Wide-awake found his mother fully restored to sight. With the wealth which the fairy bestowed upon him, he built a neat cottage for his mother, who was long spared to him. The fairy’s promise was verified in every particular. THE FIRST TREE PLANTED BY AN ORNAMENTAL TREE SOCIETY. We have planted it deep in the yielding soil, Hard by the house of prayer; And the cool air plays through its leafy top, As it stands in silence there. It is young like ourselves; but, day by day, The dews of heaven will fall,— And the gladsome rays of the summer sun, That shines for each and all; And, under their gentle ministry, It will grow both stout and tall. Then will the roots of the stately tree Have spread both far and wide; And perchance its branches will overtop The church that stands beside; And safe amid its clustering leaves Will summer birds abide. And those who, full of youthful life, About the sapling played, With sober mien and whitened locks Will stand beneath its shade, And ponder with a thoughtful brow On the changes Time has made. The years will roll, with a steady course, To meet Time’s infinite sea; And the silent waves, in their fearful sweep, Will ingulf both you and me; But still, like a beacon that tells of the past, Will stand our first elm-tree. THE ROYAL CARPENTER OF AMSTERDAM. The superintendent of the Dock Yard in Amsterdam was seated in his office one afternoon, indulging himself in smoking a rude pipe; a luxury then recently imported from the colony of Virginia, in the New World. His reflections, whatever they were, were broken in upon by a knock at the door,—not a timid, hesitating knock; but a bold, authoritative summons. The superintendent, judging it must proceed from some person of consequence, hastily laid aside his pipe, and quickly threw open the door, to admit his unknown visitor. Instead of the high personage he anticipated, he beheld standing before him a stout man, of commanding person, and dressed in the attire of a workman. He was a little vexed to think he had been so much deceived; and perhaps it was natural that he should accost the intruder in a somewhat peevish manner. “Well, my good man, what do you want, that you come thumping at the door as if you were really a man of mark? What would you have?” “I seek employment,” said the stranger in a deep voice, not at all intimidated at his reception. At the same time, he presented a letter to the superintendent. “Ha!” said the latter, glancing at it with considerable surprise; “from the Russian ambassador!” He read aloud as follows:—