2 14 LECTUKE XVII. 



pretty flowers which cover the earth, I am 

 almost ready to exclaim " Surely this world is 

 thus adorned for me, not by a mere Master, but 

 by a Father, and that a loving Father." Sup- 

 pose, now, you were going to fit up a cottage for 

 a servant, you would think of his health and 

 his comfort ; but for whom would you provide 

 flowers, and paintings, and singing birds, and 

 other tokens of regard ? Only for a child, or for 

 one whom you loved. Bear this in your minds, 

 and never do anything to grieve or draw away 

 the affections from you of so good and loving a 

 Father, who has done so much for you. 



Now let me say something to you as to the 

 utility of birds. A gentleman lately told me 

 that, in a district with which he was well ac- 

 quainted, war was waged against all sparrows, 

 for some foolish reason, until they were nearly 

 extirpated. The consequence was, that there 

 was so great a plague of caterpillars, slugs, &c., 

 that the fruits of the earth were destroyed ; and 

 now the silly people have found out their mis- 

 take, and are introducing sparrows as fast as 

 they can. It is supposed that sparrows breed 

 three times a-year, and that each nest of young 

 sparrows will consume at least 6000 caterpillars, 



