breathe. They keep the carbon and make that fit for us and animals to cat. The grass makes the carbon fit for sheep and cows, and then we eat their flesh or drink their milk; and the corn makes the carbon fit to eat; so do potatoes, and all the other vegetables and fruits which we eat. Is not this a wonderful arrangement? But perhaps you think, considering what an amazing number of people there are in the world, besides all the animals-for all creatures which breathe, spoil the air just as we do-there can hardly be trees and plants enough to set all the air right again. Round about cities and large towns there are certainly more people than there are trees, but in many other parts of the world. there are a great many more trees than there are people. I have heard of forests in South America so thick and so large, that the monkeys. might run along the tops of the trees for a hundred miles. So you see there are plenty of trees in the world to do the work. But then, how does all the bad air leave the towns and cities where men live, and get to the forests and meadows? The air is constantly moving about; rising up, falling down, sweeping this way or that way, and traveling from place to place. Not only the little particles out of our breath, but any thing that gives the air any smell, does it some harm. Even nice smells, like those of roses, are unhealthy, if shut up in a room for some time. Dirty walls, ceilings, and floors give the air a musty, close smell; so do dirty clothes, muddy boots, cooking, and washing. Some of these ought not to be in the house at all; others remind us to open our windows wide. All the things I have been saying to you about pure air, apply still more to sick people than to healthy ones. Directions for Reading.-Read the following sentences carefully, and avoid running the words together. The good air can not get in at all. We are apt to take it for granted. It is sure to make them ill. Point out three other places in the lesson where similar errors are likely to occur. Language Lesson.-Add ment to each of the following words, and then give the meaning of each. arrange move settle encourage LESSON XXXI. dis tinet'ly, clearly; plainly. a rouşed', wakened. re çēd'ing, going backward or away from. vig'i lant, watchful; careful. ex haust'ed, tired out with work. pre çēd'ing, going before. tăr❜ried, delayed; remained. A TIMELY RESCUE. It was in the month of February, 1831, a bright moonlight night, and extremely cold, that the little brig I commanded lay quietly at her anchors inside the bay. We had had a hard time of it, beating about for eleven days, with cutting northeasters blowing, and snow and sleet falling for the greater part of the time. When at length we made the port, all hands were worn down and exhausted, and we could not have held out two days longer without relief. "A bitter cold night, Mr. Larkin," I said to my mate, as I tarried for a moment on deck to finish my pipe. "The tide is running out swift and strong; it will be well to keep a sharp look-out for this floating ice, Mr. Larkin." "Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate, and I went below. Two hours afterwards I was aroused from a sound sleep by the vigilant officer. "Excuse me for disturbing you, captain,” said he, as he detected an expression of vexation on my face; "but I wish you would turn out, and come on deck as soon as possible." "Why-what's the matter, Mr. Larkin ? Why, sir, I have been watching a cake of ice that swept by at a little distance a moment ago; I saw something black upon it-something that I thought moved. We were on deck deck before either spoke another word. The mate pointed out, with no little difficulty, the cake of ice floating off to leeward, and its white, glittering surface was broken by a black spot. "Get me a spy glass, Mr. Larkin-the moon will be out of that cloud in a moment, and then we can see distinctly." I kept my eye on the receding mass of ice, while the moon was slowly working its way through a heavy bank of clouds. The mate stood by with a spy glass. When the full light fell at last upon the water, I put the glass to my eye. One glance was enough. "Forward, there!" I shouted at the top of my voice; and with one bound I reached the main hatch, and began to clear away the ship's cutter. Mr. Larkin had received the glass from my hand to take a look for himself. “O! pitiful sight," he said in a whisper, as he set to work to aid me in getting out the boat; there are two children on that cake of ice!" 66 In a very short space of time we launched the cutter, into which Mr. Larkin and myself jumped, followed by two men, who took the oars. I held the tiller, and the mate sat beside me. "Do you see that cake of ice with something black upon it, lads?" I cried; "put me alongside of that, and I will give you one month's extra wages when you are paid off." The men were worn out by the hard duty of the preceding fortnight; and, though they did their best, the boat made little more way than the tide. a long chase; and Mr. Larkin, This was who was |