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this way, but is employed about things that are fit for him, not doubting that we shall find him fit for them. 'I am, sir, yours, &c.

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"SOLON WISEMAN."

Though the doctrine of this letter did not perfectly agree with Mr. Acres's notions, yet being convinced that Mr. Wiseman was more likely to make something of his son than any of his former preceptors, he continued him at this school for some years, and had the satisfaction to find him going on in a steady course of gradual improvement.

In due time a profession was chosen for him, which seemed to suit his temper and talents, but for which he had no particular turn, having never thought at all about it. He made a respectable figure in it, and went through the world with credit and usefulness, though without a genius.

LESSON X.

The Old Eagle Tree.

1. In a remote field stood a large tulip tree, apparently of a century's growth, and one of the most gigantic of that splendid species. It looked like the father of the surrounding forest. A single tree, of huge dimensions, standing all alone, is a sublime object.

2. On the top of this tree, an old eagle, commonly called the "Fishing Eagle," had built her nest every year, for many years, and unmolested raised her young. What is remarkable, as she procured her food from the ocean, this tree stood full ten miles from the sea-shore. It had long been known as the "Old Eagle Tree."

3. On a warm, sunny day, the workmen were hoeing corn in an adjoining field. At a certain hour of the day, the old eagle was known to set off for the sea-side, to gather food for her young. As she this day returned with a large fish in her claws, the workmen surrounded the tree, and by yelling, and hooting, and throwing stones, so scared the poor bird that she dropped her fish, and they carried it off in triumph.

4. The men soon dispersed; but Joseph sat down under a bush near by to watch, and to bestow unavailing pity.

The bird soon returned to her nest without food. The eaglets at once set up a cry for food so shrill, so clear, and so clamorous, that the boy was greatly moved.

5. The parent bird seemed to try to soothe them; but their appetites were too keen, and it was all in vain. She then perched herself on a limb near them, and looked down into the nest with a look that seemed to say, “I know not what to do next."

6. Her indecision was but momentary; again she poised herself, uttered one or two sharp notes, as if telling them to "lie still," balanced her body, spread her wings, and was away again for the sea!

His eye

7. Joseph was determined to see the result. followed her till she grew small, smaller, a mere speck in the sky, and then disappeared. What boy has not thus watched the flight of the bird of his country in this way?

8. She was gone nearly two hours, about double her usual time for a voyage, when she again returned, on a slow, weary wing, flying uncommonly low, in order to have a heavier atmosphere to sustain her, with another fish in her talons.

9. On nearing the field, she made a circuit around it, to see if her enemies were again there. Finding the coast clear, she once more reached her tree, drooping, faint, and weary, and evidently nearly exhausted. Again the eaglets set up their cry, which was soon hushed by the distribution of a dinner such as-save the cooking a king might admire.

10. "Glorious bird!" cried the boy in ecstasy and aloud, "what a spirit!" Other birds can fly swifter, others can sing more sweetly, others scream more loudly; but what other bird, when persecuted and robbed-when wearywhen discouraged-when so far from the sea,-would do it!

11. "Glorious bird! I will learn a lesson from thee to-day. I will never forget, hereafter, that when the spirit is deter mined, it can do almost any thing. Others would have drooped, and hung the head, and mourned over the cruelty of man, and sighed over the wants of the nestlings; but thou, by at once recovering the loss, hast forgotten all.

12. I will learn of thee, noble bird! I will remember this. I will set my mark high. I will try to do something, and to be something in the world; I will never yield to dis couragements."

LESSON XI.

True Things and Sham Things.

1. JOHNNY and Tommy went into the school-room with the other boys, and Mr. Lollypop, the teacher, having said prayers, bade them come to him and learn their lesson. They rose from the seat where they were sitting, and walked to the master's table, where a board was placed with A, B, C, marked on it.

2. As the two boys came to the table, they kissed their hands, and made their bows, at which the other boys all tittered, and laughed. But Mr. Lollypop said he was glad to see such well-behaved gentlemen.

