WILLIE AND HIS CANARY BIRD.

WILLIE BLAKE had a canary bird given to him by a kind friend, which he called Dick. Dick was a very pretty bird with bright yellow feathers; and he had a droll way of holding his head on one side, and looking so cunning, that I am sure you would have laughed to see him. He lived in a nice gilded cage, and it was hung up near the window, that he might look into the garden; and, when the sun shone bright, he would sing his best song; but would not sing in the dark. At night, the maid used to cover his cage with a green cloth, and then Dick put his head under his wing and went to sleep.

Dick knew his little master very well. Every day, Willie asked his mamma to take down the cage; and then the bird was quite pleased, and he used to hop from his perch in a moment, and put out his beak to peck at the bit of sugar that Willie held between the bars. Once, Willie put his finger there instead of the sugar; but Dick was angry because he did so, and pecked his finger and made him cry out. After this, when any one tried to tease him, he used to fly to the top of his cage, and open his wide beak and flap his wings in a great rage. But, as soon as he saw the bit of white sugar held up again, he forgot everything else, and down he came, hop-hop-hop, to enjoy his dainty treat. I wish all little boys and girls would forget their anger as soon as Dick did; for it is a sad thing when brothers and sisters are angry with each other. When you can read the Bible, you will see that God tells us to love

one another, and to forgive one another if we do wrong.

One morning, when Willie came down-stairs, the bird was gone from his perch, and he could not hear him hopping about; for all was still inside the cage. Willie called to him, but Dick was silent; so the little boy begged his mamma to take down the cage, and place it on the table, that they might see if anything was the matter. He took a piece of sugar out of the basin, and climbed on a chair to give it to his darling; but, when he looked into the cage, there he saw poor Dick lying in one corner, quite dead. His eyes were shut; his bright yellow feathers were all ruffled, and some were torn away; his pretty head hung down, and he lay without moving-still and cold. Yes, poor little Dick was dead. A strange cat had found her way into the parlour, early in the morning, when no one was there. She sprung up to the cage, and tried to catch the bird; but the gilded bars were close and strong, and she could not hold him fast, yet she hurt him with her sharp talons, so that he died of pain and fright. Little Willie was very sorry, and he cried sadly for the loss of his pretty Dick: it grieved him to look at the empty cage, and so his mamma sent it away from the parlour, that he might not see it any more

Willie never had another bird of his own; but he used to feed the robins that came to look for crumbs of bread in winter-time; and, in spring, he liked to hear the blackbird and the thrush singing among the trees. It is better to listen to their sweet music in the garden than to shut them up in cages; for their

wings were made to fly with, and they like to be free in the open air. I am sure you would not be happy if some strong man were to put you in a little room, and never, never let you go away. Then have pity on the pretty birds, and do not try to catch them; for they would not like to be in prison any more than you.

THE VALUE OF THE SOUL.

WE shall only ascertain the value of a soul when we shall be fully able to estimate the worth of a Saviour.-Legh Richmond.

My searching eye can never reach
Beyond the distant star,

But God my Father's eye can stretch
A thousand times as far

And more than that, through endless space
His mighty power is known;

Nor mortal can, nor angels trace

The wonders of his throne.

But though he is so great and wise,
And I but weak and poor,

His kind compassion never dies,
His promise is secure.

And every morning, when the sun
Shall bid my slumber cease,
I'll bow the knee before his throne,
And ask his saving grace.

STEAMERS and railway carriages are still bringing visitors to London, the "mart of all the earth," and to the Crystal Palace; and delighted throngs are still increasing the general jubilee. The merry laugh of boyhood and the

No. 78. JUNE, 1851.

quivering voice of age are mingling in the happy chorus that is heard around.

The visit of the Queen, accompanied by prince Albert, to the Exhibition, must have really been to her a holiday of the heart. We think we see her now, looking with beaming eyes on that goodly edifice that Crystal Palace-that temple of industry and peace, for the gathering of all the earth, which her noble consort had called into being.

Long may she reign, as fleeting time departs,
O'er Britain's empire, and in British hearts;
The light and life of many a joyous scene,

While shouting millions cry, "God save the Queen!"

Bronze medals, of various sizes and designs, will be given, by way of prizes, to successful exhibitors at the Crystal Palace. The medal in the department of raw material and produce will be awarded on account of the value, importance, and superior excellence of the specimen. The medal for machinery will reward novelty of invention, superiority in execution, and cheapness. The medal for manufactures will be awarded for usefulness, strength, form, and skill, and the medal for sculpture and models will have respect to beauty, originality, improvement, suitability of application to manufactures, and interest of design.

The Goldsmiths' Company, some time ago, voted a thousand pounds, as prizes for works of the highest design and merit in gold and silver plate. The prizes will vary in amount, from £20 to £300.

In visiting the Crystal Palace, many will be looking out for the Great Lion, cast by Miller,