his own better nature, and a recollection of his mother's Christian counsels, quickly regained their influence over him. He stept up to Carlos, and gently taking his hand, said, he hoped he had not hurt him much; he was sorry he had struck him; but indeed he could not bear to see his brother illused.

54. Carlos said not a word in reply, but, rudely withdrawing his hand, went muttering sulkily away. Rather ashamed of himself, and of the pickle he was in, he stopt to wash his face at the first pump, and, avoiding the school-house, near which he perceived a number of the boys at play, went home by some by-streets. As he reached the door, his brother overtook him.

55. "Well, Carlos," said he; "you appear to have had the worst of it. You had better have taken my advice. I told you that Irish buffer would be too much for you."

56. "The rascal! I'll be up with him yet," said Carlos. "He shan't get off so."

57. "Do take my advice for once, and let Paddy alone," said Jerome. "He has twisted your nose o' one-side already, and if you don't take care he 'll twist it back again, and maybe break it off."

58. You're just as bad as he is," said Carlos; and if you don't stop your gab, I'll give you what he gave me.'

59. The brothers would soon have come

to blows, had not their mother, coming into the room, put a stop to their taunts.

60. "Carlos, my dear," said she to her son, whose back being turned towards her, she had not seen his ghastly face; "I wish you would go down to the wharf, and hire a sawyer to cut up this wood at the door. Your father sent it here, and a sawyer along with it, but when he found it was a small job, he went off to a larger one he had engaged. We want the wood immediately, and your father won't be back till night."

61. "No," said Carlos, turning round towards his mother; "I can't go. Send Jerome."

62. "Why, what's the matter with the boy?" said his mother. "What ails your face?"

63. "He has had a tussle with an Irish blackguard: that's all, mother," said Je

rome.

64. "Oh! my dear boy!" said his mother. "It's a shame to let such fellows go to the school. I'll send word to the teacher, that if he doesn't turn him out, I'll take you both away. But, Jerome, dear, you'll have to go to the wharf. Your brother can't go.

65. "No, I won't do any such thing,' said her son. "Do you think I'm to have no time for play? Do you think I'm going to school all day, and then to run errands at night? No. I'll do no such thing.'

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.

66

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."