The Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; The Boy and the Book; and Crystal Palace

week after, as the family were at tea; "he sits there looking at that co

Annie; "he sees something between

up from the table, and seizing a stout stick which was at hand, while Mrs. Lee, at the word, catching Willie in her arms, and dragging George, retreated to the farthest part of the room, followed by Annie. As the box was carefully drawn away, the hissing and rattling became louder, and presently a large rattlesnake glided out with raised head and threatening

r!" cried Tom

Snap, too," said his

g for him, Uncle?" a

, and that is the rattlesnake weed,-the Indians believe it to

ones, linked together, somewhat resembling the curb-chain of a bridle, and rattling at the slightest motion. Uncle John showed him how to ascertain the age of the reptile. The extreme end, called the button, is all it has until three

ot of a tree in the forest. His loss was especially felt by George, who busied himself for some hours in r

vid scarlet, the chestnut orange, the oak a rich red brown, and the hickory and tall locust were variegated with a deep green and delicate yellow. Luxuriant vines, laden with clusters of ripe grapes, twin

that the family were awakened by the shouts of Tom, who was already up and out of doors, set

n, "do get up: there are such lots of pigeons abo

g-house roof one might have struck them to the earth with a pole. Millions must have passed already, when there approached a dense cloud of the birds, which seemed to stretch in length and breadth as far as eye could reach. It formed a regular ev

eemed intent on killing, as if they thought only of destroying as many

s already slain," she said, "than we c

er, "the poor things are not d

eling that he had bought a few minutes' amusement at a great expense of suffering. Uncle John and Tom, however, on

and Uncle John carried his constant companion on a ramble-his good rifle. By noon they had gone more than three miles into the depths of the forest; their bags were nearly filled, and Tom began to grumble at the weight of the pie, so that when they reached a

d been looking for some time at the lively little animals scamper

to eat the nuts and berries," replied

ve, uncle; in a h

look up there; don't you see the little mud and twig ca

ed Uncle John, "of a squirrel that tried t

!" they all cr

friend, and whenever an opportunity offered of doing it without being seen, would bring him nuts and fruits. This friend was detected one day by the others, who rushed in dozens to punish him, but he succeeded in escaping from them by jumping to the high

story," cried Anne, quite touc

hole affair, and who took him home and tamed him. He was an affectionate little creature, and never attempted t

George, "that was

us to move homewards? Wash the dish, Annie,

h. They had seen a great many of these beautiful birds during the day, but none near enough to shoot; at last a gang of some twenty ran across the path close to them, and the ready rifle secured the finest. Uncle John carried it by the neck, slung ove

m better for storing during the winter. A great change in the weather took place, however, during the night; a cutting north-easterly wind and rain set in, and continued with little intermission for nearly a week. When bright, clear days returned, the country showed that winter was approaching rapidly. Uncle John took advantage of

in the atmosphere, through which the landscape is seen as through a veil of gossamer-had come and gone, and a slight flurry of snow

ere?" said Mrs. Lee, "they

lling victim. "Stop, stop, Tom!" cried his father; but Tom was too excited to hear or see anything but the object of his pursuit; he ran on, and soon got near enough to make his rail sound on the bear's hard head. But though Tom was a strong, big fellow for his years, he was no match for an American bear, which is not so easily settled, and so Bruin seemed determined to let him know; he immediately dropped t

should have had a squeeze,

d his uncle; "who but you, I wonder, would ha

his father, "but I hope a grateful one;

ful, I'm sure," said To

eling its sides as he spoke, "yet he must have been hungry, fon

rved Mr. Lee, "just fee

tain of flesh and fat?" asked Tom. "

replied his uncle; "a bear ha

nd cutting it up for curing at once, as we h

spoiled were we to attempt to drag the carcase into the yard, though it would be

ng and writing lessons their father gave them every night; "what with helping to catch the bear, and t

is father, laughing, "you may leave that

o see what was the matter, he would have wal

and his mother helped, too, for, you remember,

le," said Tom; "I shall sho

-day rather than to-morrow, for to-morrow will be Sunday

d her brother; "the we

dious only with the idle. What a blessing work is; it adds in every way t

it very disagreea

l as older, Tom, during the

o so every y

n, for the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasant

ht wash almost as well as the Sunday rest. One se

to learn and to do their duty to Him and to each other, made the commencement of each new week as profitable as it was welcome. The recollection, too, of the land they had left was more tender on this quiet day, and past joys and trials were often recalled with a kind of melancholy pleasure, sometimes with an almost regretful feeling that the scenes in which they had laughed and toiled should know them no longer. The green fields-

t in listening to interesting portions of the sacred history, and in instructive and pleasant conversation. Before retiring to rest, all voices joined in some sweet hymn of praise, and then, with hearts softened by the touching soun