3. He then placed them opposite the board which had the letters on it, and said, with his head up very straight, "These letters, young gentlemen, are the elements of all literary knowledge, and in their various combinations possess functions, capable of transmitting, from one mind to another, every species of intellectual intelligence."

4. Johnny looked up at him, with his eyes and his mouth open, while he spoke this sentence, and wondered what Mr. Lollypop meant. Tommy said, "Will you please, sir, to tell me what all those great words are good for?"

5. "What words?" said Mr. Lollypop.

6. "Why, elements, and lituary, and cumbernations, and all such words," said Tommy. "I thought such words did not mean any thing, and that only crazy people used them."

7. Mr. Lollypop did not make him any answer, but he looked red, and the boys all thought he was angry. But he took a little brass wire, and pointed to A, and said, “This is A, the first letter, Master Johnny."

8. "I can't think," said Johnny, "that it is a letter; for letters have seals on them, and are made of paper, and come in the post-office, and money is paid for them."

9. Mr. Lollypop was surprised that the boy did not understand what he said; but he did not answer Johnny, but turned to Tommy, and said, as he pointed with his brass wire, "This is B."

10. "It is not a bee," answered Tommy.

11. Mr. Lollypop was puzzled to know what to do. So he said, "What do you think it is?"

12. Tommy said, "Why! it looks just like a picture of grandmother's spectacles."

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13. "But I must tell you that it is a B," said the master. 14. "It is no such thing, sir, I am sure," said Tommy. 15. "Why," said Johnny, looking into the master's face, "Tommy thinks you mean it is a honey-bee."

16. "We came here to learn how to tell true things from sham things; for we had a sham horse; I thought it was a true horse, and would eat hay and run. Now this picture cannot be a bee, for bees fly about, and get honey out of the flowers, and Sally said that was the reason why they were called honey-bees. But this crooked picture does not fly about at all."

17. "Oh!-Ho!-you thought I meant a honey-bee!" said Mr. Lollypop. "Ah! now I understand you, and see you are clever lads. But I only meant the letter B By and by, when you have learned all these letters, and how to read, you will know the difference; so come, learn them now, as fast as you possibly can!"

18. The boys then said the letters over after him so well, that they could say them all, that day, without making more than five or six mistakes, and very soon learned to read.

LESSON XIÌ,

What I hate to see.

1. I HATE to see an idle dunce,
Who don't get up till eight,
Come slowly moping into school,
A half an hour too late.

2. I hate to see his shabby dress;
The buttons off his clothes;
With blacking on his hands and face,
Instead of on his shoes.

3. I hate to see a scholar gape
And yawn upon his seat,
Or lay his head upon his desk,
As if almost asleep.

4. I hate to see him in his class

Sit leaning on his neighbor,

As if to hold himself upright
Were such prodigious labor.
5. I hate to see a boy so rude,

That one might think him raised
In some wild region of the woods,
And but half civilized.

6. I hate to see a scholar's desk
With toys and playthings full,
As if to play with rattle traps
Were all he did at school.

7. I hate to see a shabby book,

With half the leaves torn out,
And used as if its owner thought
"Twere made to toss about.

8. And now I've told you what I hate,
I'll only stop to say,
Perhaps I'll tell you what I love,
Upon some other day.

LESSON XIII.

The Lost Camel.

A DERVISE was journeying alone in the desert, when two merchants suddenly met him: "You have lost a camel," said he to the merchants.

"Indeed we have," they replied.

"Was he not blind in his right eye, and lame in his left leg?" said the dervise.

"He was," replied the merchants.

"Had he lost a front tooth?" said the dervise.

"He had," rejoined the merchants.

"And was he not loaded with honey on one side, and wheat on the other?"

"Most certainly he was," they replied; "and, as you have seen him so lately, and marked him so particularly, you can, in all probability, conduct us to him.”

"My friends," said the dervise, "I have never seen your camel, nor ever heard of him but from you."

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