“Well, then, my next question is this:  If I want a man to dig for me, and three persons apply for the situation, will it not be fair if I set them to work to try them, and choose the one who does his task in the quickest time?”

“Are they all to begin their work at the same time?”

“A very proper question, Norman:  yes, they shall all start together.”

“Has one just as much ground to dig as another?”

“Exactly the same.”

“And will each man have a good spade?”

“Yes, their spades shall be exactly alike.”

“But one part of the field may be soft earth, and the other hard and stony.”

“I will take care of that.  All shall be fairly dealt with.  The ground shall be everywhere alike.”

“Well, I think, Grandpa, that he who does his work first, if done as well as that of either of the other two, is the best man.”

“And I think so, too, Norman; and if you go on in this way it will be greatly to your advantage.  Only form the habit of being thoughtful in little things, and you will be sure to judge wisely in important ones.”

* * * * *

In the words suit (s[=u]t) and soon (s[=oo]n), have the marked vowels the same sound?

In the two statements,—­

       I give it to you because it’s good;
       Virtue brings its own reward;

why is there an apostrophe in the first “it’s,” and none in the second?

       Let your hands be honest and clean—­
       Let your conscience be honest and clean—­

Combine these two sentences by the word and; rewrite them, omitting all needless words.

Compose two sentences, one having the action-word learned; the other the word taught.

Fill each of the following blank spaces with the correct form of the action-word bear: 

As Christ —­ His cross, so must we —­ ours. 
Our cross must be —.  “And —­ His own
cross, He went forth to Calvary.”

* * * * *

38

elate’ despond’ lu’ mi nous pil’ grim age

ONE BY ONE.

One by one the sands are flowing,
One by one the moments fall;
Some are coming, some are going;
Do not strive to grasp them all.

One by one thy duties wait thee;
Let thy whole strength go to each;
Let no future dreams elate thee,
Learn thou first what these can teach.

One by one (bright gifts from Heaven)
Joys are sent thee here below;
Take them readily when given,
Ready, too, to let them go.

One by one thy griefs shall meet thee;
Do not fear an armed band;
One will fade as others greet thee—­
Shadows passing through the land.

Do not look at life’s long sorrow;
See how small each moment’s pain;
God will help thee for to-morrow,
So each day begin again.