"Because I could not make the letters."

"No! Why, how do you think other boys do? Have they more fingers than you?"

"No, sir."

"Are you not able to hold a pen as well as a marble?" Samuel was silent.

"Let me look at your hand?" Samuel held out both his paws like a dancing bear.

"I see nothing here to hinder you from writing as well as any boy in the school. You can read, I suppose?"

66

Yes, sir."

"Tell me what is written over the school-room door."

Samuel, with some hesitation, read—

"Whatever man has done man can do."

"Pray how did you learn to read? Was it not by taking pains?"

"Yes, sir."

Well, taking more pains will enable you to read better. Do you know anything of the Latin grammar?"

No, sir."

"Have you never learned it?"

"I tried, sir, but I could not get it by heart."

"Why, you can say some things by heart. I dare say you can tell me the names of the days of the week in their order?" Yes, sir, I know them."

"And the months in the year, perhaps?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you could probably repeat the names of your brothers and sisters, and all your father's servants, and half the people in the village besides?"

"I believe I could, sir."

"Well, and is hic, hæc, hoc, more difficult to remember than these?"

Samuel was silent.

"Have you learned anything of accounts?

"I went into addition, sir, but I did not go cn with it.”

"How many marbles can you buy for a penny.?"

"Twelve new ones, sir."

"And how many for a halfpenny?' "Six."

"And how many for twopence ?" "Twenty-four."

"If you were to have a penny a day, what would that make in a week?"

"Sevenpence."

"But if you paid twopence out of that, what would you have left?"

Samuel studied a-while and then said, "Fivepence."

"Right. Why here you have been practising the four great rules of arithmetic, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Learning accounts is no more than this. Well, Samuel, I see what you are fit for. I shall set you about nothing but what you are able to do; but, observe, you must do it. We have no I can't here. Now go among your schoolfellows."

Samuel went away, glad that his examination was over, and with more confidence in his powers than he had felt before.

The next day he began business. A boy less than himself was called out to set him a copy of letters, and another was appointed to hear him grammar. He read a few sentences in English that he could perfectly understand to the master himself. Thus, by going on steadily and slowly, he made a sensible progress. He had already joined his letters, got all his declensions perfectly, and half the multiplication table, when Mr. Wiseman thought it time to answer his father's letter, which he did as follows:

Sir, I now think it right to give you some information concerning your son. You perhaps expected it sooner; but I always wish to avoid hasty judgments. You mentioned in your letter that it had not yet been discovered which way his genius pointed If by genius you meant such a decided bent of mind to any one pursuit as will lead to excel with little or no labour and instruction, I must say that I have not met with such a quality in more than three or four boys in my life, and your son is certainly not among the number. But if you mean only the ability to do some of the things which the greater part of mankind can do when properly taught, I can affirm that I find in him no peculiar

deficiency; and whether you choose to bring him up to trade or to some practical profession, I see no reason to doubt that he may, in time, become sufficiently qualified for it. It is my favourite maxim, sir, that everything most valuable in this life may generally be acquired by taking pains for it. Your son has already lost much time in the fruitless expectation of finding out what he would take up of his own accord. Believe me, sir, few boys will take up anything of their own accord but a top or a marble. I will take care, while he is with me, that he loses no more time in this way; but is employed about things that are fit for him, not doubting that we shall find him fit for them.—I am, sir, yours, &c., "RICHARD WISEMAN."

Though the doctrine of this letter did not perfectly agree with Mr. Acres's notions, yet, being convinced that Mr. Wiseman was more likely to make something of his son than any of his former preceptors, he continued him at the school for some years, and had the satisfaction to find him going on in a steady course of gradual improvement. In due time a profession was chosen for him, which seemed to suit his temper and talents; but for which he had no particular turn, having never thought at all about it. He made a respectable figure in it, and went through the world with credit and usefulness, though without a genius.

The Battle of Agincourt.

AIR stood the wind for France
When we our sails advance,
Nor now to prove our chance
Longer will tarry;

But, putting to the main,
At Kaux, the mouth of Seine,
With all his martial train,
Landed King Harry.

And, taking many a fort
Furnished in warlike sort,
Marched towards Agincourt
In happy hour-

They now to fight are gone;
Armour on armour shone,
Drum now to drum did groan;
To hear was wonder:

That with the cries they make
The very earth did shake;
Trumpet to trumpet spake,
Thunder to thunder.

Well it thine age became,
O noble Erpingham,
Which did the signal aim
To our hid forces;
When from a meadow by,
Like a storm suddenly,
The English archery

Struck the French horses

With Spanish yew so strong,
Arrows a cloth-yard long,
That like to serpents stung,
Piercing the weather.
None from his fellow starts,
But, playing manly parts,
And like true English hearts,
Stuck close together.

When down their bows they threw
And forth their bilbows drew,

And on the French they flew,

Not one was tardy;

Arms were from shoulders sent,

Scalps to the teeth were rent,

Down the French peasants went

Our men were hardy.

This while our noble king,

His broad sword brandishing,

Down the French host did ding,

As to o'erwhelm it;

And many a deep wound lent-
His arms with blood besprent-
And many a cruel dent

Bruised his helmet.

Gloucester, that duke so good,
Next of the royal blood,
For famous England stood,

With his brave brother;