he was seen driving a cow along the road towards 161 a neighbor ing field. A group of boys, among whom was Jemson, met him as he was passing. The opportunity was one not to be lost by Jemson. "Holloa!" he exclaimed; "what's the price of milk 1 I say, Jonathan, what do you fodder her on? What will you take for all that gold on her horns? Boys, if you want to see the latest Paris style, look at those boots!"

3. Hartley waved his hand at us with a pleasant smile, and, driving the cow on to the field, took down the bars of a rail fence, saw her safely in the enclosure, and then, putting up the bars, came and entered school with the rest of us. After school in the afternoon he let out the cow, and drove her off, none of us knew where.82 And every day, for two or three weeks, he went through the same task.

4. The boys of the B

academy were nearly all the sons

117

of wealthy parents, and some of them, among whom was Jemson, were dunces enough to look down with a sort of disdain upon a scholar who had to drive a cow. The sncers and jeers of Jemson were accordingly often renewed. He once, on the plea that he did n't like the odor of the barn, refused to sit13 next to Hartley. Occasionally he would inquire after the cow's health, pronouncing the word "ke-ou," after the manner of some of the country people.

137

5. With admirable good-nature did Hartley bear all these silly attempts to wound and annoy him. I do not remember that he was even once betrayed into a look or word of angry rctaliation. "I suppose, Hartley," said Jemson, one day, "I suppose your daddy means to make a milkman of you."not?" asked Hartley.- "O! nothing; only don't leave too much water in the cans after you rinse them - that's all!" The boys laughed, and Hartley, not in the least mortified, replied,

66

Why

Never fear; if ever I should rise to be a milkman, I'll give good measure and good milk."

6. The day after this conversation there was a public exhibition, at which a number of ladies and gentlemen from neighbor. ing cities were present. Prizes were awarded by the Principal of our academy, and both Hartley and Jemson received a credit

able number; for, in respect to scholarship, these two were about equal. After the ceremony of distribution, the Principal remarked that there was one prize, consisting of a gold medal, which was rarely awarded, not so much on account of its great cost, as because the instances were rare which rendered its bestowal proper. It was the prize for heroism. The last boy who received one was young Manners, who, three years ago, rescued the blind girl from drowning.

7. The Principal then said that, with the permission of the company, he would relate a short story: "Not long since, some scholars were flying a kite in the street, just as a poor boy on horseback rode by on his way to mill. The horse took fright and threw the boy, injuring him so badly that he was carried home, and confined some weeks to his bed. Of the scholars who had unintentionally caused the disaster, none followed tc learn the fate of the wounded boy. There was one scholar, however, who had witnessed the accident from a distance, who not only went to make inquiries, but stayed to render services.

8. "This scholar soon learned that the wounded boy was the grandson of a poor widow, whose sole means of support consisted in selling the milk of a fine cow of which she was the owner. Alas! what could she do now? She was old and lame, and her grandson, on whom she had depended to drive the cow to pasture, was now on his back, helpless. Never mind, good woman,' said the scholar, I can drive your cow.' With blessings and thanks the old woman accepted his offer.

9. "But his kindness did not stop here. Money was wanted to get articles from the apothecary. I have some money that my mother sent me to buy a pair of boots with,' said the scholar; but I can do without them for a while.' — ' O, no,' said the old woman; 'I can't consent to that; but here is a new pair of cow-hide boots that I bought for Henry, who now can't wear them. If you would only buy these, giving us what they cost, we should get along nicely.'-The scholar bought the boots, elumsy as they werc, and has worn them up to this time.

10. "Well, when it was discovered by other boys of the academy that our scholar was in the habit of driving a cow, he

His

But

was assailed almost every day with laughter and ridicule. cow-hide boots in particular were made matter for mirth. he kept on cheerfully and bravely, day after day, never shunning observation, driving the widow's cow, and wearing his thick boots, contented in the thought that he was doing right, caring not for all the jeers and sneers that could be uttered. He never andertook to explain why he drove a cow; for he was not inclined. to make a vaunt of his charitable motives, and, furthermore, in his heart he had no sympathy with the false pride that could look with ridicule on any useful employment. It was by mere accident that his course of kindness and self-denial was yesterday discovered by his teacher.

11. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I appeal to you if there was not true heroism in this boy's conduct. Nay, Master Hartley, do not slink out of sight behind the blackboard! You were not afraid of ridicule; you must not be afraid of praise. Come forth, come forth, Master Edward James Hartley, and let us see your honest face!"

