lad," said he, "you have caught my horse very cleverly. What shall I give you for your trouble?" (Putting his hand into his pocket.) 5. "I want nothing," replied the boy, civilly.

6. Mr. C. Don't you! So much the better for you; few men could say as much. But, pray, what were you doing in the field?

7. Boy. I was pulling up weeds, and tending the sheep that are feeding on the turnips. 8. Mr. C. And do you like this employment?

9. Boy. Yes, sir, this fine weather.

10. Mr. C. But would you not rather play 11. Boy. This is not hard work; it is almost as good as play.

12. Mr. C. Who set you to work?

13. Boy. My father, sir.

14. Mr. C. What is his name?

20. Mr. C. How long have you been out in the field?

* Mik'lmas: feast of St. Michael, September 29.

21. Boy. Since six in the morning. 22. Mr. C. And are you not hungry? 23. Boy. Yes; but I shall eat my dinner

soon.

24. Mr. C. If you had five cents now, what would you do with them?

25. Boy. I do not know, sir. I never had so much in my life.

26. Mr. C. Have you any playthings? 27. Boy. Playthings! What are they? 28. Mr. C. Such as balls, marbles, and tops.

29. Boy. No, sir; but brother Frank makes foot-balls, to kick in cold weather; and then I have a jumping-pole and a pair of stilts, and I had a hoop; but it is broken now.

30. Mr. C. And do you want nothing else?

31. Boy. No: I have hardly time for these; for I always ride the horse to the fields, drive up the cows, and run to the town on errands; and these are as good as play, you know.

32. Mr. C. But you could buy apples and gingerbread when in town, if you had mon

ey.

33. Boy. O, I can get apples at home; and as for gingerbread, I do not mind it much, for

mother gives me a piece of pie now-and-then, and that is as good as gingerbread.

34. Mr. C. Would you not like a knife to cut sticks?

35. Boy. I have one; here it is: brother Frank gave it to me.

36. Mr. C. Your shoes are full of holes; do you not want a better pair?

37. Boy. I have a better pair for Sundays. 38. Mr. C. But these let in water. 39. Boy. O, I do not care for that. 40. Mr. C. Your hat is torn, too.

41. Boy. I have a better one at home, but I would rather have none at all, for it hurts my head.

42. Mr. C. What do you do when it rains? 43. Boy. If it rains hard, I get under the hedge till it is over.

44. Mr. C. What do you do when you are hungry, before it is time to go home?

45. Boy. I sometimes eat a raw turnip. 46. Mr. C. But if there are none, what do you do?

47. Boy. Then I do as well as I can; I work on, and never think of it.

48. Mr. C. Are you not thirsty sometimes, this hot weather?

49. Boy. Yes, but there is water enough. 50. Mr. C. Why, my little fellow, you are quite a philosopher.

51. Boy. Sir?

52. Mr. C. I say you are quite a philosopher; but I am sure you do not know what that means.

53. Boy. No, sir; no harm, I hope?

54. Mr. C. No, no! (laughing.) Well, my boy, you seem to want nothing at all; so I shall give you nothing, lest I make you want more. But, were you ever at school?

55. Boy. No, sir; but father says I shall go after harvest.

56. Mr. C. You will want books, then? 57. Boy. Yes, sir.

58. Mr. C. Well, then, I will give them to father so, you: tell your and that it is because

you are a very good, contented little boy. So

now go to your sheep again.

59. Boy. I will, sir; thank you.

60. Mr. C. Good-by, Peter. 61. Boy. Good-by, sir.

1. It was a bright winter morning, not far from the holidays, and little Dick Melville was busily collecting his dinner-basket and books preparatory to setting out for school, when his older sister asked, "Did you learn any verse this morning, Dick?"

2. "Of course I did, and said it to mother, too. It was-Oh where is my geography ?—I do believe baby has hid it somewhere. Well, it began-Oh, Bridget! please put in one more slice of bread and butter."

3. "That is the queerest verse I ever heard," said Sam, who rather liked to tease his little brother.

4. " Now, really, Sam, I was just going to repeat it. It was, 'Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a