their countenances fell, and, embarrassed, they kept silence, without either contradicting or approving it. Chiron, who was astonished at this mute language, and to whom reason whispered that his conduct was at least imprudent, quickly changed the conversation by asking why Noel did not come to greet him.

"I have given him leave to go and chat a little with good M. Valérius," said Babet, slightly colouring, for she saw Pierre frown.

"What business has he there?" replied he, delighted, perhaps, with having, in his turn, a subject of complaint.

"That worthy gentleman wishes him well, my dear, and certainly Noel only learns from him what is useful."

"And the garden-is it not necessary that it should be watered at the proper time?"

"Your mother and I have done that."

"Ah! do as you please; tire yourself both to afford M. Noel time to chatter, or hear a pedant talk, who, perhaps, cannot distinguish one pear from another. You know well I dislike that."

“Why do you not like your child to become a clever boy, without costing you a farthing, my son ?" asked Simone.

“Because it is enough to have one learned in our family, and this old professor disgusta Noel with his trade of gardening; but he must follow it."

"Ah! my son, so far from disgusting him, he teaches him all the minutiae of it. He will, perhaps, make him a second M. La Nôtre, who planted the beautiful gardens of Versailles, Trianon, Marly, and many other royal residences."

"What, dear mother, have you also become learned? Pray who has been speaking to you of this gentleman ?"

"Noel related that to us last evening, and he added many more things, which might have kept us up all night. Ask your wife if it be not a pleasure to listen to him." “That is what spoils him for me," said Pierre, turning to Célestin ; "and just as if his mother, grandmother, and this M. Valérius were not sufficient to turn his brain, there is some one else at Paris who has thought fit to send him I don't know how many books. His mind is consequently always absorbed. If I ask him for the watering-pot he brings me a spade; and disarranges my seeds, in order to obtain, he says, by mixing them, some varieties yet unknown."

You must allow, M. Chiron, that it is better for him to spend his time in reading and study than in playing about the streets, as most children of your son's age do," replied Célestin; and in saying this he sighed, thinking of himself.

"What!" continued Pierre Chiron, "are you also going to take his part? Then I have brought home an ally," he added good-humouredly, pointing to the women. "My dear," replied Babet, "I trust we are all of one mind. I do not intend to make a gentleman of the child that remains to us any more than you do; he knows it, and does not refuse to work as well as his strength permits. Although young, he is aware that we require his assistance. You, Célestin, whose parents are better

situated

"Ah! dame Babet, things have greatly changed at home," replied Célestin, looking down. "Misfortune has overtaken us, and your husband, in finding me work, renders me, I assure you, a great service."

"Poor boy! I am really sorry for it. If good people were exempt from adversity in this world Rigobert's family would not have met with trouble; however, all is not lost when dutiful children are left to help their parents in old age."

These words of dame Simone awoke such painful feelings in Célestin's mind that he went out, under pretence of seeing some old acquaintances in the village. Pierre would gladly have followed, in order to defer the explanation he dreaded, but his wife did not give him time. She asked him, in a straightforward manner, if he had

taken the three hundred francs.

"I have taken them," replied Pierre.

"Have you paid M. André?"

"I have not even seen him."

"So much the worse, Pierre--so much the worse; for he is very impatient for his money," continued Babet.

"How do you know that, wife?"

"In too sure a manner," said Simone.

"He came here yesterday and gave us notice either to quit the place or pay the rent. I almost promised him that you would pay before Sunday."

"Before Sunday, mother? That is impossible. However, have a moment's patience," he added, on seeing them ready to exclaim; "I was compelled to lend three hundred francs, or allow a man to drown himself."

"Lend your money-unhappy man!" exclaimed Simone, "in the extremity to which we are reduced! What do I say-your money? It is not yours, since you owe it."

"Pierre likes to torment us, mother," said Babet, ready to cry.

"I speak seriously," replied the gardener; "but what would you have done in my place ?"

