66. "Oh! come, now, Jerome, dear," said his mother; "don't be so naughty. You'll have to go. For we want the wood immediately, and your father won't be home till it is late."

67. "You may send your hired girl, or go yourself," said the dutiful son. "I tell you I won't go. And so saying, he took his hat,

and walked off.

68. The poor mother, with a deep sigh, went down to try to persuade her girl to go on a duty which rarely falls to a female. But she had lost all command over her sons, and sad experience had taught her, that it was in vain to try to persuade them any further.

69. And now, children, if you have read this lesson carefully, I think you will be able to tell which were the happiest, John and James, the two poor, barefooted Irish boys, or Carlos and Jerome, whose parents were rich, and who had plenty of the best of everything. Yes, I think, you may now easily say, not only which of them were happiest, but which were most gentlemanly and respectable in the sight of men, and most beloved by God.

70. I don't tell you this story to show that riches are worthless. They are good, if properly used. But I meant to show you, that riches are of much less importance than is generally imagined; that a person may be very happy without them; and that all the

riches in the world will not make us happy, unless we are good. You will plainly see this, I think, if you ask yourself, whether you would rather be the industrious, kind, and affectionate John and James, or the conceited, lazy, proud, quarrelsome, and disobedient Carlos and Jerome.

Repeat the substance of this lesson. Was John a blackguard? Who behaved most like a gentleman, John or Carlos? Is it fine clothing or good manners that marks the gentleman? Which of the boys acted most like Christians? Will God be pleased or displeased to see any one teaze or torment his school-fellows, or try to make them feel unhappy? Which conduct would make a child feel most happy, trying to do every thing he could for his parents, or disobeying them? Will riches make wicked people happy? What does the Bible say about this? "A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked." Ps. xxxvii. 16. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." Prov. xxii. 1. Was it manly or unmanly for Jerome to make his mother send her girl to the wharf? Was it manly or unmanly for Carlos to treat strangers so roughly? How does the Bible tell us to treat one another? "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another." Col. iii. 12, 13.

LESSON XXIV.

Juvenile Justice.

[Repeat the substance of the last lesson, before you begin to read this.]

71. As soon as the O'Kanes got home, John told his mother the difficulty he had had with Carlos, and said that he was afraid he had not done exactly right in striking him.

72. "I should have been better pleased if you had not struck him," said his mother. "But I can hardly blame you, as it was in defence of your brother."

73. "But how will it be best for me to do to-morrow, when I see him at school?" said John.

74. "I would advise you, my dear, to tell the teacher every thing that has taken place; say that you are sorry that you have hurt Carlos, and are willing to do whatever he thinks is right. You know it is difficult for us to judge what is right in our own case.'

75. When Mr. O'Kane came home, his wife told him the difficulty that John had got into, and what she had advised him to do.

76. For my part," said he, "I don't think it's necessary for him to do any thing more than he has done. He has already made more of an apology than I should, had I been in his place."

66

77. "Oh, my dear husband," said his wife, you forget that Christ has directed us to return good for evil.”

78. "Good for evil! to be sure! If I saw the boy in distress, I would instantly help him. And I feel certain that John would do the same of his own accord. But that is very different from making him an apology for chastising his impertinence."

79." Well," said his wife, "I am sure we may safely leave the business to Mr. Patterson, the teacher. He must have known, from our appearance, that we were very poor. Yet he received us so kindly when I took my boys to the school, that I feel confident that he will do justice between the lads. Besides, this country is not like Ireland, where the poor are oppressed and trampled upon by all that are above them. Yes, I feel certain my boys will have justice done them."

80. "Well, I hope you are right," said her husband; and at all events I am willing to try."

81. Next morning, John began to tell the teacher what had happened the day before. But Mr. Patterson desired him to go to his place now, and he would look into it before the recess. Carlos came in soon after, and handed the teacher a note.

82. "Is this letter about the trouble you had yesterday with John O'Kane ?" said Mr. Patterson.

83. "Yes, sir, it is," replied Carlos. 84. "Well take your seat now, and I'll attend to it before recess."

85. Accordingly, when the business of the school was over for the forenoon, Mr. Patterson called up both the boys, and thus addressed them:

86. "I understand, boys, that you had some difficulty yesterday, and, as you have both appealed to me, I want to hear an account of it, that I may do justice between you. But I cannot do this, unless I know the exact truth. I hope, then, that neither of you will attempt to tell the slightest falsehood about the matter, nor exaggerate the facts in the slightest degree. Let us hear your account of it,

John."

87. John accordingly related the facts exactly as they had occurred. The teacher then opened the letter, and glancing his eyes over the contents, to see that it related to nothing else, read it aloud as follows:

88." Si

SIT,

66

My son Carlos has been beaten and abused by an Irish fellow attending your school. As he and his brother are very unfit associates for the rest of the school, I hope you will immediately dismiss them. I should be sorry to take sorry to take my children away, as they are doing so well with you,