ng over the wall,
to drag them out. At last she jumped in, and after playing with them
for a short time, was seen to put her head to the ear of one of the
little creatures. This was to tell her child what she wanted it to do.
Directly after, she sprang out of the pond, while her young one caught
hold of the fur at the root of her tail; and while it clung tightly to
her, she dragged it out, and placed it safely on the dry ground. She
then again plunged in, and in the same way dragged out her other young
one.

I am very sure that your parents will help you out of any difficulty
into which you may fall; but then you must do as they tell you, thus
following the example of the young otters.

THE WISE BEAVER.

You have often heard of the wonderful way in which beavers in America
construct their habitations and dams. They seem, however, in these
operations, to be influenced by instinct rather than by reason. I will
tell you of a beaver which lived in captivity in France.

To supply him with nourishment, all sorts of things--fruits, vegetables,
and small branches of trees--were thrown to him. His keepers, knowing
that he came from a cold climate, bestowed little care, however, in
keeping him warm. Winter coming on, one night large flakes of snow were
driven by the wind into a corner of his cage. The poor beaver, who, in
his own country, forms a remarkably warm house for himself, almost
perished with the cold. If man would not help him, he must try and help
himself to build a cell which would shelter him from the icy blast. The
materials at his disposal were the branches of trees given him to gnaw.
These he interwove between the bars of his cage, filling up the
interstices with the carrots and apples which had been thrown in for his
food. Besides this, he plastered the whole with snow, which froze
during the night; and next morning it was found that he had built a wall
of considerable height, which perfectly answered his purpose.

Make the best of the means at your disposal, as well as of the talents
you possess.

THE RAT AND THE SWAN.

Rats, in their ferocity, partake of the character of the wolf, and in
their cunning, of that of the fox.

A great flood occurred some years ago in the north of England; and as a
number of people were collected on the banks of the Tyne, whose waters
had risen to an unusual height, a swan was seen swimming across the
flood. On its back was a black spot, visible among its white