CONTENTS.

Page
PREFACE,[3]
THE LOST AND FOUND,[9]
CHILDHOOD'S PIETY,[18]
FRANK LUDLOW,[19]
VICTORY,[35]
SILENT PEOPLE,[37]
LAURA BRIDGMAN,[53]
HUMBLE FRIENDS,[55]
BUTTERFLY IN A SCHOOL-ROOM,[61]
A BRAVE BOY,[63]
MAY MORNING,[66]
THE HUGUENOT GRANDFATHER'S TALE,[67]
THE OLD WATCH,[86]
ENTERTAINING BOOKS,[88]
THE NEW YEAR,[91]
CYRUS,[93]
ROME AND ITS RULERS,[97]
THE PLOUGHING OF THE SWORD,[105]
THE GOOD AND BAD EMPEROR,[108]
BONAPARTE AT ST. HELENA,[120]
POLYCARP,[124]
CHRISTMAS HYMN,[127]
THE FRIVOLOUS KING,[128]
TO A PUPIL LEAVING SCHOOL,[131]
PIOUS PRINCES,[132]
EVILS OF WAR,[138]
THE LIBERATED FLY,[143]
THE GOOD BROTHER AND SISTER,[146]
THE WAITING CHILD,[155]
THE ADOPTED NIECE,[156]
THE ORPHAN,[160]
THE ONLY SON,[163]
LIFE,[175]
A REMARKABLE CHILD,[177]
THE DYING SUNDAY SCHOOL BOY,[187]
THE PRECOCIOUS INFANT,[189]
THE LAST ROSE BUD,[195]
THE CHERUB'S WELCOME,[197]
THE BABE, AND THE FORGET-ME-NOT,[199]
TREATMENT OF ANIMALS,[201]
THE TREMBLING EYELID,[207]
PEACEFUL DISPOSITIONS,[213]
JOHN AND JAMES WILLIAMS,[220]
THE INDIAN KING,[227]
THE DOVES,[232]
THE WAR-SPIRIT,[236]
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS,[238]
HUGUENOT FORT,[243]
I HAVE SEEN AN END OF ALL PERFECTION,[252]

OLIVE LEAVES.

The Lost and Found.

I have something to say to the young, about the advantage, as well as duty of obeying their parents. My story will be of an interesting boy, by the name of Charles Morton. He had a pleasant temper, and almost always wore a smile. He ardently loved his sister Caroline, who was several years younger than himself; and whenever he came from school, would ask for her, and take her in his arms, or guide her tottering footsteps.

But Charles, with all his kindness of heart, had a sad fault. He would sometimes disobey his parents, when he was out of their sight. He did not remember that the Eye of God always saw him, both in darkness and in light, and would take note of the sin that he committed, though his parents knew it not. At a short distance from his home, was a beautiful river, broad and deep. His parents had strictly charged him never to venture in, and had explained to him the danger which a boy of eight years old would incur, in a tide so strong. Notwithstanding this, he would sometimes seek a spot where the banks, or the trees upon the shore, concealed him, and take off his shoes, and step into the water. He grew fond of wading, and would occasionally stay in the water a long time. Then, he greatly desired to swim. He frequently saw larger boys amusing themselves in this way, and longed to join them. But he feared lest they might mention it to his father, and determined to go alone.

Here was the sin of the little boy, not only in continuing to disobey, but in studying how to deceive his kind parents. One fine afternoon in summer, school was dismissed at an earlier hour than usual. Now, thought Charles, I can make a trial at swimming, and get home, before my mother misses me. He sought a retired spot, where he had never seen his companions go, and hastened to throw off his clothes, and plunge into the water. He did not imagine that it was so deep there, and that the current was so exceedingly swift. He struggled with all his might, but was borne farther and farther from the shore. The sea was not a great distance from the mouth of the river, and the tide was driving on violently, and what could he do? Nothing, but to exhaust his feeble strength, and then give up, and be carried onwards. He became weary of beating the water with his feet and hands to no purpose, and his throat was dry with crying, and so he floated along, like a poor, uprooted weed. It was fearful to him to be hurried away so, with the waters roaring in his ears. He gave up all hope of seeing his dear home again, and dreaded the thought of being drowned, and devoured by monstrous fishes. How he wished that he had not disobeyed his good parents; and he earnestly prayed God to forgive him, and have mercy upon his soul.