He then recounted to them briefly what had happened to him, begging them not to let Célestin know that they were acquainted with his deplorable adventure. Babet and Simone had as kind a heart as Pierre; but their more reflecting character preserved them from that sudden impulse which makes reason yield to feeling, and causes us to repent of our actions. They brought him to acknowledge that the first duty of an honest man is to keep his engagements, and that real charity is never exercised at the expense of the well-being of one's own family.

"You have imprudently saddled yourself with a workman," continued his mother, "when you have no longer a garden to cultivate, and when your only resource is to become a journeyman yourself; instead of which, had your debt been discharged, you might have been able to re-establish yourself without any help beyond that of your son. He is still young, I allow, but lacks neither courage nor goodwill."

"Poor dear child!" said Babet, putting the corner of her apron up to her eyes; "what will become of you? Must I see you reduced to serve others, while your brother and sister revel in abundance ?"

"That is making the worst of matters," replied Pierre; "why do you grieve in this manner? The blackest clouds do not always break over our heads. I shall go to M. André-he loves money, but is not really a hard man. Would he, for the sake of two or three quarters' arrears, deprive me of the land which I neglect

nothing to improve? It is a fact that Noel has not yet the strength to help; Célestin will do four times the work that he can; consequently, I shall profit doubly by it. Believe me, to-morrow I shall go to Passy, and it will not be difficult to prove to M. André that it is to his interest to be patient and take care of us."

Whatever flatters hope is readily believed; Babet and Simone therefore dried their tears, and waited with resignation the result of the step which the gardener proposed taking.

Upon his arrival, Noël received a slight remonstrance from his father about that part of his duty he had resigned to his mother andg randmother; but his respectful silence soon disarmed the paternal severity of Pierre Chiron, whose love, though less demonstrative than that of the two females, was equally sincere.

Too young yet to understand the real position of his family, Noel welcomed Celestin with joy, as he hoped for more time to study, when his father should have an assistant. He took care, however, not to show it before Pierre, but did not conceal it from his mother and grandmother. The former told him, rather impatiently, that such sentiments manifested childishness, and that she had supposed him more sensible.

"Ah! dear mother, what have I said that is unreasonable?" asked Noel, sorrowfully.

"In the first place, my son, you must know that we are badly off, and also in debt. Did you not hear M. Andre's complaints yesterday?"

“Yes, but you told him that my father was able to pay him.”

"I hoped so, at least. Besides, as for this young man, we must pay for his labour, lodge and board him, instead of which, had we done all the work ourselves, the profits would be clear; and that is what your father would have done, if his son showed more zeal for gardening."

"I have never refused to work with him, mother; it is not at my request he brings Celestin."

"He complains, that you are alway sthinking of something else whilst at work; and the truth is, my child, that the spade and pruning knife will be more useful to you than the pen for gaining a livelihood."

"You may think so, mother," replied the child quickly, "but you are mistaken; learned men make fortunes, and they acquire a well-earned reputation. Oh! if I had the happiness to obtain both, I should only care to raise you, my father, and my good grandmother from your present situation; I only aspire to placing you in the happy position of Madame. de. St. Yves and M. Philéas, who have nothing to do but spend their lives delightfully in benefiting others."

"My dear child," replied Babet, "you are indulging in splendid dreams, which will never find you bread."

แ

Why not? Is it because I am merely a gardener's son? But you do not know that the most illustrious authors have risen, for the greater part, from a rank lower than mine. Plautus and Terrence were slaves, Virgil's father was a potter, J. B. Bousseau, a Frenchman like myself, was a shoemaker's son. I should never finish were I to recall all the famous men who made themselves renowned for their learning. What did they to attain to this? They worked hard. Ah! well, I will work harder still, if necessary."

280

LEAVES FOR THE LITTLE ONES.-DOMESTIC PETS.

the various cries of different animals, it readily imitates. It is not a delicate bird, and may be easily reared and kept. The toucans are known at once by their enormous bills, which are curved and hooked, and toothed at the edges, and are thus formidable weapons. In America they go in little flocks of from six to ten; and, although heavy flyers, will reach the The true parrots are less elegant the tops of the tallest forest trees, where they the macaw tribe-less splendid in colo are fond of perching. They will eat than the lories-but are excellent imit almost anything. Their mode of eating tors, and can articulate words solid food is very peculiar-when the sentences very distinctly. The morsel is presented they take it on the coloured or grey parrot is one of th point of the bill, throw it upwards, and then catch it in the open mouth so dexterously that it goes at once into the aperture of the gullet, and is swallowed without difficulty.

The toucans are so sensible to cold that

commonest, largest, and most tractabl of its tribe. It is about the size of pigeon. It is an African bird. It wi eat anything; but the best food for it bread-and-milk. The memory of the gre parrot is most extraordinary; it wi

etain entire verses and passages of coniderable length. Some grey parrots live o fifty, sixty, seventy, or even one hunred years old. It moults regularly once year.

The blue-headed parrot, from East ndia, though it cannot speak, is much alued for its beauty.

in clear, round tones: but it requires to be constantly amused and caressed. It is a truly wonderful bird-the most highly endowed of the whole parrot race.

Bear in mind, if you have a parrot or parrots to keep, that they require large, roomy cages, and the larger birds open perches; the eating and drinking The parokeets, or paroquets, are smaller vessels not of zinc or pewter, but of glass han the true parrots more slender and or porcelain; coarse sand sprinkled on legantly proportioned, with long, pointed the floor-in warm weather cleaned out tails, several from Africa and Asia have every day, in cold weather twice a week. ings round their necks. Thus you may Carefully guard all kinds of parrots from asily distinguish the paroquets from the cold; but give them plenty of sunshine arrots, which are all stout, heavy birds, and fresh warm air, when you can do so. ith short and even, or slightly rounded Set them out amid flowers, shrubs, or in a green-house; and, in teaching your The lories are so named from the call-parrots, never threaten or punish, but Apte of some of the species. They are repeat the lesson frequently, and reward orgeously beautiful, but exceedingly with choice morsels. Take care the ifficult to preserve in a cold climate. here are many varieties, but here we hall only mention the purple-capped y-a very rare and costly bird, of esplendent tints. It utters "lory," peaks incessantly, and as hollow as a entriloquist; imitates everything, and

bread and milk be not sour, and vary it
with biscuit, grain, nuts, and fruits; and,
to the small birds, add hemp and canary-
seed and millet. Give no meat; and
take care how you indulge your pet with
pastry and sweets.
A. G.

MY GRANDMOTHER.

It would be difficult to find words that seven, and not dressed for dinner yet! ould efficiently describe my joy at leav- I am right hungry after my ride in the London on the 2nd of last August-cold, and need thy warmest welcome, and till more difficult to describe my happi- my dinner." But, as I turned my head, ton finding myself once more within he changed his tone, "Tears, Estella! Grange. Suffice it to say, that one Tell me what crumpled rose-leaf disturbs ek of my restored home-life drove the the Sybarite ?" leness from my cheeks, which the shionable physician, Dr. had aboured in vain to dispel-in short, I was ayself again.

I was sitting in the oak library one rening late in October, a little table efore me, with Alfieri's Tragedies on it, thich I had been reading, but the light aned gradually, and, as I took my favourite seat in the deep oriel window, where I now write, I pressed my forehead against its cold panes, and gazed out into the gloaming.

"Child, child, what is this?" said my father, as he entered the room; "half-past

VOL. IIL-NEW SERIES.

I dashed away the tears,-"I am no Sybarite, my father."

"Nay, my child, I meant it not; yet prove me in the wrong by confiding to me this real or fancied grief."

I hesitated, and my father's eyes followed mine as they rested on a portrait which hung on the wall opposite where I sat.

"I see, I see, Estella," he said, very gravely, "still the desire for forbidden knowledge. I hoped that new interests, your London season, the excitement of new friends and varied occupations, might have warded off your childish desire to

W