FRIENDSHIP.

1. Phintias had been sentenced to death by the tyrant Dionysius. He asked to be spared for three days that he might visit his sister and have the joy of seeing her united to her lover before he died. He promised to leave his friend Damon as surety for his return, and undertook that, in the event of his proving false, Damon should die in his stead. The king at first smiled incredulously at the proposal, but after a moment's thought he answered, “Three days are granted you, yet know that if the days pass your friend shall die." When Damon was informed of the arrangement with the king, he silently embraced his friend and surrendered himself to the tyrant.

2. Ere the third day dawned the marriage had already been accomplished and Phintias was on his way back to the city. Heavy rains, however, had fallen, and he found it almost impossible to proceed. At length on the banks of a stream that lay across his path he sank down in despair. The bridge had fallen and the water was thundering over its fallen arches. Looking up to heaven, he prayed that the raging of the storm might cease. "The hours," he cried, "are fast passing away; the sun is at its noon, and if it set ere I reach the city, then, worst of miseries! my friend's life shall have gone for mine!"

3. The rage of the tempest did not abate and the moments were hurrying past. The anguish of his heart permitted him to hesitate no longer. He threw himself into the boiling flood. With powerful arms he divided the stream, and with difficulty reached the opposite bank. He had scarcely resumed his journey when his path was barred by a band of robbers who burst from a neighbour

ing forest and threatened him with death. Snatching his club from the first who assailed him, Phintias dealt such lusty blows among them that they speedily took to flight.

4. But the way was long and he was wearied with his toils. With the cool water from a brook that burst from the rocks close to his path he refreshed his limbs and pursued his journey with redoubled zeal. Anguish gave wings to his hurrying feet. At length the battlements of the city appeared in sight, and it seemed as if he might yet save his friend from death.

5. Just as this hope was beginning to animate his limbs the honest warder of his house appeared. "Back!" the latter exclaimed, "you can no longer save your friend; save your own life! By this time Damon is suffering death. Each hour he has looked for your return, nor could the tyrant's scorn rob him of his confidence in your friendship and fidelity."

6. "If it be too late," was Phintias's reply, "and if I cannot appear as a welcome deliverer, then death shall at least not sever me from my friend. Of this the bloody tyrant shall not boast, that friend has broken faith with friend. Let him slay two victims, and then believe in love and truth!"

7. The sun went down. Phintias at length reached the gate. He found the cross already reared on which his friend was to suffer. The rope by which he was to be drawn up to the cross was already about him, and a few moments more and all must have been over. Phintias rushed forward, put himself in the executioner's hand, and demanded that Damon should be released. "It is I that am to die," he cried; "it was for me that he was pledged."

8. The friends embraced each other and wept for sorrow

and for joy. At the same time every eye in the crowd was filled with tears. Even the king's heart was melted. He summoned the youths before him. "You have succeeded," he said; "you have subdued my heart. Truth is not an empty name." The life of Phintias was spared, and Dionysius begged to be accepted as one of their comrades. "Let me," he said, "be in your fellowship the THIRD."

Questions on the lesson:-The tyrant's name? The request? The terms on which it was granted? The obstacles met with by Phintias on his return? The advice given him by his steward? On what ground Phintias insisted on proceeding? In what position he found Damon? The result of the love and fidelity of the two friends? Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse in Sicily.

abate, to lessen.

anguish, great pain.

incredulous, not ready to believe.

lusty, strong, powerful.

resume, to undertake again. sever, to separate.

tyrant, a cruel ruler or king. zeal, earnestness.

GRATITUDE.

1. The hound will fawn on any one
That greets him with a kind caress:
The flower will turn toward the sun,
That nurtures it in loveliness.

2. The drooping bird with frozen wing,
That feeds in winter at your sill,
Will trim his glossy plumes in spring,
And perch about your window still.

3. The grazing steed will mark the voice
That rules him with a gentle word;
And we may see the brute rejoice,
As though he loved the tones he heard.

4. I've taught the speckled frog to leap
At twilight for the crumbs I've spread;
I've lured the fawn till it would keep

Beside me crouching bound and led.
5. We find the fiercest things that live,
The savage born, the wildly rude,
When soothed by Mercy's hand, will give
Some faint response of gratitude.

6. But man! Oh blush, ye lordly race!

Shrink back and question your proud heart. Do ye not lack that thankful grace

Which ever forms the soul's best part?

7. Will ye not take the blessings given,
The priceless boon of ruddy health;
The sleep unbroken, peace unriven,
The cup of joy, the wine of health—

8. Will ye not take them all,—and yet
Walk from the cradle to the grave
Enjoying, boasting, and forget

To think upon the God that gave?

-Eliza Cook.

Questions on the lesson :--How is gratitude shown by hound, bird, horse? How does a flower show a kind of gratitude? From what kinds of creatures is gratitude especially noticeable? What blessings does man often receive without acknowledgment?

crouch, to bend down in order to

please.

lure, to entice or attract.

nurture, to nourish, to feed.

response, answer.
ruddy, red, lively.

speckled, marked with spots.
unriven, unbroken.

1. Francis Drake was born in the year 1545. His father was at first a preacher among the sailors of the fleet, and afterwards was made vicar of a small village on the river Medway not far from its union with the Thames.

2. Being brought up among seafaring people, Francis took early to the water. He served his time as an apprentice in a channel coaster, and his master, who had been struck with his character, left the vessel to him in his will when he died. He was then twenty-one.

3. His kinsman, John Hawkins, was fitting out an expedition to the Spanish main, and young Drake, with a party of his Kentish friends, joined him. The adventure 1 From Froude's History, by permission of Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co.