d him to the
ground.

The farmer and his sons must have heard the cries of the Fox and the
baying of Dash, for presently they came running as fast as possible to
the spot, armed with all sorts of weapons, and soon despatched the
rascal.

And it would have pleased you to have heard the praises bestowed upon
the brave old dog for his courage, which praise he most certainly
deserved; but no one thought of us. However, we had our reward in
feeling that we had done our duty, and tried to repay our debt of
gratitude to little Susie; that was recompense enough for us, nor did we
wish for more, for--

'On their own merits Modest men are dumb;'

and so say we simple Foxgloves.

PARABLE FOURTH.

THE LITTLE MINER AND HIS FLOWER--TRUST IN GOD.

I do not think any of us would care to pass the greater part of our days
down in a coal mine, or even to live in the vicinity of one. For miles
around the country is barren of trees or flowers; even the grass does
not grow there; the very air is dense with black smoke from the numerous
chimneys, so that the sky is hidden, as it were, by a thick, murky veil.
But, if thus dreary by day, how much more dreadful does it look at
night, when the lurid glare from the furnaces lights up the sky with a
red gleam, which can be seen far and wide! it has then in it something
terrible.

As I said just now, not a flower can thrive in such a close and heavy
atmosphere; not even a blade of grass can push its way up through the
coal-encrusted soil which covers the earth. Well may it be called the
'Black Country;' and yet there are brave, good men living, ay, and
working there, day after day descending those dark shafts and in the
underground of the mines living out their hard, laborious lives, braving
dangers innumerable, to provide for the wants of their fellow-men; yet I
wonder how many of us, as we gather round the cosy fireside of home,
ever think of the hardy miners. All honour, then, to that Christian man,
whose noble heart thought so much of them and of the risks they
encounter in the deep mines; his mighty genius studied to avert the
dangers to which they are exposed, and by his clever invention many
thousand lives have been saved. Statues are raised to soldiers and
statesmen, and their deeds are chronicled all over the world, yet the
simple-hearted Cornish chemist has done more for England's glory than
all her greatest warriors or statesmen!

Sometimes, it is true, terrib