Just then a playmate came along,
And leaned across the gate—­
A plan that promised lots of fun
And frolic to relate. 
“The boys are waiting for us now,
So hurry up!” he cried;
My little whistler shook his head,
And “Can’t come,” he replied.

“Can’t come?  Why not, I’d like to know? 
What hinders?” asked the other. 
“Why, don’t you see,” came the reply,
“I’m busy helping mother? 
She’s lots to do, and so I like
To help her all I can;
So I’ve no time for fun just now,”
Said this dear little man.

“I like to hear you talk like that,”
I told the little lad;
“Help mother all you can, and make
Her kind heart light and glad.” 
It does me good to think of him,
And know that there are others
Who, like this manly little boy,
Take hold and help their mothers.

LANGUAGE WORK: 

Describe the little lad spoken of in the poem.  Do you know any boy like him?

Tell what this “little man” said to his playmate.

When night came, was the boy sorry that he had missed so much fun?  What kind of man did he very likely grow up to be?

* * * * *

11

rid’ dle brand’-new mys’ ter y un rav’ el like’ ness es

A CONTENTED WORKMAN.

Once upon a time, Frederick, King of Prussia, surnamed “Old Fritz,” took a ride, and saw an old laborer plowing his land by the wayside cheerily singing his song.

“You must be well off, old man,” said the king.  “Does this land on which you are working so hard belong to you?”

“No, sir,” replied the laborer, who knew not that it was the king; “I am not so rich as that; I plow for wages.”

“How much do you get a day?” asked the king.

“Two dollars,” said the laborer.

“That is not much,” replied the king; “can you get along with that?”

“Yes; and have something left.”

“How is that?”

The laborer smiled, and said, “Well, if I must tell you, fifty cents are for myself and wife; with fifty I pay my old debts, fifty I lend, and fifty I give away for the Lord’s sake.”

“That is a mystery which I cannot solve,” replied the king.

“Then I will solve it for you,” said the laborer.  “I have two old parents at home, who kept me when I was weak and needed help; and now, that they are weak and need help, I keep them.  This is my debt, towards which I pay fifty cents a day.  The third fifty cents, which I lend, I spend for my children, that they may receive Christian instruction.  This will come handy to me and my wife when we get old.  With the last fifty I maintain two sick sisters.  This I give for the Lord’s sake.”

The king, well pleased with his answer, said, “Bravely spoken, old man.  Now I will also give you something to guess.  Have you ever seen me before?”