuch a different afpect?""That is eafily accounted for, Sir, faid Anthony, it undoubtedly is occafioned by the rain that has fallen to day.

Anthony had no fooner pronounced thefe words, than he faw his father's motive for afking him the

M

queflion. He now plainly perceived the imprepriety of his late conduct, in being fo unhappy about what was evidently fo univerfally ferviceable. He blushed, but his father took no notice of it, judging that his own fenfe would fufficiently teach him another time, without reluctance, to facrifice felfish pleasure to the general good of the community at large.

Nature attend! join every living foul
Beneath the fpacious temple of the sky,
In adoration join; and ardent raise
One general fong! To him ye vocal gales,
Breathe foft, whofe fpirit in your freshness breathes :
Oh talk of him in folitary glooms,

Where o'er the rock the fcarcely waving pine
Fills the brown fhade with a religious awe !
And ye, whofe bolder note is heard afar,
Who shake the aftonish'd world, lift high to heav'n
Th' impetuous fong, and fay from whom you rage.
His praife, ye brooks, attune, ye trembling rills;
And let me catch it as I mufe along.

THE HISTORY OF JONATHAN THE GARDENER,

IN the city of Lincoln lived an honeft and induftri

ous gardener, whofe name was Jonathan, and who was in general confidered as the moft skilful in his profeffion of any in that county. His fruits were much larger than any of his neighbours', and were generally fuppofed to have a more exquifite flavour.

It was the pride of all the neighbouring gentlemen to have Jonathan's fruits to form their deferts, fo that he was under no neceffity of fending the produce of his garden to market, as he was

always fure of meeting with a fale for them at home. His prudence and affiduity increased, as his fortune enlarged, and, instead of riches making him idle, he attended more closely to cultivation.

Such a character and fituation could not fail of procuring him a fuitable matrimonial mate, and he accordingly married a young woman in the neighbourhood, whofe name was Bella, and who was both prudent and handsome. The first year of their marriage was as comfortable as they could wish for; for Bella affisted her husband in his bufinefs, and every thing profpered with them.

This happinefs, however, was not to laft long; for near his house lived another gardener, whofe name was Guzzle, and who spent his time, from morning to night, in an alehoufe. The merry and thoughtless humour of Guzzle by degrees began to be pleafing to Jonathan, who foon fell in to the fame ruinous error. At first, he only went now and then to drink with him, and talk to him about gardening; and he very foon began to drop the fubject of plants, and delight only in the praifes of malt.

Bella faw this change in her husband with the utmoft grief and confternation. As yet, not having fufficient experience to attend to the wall