12. As Hartley, with blushing cheeks, made his appearance, what a round of applause, in which the whole company joined, spoke the general approbation of his conduct! The ladies stood up on benches and waved their handkerchiefs. The old men wiped the gathering moisture from the corners of their eyes, and clapped their hands. Those clumsy boots on Hartley's feet seemed a prouder ornament than a crown would have been on his head. The medal was bestowed on him amid general accla

mation.

13. Let me tell a good thing of Jemson before I conclude. He was heartily ashamed of his habit of ill-natured raillery," and, after we were dismissed, he went up, with the tears of a manly self-rebuke in his eyes, and tendered his hand to Hartley, making a handsome apology for his past insolence and ill manners. "Think no more of it, old fellow," said Hartley, with delightful cordiality; "let us all go and have a good ramble in the woods before we break up for vacation." The boys, one by one, followed Jemson's example; and then we set forth, with huzzas into the woods. What a happy day it was!

Osborne.

XII.

THE LADY WHO DISPUTED ON TRIFLES.

frown:
dear," she said.

ΕΙ

1. ONE day when Griselda's husband had not returned home exactly at the appointed minute, she received him with a "Dinner has been kept waiting for you this hour, my "I am very sorry for it," he replied; "but why did you wait, my dear? I am really very sorry I am so late, but" (looking at his watch) "it is only half-past six by me."

2. "It is seven by me." -They presented their watches to each other; he in an apologet'ical, she in a reproachful atti tude. "I rather think you are too fast, my dear," said the gen tleman.

3. "I am very sure you are too slow, my dear," said the lady. My watch never loses a minute in the four-and-twenty hours," said he. -"Nor mine a second," said she.

4. "I have reason to believe I am right, my love," said the husband, mildly. - "Reason!" exclaimed the wife, astonished. "What reason can you possibly have to believe you are right, when I tell you I am morally certain you are wrong, my love?" 66 My only reason for doubting it is, that I set my watch by the sun to-day."

5. "The sun must be wrong, then," cried the lady, hastily. "You need not laugh; for I know what I am saying — the variation, the declination, must be allowed for in computing it with the clock. Now, you know perfectly well what I mean, though you will not explain it for me, because you are conscious I am in the right."

6. 66 'Well, my dear, if you are conscious of it, that is sufficient; we will not dispute any more about such a trifle. Ar they bringing up dinner?"

7. "If they know that you are come in; but I am sure 1 cannot tell whether they do or not. Pray, my dear Mrs. Nettleby," cried the lady, turning to a female friend, and still holding her watch in hand, "what o'clock is it by you? There is obody in the world hates disputing about trifles so much as I

do, but I own I do love to convince people that I am in the right."

8. Mrs. Nettleby's watch had stopped. How provoking! Vexed at having no immediate means of convincing people that she was in the right, our heroine consoled herself by proceeding to criminate her husband, not in this particular instance, where he pleaded guilty, but upon the general charge of being always late for dinner, which he strenuously denied.? * * *

9. One morning, not long after this little dispute, Griselda and her husband were present, while Emma was busy showing some poor children how to plait straw, for hats. "Next summer, my dear, when we are settled at home," said Mr. Bolingbroke to his lady, "I hope you will encourage some manufacture of this kind among the children of our tenants."

10. "I have no genius for teaching manufactures of this sort," replied Mrs. Bolingbroke, scornfully. Her husband urged the matter no further. A few minutes afterward, he drew out a straw from a bundle which one of the children held. "This is a fine straw," said he, carelessly.

11. "Fine straw!" cried Mrs. Bolingbroke; "no, that is very coarse. This," continued she, pulling one from another bundle, "this is a fine straw, if "I think mine you please."

is the finer," said Mr. Bolingbroke.

12. "Then you must be blind, Mr. Bolingbroke," cried the lady, eagerly comparing them. "Well, my dear," said he, laughing, "we will not dispute about straws."

13. " No, indeed," said she; "but I observe, whenever you know you are in the wrong, Mr. Bolingbroke, you say, 'We will not dispute, my dear:' now, pray look at these straws, Mrs. Granby, you that have eyes, - which is the finer?"

14. "I will draw lots," said Emma, taking one playfully from Mrs. Bolingbroke; "for it seems to me that there is little or no difference between them." "No difference? O, my dear mma!" said Mrs. Bolingbroke."My dear Griselda," crien her husband, taking the other straw from her, and blowing it Away, "indeed, it is not worth disputing about: this is too childish."