Not in gain art thou so blest 3. If thou to the Past wilt go, But the path once trodden, know, 4. Let not thy good hope depart, Rouse thy strength anew, brave heart! 5. Yet shall every rampant wrong Soon thy foes, though proud and strong, In defeat be flying; Then shall a triumphant song Take the place of sighing. J. K. Lombard. LESSON VIII. OBEY ORDERS. 1. One day an English farmer, while at work in his fields, saw a party of horsemen riding about his farm. He had one field that he was particularly anxious that they should not ride over, as the crop was in a condition to be greatly injured by the tramp of horses. So he dispatched one of his boys, a lad about thirteen years of age, to the field, telling him to shut the gate, and to keep watch over it, on no account permitting any one to open it. 2. The boy went as he was bidden, but was scarcely at his post when the huntsmen came up, and peremptorily ordered the gate to be opened. This the boy declined to do, stating the orders he had received and his determination not to disobey them. Threats and bribes were offered, alike in vain, as one after another came forward as spokesman. The boy, however, remained immovable in his determination not to open the gate. 3. After a while, one of lofty stature and noble presence advanced, and said in commanding tones, "My boy, do you not know me? I am the Duke of Wellington, one not accustomed to be disobeyed; and I command you to open that gate, that I and my friends may pass through." 4. The boy lifted his cap, and stood uncovered before the man whom all England delighted to honor; then, in a firm tone of voice, said, "I am sure the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey the orders of my master, who has told me to keep this gate shut, and not suffer any one to pass without his express permission." 5. Greatly pleased at this reply, the sturdy old warrior lifted his own hat, and said, "I honor the man or boy who is faithful to his duty, and who can neither be bribed nor frightened into doing wrong. With an army of soldiers as trustworthy as that, I could conquer, not only the French, but the world." 6. Then, handing the boy a glittering sovereign, the old duke put spurs to his horse and galloped away with his company; while the boy ran off to his work, shouting at the top of his voice, "HURRAH, HURRAH! I've done what Napoleon could not do, I've kept back the Duke of Wellington!" DEFINITIONS. Ac cus' tomed, used; habituated. Im mov' a ble, not to be moved; firmly fixed; unalterable. Per' emp tor i ly, positively; in a decided manner. Sov'er eign, an English gold coin, of the value of one pound, or about $4.87. Sturdy, having strength and firmness. War'rior (war'yur), one experienced and skillful in war. LESSON IX. THE WHITE GIANT. 1. One afternoon, about a hundred years ago, a boy was sitting in his grandmother's kitchen, apparently doing nothing in particular, but really holding a very remarkable conversation with whom do you think? A white giant! 2. Now, nothing could be more unlikely than that a giant should be found in a plain little Scotch kitchen not more than eight feet high from the bare floor to the rough rafters above, especially as a horseshoe had been hung by the chimney-side, and the old lady's Bible, with her silver-rimmed spectacles on the top of it, lay on the shelf. Nevertheless, there was a giant; and the only two eyes in all Scotland who could perceive him were gazing intently on the place of his imprison ment. 3. Was the giant shut up, then? O yes! and in his proper state, he was quite invisible; but when he did appear in plain view, it was in the form of a very old man, with long, white hair and beard, which seemed to enwrap him as in a garment, a garment whiter than snow. Hence his name, the White Giant. 4. The way he made himself known to the boy was very curious. Sitting by the fire, James * had noticed that the lid of the tea-kettle was in a singular state of agitation. It would rise and fall, and flutter up and down in a very excited manner; and, coming as he did of a race that had believed for centuries in witches and goblins, and many other supernatural creatures, the boy naturally began to suspect that some imprisoned force or other was beneath it, struggling to get free. *James Watt, born at Greenock, in Scotland, January 19, 1736, noted for his discoveries and inventions in relation to the steam-engine. 5. "Who are you?" said he, very quietly; "and what do you want, that you are so restless and excited?" Space, freedom, and something to do!" cried the captive giant from within. Softly softly! you have not told me yet who you are," said James. 6. "No matter who I am. I'm pressed down here into nothing at all, and I am a great strong giant that wants room to work and to be free." "Well, well! there's work enough to be done," said James. "Never was a race that wanted more done for it. But what 7. "Try me and see. No one can do more. I will carry I your ships, draw your carriages, and lift all your weights. will plow your fields, sow the grain, and reap and thrash the harvests. I will hew away mountains and build roads. I will turn all the wheels in all your factories. I will weave your cloths, and print your books, and carry them to the ends of the earth. In short, I will do every thing that strength can do, and you shall be the brain that directs. I will be the faithful servant to fulfill all your commands." 8. "Here's a singular treasure to be found in an old copper tea-kettle!" cried James, rubbing his eyes to be sure he was not dreaming. "Only shows the use of having your eyes open," replied his strange companion. "I am one of the forces that were created to work for you; but you have a fancy for drudgery, it seems, and prefer to dig and weave for yourselves." "Indeed, we prefer no such thing," said James, laughing. "We are told that it is one of our great vices to require other people to work for us while we sit idle." 9. "That is very true when it is your brethren that you are enslaving," replied the giant; "but you have not found out |