ordered that all the assistance he wanted should be given to him, for trying it in some one ship. The Maidstone frigate, I remember, that was the name of the ship in which it was tried, and it succeeded perfectly. The first time the ship went out to sea with it, the top-mast was to be taken down; and this was done so easily and quickly, that all felt the use and excellence of the invention; and the officers of the navy have given it their decided approbation, and it has been brought into use in a great many ships.'

"How happy the man who made this invention must be!" added Harry.

"And his sisters, and his father and mother," said Lucy; how glad they must be to see it succeed so well, and to know how useful it is."

"An invention useful to all the British navy. What a grand thing!" said Harry. After pausing, and considering for some time, Harry added,

"Yet he was once a boy like me, and trying little mechanical experiments. My

dear Lucy, I heard his friend telling my father something, which made a great impression upon me; the more so, because he was not thinking of me, or that it could do me any good to hear it when he said it."

"What did he say?" asked Lucy eagerly.

"That this gentleman attributes all his success in life to his having early acquired a taste for mechanics, and to the habit of trying to invent and to improve his early inventions, in those two years, which he employed so well at home, when he came from school, and before he was fit for any profession; a time which they say many boys waste in idleness."

"I am sure you never will, Harry," said Lucy.

66

No, after hearing this I think it would be impossible I should," said Harry. "This has raised my ambition, I assure you. But I must go on as he did, learning by degrees, and be content with doing little things first."

"What will you do next," said Lucy, "now you have finished your boat and your lock?"

"I have a plan," said Harry. "You

shall know it to-morrow."

HARRY's new project was to build a bridge over a little mountain stream, which had often stopped his mother in her walks. He had already laid a board across, from bank to bank, and had fixed it steadily; but upon this two people could not walk abreast, nor could the ass cart pass this way, it was necessary to take it by another road, a quarter of a mile round. That a bridge at this place would be a public and private benefit seemed evident, and Harry was ambitious of building a real, substantial arched bridge, which should last, he would not say for ever, but as long as man could reasonably expect a bridge to last. This project was heartily approved by his prime counsellor, Lucy, before whose quick

anticipating eyes the arch instantly rose complete.

"And when it is built," cried she, "it shall be called Harry's bridge! or My mother's bridge! which shall we call it, Harry?"

"Let us build it first," said Harry, "and we may easily find a name for it afterwards. Come with me to the place, Lucy."

When they reached the spot, Harry bid her guess what the distance was from bank to bank. She guessed about a yard and a half.

"A yard and a half! such a woman's That is, four feet six," said

measure.

Harry.

Such a man's measure! six what? Lucy might have said, had she been disposed to retort criticism, but that was far, far from her disposition. She knew what he meant, and that was all she thought of.

"Four feet six inches," said she. "Is it more or less?"

"You are within half a foot of it, my

dear," said Harry. "My arch must be a five feet span. I mean that the width across from buttment to buttment, from foundation stone to foundation stone on the opposite sides, must be five feet. But there is my father," cried Harry, "on the sands below, at the very place where I want him to be. I will show him my plan directly."

Down the hill ran he to the sea shore, and down ran Lucy after him with equal speed. Their father was stopped short, and the bridge project started, and his consent, assistance, and advice anxiously requested. Lucy thought his first look was not favourable. He shook his head, and answered, that he feared Harry would find it beyond his skill or present knowledge to construct an arch.

Harry stood quite still and silent for a minute or two; then collecting himself, he deliberately answered,

"I remember, father, your showing me long ago an arch, which you made for me of a thin lath between heavy weights,