May virtue be thy constant guest,
And sweet contentment charm thy breast,
And ev'ry gen'rous wish be blest,

My Brother.

ROBIN was about six years of age. He was not wicked, but his mother let him always have his own way; and then his father was afraid that the poor child might make himself ill with crying if he wanted any thing, and could not get it.

Being thus indulged, his whims grew every day more frequent, and they could not always be gratified, for his parents were extremely poor. At last he grew quite obstinate and quarrelsome, insisted upon having every thing that he saw, and when he could not get it, would grow sulky,

tear his clothes to show his spite, and did nothing that he was bid to do, but often quite the contrary.

His parents were much grieved to see him persist in such bad behaviour, and judged that it proceeded from a heart naturally perverse. Alas!" cried his mother, "I once hoped that Robin would prove the joy of our old age, and work for our support when we were past our strength, reflecting that we had done so much to feed and bring him up; but on the contrary he is the greatest cause of our unhappiness.'

"His principles are quite corrupted," said the father; "every one will hate him, and nobody will afford him the least assistance when he stands in need of it. He will commit some wicked action, and be punished for it by the laws of his country. He will live in shame and misery. God grant that I may be dead before this comes to pass."

These mortifying thoughts constantly recurred to the minds of the unhappy parents. They were now no longer cheerful at their daily toil, and had little or no appetite for their meals. Their sorrow had a visible effect upon their health; their strength soon failed them; and one morning being more depressed than usual, they had not sufficient spirits to get up. This, however, was not the case with little Robin; he was up as usual, and called for his breakfast. Robin," said his mother, "I am very ill, and cannot rise to get it for you."

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This sight affected him very much; he closed the curtains, again sat down by the side of the bed, and held his hands up to his face.

Unhappy wretch that I am!" said he: " suppose my parents were to die, what would become of me? I am refused admittance every where, and cannot obtain a single morsel of bread. I must then have been very wicked! My poor mother, how she at all times loved me! and how have I grieved her! And my father, my dear father who can tell, alas! but they will both die ?"

Robin sat for some time in deep thought: but presently went to a neighbour's house, and begged to have a little bread and milk, to make a breakfast for his parents. His affliction, and the humble tone in which he addressed them, easily gained him a hearing. "Well," said the

good man, "here, take the half of this brown loaf, with some of this milk, and warm it for your parents. It is but just that you should prepare their breakfast, after they have both worked so hard for you."

“No

"See,"

Robin carried away the bread and milk, came home, lighted a fire, and putting on a pipkin, boiled the milk. As soon as it was ready, he drew a little table towards the bed. His mother hearing him move about the chamber, said to her husband, "What can Robin be doing?"-" good, I fear," answered the husband. said she.-Robin came at last with the pipkin, and filling both the porringers, approached his parents. "Dear father," said he, "dear mother, here is some breakfast for you both."-"And is it you that prepared it ?" exclaimed the father. Who could give you all this bread and milk?" "It was our neighbour," answered Robin. His father and mother bid him put down both

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the porringers again. Their eyes sparkled with joy. "Dear child! come hither," they cried: you are now what you ought to be; you have brought both of us to life again." So saying, they stretched out their arms; Robin bent to their embrace; and mingling his tears with theirs, begged forgiveness for the grief which he had given them, and promised in future they should have occasion to rejoice in his improved behaviour.

The happiness of such a day soon revived this good father and loving mother; the little boy also became very happy. He acquired the love of every one that knew him, and was caressed with justice by his parents.