ever we vary from the highest rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may seem otherwise for the moment; but, both in time and in eternity, it will be found so.'

26. To the close of his life Ben Franklin never forgot this conversation with his father; and we have reason to suppose, that, in most of his public and private career,12 he endeavored to act upon the principles which that good and wise man had then taught him.

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Is beautiful to me,

And glorious the many stars

That glimmer on the sea;

But gentle words and loving hearts,
And hands to clasp my own,

Are better than the brightest flowers
Or stars that ever shone!

2. The sun may warm the grass to life,
The dew the drooping flower,

And eyes grow bright that watch the light
Of autumn's opening hour;

But words that breathe of tenderness,'
And hearts we know are true,
Are warmer than the summer-time,
And brighter than the dew.

3. It is not much the world can give,
With all its subtle' art,

And gold and gems are not the things

To satisfy the heart;

But O, if those who cluster round

The altar and the hearth,

Have gentle words and loving smiles,
How beautiful is earth!

1 TEN'DER-NESS. Gentleness, kind- 2 SUBTLE (sǎt'tl). Cunning, crafty ness, affection.

artful, wily.

Lake. River, why dost thou go by,
Sounding, rushing, sweeping?

River. Lake, why dost thou ever lie,
Listless,' idle, sleeping?

2

Lake. Naught before my power could stand,
Should I spring to motion!

River. I go blessing all the land,
From any source to ocean!

Lake. I show sun and stars and moon
On my breast untroubled.

River. Ay! and wilt thou not as soon
Make the storm-clouds doubled?

Lake. River, river, go in peace,
I'll no more reprove thee.

River. Lake, from pride and censure3 cease; May no earthquake move thee.

Lake. I a higher power obey,-
Lying still, I'm doing!

River. I for no allurement stay,
My great end pursuing.'

Lake. Speed thee! speed thee, river bright! Let not earth oppose thee!

River. Rest thee, lake, with all thy might, Where thy hills enclose thee.

Lake. River, hence we've done with strife, Knowing each our duty.

River. And in loud or silent life,
Each may shine in beauty.

Both. While we keep our places thus,
Adam's sons and daughters,

Ho! behold, and learn of us,
Still and running waters.

1 LIST'LESS. Having no desire or
wish, indifferent.

2 NAUGHT (nâwt). Nothing.
3 CEN'SURE. Reproof, blame.

4 AL-LURE'MENT. That which tempts, enticement.

5 PYR-SŪVING. Following, endeavor ing to attain.

XXXIX. THE YOUTH OF WASHINGTON.

1. EVERY boy and girl in America has heard of George Washington. He was one of the greatest and best men that ever lived. He was a true lover of his country, and rendered her the most important services. His memory is deservedly cherished with the utmost pride, gratitude, and reverence' by the American people: portraits and busts of him are common everywhere many lives of him have been written; and the leading events of his career are known to all.

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2. He was born in the county of Westmoreland, Virginia, on the twenty-second day of February, 1732. His father, Augustine Washington, was a man of large property, and owned a great deal of land. He was twice married. George was the oldest child of the second marriage; but there were two sons of the first marriage who were many years older than he.

3. When he was only eleven years old he had the misfortune to lose his father. This was a great loss; but, on the other hand, he had the good fortune to have a most excellent mother. She was a woman of good

sense, energy, decision, and strict religious principle. She had six children in all; but, one of them died in infancy. She governed her little household kindly, but strictly; exacting from her children strict obedience, but never requiring any thing of them that was not proper and for their good.

4. Washington always felt the greatest possible respect and affection for his mother. When a boy he submitted cheerfully to her will, and when a man he treated her with uniform attention and deference.* He had the good sense to see how much he was indebted, for his success in life, to the manner in which she had brought him up.

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5. This excellent woman lived to the advanced age of eighty-two-long enough to see her illustrious son the object of universal gratitude and admiration, on the part of his countrymen, and to taste the pure pleasure of feeling that the good he had done, and the glory he had acquired, were in part to be ascribed to her guidance' and counsels in his tender years.

6. Although Washington's father left an ample property, yet when it came to be divided, after his death, and the children of the first marriage had taken their portion, there remained to the widow and her young family an estate sufficient for their comfortable support, but not enough for any uncommon expense, and requiring to be managed with care and economy in order to maintain them in a plain way.

7. Washington could not, therefore, be sent to any distant school to be educated; still less to England, as one of his elder brothers had been. He could only go to such schools as were kept in the neighborhood; and