art at once agreeable and useful. The Romans used to say, by way of proverb of a blockhead, "He can neither read nor swim." You may remember how Cæsar was saved at Alexandria by throwing himself into the sea, and swimming with one hand, while he held up his Commentaries with the other.

R. I should like very well to swim, and I have often tried, but I always pop under water, and that daunts me. F. And it is that fear which prevents you from succeeding.

R. But is it as natural for man to swim as for other creatures? I have heard that the young of all other animals swim the first time they are thrown into the water.

F. They do-they are without fear. In our climate the water is generally cold, and is early made an object of terror. But in the hot countries, where bathing is one of the greatest of plea

sures, young children swim so early and well, that I should suppose they take to it almost naturally.

R. I am resolved to learn, and I will ask Johnson to take me with him to the river.

F. Do; but let him find you a safe place to begin at. I don't want you, however, to proceed so cautiously as Sir Nicholas Gimcrack did.

R. How was that?

F. He spread himself out on a large table, and placing before him a basin of wather with a frog in it, he struck with his arms and legs as he observed the animal do.

R. And did that teach him?

F. Yes-to swim on dry land; but he never ventured himself in the water. R. Shall I get corks or bladders? F. No; learn to depend on your own powers. It is a good lesson in other things, as well as in swimming.

Learning to swim with corks, is like learning to construe Latin with a translation on the other side. It saves some pains at first, but the business is not done half so effectually.

THE FEMALE CHOICE.

A TALE.

A YOUNG girl, having fatigued herself one hot day with running about the garden, 'sat herself down in a pleasant arbour, where she presently fell asleep. During her slumber, two female figures presented themselves before her. One was loosely habited in a thin robe of pink with light green trimmings. Her sash of silver gauze flowed to the ground. Her fair hair fell in ringlets down her neck; and her head-dress consisted of artificial flowers interwoven with feathers. She held in one hand a

ball-ticket, and in the other a fancydress all covered with spangles and knots of gay ribband. She advanced smiling to the girl, and with a familiar air thus addressed her:

My dearest Melissa, I am a kind genius, who have watched you from your birth, and have joyfully beheld all your beauties expand, till at length they have rendered you a companion worthy of me. See what I have brought you. This dress and this ticket will give you free access to all the ravishing delights of my palace. With me you will pass your days in a perpetual round of evervarying amusements. Like the gay

butterfly, you will have no other business than to flutter from flower to flower, and spread your charms before admiring spectators. No restraints, no toils, no dull tasks are to be found within my happy domains. All is pleasure, life and good humour. Come, then,

my dear! Let me put you on this dress, which will make you quite enchanting; and away, away, with me!

Melissa felt a strong inclination to comply with the call of this inviting nymph; but first she thought it would be prudent at least to ask her name. My name, said she, is DISSIPATION. The other female then advanced. She was clothed in a close habit of brown stuff, simply relieved with white. She wore her smooth hair under a plain cap. Her whole person was perfectly neat and clean. Her look was serious, but satisfied: and her air was staid and composed. She held in one hand a distaff; on the opposite arm hung a work-basket; and the girdle round her waist was garnished with scissars, knitting needles, reels, and other implements of female labour. A bunch of keys hung at her side. She thus accosted the sleeping girl: