name. The boy who would not rob an orchard was induced to join with those who in sport were easing the good farmer of a little of his fruit. Take my advice, and persist ever in calling a spade a spade.

Home Exercise.-1. Define convey, conceal, decline, repetition, forbidden, future. 2. Give the three cases of false reasoning of which illustrations are given in this lesson. 3. Put one of these cases in your own words.

PICTURES

Restless, without quiet.
Multitudes, many people.
Rustic, a country work-
ing-man.

Recess, a place that falls

in. Valise, a travelling bag. Fluttering, giving motion to the wings.

Morn in the city!

OF LIFE.

Oppressor, one who uses
power unjustly.

Conscious, having know-
ledge of
Speculating, risking a re-
sult.

Mien, appearance.
Stalwart, strong in body.
Careered, flew round.

Busy London bridge Was not yet trodden by the restless foot Of its vast multitudes. The faint, grey dawn Rested on quiet homes, and sleeping eyes, And weary toiling ones, to whom the light Comes all too soon for aching limbs and heart. Yet there were some astir. Two little boys, Whose fresh and rosy cheeks and rustic garb Bespoke them from the country, came and stood

In one of the recesses. In their hands

Were cages, prisoning some fluttering birds. The stern oppressor, Poverty, had taught Their young hearts some sad lessons, and they

came

On this grey morning many weary miles
Hoping to sell the songsters, and obtain
Bread for themselves and parents, to take
back

Joy to their sad and humble home. They

talked

Cheeringly to each other, and their thoughts Were busy speculating on success,

Like older venturers.

They did not see,

Until he stood before them, a tall man,
Dark-browed and stately in his mien, looking
Intently on the prisoned birds. There was
A something in his aspect which o'erawed
The boys, and, half afraid, they slank away,
As conscious of wrong-doing. In his hand
He held a worn valise; a wide, dark cloak
Mantled his stalwart form; and he appeared
Weary and travel-stained. His lofty brow
Was knit as if by suffering, and his eye
And lip told to the gazer their own tale
Of calm endurance.

Yet his powerful frame Shook slightly as he asked, in broken tones And foreign accents, "Here, my little boys, How much for one of these ?”

And then the boys

Summoned their courage and went near to

him.

"A shilling, sir." He smiled, and from his

purse

Drew forth the coin, and eagerly his hand Received the trembling bird. The country lads

Looked wonderingly to see what he should do.
With gentle, tender touch his fingers passed
Over the ruffled feathers, then he pressed
His lips a moment to the soft round head,
And loosed his hand, and with a bounding joy
The bird careered above his head, and flew
In its glad liberty away! The man
Stood watching with emotion in his face
Long as his eye could follow. Then he turned
And bought another of the staring boys.
And so, till all were gone!

And then with joy

A strange, deep joy upon his countenance,
He turned to go away. But as he met

The astonished gaze of one who watched him there,

He stared a moment, while the warm blood rushed

Swift to his forehead and revealed the tide
Of feeling at his heart. He said, "I have
Just been released from a dark dungeon's
walls,

And I can feel for prisoners!"

M. A. FARNINGHAM.

Home Exercise.-1. Parse from "Busy" to "multitudes." 2. Learn the last three stanzas of "The Blind Boy." 3. Narrate the incident of this piece in your own words.

Turner's Reading Series.

THE FOURTH

ENGLISH READING BOOK,

BEING A SERIES OF

Progressive Lessons on Science, Thought,
and Ethics.

WITH CHOICE EXTRACTS IN POETRY.

LOVE

RUTH

1872.

PART II.

LONDON:

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & Co., STATIONERS' HALL COURT. BIRMINGHAM: MIDLAND EDUCATIONAL CO. (LIM.), 40, HIGH STREET.

BRISTOL SCHOLASTIC TRADING CO. (LIM.), 34, BRIDGE STREET. (Entered at Stationers' Hall.)