not only the smaller ones, but even the Nile, and the mighty Ganges. Where the water is not too deep, he can, of course, walk along on the bottom, only keeping the end of his trunk out of water.

passen

There is sometimes not a little danger in crossing rivers on the back of the elephant, for the huge animal, unconscious of what may happen to his keeper and others, whom he carries, will often sink so low that the gers are obliged to stand upright on the highest part of his body, exposed to be washed off by the current, or thrown off by any sudden jerk or motion which he may happen to make.

The elephant is so attached to its keeper, that the sight of him, even after the lapse of many years, will induce it to relinquish its recovered liberty, and return to a state of subjection. A female elephant, belonging

to a gentleman in India, broke away from her keeper, and was lost in the woods. The poor man was supposed to have sold the elephant, and the cruel consequence was, that his wife and family were sold for slaves, and he was sentenced to work on the roads. About twelve years afterwards, he was sent into the country, to assist in catching wild elephants. One day he fell in with a group, in which he thought he saw the elephant that had brought him into so much trouble, and he determined to go up to it, in spite of the remonstrances of his companions, who pointed out to him the danger of his rashness. But he persisted, and he was in the right. As soon as he came near the animal, she knew him, gave him three salutes, by waving her trunk, and then knelt to receive him on her back. She next helped to secure the other elephants, and also brought with her three young ones, which she had produced, during her absence. The innocence of the keeper was now acknowledged; and, as some atonement, for what he had suffered, an annuity was granted him for life.

In

The elephant is found in both Asia and Africa. many parts of Asia, they are trained to carry burthens, and are made extremely useful.

X

LETTERS FROM SISTER JANE.

NO. I.

LISBON.

MY DEAR LITTLE CHILD,

I am sure you will be pleased to receive a letter from sister Jane, for I well remember when I was a little girl, being very much delighted with any thing that came from abroad, and although I have since learnt that there is no place like my own country, I think it proper for you to know something about the manners and customs of other nations, that you may be able to prize your home as you ought, for you enjoy many comforts that the Portuguese children know nothing about.

When I tell you that Oranges, Grapes, and Figs grow here in abundance, you will perhaps exclaim "I wish that I lived at Lisbon :" but again I am sure you would not say so, when you are told that the people here are very quarrelsome, very ignorant, and very dirty now you know that no good children like to be dirty, and when folks are ignorant, they are made to believe many foolish stories. The other day I went over the Cathedral, which is a very beautiful building, and I was shewn by the priest an iron cage, in which were two large black crows these he told me were several hundred years

old; he said they were the very crows that piloted St. Antonio into Lisbon when he was shipwrecked; the masts were carried away by the violence of the storm; the sailors had left the ship, leaving the saint to perish, when two crows came to his aid; one stood on the bow of the vessel, and the other on the stern, and guarded the ship safely into the harbour. This foolish story is believed by the poor Portuguese children, but I am sure you will not, neither did I at the time he told it me. After that I went into the church, and saw two or three dead bodies, without any coffins, lying on a shelf, which to me was a very shocking sight. I asked the reason of their lying there? and was told that when the poor cannot afford to bury their relations, they take them to the church, where they lay until a saint's day, which is very frequent, and then the priest buries them without any How much better are the poor people cared for in England, you will say; and such, as you grow older, you will find to be the case.

fee.

I must now wish you good bye, my dear child, until the next packet sails for England, when you shall have a longer letter from, your affectionate sister,

JANE.

INFANTILE POEM

BY THE LADY FLORA HASTINGS.

WHEN I kneel down my prayers to say,
I must not think of toys or play;
No! I must think what I should be,
To please God, who is good to me.

He loves to see a little child
Obedient-patient too—and mild;
Not often angry, but inclined
Always to do what's good and kind.

And I must love my dear mamma,
And I must love my dear papa;
And try to please them, and to do
Things that are right, and say what's true.

For God is always pleased to see

Even little children such as we,
Whose hearts (as angels' are above)

Are full of peace and full of love.