8. But Harry, instead of doing that, called out to his dog, "Step-boy! step-boy!"

9. So the dog ran among the sheep, barking; and the sheep scattered, and ran off in all directions.

10. Poor Robert tried to drive away the dog, but it would not mind him at all. It continued to chase the sheep, till some of them had run off into the woods, and the rest were scattered in different fields.

11. "Oh dear! oh dear!" cried the boy, "what shall I do now? Won't you help me to get them together again?"

12. "Get out! you little rascal!" said Harry. "If you don't go away, I'll set my dog on you."

13. So the boy was obliged to go home, and tell his father what had happened. His father lived about two miles off.

14. Mr. Brooks called two of his men from the field, where they were at work, and, taking Robert with them, they set off all together for the place where the sheep were lost.

15. The sheep had been so much frightened and scattered, that it was no easy matter to get them together again. The sun was set before they completed their task.

16. Mr. Brooks, before he went home, tried to find out who it was that set the dog on the sheep, but could learn nothing; for nobody had seen the affair except Robert.

17. I have never learned whether Harry was found out or not.

18. But I hope, for his own sake, that he was found out, and well punished, for that might perhaps put a stop to his naughty conduct, and make him a good boy.

19. But if he escapes punishment, I am afraid it will encourage him to persevere in his wickedness. He may thus go on from bad to worse, and end in being a very bad, unhappy man.

After the class have described the picture minutely, and repeated the story about Robert and his sheep in their own words, let them be called on to explain the following phrases in 6, overtook a boy; 7, pray; 9, ran off in all directions; 11, collect them together; 13, what had happened; 15, completed their task; what was the task? 16, nobody had seen the affair; what affair? 19, persevered in his wickedness. What kind of a boy was Harry ? Was it right to set the dog on the sheep? If a man had been driving the sheep, do you think Harry would have set his dog on them? Was it acting like a brave boy, or was it mean and cowardly, to do so to a little boy? How many days did Harry make the Brookses and their men lose? Is there much difference between this and stealing? Who did Harry offend by his conduct? No one but the boy and his father? Did any one but Robert see Harry set on his dog? Is there not some one who sees every thing? Do you think he would be pleased or displeased with such conduct? What ought Harry to do? Pay Mr. Brooks for the time lost. Whose pardon should he ask? What does the Bible say about such conduct as Harry's? "His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate" [head.] Ps. vii. 16.

1. "MOTHER," said little Julia Fay, "it is time to go to school. Won't you give me something to carry in my little basket for dinner?"

2. "I am busy ironing, my dear," said her mother. "But if you go into the buttery, you will find some bread and butter. And you may take a piece of the cake that was cut last night. But be sure to take a very small piece, for it is so rich, that it will make you sick if you eat much."

3. When Julia went into the buttery, the first thing she saw was the cake. It looked very nice, and, when she had tasted it, she thought it was the best cake she had ever eat in her life.

4. "Ah!" said she, "I could not eat

bread and butter after that. I'm sure it won't hurt me to eat a dinner of it for once." 5. So Julia, instead of obeying her moth- er, filled her little basket with nothing but cake.

6. When Julia came back into the kitchen, she found her sister Maria coming down stairs with her hat and shawl. If you look in the picture, you will see both the girls preparing for school, and their mother ironing.

7. Mrs. Fay gave Maria the same instructions about her dinner that she had given Julia. But Maria followed them exactly. She did not do as Julia did.

8. When the children came home from school in the evening, Maria was as lively as usual, but poor Julia was dull and heavy. At supper, she complained of a headache, and could not eat a mouthful.

9. Her mother gave her some medicine, and sent her to bed. But she grew worse every hour.

10. Mrs. Fay now became frightened, and sent for a doctor. By the time he arrived, Julia was in a high fever, with flushed cheeks, and throbbing temples.

11. The doctor gave her an emetic. This soon relieved her. And it showed, at the same time, what was the cause of her sickness. For she vomited nothing but cake.

12. Her mother was very much grieved that Julia had been so foolish. And she

determined she would not soon again trust her to supply herself with dinner.

13. Poor Julia paid rather too dear for the pleasure of eating a little cake. How much better it would have been to have done as her mother told her.

14. Next day Julia was better.

But it was more than a week before she was able to go to school or play with her sister as usual.

15. I hope all my young friends will take a lesson from Julia's sufferings. They ought to know that their parents are the best judges of what is proper for them to eat and drink. If they follow their advice, they will save themselves a great deal of trouble.

After the class have described the picture minutely, and repeated the substance of the story about Mrs. Fay and her daughters, let them explain the following phrases: in par. 7, the same instructions, followed them exactly, followed what? 10, flushed cheeks, and throbbing-temples; 11, an emetic, relieved her; 15, Julia's sufferings. What did Julia take to school for dinner? Was that right? Who commands us to obey our father and mother? Did Julia disobey God, then? Who else did she disobey? Who knows best what children should eat? Are children good judges themselves? Is it right or wrong to grumble or cry, when they don't give us what we want? How was Julia punished for disobedience? Are people always punished for disobedience? Always in some way. We can never feel so happy when we have done wrong. What does the Bible say about obeying parents? "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord." Col. iii. 20.