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If you wish to appear learned, endeavour to become so.

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ASS.

THIRTY-SEVENTH READING LESSON.

HOW MY ENVY PUNISHED ME. DGAR SNELL and myself | used to sit on the same bench in the school-room. Though we did not hate each other, we often got into difficulty.

Many were the scratches, the bites, and the pinches I gave Edgar; and many were the same I got from him.

One day Edgar found a piece of blue calico at the door, and brought it into school. He showed it to me, and I rudely snatched it from him. Then he pinched and pounded my hand sadly, but I held fast, and soon he began to cry.

Miss Stowell, our teacher, loved us both, and was very kind to us. Hearing Edgar cry, she came up to us, asking him what was the matter.

He whined out his trouble, after which she went to the desk, took her work-basket, picked from it a piece of beautiful bright calico, and with her scissors cut off a large corner and gave it to Edgar.

Edgar dried up his tears, and began to hold it up in my sight. As for me, I was ready to burst with envy. I attempted, at first, to snatch it from him, but he was too quick for me this time.

I drew the dirty little piece of faded calico from my pocket, and threw it upon the floor. Edgar seized it at once, and to my still greater envy now put them both in his pocket.

Then I drew up my foot and kicked at him; but the effort was too great; I not only missed him but lost my balance, and down upon the floor I went.

Then Edgar laughed, and the whole school laughed. Our teacher came up and asked me if "the gentleman would like any assistance in getting up."

I sprang up and took my seat in great haste. Then our teacher said she was sorry I had been so unfortunate.

I think I never felt so ashamed in all my life. I tried to cover my face with my hands.

I felt that I had been very foolish, and done wrong.

When I got up to spell, almost the first word that came to me was calico; and to my increased mortification I missed the word, and Edgar spelled it and went above me.

This was a severe punishment for me, but I felt that I deserved it all.

Never speak but when you have something good to ask or to say.

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They must hunger in frost that will not work in heat.

WORDS OF FIVE SYLLABLES, ACCENTED ON THE FIRST.

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He who serves well need not be afraid to ask his wages.

Deceit will be deceived in turn.

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STAG.

FORTIETH READING LESSON.
BEGUN, BUT NOT FINISHED.

OW, my dear Ellen, bring me the nice netted scarf which you have been preparing for your mother. How comfortable it will be to-day, as I have to ride in the storm to see your sick grandmother, especially as I am suffering from a sore throat."

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"I am sorry, mother, but it is not quite finished," responded Ellen, colouring.

"Not finished, Ellen; why, you told me, three days ago, that half an hour's work would complete it; and, certainly, you have had many half hours since."

"Well, mother, I must acknowledge that the reason why I have put it off is, that there was so little to do on it, I thought I could finish it at any time."

"Well, it matters not to-day whether there is half an hour or five hours' work upon it; it is unfinished, and I must do without it. But, my dear child, do you expect ever to overcome your prevailing fault, that of leaving unfinished almost every thing you commence?

Ellen made no reply, for she had been so often reproved for this fault, that apologies were exhausted, and she

felt that her promises were of little value. This habit, of leaving in an unfinished state almost every thing which she commenced, was a sad drawback upon her otherwise amiable and excellent character.

She had much benevolence of feeling, and was naturally industrious and anxious to render herself useful to others; but she had not the patient perseverance to prosecute an undertaking to its full completion, especially if it was beset with some difficulties.

Thus it was with Ellen in every thing to which she turned her attention. She was not satisfied to complete even a branch of study, and if she did, it was in so careless a manner, that she wholly lost her character as a thorough scholar.

This unfortunate habit of beginning and not finishing so many things, which, had they been completed, would have been creditable to her, and useful to others, was a source of great annoyance and anxiety to her mother, a vexation to herself, and injury to others. But I hope she overcame this bad habit, for without it she would have been loved by all.

There is no road to wealth so certain as economy.

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