"Learn here, at last," said he, "the value of those limbs the power of using which you look upon with such thanklessness. As it is with this youth to-day, so may it be with you to-morrow. Bid me not return to your father to tell him you are weary of a blessing the loss of which would overwhelm you with despair."

5. Then the physician led the way to another part of the town, where he entered a house of a better sort. In a small room they found a pale, middle-aged man who was engaged in making a coarse sort of netting.

6. Hearing the noise of the entrance he looked up, and asked who it was; but with no change of countenance, or apparent recognition of any one. As soon, however, as the physician had uttered the words "It is I," a gleam of delight stole over the pale face, and the man, rising from his chair, stretched out his arms to the physician, begging him to approach.

7. Then the young princes saw that the pale man was blind.

"Is there any change, O Cassian!" inquired the physician, kindly.

"None, my father," answered the blind man, in a subdued tone.

"And has any one been of late to read to you?" asked the physician.

8. This inquiry the blind man seemed scarcely able to answer. Big tears gathered in the sightless eyes,

and folding his hands across his bosom he murmured, "None, O my father!"

9. "Seest thou!" exclaimed the dervish, turning to the prince who stood next him, deeply moved at the scene," seest thou how precious are the powers thou hast wearied of in the spring-time of life? Bid me not return to the king your father to tell him his sons can find no pleasure in blessings the loss of which they themselves would feel to be the shutting out of the sun from the soul."

10. After this the dervish and the physician hurried forward to still another part of the city, where several trades were carried on, and where in one place they came upon an open square, about which a number of gaunt, haggard men were lounging or sitting, listless and sad.

11. Addressing a man who was standing somewhat apart from the others, the dervish inquired why he was loitering there in idleness, instead of occupying himself with some honest work.

12. The man laughed a bitter laugh, and turning to his companions shouted out, "Hear what the wise man asks! When trade has failed, and no one wants. our labor, he asks us why we stand idling here!" Then, facing the dervish, he continued, "Do you not know, can you not see, O teacher of the blind! that we have nothing to do? Nothing to do!" he repeated with a loud cry,-"nothing to do! with hearts willing

to work, and hands able to work, and wife and children calling out for food! Give us something to do, thou preacher of industry!" he concluded, throwing himself on the ground in anguish; "or, at any rate, cease to mock us with the solemn inquiry of a fool!"

13. "O my father! my father!" cried the young princes, "this is the worst, the very worst of all: all things can be borne but having nothing to do. Let us find them something to do. Let us tear up our gardens, plow up our lawns and pleasure-grounds, so that we do but find work for these men, and save their wives and children from hunger."

14. "And themselves from crime," added the dervish, solemnly. Then quitting his companions he went into the crowd of men, and made known to them in a few hurried words, that by the order of the young princes there would, before another day had dawned, be found something for each of them to do.

15. The cheer of gratitude which followed thrilled the hearts of the princely youths, and so overpowered them, that, after a liberal distribution of money to the needy laborers, they gladly hurried away.

16. "Now, then, my task is ended," cried the dervish, as they retraced their steps to the palace on the hill. "My sons, you have seen the awful sorrow that may attach to the bitter complaint of having nothing to do. Henceforth seal your lips over the words, for in all other cases but this they are a folly, a mockery, and a lie.

HEADS FOR COMPOSITION.

I. FIRST EXPERIENCE: the wounded youth his condition cause of his suffering- the youth's lament-lesson drawn by the dervish.

II. SECOND EXPERIENCE: the blind man - his occupation – the physician's inquiry-Cassian's reply-lesson drawn by the dervish.

III. THIRD EXPERIENCE: the idle men in the square-the dervish's inquiry — the workman's reply.

IV. RESULT OF THE EXPERIENCES: exclamation of the princes their resolve to benefit the workmen - concluding maxim of the dervish.

57.-Small Beginnings.

a-down' = down.

bask, to repose in warmth.

Issue' (ish'shu), result, outcome. lēa, field, meadow,

märt, market, place of business.
mon'i-to-ry, warning.
răn‘dỏm, chance, accidental.
trăn'si-to-ry, passing, fleeting.

1. A TRAVELER through a dusty road
Strewed acorns on the lea;

And one took root, and sprouted up,
And grew into a tree.

Love sought its shade at evening time,
To breathe its early vows;

And age was pleased, in heats of noon,
To bask beneath its boughs.

The dormouse loved its dangling twigs,
The birds sweet music bore;

It stood a glory in its place,-
A blessing evermore.

2. A little spring had lost its way,
Amid the grass and fern;
A passing stranger scooped a well
Where weary men might turn.
He walled it in, and hung with care
A ladle at the brink-

He thought not of the deed he did,
But judged that toil might drink.
He passed again, and lo! the well,
By summers never dried,

Had cooled ten thousand parching tongues,
And saved a life beside.

3. A dreamer dropped a random thought;
'Twas old, and yet 'twas new;
A simple fancy of the brain,
But strong in being true.
It shone upon a genial mind,
And lo! its light became
A lamp of life, a beacon ray,
A monitory flame.

The thought was small, its issue great

A watch-fire on the hill,

It sheds its radiance far adown,

And cheers the valley still.

4. A nameless man, amid a crowd
That thronged the daily mart,
Let fall a word of hope and love,
Unstudied, from the heart,-