Oh, it's pleasant, dear children, the sea, When the sky is all fair and serene, With the breeze blowing lightly, The sun shining brightly, Or at night, when the clear moon is seen. But now, at this "happy new year," In your homes and your nurseries bright, Pray think how the vessel With wild waves must wrestle, Through the cold winter day and black night. When you read the good wishes I send Three thousand miles over the sea, I would have you remember 'Twas in dreary December The ship brought this greeting from me. LEEDS, ENG., December, 1872. GEO. BENNETT. HOW SMART MANAGED THE SHEEP. SMART was a sheep-dog that belonged to a Mr. Scott, who lived in Scotland. On the large sheep-farms of that country a single shepherd often has the charge of from three to six thousand sheep. The shepherd has with him usually two dogs; of these, one is the driving-out, the other the bringing-in dog. To the first the shepherd points out a number of sheep, and informs him by voice and action that he wishes him to drive them to a distant hill. The dog at once does as he is bid. In the same way the shepherd informs the second dog that a lot of sheep on a distant hill are to be brought to the spot on which he then stands; and off runs the second dog, and brings the sheep to his master. [Illustration] Mr. Scott's dog Smart was so trained, that he would never frighten the sheep. In driving a flock from one pasture to another, the sheep would often take a wrong turn, and then scamper off as fast as they could go. At such times it is the custom of shepherds to send a dog after them at the top of his speed. He is not long in overtaking them, when, if the weather be warm, and the lanes narrow and dusty, the sheep are much frightened, and not infrequently are hurt. Now, to prevent this, Mr. Scott would order his dog Smart to go the other side of the hedge or fence, saying, "Now, go ahead, and bring them back, and take care not to frighten them." Smart would trot off so that the sheep should not see him, and in a short time would peep over or through the hedge. At length, when he had satisfied himself that he had got ahead of the sheep, he would come out gently in advance of them, and drive them back down the lane so quietly as not to give them the least alarm. Smart would never attempt to go ahead of a flock in the usual way: he would manage so that the sheep should not know he was trying to get ahead of them. The picture will show you how he did. Was he not a wise dog? UNCLE CHARLES. HOW TWO BOYS PASSED CHRISTMAS MORNING.