"Yes," said Honora, delighted at her comprehension being thus exercised; "if I were to sow my seeds in the tangled thicket, I am sure they would not grow, because they would have no room. And if I have a great many thoughts in my heart about care and riches, the good seed won't grow. Is that right, mamma?"

"Very well understood: now read the last verse, my darling."

"But he that received seed into good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

"Again this is within your comprehension, Nonie. Tell me what you think the verse means."

"Of course that in people whose hearts are like good ground, the word grows and brings forth fruit; in some a great deal, in others not so much."

"Quite right. What do you mean by 'good fruit' ?"

The little girl thought a moment.

"Being good, mamma; minding what the word' tells us."

"Can we make the seed grow

A pause.

ourselves?"

"No, dear; as you cannot make your flower seeds grow, so neither can you make God's word grow in your heart. His grace must descend on your soul, as His rain and dew do on the tender seed, or you cannot become a good child. This is the moisture' which is wanted for the seed. But you can ask God for it, and you can watch and weed the ground of your heart of the naughty tempers or idle habits which, like briars and thorns, creep up to choke the seed of life, just as you can weed your garden though you cannot make the flowers grow. Pray to God, my Nonie, that you may bring forth a hundredfold of the sweet flowers and fruits of gentle temper, kind words, obedient ways, and humble thoughts, and may thus be found a fair lily in the garden of the Lord."

READING THIRD.

When Nature tries her finest touch,
Weaving her vernal wreath,

Mark ye, how close she veils her round,
Not to be traced by sight or sound,

Nor soil'd by ruder breath ?-Keble.

"MAMMA, Mamma!" cried Honora Digby, at the window, "please come here, and let me show you what Mary has done. Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall I do ?"

In some alarm at the mournful voice in which this appeal was uttered, Mrs. Digby ran to the bay window, and looked out. Honora was standing at it, with her small hands clasped, and her blue eyes full of tears, looking back ruefully at Mary, who was leaning on a wooden spade close beside the flower-bed which was Honora's garden.

"What is the matter?" asked her mamma.

"Oh, you know, mamma, that yesterday I sowed all my seeds, and hoped they would grow nicely; and now Mary has taken her wooden spade and dug them all up, even my bulbs."

"How very mischievous! Mary, come here." Looking very much frightened at the disturbance her feat had occasioned, Mary obeyed.

"Mary, how could you be so naughty ?" asked her mamma, 66 Why did you dig up

Nonie's seeds ?"

"I did not mean to hurt them, mother," said the little one, in her slow, soft accents; "I only dug them up to see if they were growing."

"How stupid, Mary !" cried Honora, "you can't see seed grow. It must be covered up in the warm earth out of sight to do so, and you would have known when it was growing by the green blade peeping through the ground. We can't see seed grow! Mamma, what shall I do? my pretty garden is spoiled."

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No, not spoiled; I will give you some more seeds, and we can put the earth smooth again, and sow fresh ones. Perhaps some of the disturbed seeds will still grow."

And thus consoling her child, Mrs. Digby rang the bell, and desired the servant to tell the gardener to bring some flower-seeds. Then she walked out upon the lawn and joined the little ones. Mary was sobbing, and Honora, with a flushed face, was speaking very loudly to

her.

"You are a naughty girl, Mary, and you shan't touch my garden any more-I am very angry with you."

"Nonie," said a reproving voice close beside her.

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"But, mamma, it is really enough to make me angry, a naughty, mischievous, stupid child!" Honora, you pain me! Do you remember some other seed we were talking about yesterday? Is the very sharp thorn of a cross, angry temper to choke it ?" Mrs. Digby spoke very solemnly.

The little girl looked awed, and was quieted

at once.

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Mary did not know she was doing mischief," continued Mrs. Digby; "it was her ignorance that did harm, not her intention. She loves you and did not mean to vex you. Did you, Mary ?"

But Mary, frightened by her sister's anger, and cross at being scolded by her, was sullen, and would give no answer.

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Speak, Mary, or I shall be displeased with you," said her mamma.

No answer. Mary stood pouting beside her. "If you continue to disobey me, I must send you into the house, and cannot let you see Nonie sow her fresh seeds," said her mamma, very gently and calmly.

Still no answer.

'Nurse," said Mrs. Digby, calling to Antony's nurse, who was sitting with .him beneath the large tulip tree.