EXPLICATION DE QUELQUES SIGNES

Les idiotismes et les expressions qui s'écartent du français, soit dans leur construotion, soit dans leur tournure, sont marqués ainsi : f Une main HT-^?^ désigne une règle de syntaxe ou de construction.

THE CLEVER STARLÏNG. •

A tliii'sly starling foimd a bottle of water. He tried to driiik, but as the water only reached up to the neck of tlie bottle, the bill of the bird did not go so far.

The sîaiiing then set to pecking the bottle on the outside, and sought to make. a hole in it. But it was in vain, for the glass was too hard.

Hereupon he endeavoured to knock down the bottle. But neither did this succeed: it was too heavy.

At last he hit upon an idea which answered : he threw small pebbles into the bottle. Thèse made the water rise insensibly, so that he could conveniently reach in with his beak.

Ability surpasses strength , and patience and reflection conquer difficulties which at first appear almost insurraountable.

THE SEA-COMPÂSS.

« How is the wind, Jack? asked the captain of a ship, addressing the steersman. a Norlh-east-by-north, sir, » was ihe instantaneous answer of the tar. A jocular monk, who was a passenger, drew near the sailor, «My son », said he to him, « 1 heard ihee swear like a démon during the storm; dost thou know thy prayers as Nvell as thy sea-compass?»

c( No », replied Jack, « for I can tell you, father, that î know my sea-compass a great deal better than even you know your prayers. » — « Thon art joking, son. » — « Quite in earnest, father. » — Upon this, our tar began thus : « North — North-west-by-north — North-north-west, » and so on, till he had gone round and got to the North again. « Now, father », said Jack, « 'tis your turn. » The monk recited his pater noster in a very ready manner. « That is élever, » observed the son of Neptune; « 'tis raine now ». Then he went on, « North — North-east-by-north — Northnorth-east, etc., » till he had corne to the word again. « Well, father », said he with a grin, « give us your prayer backwards. » — « Backwards ! I can't, boy : I hâve never learnt it but in one way; it is not necessary ». « Then », observed the triumphant sailor, a I know my sea-compass better than you know your prayers, for I can tell it in a thousand ways. »

Jack has just told us how a ianguage ought to be learnt and known.