THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

The master thought a day or two
Would soften down this fierce “to-do”
He fancied, when the breeze was past,
They would be right good friends at last;
He hoped that they would live in peace,
And all their feud and fury cease.
Alas! they both behaved so badly,

That those around could not endure it;
Bad temper reign’d so very sadly,

The master knew not how to cure it.
A dish of milk was on the floor ;

Puss wanted some, and so did Dash ;
Twas big enough for many more

To lap out of without a splash ;
But she was rude, and he was ruder,

Neither would let the other taste it ;
Each thought the other an intruder,

And did their best to spill and waste it.

If Dash one moment ventured nigh,
Puss would that moment spit and fly ;
If Puss the dish next minute sought,
Dash the next minute raged and fought:
At length, with sorrow be it spoken,
Between them both the dish was broken.
The garden was in lovely order,
Neatness in every walk and border;
And pinks and lilies flourish’d there,
Tended with diligence and care:
But scarce a single week had fled,
When Mr. Dash and Puss were found
Both fighting in the tulip bed,
Trampling and spoiling all around ;
Uprooted flowers and damaged laurels
Were scatter’d by their foolish quarrels,
And, meet on any spot they might,
The scene was one continual fight.
Their master, long as he was able,
Bore the confusion round the table,
And even gave his generous pardon
For all the mischief in the garden,
Hoping their battles soon would end,
And each to each become a friend:
But no; they still kept up the strife,
And led a most ungracious life—
And 80, one very noisy day,
Their master sent them both away.
They soon discover’d, to their cost,
What a good home they thus had lost.
Dash was obliged to wear a chain,
Which gall’d his neck, and gave him pain ;
A dirty kennel was his bed,

And often he was poorly fed ;

And miserably discontented,

Most fervently poor Dash repented.
Puss lost her cushion fine and soft,

And lived within a dreary loft,

Where no sweet milk and meat were set,
But mice were all that she could get;
And there she pined in melancholy,
Regretting all her upstart folly.

Had they been somewhat more inclined
To friendship social, pure, and kind—
Had they put jealousy aside,

And both laid down their selfish pride,
Both had escaped such dire disgrace,

And both had kept their favor’d place.

Thus, far too often do we see
Brothers and sisters disagree—
Too often do we hear loud blaming,

And sometimes, when we stand amazed,
We even see fierce hands upraised ;

Yet very little mutual bending

Would save a world of harsh contending.
If Puss and Dash had thought of this,
They would have lived in perfect bliss,
And long have shared the parlor rug;

In every comfort, warm and snug.

Brothers and sisters all, take warning—
The lesson must not meet your scorning ;
Never let selfish trifles lead

To loud dispute and spiteful deed ;
Yield to each other, and be sure
Your happiness is then secure.

—_—_—_@j——.

Fish fascinated by Music.

173

With ill-bred speech, and rude exclaiming ;

Selected.

n Germany, the shad is taken by
means of nets to which bows of
wood are affixed, hung with a num-
ber of small bells, which are attach-

ed in such a manner as to chime in har-
mony when the nets are moved. The
shad, when once attracted by the sound,
will not attempt to escape while the

bells continue to ring.