of tight places, with a bigger load than they can manage, because they never learned the art of backing in.

5. BACKING OUT.-This is a sort of backing which is exceedingly unpopular, being regarded as a species of cowardice and meanness. 'Squire Mullen accused 'Squire Burdock of backing out of his bargain about that chestnut colt.

6. Tom Peters called Pete Thomas a sneak for backing out of his agreement to go skating with him on Saturday. The Hercules Baseball Club turns up its nine noses at the Vulcans for backing out of the game for the pewter ball.

7. Now, we are not going to recommend the breaking of promises or engagements, as a rule; but we do want to say a word or two in favor of the natural and inalienable right of backing out.

8. When you get stuck in the mud, don't wade in deeper; back out. When you get into the wrong road, don't try to go out through the farther end; back out. When you have made a mistake, don't stick to it just out of pride; back out.

9. When you become involved in a silly quarrel, and think it necessary to fight it through, back out. When you have committed yourself to an affair that proves to be dishonorable, the sooner you drop it the better; back out. When you have promised to do a wicked thing, you have no right to keep your word; back out

10. BACKING DOWN.-Some people think that this is the same as backing out, but it is easy to see the difference. Backing out may be creditable or discreditable, according to what you back out from. Backing down is always discreditable. It always implies that the backer has descended from a higher position to a lower.

11. Mr. Wilkins got into difficulty with Mr. Jenkins, and vowed to have revenge. He knew that he was in the wrong, and he might have backed out honorably; but he went to law, got beaten, and in the end had to back down.

12. Colonel Oldscrip, under the influence of the sermon, surprised everybody by subscribing a hundred dollars toward the new meeting-house; but afterward, as everybody expected, pleaded poverty, and backed down.

13. When Charles Ledesay went to the city, he promised his mother not to smoke; but "all the fellows smoked," and he backed down. Boys and girls, never back down. When you are wrong, back out; but when you are right, stick to it in spite of everything,-never back down.

Language Lesson.-Substitute equivalent expressions for the following:

1. Their lowing exposed the trick.

2. They are deceiving society.

3. They take great pains to make their tracks point toward virtue and honesty.

4. When you become involved in a silly quarrel.

5. When you have committed yourself.

50.-Nobody's Child.

1. ONLY a newsboy, under the light

Of the lamp-post, plying his trade in vain : Men are too busy to stop to-night,

Hurrying home through the sleet and rain. Never since dark a paper sold:

Where shall he sleep, or how be fed? He thinks as he shivers there in the cold, While happy children are safe a-bed.

2. Is it strange if he turns about

With angry words, then comes to blows, When his little neighbor, just sold out, Tossing his pennies, past him goes? "Stop!"-some one looks at him, sweet and mild, And the voice that speaks is a tender one: "You should not strike such a little child, And you should not use such words, my son!"

3. Is it his anger or his fears

That have hushed his voice and stopped his arm?

"Don't tremble," these are the words he hears;

"Do you think that I would do you harm ?" "It isn't that," and the hand drops down;

"I wouldn't care for kicks and blows;

But nobody ever called me son,

Because I'm nobody's child, I s'pose."

4. O men! as ye careless pass along,

Remember the love that has cared for you, And blush for the awful shame and wrong

Of a world where such a thing could be true? Think what the child at your knee had been If thus on life's lonely billows tossed; And who shall bear the weight of the sin, If one of these "little ones" be lost?

PHOEBE CARY.

EXERCISE.

Write out in full the following contractions: Don't, isn't, wouldn't, I'm, s'pose.

What is the meaning of "plying his trade"?" then come to blows"?" have hushed his voice"?" on life's lonely billows tossed"?"little ones"?

Memory Gems from Mrs. Browning.

All actual heroes are essential men,

And all men possible heroes.

Let us be content, in work,

To do the thing we can, and not presume
To fret because it's little.

A happy life means prudent compromise.

It takes a high-souled man to move the masses.

Of all the thoughts of God that are
Borne inward unto souls afar,

Along the Psalmist's music deep,

Now tell me if that any is

For gift of grace surpassing this:

"He giveth his beloved sleep."

51.-The Little Newsboy.

1. Our in the dark of the snow-covered street Wearily patter the poor little feet;

Eyes sleepy, form tired-he's worked all the day, For poor little Robbie has no time to play.

2. Gladly he'd hie to his snug little bed,

But the children at home would be crying for bread;

And Robbie must sell all his papers to-night, Or the children will be in a sorrowful plight.

3. Poor Robbie's no father to work for him now; And that is why Robbie is out in the snow; And his dear mother sighs, as she says with a tear,

"What a pitiful night! would that Robbie were here."

4. Then she throws down her work, and she opens the door,

She has opened it certainly five times before; And she cries, "Ah! he's coming; I hear the glad song

That

my

dear Robbie sings as he trudges along."

5. And Robbie spreads out his hardly-earned store Of pennies-oh! Robbie, I wish they were

more