G. Is n't that enough so?

Mr. N. Think a moment;

money, - has your father

anything else he could so well spare? Has he any super

fluous boy or girl?

G. I think not!

Mr. N. A useless arm?

G. O no!

Mr. N. Or his eyesight, or his honor, could he do without these? Come, what is there he could better lose than money?

G. I suppose worse things could happen to us than poverty.

Mr. N. Is it possible! Why, then, when people speak of a man being unfortunate, do they always mean that he has lost property?-as if property were the only really good thing in the world!— What's your name?

Mr. N. You look like a good, strong boy, Gabriel. Have you ever been in a store?

G. No; I only left school last week. I left because

Mr. N. Because your father was unfortunate. I understand. Well, the loss of money is a misfortune, since it involves the loss of other things. So, you did n't wish to leave school, eh?

G. O, sir! if I only could have kept on! But of course I could n't. I must earn my own living now.

Mr. N. Ay, ay, and I 've no doubt that will prove your best education. It will give you experience, knowledge of the world, character. Manhood is better than Greek. Self-reliance is worth more to a man than Latin.

G. I'd rather have them and Greek and Latin too.

Mr.N.

But what if you cannot?

G. (laughing). Then I'll take what I can get.

Mr. N.

That's the way to talk! When the man sent for cake," John," says he, "if you can't get cake, get smelts." He was a wise man.

G. But what if I can't even get smelts?

Mr. N. Eh?

G. I mean,-a place.

Mr. N. Ha, ha! Well! we 'll see about that.-Thomas Tray, this is our youngest clerk, Gabriel Bennett. Gabriel,

this is our head clerk, Mr. Tray. I hope you will get along well together. Gabriel, mind Thomas! Thomas, be good to Gabriel!

G. O, sir! what will my father say?

Mr. N. Not that he is unfortunate, I hope, as long as he has such a son as you! Introduce him to the other clerks, Thomas, and give him a stool. Am not I a fortunate man? for a lad like that than make a

(Gabriel and clerk go out.) I'd rather do a good turn thousand dollars.

XI. — THE MILKMAID.

A

I.

MILKMAID, who poised a full pail on her head, Thus mused on her prospects in life, it is said: "Let's see I should think that this milk would procure One hundred good eggs, or fourscore to be sure.

Some of these may be broken, and some may be rotten ;
But if twenty for accidents should be detached,
It will leave me just sixty sound eggs to be hatched.

Which will leave fifty chickens to boil or to roast.

IV.

"But, then, there's their barley how much will they need? Why, they take but one grain at a time when they feed;

So that's a mere trifle ; now, then, let us see,

At a fair market price, how much money there 'll be.

"Six shillings a pair five To prevent all mistakes, that Now, what will that make?

V.

four - three-and-six ;

low price I will fix ;
fifty chickens I said

Fifty times three-and-sixpence — I'll ask Brother Ned.

"O, but stop!

VI.

three-and-sixpence a pair I must sell 'cm; now, then, let us tell 'em ;

Well, a pair is a couple

A couple in fifty will go (my poor brain !) —

Why, just a score times, and five pair will remain.

VII.

"Twenty-five pair of fowls-now how plaguesome it is
That I can't reckon up as much money as this!
Well, there's no use in trying; so let's give a guess;
I will say twenty pounds, and it can't be much less.

VIII.

"Twenty pounds, I am certain, will buy me a cow,
Thirty geese, two turkeys, and eight pigs, anyhow;
Now, if these turn out well, at the end of the year
I shall fill both my pockets with guineas, 't is clear.

IX.

"Then I'll bid that old tumble-down hovel good-by ;
My mother she'll scold, and my sisters they 'll cry;
But I won't care a crow's egg for all they can say ;
I sha' n't go to stop with such beggars as they!

X.

But forgetting her burden, when this she had said,
The maid superciliously tossed up her head;

When, alas for her prospects! her milk-pail descended;
And so all her schemes for the future were ended.

XI.

This moral, I think, may be safely attached:

Reckon not on your chickens before they are hatched.

EXERCISE.

Jeffreys Taylor.

1. A milkmaid poised a full pail on her head.

2. She mused on her prospects in life.

3. This milk will procure fourscore good eggs.

4. How plaguesome it is that I can't reckon up so much money. 5. I will bid that tumble-down hovel good-by.

6. She forgot her burden when she had said this.

7. The maid superciliously tossed up her head.

8. Her milk-pail descended; and so all her schemes for the future were ended.

XII. THE CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.

T was towards the last of June, 1759, that the English

Orleans, a few miles below Quebec. Here Wolfe had an opportunity to examine the difficulties he had to overcome. He perceived that they were very great, but declared to his friends that he would either take the city or die in the attempt.

2. He devised various schemes, and made several efforts, but without success. Montcalm, the French commander, was exceedingly vigilant, and even the confident spirit of Wolfe began to be dejected.

3. But at length a narrow path was discovered, by which the soldiers might climb the heights of Abraham, and thus overlook the forts and the town. Wolfe knew that if he could get possession of these heights, he should obtain a great advantage. Accordingly, he resolved to make the attempt. But it was necessary that the enterprise should be conducted with the greatest secrecy.

4. In the stillness of night, a part of the army landed at the foot of the cliff which overhung the river. They were ready to climb the rocks by daybreak. Wolfe was himself among them, and they began their difficult task.

5. Clambering up the steep, they caught hold of roots, bushes, and angles of the rocks, and at length stood safe upon the plain above. Before sunrise the whole army had gained the heights, and were all arranged under their several leaders.

6. When Montcalm heard of all this, he thought it impossible, and would not believe the story; but he soon found it to be true. Knowing that he must now come to battle, he drew out his men upon the plain in front of the English army.

7. When all was ready, the French advanced briskly. The English stood still, and received them with a dreadful fire. A fierce engagement followed, and after a long