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Entered according to Act of Congress, in June. 1867, by J. W. Buk. & Cos., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia, Vol. I. HUNTING BIRDS’ NESTS*. boys are fond seem to think that they have ob tained a great prize when they discover, y hid away among the bushes, or in the top of some lofty tree, a little nest full of small blue or speck led eggs. They seem to look upon it as a great feat, too, to climb the tree, and in spite of the wild cries of the old birds, to rob the nest of its eggs, or its newly hatched young ones. But boys should reflect how cruel such sport is to the old birds. Let them think how much time and labor it costs to make these pretty nests, and with what patience and love they set on their eggs un til they are hatched. And when at last the little ones are out of the shell, and the father and mother birds are watching over them night and day, and supplying their little wants, is it not hard to have them carried away by cruel boys? But we have heard of instances in which boys have been sadly punished for this cruel sport. Sometimes the limbs of the trees break, or their feet slip from the branch on which they are standing, and they fall to the ground, fortunate if they escape with nothing worse than a broken leg or arm. Now, we beg of our little readers that they will not climb trees for any such purposes. Let the pretty birds and their little nests alone. Wait a little while and the young birds will be able to fly, and hi time will build their nests in tho trees, MAOOjST, (LA., AUGUST 3, 1867. and have young ones too. Is it not plea sant to have plenty of birds in the trees around our houses ? Do you not like to hear the birds sing? What do you suppose they sing about ? What can it be unless it is about their nests and the little ones in them, and the trees and the bright sunshine ? Some persons think that birds sing on ly to tell of their love to each other, and to show how happy they are. Perhaps this is so, for it is said that they sing all the sweeter after they have had a quarrel and a fight. We know that even little brothers and sisters will sometimes, like birds, quarrel and fight, and then become good friends the next moment. We trust that none of our little readers will do so. But, as a proof that birds love each other, it is said, when the mother bird is setting up on her eggs to hatch them, her mate seldom goes far away from her, but will perch upon a bough near at hand, and sing to her hour after hour, in or der that she may not be lone some in her long, weary task, and to bid her be patient and wait for the time when the little ones are able to fly and take care of themselves. Some people think that the old birds teach the young ones to sing, the same as mothers teach their children to talk ; but this can hardly be true, for the little birds are only able to chirp whilst under the care of the older ones, and it is not until the next spring that they begin to break out into song. Neither do the old ones teach their young to build nests. How, then, do you suppose they learn these things with out being taught ? The in- stinct to do these things is planted in their hearts by the maker of all things— the great and good God. But little boys and girls are endowed with reason, and it is this faculty which gives mankind their great superiority over all other liv ing creatures. llow thankful ought we to be to our Heavenly Father for this divine gift, and how careful ought we to be to make a proper use of it. ♦*+ Tiie Power of Imitation. —The ape tribe cannot imitate the human virtues ; but at imitating the vices of lower hu manity, they are apt scholars indeed. Never lose an opportunity of see ing anything beautiful. Beauty in God’s handwriting is a wayside sacrament. No. 5.