THE LEMON TREE. MOST of our young friends have seen that foreign fruit called a Lemon, with a rind or peel like an orange, but longer in shape and of a paler yellow. It is sold in this coun try by grocers and confectioners, and may be had all the year round, but the price is usually as much more as that of the orange. It is chiefly used to give a delightful acid flavour to confectionary or medicines; and a little of its juice squeezed into water, will make an agreeable beverage in the hot days of summer. The lemon is a native of Assyria and Media, in Asia. It was afterwards planted in Greece and Italy; but is now grown extensively in Spain and Portugal, from which countries the greater part consumed in England are now brought. The lemon groves of Spain and Portugal are very beautiful, the fruit hanging from the branches among the broad green leaves like balls of gold, while the fragrance is very refreshing and delightful. The citron is also a kind of lemon, only larger and richer, and so is the lime, a much smaller fruit, the juice of which some prefer to that of the lemon. POWER OF THE WHALE. THE most dreadful display of the whale's strength and prowess yet authentically recorded, was that made upon the American whale ship Essex, Captain Pollard, which sailed from Nantucket for the Pacific Ocean in August, 1819. Late in the fall of the same year, when in latitude forty of the South Pacific, a shoal of sperm whales were discovered, and three boats were manned and sent in pursuit. The mate's boat was struck by one of them, and he was obliged to return to the ship in order to repair the damage. While he was engaged in that work, a sperm whale, judged to be about eighty-five feet long, broke water about twenty rods from the ship, on her weather bow. He was going at the rate of about three knots an hour, and the ship at nearly the same rate, when he struck the bows of the vessel just forward of her chains. At the shock produced by the collision of two such mighty masses of matter in motion, the ship shook like a leaf. The seemingly malicious whale dived and passed under the ship, grazing her keel, and then appeared at about the distance of a ship's length, lashing the sea with his fins and tail, as if suffering the most horrible agony. He was evidently hurt by the collision, and blindly frantic with rage. and fury. In a few minutes he seemed to recover himself, and started with great speed directly across the vessel's course to the windward. Meantime the hands on board discovered the ship to be gradually settling down at the bows, and the pumps were to be rigged. While the crew were working at them, one of the men cried out, “God have mercy! he comes again!" The whale had turned at about one hundred rods from the ship, and was making for her with double his former speed, his pathway white with foam. Rushing head on, he struck her again at the bow, and the tremendous blow stove her in. The whale dived under again and disappeared, and the ship foundered in ten minutes from the first collision. But five souls of the twenty were saved. FAIR PLAY. PLAY is the work of children. They play in the sweat of their brow, and often fatigue themselves as much in building a snow-house as their parents do in building a factory. Children form very important habits at their plays. Their character comes out then. If they are pas sionate, you will be sure to see it then. If they are greedy they show it then. Liars will always lie in the play-ground. If you will go where a number of boys are playing marbles or ball, you will hear such words as the following:-"There now, Tom, play fair”—“It is not your turn"- O Bill, how can you cheat so❞— 'I say, Jim, you are caught out, and you know it" -"No inching"-" Fair play's a jewel." 66 66 These are familiar terms. They show that boys have a very keen sense of justice. I do not believe this sense is keener in any, than in children. And it is of vast importance that children should be encouraged in these judgments. Honesty in the playground is the foundation of honesty in business. If you tell lies about marbles, you will tell lies about money: if you cheat at ball, you will perhaps cheat at the counter. If you are dishonourable in your plays you will probably be disgraced in your trade. Fair play is the same thing as just play, right play, honest play, true play. Fairness in a play is the same as fairness in a bargain. It makes no difference whether it is marbles or money; if you are unfair, you are unjust. Avoid it, then, as you would avoid any filthy thing on your hands or face. You might wash this off, but how can you wash foul play off your conscience? THE RABBIT ON THE WALL. BY CATHERINE ALLAN. THE Cottage work is over, The evening meal is done; Hark! through the starlit still ness You hear the river run. A rabbit on the wall." They gather round his chair; Don't let the candle flare." The children shout with laugh- The uproar louder grows, As this rabbit on the wall. When humble sports like these Than many a costlier pastime Had greater power to please? When o'er life's autumn pathway The sere leaves thickly fall, How oft we sigh, recalling The rabbit on the wall. |