ed twig, at the end of a high branch of an apple, willow, or poplar tree.

It is composed of a kind of cloth, which this skillful, little weaver makes of strong strings of hemp, flax or moss nicely woven in with wool, tow or horse hair, and lined inside with dry grass and cow hair.

It is open at the top, and is sheltered from the sun and rain by a natural covering of leaves.

This bird has been known to carry off skains of silk and thread, to work them into its nest.

In one instance a piece of lamp wick, ten or twelve feet long, was seen dangling from a nest, but in about a week it was firmly woven into the sides.

These birds frequently build their nests in our large cities, where they can find trees to suit their purpose.

The eggs are four or five in number, white, tinged with flesh color, hav ing the large end dotted with purple

The old birds are very fond of their young, and have been known to suffer death rather than forsake them.

"Well! if you must have a story," said Mr. Villars to his children, who came flocking into the dining room, "if you must have a story, you shall; so listen to me.

"Sit still, as quiet as mice, all of you, and do not speak one word till I have done. Now, then, I am going to begin.

"It was at Christmas, when the snow lay on the ground, and the wintery wind howled through the elm trees, that a party of boys and girls

were at play together at the house of Mr. Allen.

"When they had played at every thing they could think of, and all be came weary, they formed a circle round the fire, and sat down to eat some apples, and to crack some nuts.

"As they had finished their feast and threw their shells into the embers 'O,' said one of the little boys, 'see how blue these shells make the fire burn! and besides, there is something that looks like little girls and boys at play?

"But I can see a ship,' said one; 'there she is, with her hull, and masts, and sails just ready to float upon the billows. I never saw a better ship; surely, you must all see it: that part is the head, and the other end is the stern; look at it"

"Here every one tried to make out the form of the ship, but none of them succeeded. 'I can not see a ship,' said one of them; 'but I can

see a camel, as plain as if it were a real one.

"There is his long neck, and there are the two humps on his back, just as if he were jogging on with his Arab master, and load of goods across the sandy desert. It is a capital camel!'

"Now, capital as the camel was, no one could make it out, but the one who had spoken about it. Every one tried, but all tried in vain: at last, said a little girl, named Amelia, 'Though I can not see a camel, I can see a shepherd, with a flock of sheep around him.

"There is the crook in his hand, and there are the sheep, some standing up, and some lying down, and here and there are the little lambs. too; O, how fine!

"Again, all the rest of them opened their eyes wide, and bent down towards the fire to see the shepherd, and the sheep and the lambs, but not one of them could make them out.

"A fair haired girl, with a meek, sweet looking countenance, at last said, that what Amelia called a shepherd, looked much more like an angel.

"She could make out his wings, and something like a harp in his hand, and then, said she, 'You can all see those bright, golden rays round his head.'

"Plain as all this appeared to be, no other eye but her own could discern it."

MORE ABOUT THE IMAGES IN THE FIRE.

"Just at this moment, as they had all tried to show each other the dif