At the hour of noon, when the clock had struck twelve, their aunt told them to leave their books, put on their hats, and go out to walk with her.

They went through some fields, and down a pretty lane, and on each side were tall oak, elm, and poplar trees, that made the lane look like a grove, and kept them from the rays of the sun.

At length, they came to a small, neat, white house, that stood on a green lawn, with bushes of lilac in full bloom before the windows; and near by was a large fish pond full of little fishes.

In the house they saw a fine looking boy of ten years of age, with light, brown hair, hazel eyes, and cheeks as red as a rose.

He came up to Albert and Helen and shook hands with them, and seemed joyful at seeing them, but did not say a word.

They thought it strange that he did not speak to them; and at last Albert said to him, him, "Your green would be a good place to play ball on, if it were not for the fish pond that is so near it. Do you play at ball, sir?"

The boy, whose name was Lucas, put his hand to his mouth, shook his head, got up from his chair, took his slate, wrote on it, and gave it to Albert, who read these words:

"I' can not speak to you. I do not hear what you say to me. I am a poor, deaf and dumb boy; but I shall be glad to please you, now you have been so kind as to come and see me. Please write down on this slate what you wish me to do.”

LESSON XVI.

MORE ABOUT THE DEAF AND DUMB BOY.

Albert took the slate, and when Helen read the words that were written on it, her eyes were full of tears, to think that such a sweet boy

should be deaf and dumb.

But Albert hung his head; for Lucas wrote so fine a hand, that Albert did not like to show that he could not write so well as he.

Helen knew what Albert was thinking of, for she had heard his teacher find fault with him, and had seen him write, when he did not take pains to learn to write a fine hand.

When they had been in the house a short time, Albert went to the hall door, and made a sign to Lucas, as much as to say, that they would like to go out.

Lucas led them round the green to the fish pond; and that they might see the fish, he threw in some crumbs of bread, to make the fish jump up to catch the bread in their mouth.

He next took them to the farm yard, to show them his pet lamb, which, as soon as it saw them, ran up to Lucas that he might rub its face and play with it.

But the lamb was full of tricks, and when Albert or Helen came near, it would try to butt them with its little horns.

In the same yard was a goat with two kids. The goats, the kids, the lamb, and the calves were all fond of Lucas, for he had a kind heart, and would not hurt them.

Albert and Helen staid that day and took dinner with Lucas, for they grew more and more fond of him. He was a boy of a sweet and gentle temper, and won the kindness of all who came to his house.

He drew as well as he wrote, and knew all the things that a deaf and dumb boy could well learn. He had a box of tools, and had made a bird cage, and a neat desk to write on.

It is a sad thing to be deaf and dumb, for much of what boys learn at school, and which it is right for them to know, can not be taught to a deaf and dumb child

Albert told his aunt, as they went home at night, that when he had grown to be a man, he would love Lucas, and try to be of use to him, since blind, or deaf and dumb men must want some one to guide and take care of them.

It is a sad thing not to see, or not to speak and hear; so that all boys and girls, who have their sight, and speech, and hearing, should be glad to make the best use of them.

While they are young, they should do what they are told by their friends, and then when they grow up they can be of great use to the world.