118 THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

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A council was now held, It was pro-
posed to get an axe, to cut the tree
down; but it was concluded that it was
too large for boys to manage. It was
proposed to call in help; but then the
glory of the spoils would have to be di-
vided. They finally agreed to go home,
as it was near sunset, and come the next
day with some matches, and set fire
to the tree and burn it down. Se-
crecy was agreed upon among them-
selves, lest their plans should be in-
terfered with. The reader will now un-
derstand why Benjamin was so confident
that there was a bee-tree on his father’s
land, and why his manner was so pecu-
liar while talking with his father about
it. He felt that he was acting improp-
erly in concealing the matter from his
father. He tried to satisfy his conscience
by saying he was bound by his promise
of secrecy ; but he knew that he had no

right to make that promise.

The next morning the boys met, ac-
cording to agreement, ang proceeded to
the pasture. They kindled a fire, which

soon set the tree in a blaze, almost to.

the top, This attracted the attention
of some men in a neighboring field, and
they came to see what “— going on.
The boys were obliged to tell them what
they were deing. ‘‘ You foolish fellows,
you will burn ;the honey all up.” This
had not .oceurred to the boys. They
only intended to burn the tree down.
One of the men had an axe with him,
and he proceeded to eut the tree down.
‘He thought it was pretty hot work.
‘Another went to his house and got seve-
yal pails ‘to put the honey in. The tree
‘was soon down, All rushed to its top,
‘where, instead of ‘bees and honey, they
found afew yellow wasps. The men

were quite angry that they had been de-
ceived, and made the boys take the pails
and bring water from quite a distance,
and put the fire out.

If Benjamin had believed what his
father said, or had frankly made known
to him the supposed discovery, he would
have saved himself from guilt in the
matter, as well as from the toil he under-
went, and the mortification he suffered
when the matter became known.

Perfection of Nature.

Pon examining the edge of the
sharpest razor or lancet with a
microscope, it will appear fully as
broad as the back of a knife—

rough, uneven, and full of notches and
furrows. An exceedingly small needle
resembles an iron bar. But the sting of
a bee, seen through the same instrument,
exhibits everywhere the most beautiful
polish, without the least flaw, blemish, or
inequality ; and it ends in a point too
fine to be discerned. The threads of a
fine lawn seem coarser than the yarn
with which ropes are made for anchors.
But a silk-worm’s web appears perfectly
smooth and shining, and everywhere
equal. The smallest dot that is made
with a pen, appears irregular and un-
even. But the little specks on the wings
or bodies of insects, are found to be the
most accurately circular. How magnifi-
cent is the system of nature! The wis-
dom of God, I have often thought, ig
quite as clearly exhibited in the smallest
objects of creation, as in those of the
greatest magnitude. |