5. "How could we all contrive to go so crookedly, when the ground is so smooth, and there is nothing to turn us out of the way?" said Jacob Small.

"How did you come to go straight, Henry?" said Thomas.

"I fixed my eye on that tall pine tree on the hill yonder, and never looked away from it till I reached the fence."

6. "I went as straight as I could, without looking at any thing but the ground," said James.

"So did I," said another.

"So did I," said several others. It appeared that no one but Henry had aimed at a particular object.

7. They attempted to go straight without any definite aim. They failed. Men can not succeed in any thing good without a definite aim. In order to mental improvement there must be a definite aim. do good there must be a definite aim. poses, general resolutions, will not avail.

In order to General purYou must do

as Henry did-fix upon something distinct and definite as an object, and go steadily forward to it. Thus only can you succeed.

XVI. NELL'S CHICKENS.

1. A tall little maid, with a thoughtful face,
With woodland secrets wise,

A springing step of untaught grace,
And the happiest, clear blue eyes.

2. In she comes, like a fresh May breeze;
"Would you like to come out and see

My chickens at supper? Make haste, please,
For they are expecting me."

3. Then out through the stoop, past the woodshed door, Tapping her pan like a drum,

While hens and chickens, a dozen, a score,

To meet her, hurrying come.

4. "Ah Beauty, ah Pet, don't be greedy, I beg!
Here's Bertha-my birthday she came—
This morning she gave me her very first egg.
Come, Bertha. See, isn't she tame?

5. "This is the Duchess, you see, with a ruff
Round her neck, and this little Cream -
Such a queer little mother, with chickens enough
To drive her distracted, 'twould seem.

6. "Peter, stop crowding poor dear little Star
(Old fellow, he's handsome but vain);
That's Buffy, and Duffy's as yellow, but far
Better natured, and rather more plain.

7. "Marooney, Rooney, here's plenty for you-
She's always behind the rest;

That's Velvet-you wouldn't believe it true
If I told where I found her nest.

8. "In Betty's manger

she's father's best cow

Right under her kind old eyes;

There's Beauty's, just up in that big hay-mow,
Every egg of her's is a prize.

9. "Now, Goldy and Topknot, just show us your brood The dear little soft, downy things!

Do you like corn-porridge, little dears? Is it good? Such funny beginnings of wings!

10. "This is all; so good night! Now hurry to bedI must hunt for your eggs right away."

And over the barn ran the

little maid,

spry With a tumble or two in the hay.

L. G. WARNER.

XVII.

PERSEVERANCE WINS.

1. About thirty years ago (said Judge P.) I stepped into a book store in Cincinnati, in search of some books I wanted. While there, a little ragged boy not over twelve years of age came in and inquired for a geography.

2. "Plenty of them," was the salesman's reply. "How much do they cost?"

"One dollar, my lad."

"I did not know how much they were.

3. He turned to go out, and even opened the door, but closed it again and came back. "I have only sixtytwo cents," said he; "could you let me have the geography and wait a little while for the rest of the money?"

4. How eagerly the little bright eyes looked for an answer; and how he seemed to shrink within his ragged clothes when the man, not very kindly, told him he could not. The disappointed little fellow looked up to me, with a very poor attempt at a smile, and left the store. I followed him and overtook him.

5. "And what now?" I asked.

"Try another place, sir."

"Shall I go, too, and see how you succeed?" "O yes, if you like," said he, in surprise.

6. Four different stores I entered with him, and each time he was refused.

"Will you try again?" I asked.

"Yes, sir, I shall try them all, or I should not know whether I could get one."

7. We entered the fifth store, and the little fellow walked up manfully and told the gentleman just what he wanted and how much money he had.

8. "You want the book very much?" said the proprietor.

"Yes, sir, very much."

"Why do you want it so very much?"

66

9. To study, sir. I can not go to school, but I study when I can at home. All the boys have geographies, and they will get ahead of me if I do not get one. Besides, my father was a sailor, and I want to learn of the places where he used to go."

10. "Does he go to these places now?" asked the proprietor.

"He is dead,” said the boy, softly. Then he added, after awhile, "I am going to be a sailor, too."

"Are you, though?" asked the gentleman, raising his eyebrows curiously.

"Yes, sir, if I live."

11. “Well, my lad, I will tell you what I will do; I will let you have a new geography, and you may pay the remainder of the money when you can; or I will let you have one that is not new for fifty cents."

"Are the leaves all in it, and just like the others, only not new?"

"Yes, just like the new ones."

12. "It will do just as well, then, and I shall have twelve cents left toward buying some other book. I am glad they did not let me have one at any of the other places."

13. The bookseller looked up inquiringly, and I told him what I had seen of the little fellow. He was much pleased, and when he brought the book along I saw a nice new pencil and some clean white paper in it.

14. "A present, my lad, for your perseverance. Always have courage like that, and you will make your mark," said the bookseller.

"Thank you, sir, you are very good."

"What is your name?"

"William Haverley, sir."

15. "Do you want any more books?" I now asked him.

"More than I can ever get," he replied, glancing at the books that filled the shelves.

I gave him a bank note. "It will buy some for you,” I said.

Tears of joy came into his eyes.

"Can I buy what I want with it?”

"Yes, my lad, anything."

16. "Then I will buy a book for mother," said he. "I thank you very much, and some day I hope I can pay you back."

He wanted my name, and I gave it to him. Then I left him standing by the counter, so happy that I almost envied him, and many years passed before I saw him again.

XVIII.-CAPTAIN WM. HAVERLEY.
(SUBJECT CONTINUED.)

1. Last year I went to Europe on one of the finest vessels that ever plowed the waters of the Atlantic. We had very beautiful weather until near the end of the voyage; then came a most terrible storm, and the ship would have sunk, with all on board, had it not been for the captain.

2. Every spar was laid low, the rudder was almost useless, and a great leak had shown itself, threatening to fill the ship with water. The crew were strong and willing men, and the mates were practical seamen of the first class.

3. After pumping for one whole night, and the water still gaining upon them, they gave up in despair, and prepared to take the boats, though they might have known that no small boat could ride such a sea.