LESSON LII.

TRUE COURAGE.

One cold winter's day, three boys were passing by a school-house. The oldest was a bad boy, always in trouble himself, and trying to get others into trouble. The youngest, whose whose name was George, was a very good boy.

George wished to do right, but was very much wanting in courage. The other boys were named Henry and James.

As they walked along, they talked as follows:

Henry. What fun it would be to throw a snow-ball against the school-room door, and make the teacher and scholars all jump!

James. You would jump, if you should. If the teacher did not catch you and whip you, he would tell your father, and you would get a whipping then; and that would make you jump higher than the scholars, I think.

Henry. Why, we Why, we would get so would get so far off, before the teacher could come to the door, that he could not tell who we are. Here is a snow-ball just as hard as ice, and George

would as soon throw it against the door as

not.

James Give it to him, and see. He would not dare to throw it.

COW

Henry. Do you think George is a ard? You do not know him as well as I do.

Here, George, take this snow-ball, and show James that you are not such a coward as he thinks you are.

George. I am not afraid to throw it; but I do not want to. I do not see that it

will do any good, or that there will be any

fun in it.

James. There! I told you he would not

dare to throw it.

Henry. Why, George, are you turning coward? I thought you did not fear any thing. Come, save your credit, and throw it. I know you are not afraid.

George. Well, I am not afraid to throw. Give me the snow-ball. I would as soon throw it as not.

Whack! went the snow-ball against the door; and the boys took to their heels. Henry was laughing as heartily as he could, to think what a fool he had made of George.

George had a whipping for his folly, as he ought to have had. He was such a coward, that he was afraid of being called a coward. He did not dare refuse to do as Henry told him, for fear that he would be laughed at. visheri

If he had been really a brave boy, he would have said, "Henry, do you suppose that I am so foolish as to throw that snowball, just because you want to have me? You may throw your own snow-balls, if you please!"

Henry would, perhaps, have laughed at him, and called him a coward.

"Do you

But George would have said, "Do think that I care for your laughing? I do not think it right to throw the snow-ball. I will not do that which I think to be wrong, if the whole town should join with laughing." This would have been real courage.

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you in

Henry

would have seen, at once, that it would do no good to laugh at a boy who had so, bold a heart. You must have this fearFond

less spirit, or you will get into trouble, and will be, and ought to be, disliked by all.

DEFINITIONS. Sehŏl'ars, children at school.

Whip'ping, punishment. Dâre, have courage. Cred'it, reputation. Heärt'ily, freely, merrily. Re füşe', decline. Fearless, bold, brave. Dis liked', not loved.

LESSON LIII.

THE OLD CLOCK.

1. In the old, old hall the old clock stands,
And round and round move the steady hands;
With its tick, tick, tick, both night and day,
While seconds and minutes pass away.

2. At the old, old clock oft wonders Nell,

For she can't make out what it has to tell;

3. When I was a child, as Nell is now,

And long ere Time had wrinkled my brow, The old, old clock both by night and by day, Said,-"Tick, tick, tick!" Time passes away.