X. THE GOOD SON. 1. THERE was once a jeweler, noted for many virtues. One day, the Jewish elders came to him to buy some diamonds, to put upon that part of the dress of their high-priest, which the Bible calls an ephod. 2. They told him what they wanted, and offered him a fair price for the diamonds. He replied that he could not let them see the jewels at that moment, and requested them to call again. 3. As they wanted them without delay, and thought that the object of the jeweler was only to increase the price of the diamonds, the elders offered him twice, then three times, as much as they were worth. But he still refused, and they went away in very bad humor. 4. Some hours after, he went to them, and placed before them the diamonds, for which they again offered him the last price they had named; but he said, “I will only accept the first one you offered to me this morning." 5. "Why, then, did you not close with us at once?" asked they in surprise. "When you came," replied he, "my father had the key of the chest, in which the diamonds were kept, and as he was asleep, I should have been obliged to wake him to obtain them. 6. "At his age, a short hour of sleep does him a great deal of good; and for all the gold in the world, I would not be wanting in respect to my father, or take from him a single comfort." 7. The elders, affected by these feeling words, spread their hands upon the jeweler's head, and said, “Thou father and thy mother;' and thy children shall one day pay thee the same respect and love thou hast shown to thy father." DEFINITIONS.-1. Jew'el-er, one who buys and sells precious stones. Nōt'ed, well known. Eld'er, an officer of the Jewish church. Eph'od, part of the dress of a Jewish priest, made of two pieces, one covering the chest and the other the back, united by a girdle. 2. Di'a-monds, precious stones. 3. Hū'mor, state of mind, temper. 5. Clōşe, come to an agreement. EXERCISES.-Relate the story of the jeweler and his diamonds. What did the elders say to him, when they heard his reason for not giving them the diamonds at first? XI. TO-MORROW. Mrs. M. B. Johnson is the authoress of "To-morrow," one of a collection of poems entitled "Poems of Home Life." 1. A BRIGHT, merry boy, with laughing face, Whose every motion was full of grace, Who knew no trouble and feared no care, Was the light of our household-the youngest there. 2. He was too young, this little elf, With troublesome questions to vex himself; 3. He went to one whom he thought more wise Than any other beneath the skies; "Mother,"-O word that makes the home! 4. "It is almost night," the mother said, 5. The little boy slept through all the night, But woke with the first red streak of light; 6. "No, little Eddie, this is to-day: To-morrow is always one night away." 7. But it came again with the shades of night; 8. "You can not catch it, my little Ted; Enjoy to-day," the mother said; "Some wait for to-morrow through many a year— It is always coming, but never is here." DEFINITIONS.-1. House'hōld, family, those living in the same house. 2. Elf, a small fairy-like person. Věx, worry, trouble. 6. Pon'dered, thought anxiously. A-while', for a short time. EXERCISES.-What is meant by "dancing eyes" in the second verse? What is meant by "the shades of night," in the seventh verse? Of what name are "Eddie" and "Ted" nicknames? What troubled Eddie? Can you define to-morrow? What did Eddie's mother advise him to do? XII. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY. 1. HENRY BOND was about ten years old when his father died. His mother found it difficult to provide for the support of a large family, thus left entirely in her care. By good management, however, she contrived to do so, and also to send Henry, the oldest, to school, and to supply him, for the most part, with such books as he needed. 2. At one time, however, Henry wanted a grammar, in order to join a class in that study, and his mother could not furnish him with the money to buy it. He was very much troubled about it, and went to bed with a heavy heart, thinking what could be done. 3. On waking in the morning, he found that a deep snow had fallen, and the cold wind was blowing furiously. "Ah," said he, "it is an ill wind that blows nobody good." 4. He rose, ran to the house of a neighbor, and offered his service to clear a path around his premises. The offer was accepted. Having completed this work, and received his pay, he went to another place for the same purpose, and then to another, until he had earned enough to buy a grammar. 5. When school commenced, Henry was in his seat, the happiest boy there, ready to begin the lesson in his new book. 6. From that time, Henry was always the first in all his classes. He knew no such word as fail, but always succeeded in all he attempted. Having the will, he always found the way. DEFINITIONS.-1. Măn'age-ment, manner of directing things. 2. Fûrnish, to supply. 3. Fu'ri-ous-ly, violently. 4. Serv'Içe, XIII. PICCOLA. By Celia Laighton Thaxter, who was born at Portsmouth, N. H., June 29, 1835. Much of her childhood was passed at White Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire. "Among the Isles of Shoals" is her most noted work in prose. She has published a volume of poems, many of which are favorites with children. 1. POOR, Sweet Piccola! Did you hear 2. 'T was Christmas time, and her parents poor Could hardly drive the wolf from the door, Striving with poverty's patient pain Only to live till summer again. 3. No gift for Piccola! sad were they When dawned the morning of Christmas day! 4. But Piccola never doubted at all And so she slept till the dawn was gray. 5. And full of faith, when at last she woke, 6. In rushed Piccola, sweet, half wild- "See what the good saint brought!" she cried, |