emed to welcome her approach, either by hopping
before her, or entertaining her with their melodious notes, which
afforded her a source of inexhaustible pleasure.

[Illustration]

THE STORY OF BERTRAND, A POOR

LABOURER, AND HIS LITTLE FAMILY.

[Illustration]

Think yourselves happy, my little readers, since none of you perhaps
know what it is to endure hunger day after day, without being able to
enjoy one plentiful meal. Confident I am, that the following relation
will not fail to make an impression on your tender years.

Bertrand was a poor labourer, who had six young children, whom he
maintained with the utmost difficulty. To add to his distresses, an
unfavourable season much increased the price of bread. This honest
labourer worked day and night to procure subsistence for his family, and
though their food was composed of the coarsest kind, yet even of that
he could not procure a sufficiency.

Finding himself reduced to extremity, he one day called his little
family together, and with tears in his eyes, and a heart overflowing
with grief, "My sweet children," said he to them, "bread is now so
extravagantly dear, that I find all my efforts to support you
ineffectual. My whole day's labour is barely sufficient to purchase this
piece of bread which you see in my hand; it must therefore be divided
among you, and you must be contented with the little my labour can
procure you. Though it will not afford each of you a plentiful meal, yet
it will be sufficient to keep you from perishing with hunger." Sorrow
and tears interrupted his words, and he could say no more, but lifted up
his hands and eyes to heaven.

His children wept in silence, and, young as they were, their little
hearts seemed to feel more for their father than for themselves.
Bertrand then divided the small portion of bread into seven equal
shares, one of which he kept for himself, and gave to the rest each
their lot. But one of them, named Harry, refused his share, telling his
father he could not eat, pretending to be sick. "What is the matter with
you, my dear child?" said his father, taking him up in his arms. "I am
very sick," replied Harry, "very sick indeed, and should be glad to go
to sleep." Bertrand then carried him to bed, and gave him a tender kiss,
wishing him a good night.

The next morning the honest labourer, overwhelmed with sorrow, went to a
neighbouring physician, and begged of him, as a charity, to come and see
his poor bo