would like to be shut up for life in this dark closet, and to wag backward and forward year after year, as I do.”

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"As to that," said the dial, is there not a window in your house on purpose for you to look through?"

"For all that," resumed the pendulum, "it is very dark here; and, although there is a window, I dare not stop even for an instant to look out at it. Besides, I am really tired of my way of life; and, if you wish, I'll tell you how I took this disgust at my employment. I happened, this morning, to be calculating how many times I should have to tick in the course of only the next twenty-four hours; perhaps some one of you above there can give me the exact sum."

The minute hand, being very quick at figures, presently replied, "Eighty-six thousand four hundred times."

"Exactly so," replied the pendulum. "Well, I appeal to you all, if the very thought of this was not enough to fatigue any one; and when I began to multiply the strokes of one day by those of months and years, really it was no wonder if I felt discouraged at the prospect. So, after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, thinks I to myself, I'll stop."

The dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue; but, resuming its gravity, thus replied: "Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself should have been seized by this sudden weariness. It is true, you have done a great deal of work in your time; so have we all, and are likely to do; which, although it may fatigue us to think of, the question is, whether it will fatigue us to do. Would you now do me the favor to give about half a dozen strokes to illustrate my argument?"

THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM.

BY JANE TAYLOR.

An old clock that had stood for fifty years in a farm kitchen, without giving its owner any cause of compla early one summer's morning, before the family was ring, suddenly stopped. Upon this, the dial plate (i may credit the fable) changed countenance with al the hands made a vain effort to continue their co the wheels remained motionless with surprise; the weig hung speechless; and each member felt disposed to the blame on the others. At length the dial inst a formal inquiry as to the cause of the stagnation, hands, wheels, weights, with one voice, protested innocence.

But now a faint tick was heard belov lum, who spoke thus: "I confess my cause of the present stoppage; and general satisfaction, to assign my re that I am tired of ticking." Upc clock became so enraged that it of striking.

"Lazy wire!" exclaimed its hands.

The pendulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual pace. "Now," resumed the dial, "may I be allowed to inquire if that exertion is at all fatiguing

or disagreeable to you?"

"Not in the least," replied the pendulum; "it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."

"Very good," replied the dial; "but recollect that, although you may think of a million of strokes in an instant, you are required to execute but one; and that, however often you may hereafter have to swing, a moment will always be given you to swing in.”

"That consideration staggers me, I confess," said the pendulum.

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“Then I hope,” resumed the dial plate, "that we shall all return to our duty immediately; for the maids will lie in bed if we stand idling thus."

Upon this, the weights, who had never been accused of light conduct, used all their influence in urging him to proceed; when, as if with one consent, the wheels began to turn, the hands began to move, the pendulum began to swing, and, to its credit, ticked as loud as ever; while a red beam of the rising sun, that streamed through a hole in the kitchen, shining full upon the dial plate, it brightened up as if nothing had been the matter.

When the farmer came down to breakfast that morning, upon looking at the clock, he declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night.

DEFINITIONS.

- In'sti tūt ed, commenced, began. Pro těst'ed, solemnly declared. Căl'eu lat ing, reckoning, computing. Pros'peet, anticipation, that to which one looks forward. Ha răngue'

THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS.

BY WILLIAM CULLEN Bryant.

The melancholy days are come,
The saddest of the year,

Of wailing winds, and naked woods,
And meadows, brown and sear.
Heaped in the hollows of the grove,
The autumn leaves lie dead;
They rustle to the eddying gust,
And to the rabbit's tread.
The robin and the wren are flown,
And from the shrubs the jay,

And from the wood top calls the crow
Through all the gloomy day.

Where are the flowers, the fair young flowers, That lately sprang and stood

In brighter light and softer airs,

A beauteous sisterhood?
Alas! they all are in their graves;

The gentle race of flowers
Are lying in their lowly beds

With the fair and good of ours.
The rain is falling where they lie;
But the cold November rain
Calls not from out the gloomy earth
The lovely ones again.

The windflower and the violet,

They perished long ago,