LESSON XXXII. The Power of Hope.-Part II. be-long'-ed, was owned. be-stow'-ed, given, conferred. don'-key, an ass. driv'-ing, guiding with reins. gal'-lop, the swiftest motion of a horse. pic'-ture, a likeness, represen tation. quick'-en-ed, made smarter. whip'-ping, thrashing with a whip. PERHAPS you may have seen the picture of two boys who were driving a donkey cart. The donkey was lazy. In spite of all the beating they bestowed upon him, they could not get him to move faster than a very slow and snail-like walk. As for a brisk trot, that was out of the question. whipping would ever get him up to this. No At last they got a bunch of nice new hay, and fastened it on the shaft of the cart about a foot in front of the donkey. He could see it and smell it. He was hungry, and thought it would taste very nice to get a bite of the hay. In the hope of coming up to it, he began to walk faster and faster. Then from a quick walk he got into a smart trot. Pretty soon the trot quickened into a gallop; and so he went flying along after the hay. What an illustration that donkey was of the influence of hope, in leading to industry! Many years ago, there was a boy in England named Warren Hastings. His family had formerly been very rich. They used to own a very large and beautiful place in the neighbourhood of the village in which this boy lived. But this property had been sold, and now belonged to other people. One day during recess at school, Warren Hastings was sitting under a tree at the edge of the woods, on the old family place. As he sat there he said to himself—" All these woods, and yonder fields, and the houses and gardens on them, used to belong to our family. Now we don't own anything here. Wouldn't it be fine if I could only get rich enough to buy this beautiful property all back again? I wonder if I couldn't do it? I'll try." He set the hope of doing this before him. It was like putting an emerald round his neck that had the magical power of making him industrious. He studied his lessons very hard. When he had finished his school education he went to the East Indies. He was very industrious there. He gave his whole time to his business. He rose to one higher position after another, till he got to be Governor of India; and in about twenty years he went back to England one of the richest men in the country. And then he bought the old place, so that it belonged to his family again. The hope of being able to do this thing made him industrious. And how many poor boys I might tell you about, who have been made industrious by hope, and so have become rich, and great, and good men ! QUESTIONS:-1. What picture is mentioned here? 2.Have you ever seen such a picture? 3. What is said about the donkey? 4. What was his rate of motion? 5. Did the use of the whip improve his speed? 6. What nice plan was taken to make him go quicker? 7. Did it succeed? 8. How quick did he now go? 9. What is this an illustration of? 10. What English boy is mentioned here? 11. What do you know about his family? 12. What happened to the family property? 13. While Warren Hastings was quietly sitting under a tree, on a spot formerly belonging to his family, what was he thinking about? 14. What did these thoughts lead him to do? 15. To what place abroad did he go? 16. How did he get on there? 17. What noble thing did he afterwards do? 18. What has led many poor boys to be industrious? ban'-ners, flags, streamers. beau'-ti-ful, lovely, very fair. boom'-ing, rushing with violence. he-ro'-ic, very brave, magnanimous. pen'-non, a small flag, a banner. frag'-ments, broken bits, frac- re-plied', gave answer. tions. gal'-lant, noble, brave, high spirited. THE boy stood on the shrouds, ropes going from the mast to the side of a ship. un-con'-scious, not knowing. burning deck, Whence all but him had fled; The flame that lit the battle's wreck, Yet beautiful and bright he stood, As born to rule the storm; A creature of heroic blood, A proud, though child-like form. The flames roll'd on, he would not go Without His father's word; That father, faint in death below, His voice no longer heard. He called aloud-" Say, father, say He knew not that the chieftain lay "Speak, father!" once again he cried, Upon his brow he felt their breath, And looked from that lone post of death In still, yet brave despair! And shouted but once more aloud, "My father, must I stay?" While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, The wreathing fires made way. They wrapped the ship in splendour wild, They caught the flag on high, And streamed above the gallant child Like banners in the sky. Then came a burst of thunder sound- With fragments strewed the sea— With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, |