nd
alacrity for the five days, that he was too much exhausted to hunt
venison on the sixth day. He must rest from any farther fatigue; and
claimed the continued indulgence of his master, by virtue of their
contract.

The hunter urged in vain that Jowler had virtually violated the
contract; for although it was stipulated that he should not be compelled
to the chase to his personal detriment, yet it was implied, of course,
that he should use the same precaution to be in hunting trim on the
sixth day, as he did to be so on the other five. While the fact was, he
purposely deprived himself of rest during the five days, that he might
be compelled to employ the sixth as a day of rest, thus virtually
appropriating the whole time to his own service.

Jowler, however, pretended not to be convinced of his wrong. Nor did his
dishonesty stop here. His master soon discovered that, while he was
pretending to be unable from his excessive fatigue to hunt venison, he
was really continuing to hunt his own game, as on the other five days.

Thus did he go on, his old loves gaining strength day by day, and
impelling him to a total disregard of his contract in order to indulge
them, until his master would bear with him no longer, but drove him from
his door.

Having deprived himself of the care of so good a master, he soon fell
into still greater irregularities; and a neighboring shepherd,
suspecting him of committing depredations upon his flock, killed him,
thus terminating his vicious career.

Moral.--Excessive engagedness in worldly labors six days in the week, is
no sufficient excuse for the neglect of public worship on the seventh;
and a vicious love, continually indulged, is quite sure to root out even
our good resolutions.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BOOKS.

Suppose you loan a book to a friend, would you not consider it his
imperative duty to take the best of care of it, as though it were his
own, and return it in as good condition as it was when taken? Certainly
you would. Then the same duty devolves upon you, as a member of the
Sunday school. The school lends you books, and expects you to take good
care of them, and return them early. This is no trifling duty. If you
have a right to be negligent, every other scholar must have the same
right, and the Library would be speedily ruined. Thus your negligence
greatly wrongs others. Therefore, children, _take care of your books_.

MY NIECE.

I know a darling little girl,