35.-Would Be's.

1. THE mantel clock had just struck four,
Long sunbeams trembled on the floor,
Where played, within a cottage door,
Three children fair and young,
Unmindful that, with loving smile,
Their mother o'er their harmless guile
A tender vigil kept, the while
She sweetly worked and sung.

2. Before the pleasant song was done,
Or passed from sight the setting sun,
Outstretched and idle, every one
Upon the carpet lay.

The mimic gun gave no alarm;

Doll, top, and ball had lost their charm;
Quite empty dropped each hand and arm
In weariness of play.

3. "I'll bet I know," said noisy Dan, "What I shall be, when I'm a man; Come, rouse up quick and hear my plan; I'll be a soldier! Hee!

Not under anybody's thumb,

But others bid to go and come,

And march to sound of fife and drum,

My gay old cavalry."

4. "And I'd be-oh!

you cannot Said merry-hearted little Bess, Bewitching in her eagerness,

66

'I'd be a Christian queen!

guess !"

I'd nurse the sick, read to the blind,
Give to the poor, and be so kind,
My people would just love to mind,
And never would be mean.'

5. Adelbert, scarcely five years old,

With some great thought now waxing bold,
His head, of proud, imperious mould,
Bent with a roguish nod,

While in his eyes, of flashing jet,
A horde of vagrant mischiefs met,
As, turning a quick somerset,

He whispered, "I'd be God!"

6. Downsliding from his mother's knee,
Not knowing what the sport might be,
Wee Willie, wild with baby glee,
Astride Adelbert sprung,

Ere he could find a ready place
To hide away his blushing face,-
For mother chid with gentle grace,

As sweetly as she sung.

CORNELIA A. WILKINSON.

Language Lesson.-Compose sentences containing the following words: sunbeams, harmless, tender, mimic, weariness, bewitching, imperious.

36.-The Cold-Water Boy.

1. BEHOLD a table with boiled turkey and ham, with vegetables nicely cooked, and gravies rich and juicy. There sit a father at its head and the mother opposite, and guests are seated on either side; there is no lack of good-humor and merry jest to give spice to conversation.

2. There are children, too; a boy of ten and a girl of eight. They listen intelligently and attentively to the remarks of parents and guests, look up into the faces of one another with interest. Behold! decanters are brought in; glasses are filled, and one and another sip the sparkling wine.

3. "Excellent!" exclaimed one, smacking his lips. "Fine!" echoed another, with glass refilled. 4. "Shall I drink wine with you, my lad?" asked one of the gentlemen, bowing to the boy.

5. "Is not your glass filled, William?" asked the father." John, fill William's glass," turning to the servant. Slowly did William turn up his glass to receive the rosy liquor.

6. "Drink with the gentleman, my dear," whispered the mother, encouragingly. The boy blushed and cast down his eyes, but he obeyed not. Was he frightened? Was he diffident?

7. "My son, did you not hear Mr. Black address you?" said the father, quickly and sternly. "Drink wine with him, William.”

Accustomed to obey his father's slightest wish, the boy's lip quivered, but he obeyed not.

8. In a moment, raising his eyes and looking his father full in the face, he said manfully: "Father, I am a soldier in the Cold-Water Army, and I can't drink wine."

9. "Brave boy!" exclaimed one of the gentlemen, setting down his glass.

10. "The Cold-Water Army must conquer if every soldier stands his ground as well," said another, regarding William with great respect.

11. "We will excuse you, my son," said the father, in a softened voice, and, though they sat long at the table, his glass was not again raised to his lips. There it stood, untasted and full. Yes, the cold-water ranks can boast of other soldiers as brave as William.

12. Stand firm, my boys; let no one beat you from your gronnd. Be up and doing! Intemperance is stealing about, seeking whom he may devour. Break his weapons, destroy his engines, give him no quarter.

13. "COLD WATER! COLD WATER!"

Let this shout of triumph be heard all over the land, from city and hamlet, from mountain and glen:

"COLD WATER! COLD WATER AND VICTORY!"

Dictionary Lesson.-Find the meaning of the following words: conversation, decanters, diffident, sternly, accustomed, intemperance.

37.-The Manliest Man. 1. THE manliest man of all the race, Whose heart is open as his face,

Puts forth his hand to help another.
"Tis not the blood of kith or kin,
"Tis not the color of the skin;

"Tis the true heart which beats within

Which makes the man a man and brother.

2. His words are warm upon his lips, His heart beats to his finger-tips,

He is a friend and loyal neighbor. Sweet children kiss him on the way, And women trust him, for they may, He owes no debt he cannot pay;

He earns his bread with honest labor.

3. He lifts the fallen from the ground, And puts his feet upon the round.

Of dreaming Jacob's starry ladder, Which lifts him higher, day by day, Toward the bright and heavenly way, And farther from the tempter's sway, Which stingeth like the angry adder.

4. He strikes oppression to the dust, He shares the blows aimed at the just, He shrinks not from the post of danger.