pain, who watched over us day and night, and did all they could to lessen our pains, and make us well again? Who could or who would do all this as our parents have done?

When we were old enough to learn, who spent much time in teaching us, and supplied us with books, that we might attend school and receive assistance and instruction from kind teachers?

Again I answer, ——“ Our beloved parents."

Who have ever felt an interest in us, and done all they could to make us wise and good, useful and happy? You will all be ready to say, "Our dear parents have been our best and kindest friends."

How, then, shall we repay them for all their goodness? I answer, "We never can fully repay them." But let us love and obey them, be kind and affectionate to our brothers and sisters, be pleasant to all, and try to do all the good we can, and then our parents will feel repaid for all they have done and suffered for us. I hope no scholar in our school will ever be unkind or disobedient to his parents, and that we shall all love, honor, and obey them at all times. This will not only please them, but it will make us happy.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

WHEN George Washington was about six years old, he was made the owner of a little hatchet, of which, like most boys, he was very fond, and with which he was constantly going about, trying upon everything that came in his way.

it

One day, while in the garden, he unfortunately tried the edge of his hatchet on the body of a beautiful young cherry-tree, which his father valued very highly; and in a few minutes he so injured the tree that it never recovered.

The next day, his father, walking in his garden, saw the ruined tree, and, entering the house, he inquired for the author of the mischief, at the same time expressing much regret that his favorite tree had been ruined.

At first, no one could tell anything about it, and all felt much sorrow at the loss of the tree. But in a few minutes little George came in, with his hatchet, and Mr. Washington said, "George, do you know who cut my beautiful cherry-tree in the garden?"

This was a hard question, and, for a moment

George hesitated, but quickly recovering himself, and looking at his father with a sweet and honest expression, he bravely said, "I cannot tell a lie, father - you know, I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my little hatchet."

"My brave boy!" said the father, "come to my arms. I am glad you cannot tell a lie, for I would rather lose ten thousand trees, than have my son tell a lie." My dear schoolmates, let us think of George Washington, and always be as careful as he was to speak the truth.

WHEN TO SAY NO.

ALTHOUGH "No" is a very little word, it is not always easy to utter it; and a failure to do so often causes trouble. I will now name some cases in which we should promptly and decidedly say, "No."

When we are asked to stay away from our school, and spend the time, which ought to be improved in getting knowledge, in idleness or mischief we should at once and positively say, "No."

When we are urged to loiter on our way to the schoolroom, and thus get late, and interrupt our teacher and school, we should earnestly say “No; we cannot consent to be late."

When desired by some schoolmate to whisper, or engage in any play that shall tend to interrupt our school, we should promptly say "No; we cannot violate the rules of our school."

When we are tempted to use improper of wicked words, or engage in angry conversation, we should remember that the eye of God is upon us, and earnestly say "No; we cannot speak bad words we cannot quarrel."

When we have done anything wrong, and are advised to conceal it by telling a falsehood, we should without hesitation 66 say No; we can never tell a lie, for it is wicked and cowardly; we must always dare to speak the truth."

If we are asked to do anything which we know to be wrong, or anything that will tend to injure others, we should not hesitate to say "No." If we will learn to say "No," when tempted to do wrong, and have courage always to do right, we should avoid much trouble, and be happy.

Ir affords us pleasure to see you here on the present occasion, and we bid you a cordial welcome to this, our pleasant schoolroom. Here we are wont to meet from day to day, and spend our time in attending to those studies which will tend to make us more useful and happy when we are grown up.

To you we feel that we are under great obligations for all the privileges we enjoy, and we trust that we feel truly grateful for them. We will try, at this time, to show you that we have not been wholly idle or inattentive to our lessons. In listening to our performances,

"Do not view us with a critic's eye,

But pass our imperfections by."

In behalf of these, my schoolmates, I tender you heartfelt and sincere thanks for all your kindness. We hope no one of you will ever have occasion to feel that any member of this school has misimproved or wasted his time.

We hope that you will still continue your