23. He had several letters of introduction tó people in the city; one to an old partner of his father, who had settled there some years before; another to some people of more consequence. Of course, Mr. Frank went to call upon the latter first, as there seemed a nice chance of making his fortune among such great folks. 24. And, really, the great folks would have been civil enough, if he had not spoiled every thing by what he called "making himself agreeable." He was too affectedly" polite, too talkative, too instructive by half! He assured the young ladies that he approved very highly of their singing'; trilled out a little song of his own, unasked, at his first visit'; fondled the pet lap-dog on his knee'; congratulated papa on looking wonderfully well for his age'; asked mamma if she had tried the last new spectacles'; and, in short, gave his opinions, advice, and information so freely, that as soon as he was gone all exclaimed, "What a disagreeable, impertinent fellow!" 25. Things went on in this way for some time, for he called very often, as he had too high an opinion of himself to take the hints that were thrown out that his visits were not agreeable. At last, however, he could find "nobody at home" when he called, as the young ladies managed to get out of his way, as he would not keep out of theirs. 26. The unfortunate young man was compelled to take the hint at last, and in his despondency he found a good friend in the waiter at the hotel. "I thought," murmured Frank, in broken, almost sobbing accents, "I thought— the young ladies-would have been delighted-with-my song; you see-I've been-so well taught and I can taught—and sing_"* 27. "Pooh! pooh! nonsense!" interrupted the waiter. "What's the use of singing, if you've not been asked'? Much better go to bed." Poor Frank, deeply mortified, *This is a difficult passage, as its proper reading requires an imitation of the sobbing, broken accents of the young man. now gave himself up to tears, and ordered his dinner up stairs, for he felt as though he could not be seen by any body. The folly of his past conduct, and of his mother's advice, appeared to him, all at once, in a new light. 28. Before the waiter had been gone five minutes, he returned with a letter in his hand. Frank trembled as he took it. It was an invitation to dinner from his father's old partner. Frank threw the note on the floor-declared he would go nowhere-would see nobody any more! 29. The "officious$ fellow"-as he would have called the waiter at another time-took up the note and read it. "Why'!" said he, "it's from your father's old partner'! he wishes you had called'; but as you haven't called', he asks you to dinner'. Now you're wanted', Mr. Frank', and must go." 30. "But I shall only get into difficulty again'," cried he, despondingly. "Nonsense. You've only to keep out of every body's way', and all will be right'," insisted the waiter, as he left the room. 31. "Only to keep out of every body's way', and all will be right," repeated Frank to himself, as he looked at his crestfallen face in the glass. "It's not the rule mother gave me for getting on in life'!" 32. Frank went, trembling for the consequences, but resolved to take his father's advice this time'. In truth', he felt that he had no courage now to "put himself forward." It was the funniest thing in the world to hear him, as he went along, repeating to himself, "All you have to do, with your advantages, is to-make yourself-no, no! not to make myself agreeable-is to-keep out of the way! That's it!"* 33. When Frank arrived at the house, he rang the bell so gently that he had to ring twice before he was heard. When he was ushered into the drawing-room, the old partner came forward to meet him, took him kindly by the This is another somewhat difficult passage. Observe the sudden change of manner No, no!" and "That's it!" hands, and, after one searching look into his downcast face, said, 34. "My dear Mr. Frank, you must put on a bolder face, and ring a louder peal, next time you come to the house of your father's old friend'!" Frank answered this warm greeting" by a sickly smile; and while he was being introduced to the rest of the family, kept bowing on, thinking of nothing but how he was to keep out of every body's way. 35. He could scarcely answer their kind greetings with any thing more than "Yes" and "No," "Perhaps so," "Do you think so?" and other such little phrases. 36. "How shy he is, poor fellow!" thought the ladies; and then they talked to him all the more. They asked him a thousand questions. They chatted of books', and music', and drawing', and pressed him hard to discover what he knew', what he could do', and what he liked best'; and when it came out from his short answers that he had read certain books-and in more than one language'; and could sing-just a little'; and dance-just a little'; and do several other things—just a little, too', they were delighted' with him. "Ah! when you know us better'," said they, "and are not so shy of us as strangers', we shall find out that you are as clever again as you pretend' to be, Mr. Frank'!" 37. "I'll tell you what'," added the old partner, coming up at this moment, "it's a perfect treat' to me, Mr. Frank', to have a young man like you in my house'! You're your father all over' again—and I can't praise you more'. He was the most modest', unobtrusive man in all our town'; and yet he knew more of his business' than all of us put together. 38. "However, my dear boy-for I really must call you so it was that very thing that made your father's fortune': I mean, that he was just as unpretending as he was clever. Every body trusts an unpretending' man. And you'll make your fortune, too, in the same manner, before long. Now, boys'!" added he, turning to his sons, "you hear what I say, and take the hint!" 39. It is surprising how rapidly Master Frank got along after this', and how many attentions were thrust upon him, all because, as every body said, he was "such an agreeable young man, and as modest as he was well educated!" He had been really humbled, and he was greatly changed in character; but the more he tried to "keep out of the way'," the more he was brought forward'! What a world of contradictions this is'! 40. It was a jovial day for good old Mr. and Mrs. Worthy, when, two years after Master Frank had set out on his travels, he returned home, a partner in the old partner's business, with one of his smiling daughters for his bride. ■ DIS-MISS', send away. HAND-SOME, large; ample; liberal. d LEIS'-URE-LY, deliberately; not hastily. e POM-POUS-LY, haughtily; with much pa- RE-CALL-ING, calling to mind. h DIS-PO-SI-TION, inclination; intention. Adapted.-MRS. GATTY. CON-SPIC'-U-ous, prominent; public. m AP-PLAUD'-ING, praising; commending. "AF-FECT-ED-LY, unnaturally. • AS-SURED' (ash-shured'), told in an ap- P IM-PER-TI-NENT, intrusive; meddling. " GREET-ING, expressions of kindness. [Old Mr. Worthy and his wife-how they enjoyed themselves. Master Frank. The conflicting advice which he received. Frank and the stage-driver. Frank's two adventures at the public dinner-table. The waiter's advice. Frank at the public concert. His letters of introduction. He calls upon "the great folks." Frank and the waiter again. A change in Frank's character. He goes to call upon his father's old partner. His reception. What resulted from his trying to keep out of the way. His return home. This narrative piece, introduced by a description of Mr. and Mrs. Worthy, relates the history of Master Frank's adventures on leaving home to seek his fortune. Its leading object is to show the effects of the wrong ideas which Frank at first entertained, and to illustrate the two different phases of character resulting from the different kinds of advice which were given to him. It will be found an excellent lesson, throughout, for elocutionary drill, owing to its varied conversational style, and the many sudden changes of manner introduced.] LESSON XLVI. THE CLOCK AND THE DIAL.-A Fable. 1. It happened on a cloudy morn, A dial thus bespoke: "My learned friend'! if in thy power, 2. The modest dial thus replied: "That point I can not now decide; My information, drawn from him— 3. "Wait for him, then'," returned the clock; One winding serves me for a week; 4. While thus the boaster was deriding, A sunbeam, clear and strong, Showed on the line three quarters more'; 5. On this the dial calmly said (More prompt to advise than to upbraid), Thou answer'st without hesitation', 6. "Observe my practice, shun pretense: An answer meet supplies'; Blush not to say, 'I can not tell':' a BE-SPOKE', spoke to; addressed. DE LA MOTTE. f DE-RĪD'-ING, ridiculing; mocking at. master. h PRE-TENSE', pretension; false claims. |