the fame thing with birds, the perfeverance of whofe parents, in brooding upon their eggs converts them into living creatures.

"While the mother is fitting, the cock is her conftant attendant, and amufes her with his mufic. When the young birds are hatched, the old ones endeavour to release them from the confinement of the egg. At this period, their diligence is redoubled, they do every thing to nourish and defend them, and are constantly employed in that interefting purfuit. No diftance deters them from feeking their food, of which they make an equal diftribution, every one receiving in his turn what they have been enabled to procure. So long as they continue young and helplefs, they contrive to procure fuch food as is adapted to their delicacy; but as foon as they are grown ftronger by age, they provide for them food of a more folid

nature.

"The pelican, which is a very large bird, is obliged to go to a great diftance for food for its young, and therefore nature has provided it with a fort of bag, which she fills with fuch food as she knows is most agreeable to the palate of her young ones. She warms what the procures, and by fuch means makes it fitter for their tender ftomachs.

"While they are thus acting the parental part, they seem to be forgetful of themselves, and attentive only to their little family. On the approach of either rain or tempefts, they haften to their nefts, and cover it as well as they can with expanded wings, thereby keeping out the wind and water from hurting their infant brood. All their nights are employed in nourishing and keeping them warm. The most timorous among the feathered race, who will fly away on the least noife that approaches them, and tremble at the most trifling apprehenfions of danger, become ftrangers to fear as foon as they have a young family to take care of, and are infpired with courage and intrepidity. We fee an inftance of it in the common hen, who, though in general a coward, no fooner becomes a parent, than fhe gives proofs of courage, and boldly ftands forth in defence of her young. She will face the largest dog, and will not even run from a man, who hall attempt to rob her of her young.

"In nearly a fimilar manner, the little birds endeavour to protect their infant family. When an enemy approaches, they will flutter round the neft, will seem to call out for affistance, will attack the invader, and purfue him. The mother will frequently prefer confining herfelf with them to the pleasure of rambling through the woods, and will not quit her little progeny."

Here their mamma ended, and her two children promised they never would any more disturb those pretty feathered animals. They promised only to look at their nefts, without being fo cruel as to do them any harm. They faid they would be fatisfied with gazing on them, while employed in the delightful task of attending on their young, and comforting and careffing their unprotected offspring.

"My dear children, faid their mamma, this is the conduct you ought to purfue. Keep your refolutions, and I fhall love you the more tenderly for it. Do no injury to any creature, for he who made you, made them alfo. Take no delight in giving pain to the most infignificant part of the creation; but endeavour, on all occafions, to contribute to their happiness."

Ill customs by degrees to habits rife,
Ill habits foon become exalted vice;
What more advance can mortals make in fin
So near perfection who with blood begin?

Let plough thy fteers; that when they lose their breath,

To nature, not to thee, they may impute their death.

Let goats for food their loaded udders lend,

And sheep from winter cold thy fides defend ;
But neither fprings, nets, nor fnares employ,
And be no more ingenious to destroy.

Free as in air, let birds on earth remain,
Nor let infidious glue their wings constrain;
Nor opening hounds the trembling ftag affright,
Nor purple feathers intercept his flight:
Nor hooks conceal'd in baits for fifh prepare,
Nor lines to heav'em twinkling up in air.

Take not away the life you cannot give;
For all things have an equal right to live.
Kill noxious creatures, where 'tis fin to fave;
This only juft prerogative we have:
But nourish life with vegetable food,

And fhun the facrilegious tafte of blood.

YOUNG

OUNG Samuel was the only fon of a capital merchant, and was tenderly beloved by his father. He had by no means a bad heart, his countenance was pleafing, and his friends would all have been very fond of him, had he not fhewn, in every part of his conduct, a covetous propensity that eclipfed all his accomplishments.

His covetous difpofition made him with for every thing he faw others poffeffed of, and even car