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large, brilliant, black eyes looked upon the soft, timid, expression of the animal, and he saw it tremble with fear in its narrow prison-house, his heart swelled with pity, and he urged, with eloquent words, that the captive might again go free.

8. "God," he said, "had made the woodchuck; he made him to live, to enjoy the bright sunlight, the pure air, the free fields and woods. God had not made him, or any thing, in vain; the woodchuck had as much right to life as any other living thing.

9. "He was not a destructive animal, as the wolf and the fox were; he simply ate a few common vegetables, of which they had plenty, and could well spare a part; he destroyed nothing except the little food he needed to sustain his humble life; and that little food was as sweet to him, and as necessary to his existence, as was to them the food upon his mother's table.

10. "God furnished their own food; he gave them all they possessed; and would they not spare a little for the dumb creature, that really had as much right to his small share of God's bounty, as they themselves had to their portion'?

11. "Yea, more, the animal had never violated the laws of his nature or the laws of God, as man often did; but strictly followed the simple, harmless instincts he had received from the hand of the Creator of all things. Created by God's hand, he had a right—a right from God-to life, to food, to liberty; and they had no right to deprive him of either."

12. He alluded to the mute, but earnest pleadings of the animal for that life, as sweet, as dear to him, as their own was to them, and the just judgment they might expect, if, in selfish cruelty and cold heartlessness, they took the life they could not restore again-the life that God alone had given.

13. During this appeal, the tears had started to the old

man's eyes, and were fast running down his sun-burnt cheeks: every feeling of a father's heart was stirred within him; he saw the future greatness of his son before his eyes; he felt that God had blessed him in his children, beyond the lot of

most men.

14. His pity and sympathy were awakened by the eloquent words of compassion, and the strong appeal for mercy; and, forgetting the judge in the man and father, he sprang from his chair, (while Daniel was in the midst of his argument, without thinking he had already won his case,) and, turning to his older son, dashing the tears from his eyes, exclaimed, "Ezekiel, Ezekiel, you let that woodchuck go!"

QUESTIONS.-1. What did Ezekiel propose to do with the woodchuck after he was caught? 2. What argument did he offer for so doing? 3. What did Daniel wish to do with him? 4. What argument did he offer? 5. What was their father's decision?

LESSON XV.

SOLVE, explain; work out.
PROBLEM, question for solution.
COM PELL' ED, obliged.
IN' DO LENT, idle; lazy.
DINT, force; means.

CON' SCIOUS, self-perceived; felt.
DEM ON STRA' TION, formal proof
RE CLIN'ING, leaning back.
PON' DER$, weighs; examines.
PROCESS, operation.

DO IT YOURSELF.

1. Do not ask the teacher or some classmate to solve that hard problem. DO IT YOURSELF. You might as well let

"do

him eat your dinner as sums" for you. your It is in studying as in eating; he who does it, gets the benefit, and not he who sees it done. In almost any school, the teacher learns more than the best scholars, simply because he is

compelled to solve all the difficult problems, and answer all the questions of the indolent pupils.

2. Do not ask your teacher to parse that difficult word, or assist you in the performance of any of your studies. DO IT YOURSELF. Never mind, though they do look dark. Do not ask even a hint from any one. TRY AGAIN. Every trial increases your ability, and you will finally succeed by dint of the very wisdom and strength gained in the effort, even though, at first, the problem was beyond your skill. It is the study, and not the answer, that really rewards your labor.

Once or

3. Look at that boy, who has just succeeded, after six hours of hard study. How his large eye is lit up with a proud joy, as he marches to his class! He treads like a conqueror ! And well he may. Last night his lamp burned, and this morning he waked at dawn. twice he nearly gave it up. He had tried his last thought; but a new thought strikes him, and he ponders the last process. He tries once more, and succeeds; and now mark the air of conscious strength with which he pronounces his demonstration.

4. His poor, weak schoolmate, who gave up that same problem, after his first trial, now looks up to him with something of a wonder, as a superior being. And he is his superior. That problem lies there, a great gulf between those boys who stood side by side yesterday.

5. The boy who did it for himself, has taken a stride upward, and what is better still, has gained strength to take other and better ones. The boy who waited to see others do it, has lost both strength and courage, and is already looking for some good excuse to give up school and study-forever.

6. DO IT YOURSELF.

Remember the counsel given to the

artist, who lay reclining upon his couch, and wondering what the fates would work out for him. Directing his attention to a block of unhewn marble, with a chisel lying by its side, the sculptor in the vision is represented as thus addressing him: "Sir,

"There's the marble, there's the chisel,

Take it, work it to thy will;
Thou alone must shape thy future,

Heaven send thee strength and skill!"

QUESTIONS.-1. Who is benefited in studying? 2. What really rewards the labor of study? 3. What is said of the boy who succeeded, after six hours of hard study? 4. What, of the boy who gave up, after the first trial? 5. What counsel was given to the artist who wondered what the fates would work out for him?

How are the words to be read, which are printed in Italics and in capitals? See page 22, Note III.

LESSON XVI.

SLACK' EN, relax; lessen.
EN DEAV' OR, effort; exertion.
WHOLE' SOME, useful; salutary.
Ex CEL', surpass; outdo.

OUT STRIP' PED, outrun; excelled.
SUR PASS' ED, excelled.

VIC' TO RY, conquest; triumph.

UT'TER MOST, very best.
DAR' ING, courage; bravery.
DE FECT', fault; deficiency.
RE PIN' ING, fretting; complaining.
UN A VAILING, vain; useless.
COR RECT', amend; make right.
MAX' IM, proverb; saying.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

1. Life is a race, where some succeed,
While others are beginning;

'Tis luck, at times, at others, speed,
That gives an early winning.

But, if you chance to fall behind,
Ne'er slacken your endeavor;

Just keep this wholesome truth in mind:
Tis better late than never!

2. If you can keep ahead, 'tis well;
But never trip your neighbor;
'Tis noble when you can excel
By honest, patient labor.
But, if you are outstripped, at last,
Press on, as bold as ever;
Remember, though you are surpassed,

'Tis better late than never!

3. Ne'er labor for an idle boast
Of victory o'er another;

But, while you strive your uttermost,
Deal fairly with a brother.
Whate'er your station, do your best,

And hold your purpose ever;
And, if you fail to beat the rest,
'Tis better late than never !

4. Choose well the path in which you run,— Succeed by noble daring;

Then, though the last, when once 'tis won,
Your crown is worth the wearing.

Then never fret, if left behind,

Nor slacken your endeavor;
But ever keep this truth in mind:

'Tis better late than never!

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