cents left toward buying some other book. I am glad they did not let me have one at any of the other places." The bookseller looked up inquiringly and I told him what I had seen of the little fellow. He was much s pleased, and when he brought the book along I saw a nice new pencil and some clean white paper in it. 20 25 "A present, my lad, for your perseverance. Always have courage like that and you will make your mark," said the bookseller. "Thank you, sir, you are very good." "William Hartley, sir." "Do you want any more books?" I now asked, earnestly regarding the boy's serious face. "More than I can ever get," he replied, glancing at the volumes that filled the shelves. I gave him a two-dollar bill. "It will buy some for you," I said. Tears of joy came into his eyes. "May I buy what I want with it?" "Yes, my lad; whatever you want." "Then I will buy a book for Mother," said he. "I thank you very much, and some day I hope I can pay you.' He asked my name and I gave it to him. Then I left him standing by the counter, so happy that I almost envied him. Many years afterward I went to Europe on one of the finest vessels that ever plowed the waters of the Atlantic. We had pleasant weather the greater part of the voyage, but toward the end there came a terrible storm and the ship would have sunk with all on board had it not been for the captain. 5 Every mast was laid low, the rudder was almost useless, and a great leak was filling the vessel with water. The crew were strong and willing men and the mates were practical seamen of the first class. But after pumping for one whole night with the water still 10 gaining upon them, the sailors gave up in despair and prepared to take to the boats though they might have known that no small boat could live in such a wind and sea. The captain, who had been below examining his 15 charts, now came up. He saw how matters stood, and with a voice that I heard distinctly above the roar of the tempest, he ordered every man to his post. It was surprising to see those men bow before his strong will and hurry back to the pumps. The captain then started below to look for the leak. As he passed me I asked him whether there was any hope of saving the vessel. 20 He looked at me and then at the other passengers and said: "Yes, sir. So long as one inch of this deck 25 remains above water, there is hope. When that fails I shall abandon the vessel, not before, nor shall one of my crew. Everything shall be done to save the ship, and if we fail it will not be our fault. Bear a hand, every one of you, at the pumps.' Thrice during the day did we despair. But the captain's dauntless courage, perseverance, and powerful ,will mastered every man on board, and we went to work again. "I will land you safe at the dock in Liverpool," said he, "if you will be men.” And he did land us safe, but the vessel sank soon after she was moored to the dock. The captain stood 10 on the deck of the sinking ship receiving the thanks of the passengers as they hurried down the gangplank. As I passed, he grasped my hand and said: "Judge Preston, do you not recognize me?" I told him that I did not. I was not aware that I Is had ever seen him before I stepped on board his ship. "Do you remember the boy who had so much difficulty in getting a geography, some thirty years ago, in Cincinnati?" "I remember him very well, sir. His name was 20 William Hartley." "I am he," said the captain. "God bless you!" "And may God bless you too, Captain Hartley," I said. "The perseverance that thirty years ago secured you that geography has to-day saved our lives." 1. What is meant by the last sentence? 2. Give another good title to the selection. 3. Practice to yourself the retelling of the story. See how brief you can make your story without omitting anything important. BOOST YOUR TOWN F YOU want to live in the kind of a town IF Like the kind of a town you like, You needn't pack your clothes in a grip And start on a long, long hike. For you'll only find what you've left behind, When you blame your town you blame yourself, Real towns are not made by men afraid But when everyone works and nobody shirks So if while you make your personal stake Your neighbor makes one too, You'll have the town you like to see, For it isn't the town, it's you. - IO 1. What can you do to help your town or your community? Divide your answer under these heads: What I can be; what I can do for my home, for my school, for my companions. 2. What is your opinion of the person who always finds fault with his neighbors or his town? 3. Explain fully what lines 7-8 mean. What does the poem teach us? 15 S.H. R. FIFTH FIND A WAY OR MAKE IT BY JOHN G. SAXE T WAS a noble Roman, IT In Rome's imperial day, "They're safe in such a fortress; Is Fame your aspiration? Her path is steep and high; |