Is Learning your ambition? Must climb to her abode; Who feels the thirst for knowledge In Helicon may slake it, If he has still the Roman will, Are Riches worth the getting? They must be bravely sought; With wishing and with fretting, The boon cannot be bought; But only he can take it, "I'll find a way, or make it!" 1. How did the Roman take the fortress? How can Fame be had? Learning? Riches? What has the story of the Roman to do with the rest of the poem? 2. How many stanzas are in the poem? What does each one tell about? 3. Find another word for each of the following: îm-pēr'ial; croak'er; ǎs-pi-ra'tion; ăm-bi'tion; peas'ănt; a-bōde'; Hěl'ĭ-con; boon. Then read your new word in place of the old one, and see if it makes the meaning clear to you. S ΤΟ 15 46 THE QUAKER'S GIFT LEVI, can you make up your mind to live at and be a farmer?" "I would rather be a tanner than a farmer." "Very well," answered his father, who was willing s to let Levi follow his own tastes, as he was now seventeen years old; "very well, my son, I will try and find a place for you." Very shortly a place was found for master Levi with a good Quaker. When the youth presented himself 10 at the tannery, the honest Quaker said: "Levi, if thou art a good lad, I will do well by thee; if not, I will send thee home again. All the bargain I will make with thee is that thou shalt do as well by me as I do by thee." 15 "Very well, sir," said Levi; "I will do my best." Levi now went to work with hearty good will. He worked hard, read his Bible, said his prayers; and was steady, honest, and good-natured. The Quaker liked him. He liked the Quaker. The Quaker was 20 Satisfied, and Levi was happy; the years of his apprenticeship passed pleasantly away. One day Levi's master said to him: "Levi, I think of making thee a present when thy time is out." 25 Levi smiled at this pleasant piece of news, and said, "I shall be very happy to receive any gift you offer." Then the Quaker looked knowingly at Levi and added, "I cannot tell thee now what the present is to be, but it shall be worth more than a thousand pounds to thee!" "More than a thousand pounds!" said Levi tos himself, his eyes sparkling at the bare thought of such a costly gift. "What can it be?" That was the puzzling question which buzzed about in Levi's brain from that time until the day before he was out of his apprenticeship. On that day the Quaker said to him: 10 “Levi, thy time is up to-morrow; but I will take thee and thy present home to-day." Levi breathed freely on hearing these words. Dressing himself in his best suit, he soon joined the Quaker, but could see nothing that looked like a gift worth over a thousand pounds. He puzzled himself about it all the way, and said to himself, "Perhaps my master has forgotten it." 15 At last they reached Levi's home. After he had been greeted by his friends, the Quaker turned to 20 him and said: "Levi, I will give thy present to thy father." "As you please, sir," replied Levi, now on the very tiptoe of expectation. "Well," said the Quaker, speaking to Levi's father, 25 "your son is the best boy I have ever had." Then turning to Levi he added, “This is thy present, Levi, a good name!" 5 Levi blushed; and certainly he felt disappointed when his golden visions so suddenly vanished. But his sensible father was delighted, and said to the Quaker, who was smiling waggishly : s "I would rather hear you say that of my son, sir, than to see you give him all the money you are worth ; for 'a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."" 1. Put yourself in Levi's place. Would you be satisfied with the Quaker's gift? Why was Levi's father pleased? 2. What do most people mean when they speak of a person as "a successful man" or "a successful woman"? Are their ideas of success right or wrong? What is your idea of a successful person? 3. Levi worked as an "apprentice." Explain what an apprentice is. Do people work now as apprentices in this country? How do boys and girls now learn trades? Are they paid while they learn? A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. A good name is better than precious ointment. - The Bible. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER L' BY SIDNEY DYER IFE is a race where some succeed While others are beginning; 'Tis luck sometimes, at others, speed, That gives an early winning. But if you chance to fall behind, Just keep this wholesome truth in mind, If you can keep ahead, 'tis well; 'Tis noble when you can excel By honest, patient labor; But if you are outstripped at last, Remember, though you are surpassed, 'Tis better late than never. 1. You are kept away from school during the forenoon by the illness of your mother. If she is well enough for you to go to school in the afternoon, should you go? Answer by a line from the above poem. 2. The third line says luck sometimes helps one. Does it? Does luck help you win many games or solve many arithmetic problems? What is better than luck? |