LESSON XXVI.

LANGUAGES.

JAMES came up to his father one day, and said, "Father, here is a quèer sort of book. I cannot understand it; all the words are so strange. The letters are all the same as those in my books; but the words do not make sense."

James's father told him it was a Latin book; and that the Latins were people who lived long ago, in a different part of the world, and who spoke different words from ours; but that people among us, who wished to read Latin books, had first to learn the words of the Latin language, by the help of persons who teach Latin.

The Latins used different words, but the same letters that we do. So James knew the lêtters, but not the words;* just as little children do not know the meaning of the long, hard words which they find in books for grown people, in our own language.

James's father told him there are many languages in the world, not at all like ours; and

* In close verbal distinctions, the circumflex, or wave, is appropriately used, for the sake of special emphasis, and exact discrimination.

so there are many books which we cannot understand, till we study them a long while, and read many of them.

Our language is called the English language, because it was first spoken by the English people. But James might have found many English books that he could not understand much more than the Latin one. For there are all kinds of books, about all kinds of things; and if we do not understand the things they tell of, we cannot understand the words in them. Some books we cannot understand till we are grown up. But if we keep on reading one book after another, as we grow older, we shall know more and more, till, at last, we can understand all books.

James's father told him, too, that, when he become old enough, he should learn Latin. "And then," said James, "shall I know what all these strange-looking words in this book mean?" "Yes," said his father. "I shall be glad of that," said James. "But now it

seems to me all like a dream."

"So it is al

ways," said his father, "when we look forward to what we do not know; just as it seems to you, now, to think sometimes of what you shall do, when you are a man. But days come and

go, and years pass, and then what we could not understand, is all plain. All you have to do, nów, is to get your lessons well, every dày; and in good time you will be a learned màn, if you live."

LESSON XXVII.

THE LITTLE LORD AND THE FARMER'S BOY.

A LITTLE lord, engaged in play,
Carelessly threw his ball away:
So far beyond the brook it flew,
His lordship knew not what to do.

It chanced there passed a farmer's boy,
Whistling a tune in childish joy :

His frock was patched, and his hat was old,
But the farmer's heart was very bold.

"You little chap! pick up my ball!"
His saucy lordship loud did call:-
He thought it useless to be polite
To one whose clothes were in such a plight.

"Do it yourself, for want of me,"
The boy replied right manfully;
Then quietly he passed along,
Whistling aloud his favourite song,

His little lordship furious grew,—
For he was proud | and hasty too

"I'll break your bones," he rudely cries,
While fire was flashing from his eyes.

And heedless quite what steps he took,
He tumbled plump into the brook;
And as he fell, he dropped his bat,
And next, he lost his beaver hat.

"Come, help me out!" enraged he cried-
But the sturdy farmer thus denied:
"Alter your tone, my little man,
And then I'll help you all I can.

There are few things I would not dare
For gentlemen who speak me fair;
But for rûde words | I do not choose
To tire my feet | and wet my shoes."

“Plèase help me," then his lordship said;
"I'm sorry I was so ill-bréd."
""T is all forgòt," replied the boy,
And gave his hand with honest joy.

The proffered aid his lordship took,
And soon came safely from the brook:
His looks were downcast and aside,
For he felt ashamed of his silly pride.

The farmer brought his ball and bat,
And wiped the wet from his dripping hat;
And he mildly said, as he went away,
"Remember the lesson you've learned to-day.

Be kind to all you chance to meet,
In field, or lane, or crowded street :-

Anger and pride | are both unwise,-
Vinegar never catches flies."

LESSON XXVIII.

HONESTY.

ONE rainy day, a little company of children, who had met to spend the day, were playing, within doors, at keeping school; and one was putting out words to the rest, and asking them to give the meanings. They soon came to a word to which they could not give the meaning. So one of the little girls at whose house they were, said to her mother, who was sitting by, "Mother, what does honesty mean?"

The mother said, "It means not taking, without leave, what is not ours. Perhaps you would like to hear a story about honesty. I will read you this one."

"When Frank and his mother were walking in a field which led to a garden, Frank ran on before his mother. They came to a stile, upon the highest step of which, a boy of about Frank's size, was sitting. He had a hat upon his knees, in which there were some nuts; and he was picking the white kernel of a nut out of its shell.

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