for nothing, you may. No pay, no work, is my

rule."

Nor

To be kind and useful is my rule, John might have said with truth; but he did not say so. did John really work for nothing when he performed acts of kindness. In the first place, he had the approval of his conscience; which was worth something. In the second place, he had the pleasure of doing good; which was also worth something. In the third place, he had the gratitude* and love of many; also worth something. And lastly, and best of all, he had the approval of God, who has promised that even a cup of cold water given to a disciple shall not lose its reward.

ALDEN.

QUESTIONS.--What did Hanson say when the old man asked his help? Who offered to help the man? What did John discover when they got to the top of the hill? What did he do? What did the old man say as John ran off? Why did John receive a mark from the master? How might he have been excused? Why did he not do so? What reason did Hanson give for not having helped the old man? What reason did John give for having done it? What was Hanson's rule? What was John's? What were the four things which John gained by doing acts of kindness?

the approval of his conscience, and the pleasure of doing good.

no work.

John's rule

THE ORPHAN BOY'S TALE.

Ac-cents, words, or voice.

Boun-ty, goodness.

Chide, blame; or look angrily
Em-ploy', work to be paid for.
Gasped, panted.

Pride, that of which one is proud; fa-
Proud, splendid; glorious. [vourite.
Shud-der-ing, trembling with fear.
Wake, rouse; excite.
Were I, if I were.

STAY, lady! stay, for mercy's sake,

And hear a helpless orphan's tale;
Ah! sure my looks must pity wake*—
'Tis want that makes my cheek so pale.
Yet I was once a mother's pride,*

And my brave father's hope and joy;
But in the Nile's proud* fight he died,
And I am now an orphan boy.

Poor foolish child! how pleased was I,
When news of Nelson's victory came,
Along the crowded streets to fly,

And see the lighted windows flame !
To force me home my mother sought-
She could not bear to see my joy;
For with my father's life 'twas bought,
And made me a poor orphan boy.

The people's shouts were long and loud—
My mother, shuddering,* closed her ears;
Rejoice! rejoice!" still cried the crowd-

My mother answered with her tears.
"Oh, why do tears steal down your cheek,"
Cried I, "while others shout for joy ?"—
She kissed me, and, in accents* weak,
She called me her poor orphan boy.

"What is an orphan boy?" I said,

When suddenly she gasped* for breath,
And her eyes closed;-I shrieked for aid,—
But, ah! her eyes were closed in death!
My hardships since I will not tell;
But now, no more a parent's joy,
Ah, lady! I have learned too well
What 'tis to be an orphan boy!

Oh, were* I by your bounty* fed !——
Nay, gentle lady, do not chide ;*
Trust me, I mean to earn my bread,
The sailor's orphan boy has pride.
Lady, you weep:--what is't you say?
You'll give me clothing, food, employ?*---
Look down, dear parents! look and see

Your happy, happy orphan boy.-MRS. OPIE.

QUESTIONS.-What made the boy's cheek so pale? Where had his father died? Why could his mother not bear to see his joy for Nelson's victory? What did she call him? What happened when he asked her what that meant? Did he beg bread from the lady? How did he mean to obtain it? What did the lady promise him?

"What is an orphan boy ?" I said,

When suddenly she gasped for breath,
And her eyes closed;-I shrieked for aid,-
But, ah! her eyes were closed in death!

LITTLE DICK AND THE GIANT.

Cap-tive, prisoner.

Ram-ble, wander; roam.

LITTLE DICK,—what a gay

used to go about singing and whistling the whole day long. He was always merry, and scarcely anything could make him sad.

One day, little Dick thought that he would have a ramble* in the forest, at some distance from his home. So off he set in high spirits, singing and whistling till he made the woods ring again.

At last he reached a clear brook that ran through the wood; and being thirsty, he stooped to drink. But just at that moment, he was suddenly seized from behind; and he found himself in the hands of a great, tall giant, a hundred times as big as himself! The giant looked at him with great delight, and then put him into a large bag, and carried him off.

Poor Dicky tried all he could to get out of the bag, but to no purpose. He screamed, he struggled, he tried to tear the bag; but the giant only laughed at him for his pains, and went on, holding him fast.

At last the giant came to his house,--a gloomylooking place, with a high wall all round it, and no trees or flowers. When he got in, he shut the door, and took Dicky out of the bag.

The poor captive* now thought that his time was come; for when he looked round he saw a large fire, and before it two victims larger than himself roasting for the giant's dinner. The giant, however, did not kill Dick, but only put him into a prison which he had prepared for him.

The prison was quite dark, with bars all round it; and the only food in it was a piece of dry bread and a cup of water. Dick beat his head against the iron bars, and dashed backwards and forwards, and felt very wretched.

Next day, the giant came and looked at Dick ; and finding that he had eaten none of the bread, he took him by the head, and crammed some of it down his throat Poor Dick was too much frightened to think of eating or drinking.

He was left all alone in the dark another day,

and a sad day it was. The poor creature thought of his own home, his companions, the sunlight, the trees, the flowers, and the many nice things he used to eat; and then he screamed, and tried to get between the iron bars, and beat and tore himself.

The giant came again, and wanted Dick to sing as he used to do, and be happy and merry. "Sing, sing, sing!" said he. But Dick was much too sad to sing. A prison is no place in which to sing songs. At last the giant grew angry, and took Dick out to force him to sing. Dick gave a loud scream, plunged and struggled, and then sank dead in the giant's hand!

This is a true story.-Poor Dicky was a little bird, and the giant was a cruel boy.

The Youth's Friend.

QUESTIONS.What kind of fellow was little Dick? What used he to do the whole day long? What did he one day set off to do? What happened to him as he stooped to drink? What did the giant do with him? What did Dick see at the fire, when he was taken out of the bag? What did the giant do with Dick? What food was set there for him? What did Dick do when put in prison? What did the giant

do on finding that Dick had eaten nothing? What did he think of when left alone in the dark? Why did Dick not sing as he used to do? What happened when the giant took him out of prison? Is this a true story? What was Dicky? Who was the giant?

Don't kill the birds-the pretty birds

That play among the trees;

'Twould make the Earth a cheerless place
To see no more of these.