habits, and goes by the name of Mr. Do Nothing. He pretends to lead an easy (e) life, but he is really the most miserable fellow of the family." "Oh, take me back!-- take me back!" cried poor little Daffydowndilly, bursting into tears. "If there is nothing but Toil all the world over, I may just as well go back to the schoolhouse!" "Yonder it is, there is the schoolhouse!" said the stranger; for though he and little Daffydowndilly had taken a great many steps, they had traveled in a circle instead of a straight line. Come; we will go back to the school together." 66 There was something in his companion's voice that little Daffydowndilly now remembered, and it is strange that he had not remembered it sooner. Looking up into his face, behold! there again was the likeness of old Mr. Toil; so that the poor child had been in company with Toil all day, even while he was doing his best to run away from him. Some people, to whom I have told little Daffydowndilly's story, are of opinion that old Mr. Toil was a magician, and possessed the power of multiplying himself into as many shapes as he saw fit. Be this as it may, little Daffy downdilly had learned a good lesson, and from that time forward was diligent at his task, because he knew that diligence is not a whit1 more tiresome than sport or idleness. And when he became better acquainted with Mr. Toil, he began to think that his ways were not so very disagreeable, and that the old schoolmaster's smile of approbation made his face almost as pleasant as even that of Daffydowndilly's mother. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY According to the Bible story, the care of the garden of Eden was merely pleasant exercise, as the earth yielded naturally all that man needed. The curse put upon Adam was "In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat." Is hard work a blessing or a curse to men as the world is now? How many brothers had Mr. Toil? What did each one do? 1 Whit, particle, bit. (a) page 2. Was it a blessing or a curse for Adam to have to go to work? Why? (b) page 6. Did you ever think that the task of some one else was easier to do than yours? Did you look to see if Mr. Toil was near? 9. Is all work a taskmaster? (c) page 9. What may make even hard work pleasant? Why is it easier to play ball hard for two hours than to help father or mother a half hour? (d) page 13. Is anything worth while accomplished without work? If a worker cannot enjoy work, is he likely to get much enjoyment? (e) page 15. Were you ever punished by being compelled to sit and do nothing? How did it compare with working? Does this story gain in interest from beginning to end? Is it due to the continual reappearance of Mr. Toil? Do you find any words repeated with each appearance that make the interest grow? What does this story mean? Would you rather work or play? Why? Write a story of a boy or girl who did nothing but play all day. Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1804-1864, the author of this story, lived near Boston, Massachusetts. Other stories of his that you have perhaps read are Tanglewood Tales, Twice-told Tales, and Mosses from an Old Manse. MARCO BOZZARIS Marco Bozzaris, a hero of modern Greece, fell in a night attack upon the Turkish camp, August 20, 1823, and expired in the moment of victory. His last words were, "To die for liberty is a pleasure, and not a pain. " At midnight, in his guarded tent, The Turk was dreaming of the hour When Greece, her knee in suppliance bent, Should tremble at his power. 5 In dreams, through camp and court, he bore The trophies of a conqueror; In dreams his song of triumph heard; Then wore his monarch's signet ring, Then pressed that monarch's throne king; a 10 As wild his thoughts, and gay of wing, As Eden's garden bird. At midnight, in the forest shades, 15 Heroes in heart and hand. There had the Persian's2 thousands stood, 1 Suliote, Grecian. 2 Persian, King Xerxes. There had the giad earth drunk their blood, On old Platæa's1 day; And now there breathed that haunted air 20 The sons of sires who conquered there, With arm to strike, and soul to dare, As quick, as far, as they. An hour passed on, the Turk awoke: 25 He woke to hear his sentries shriek, He woke to die midst flame, and smoke, And shout, and groan, and saber-stroke, And death shots falling thick and fast 30 As lightnings from the mountain cloud; And heard, with voice as trumpet loud, Bozzaris cheer his band: "Strike! till the last armed foe expires; Strike! for your altars and your fires; 35 Strike! for the green graves of your sires, God, and your native land!" 1 Platæa, a city of Greece near which in ancient times the Greeks fought a great battle with the army of Xerxes. |