16.  John.  It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir.

17.  Mr. Jones.  No, I am afraid not, if this is it.

18.  A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top.

19.  John.  How is this, Ben?  These tops have no strings.  What shall we do for strings?

20.  Ben.  I have a string that will do very well for mine.  And he pulled it out of his pocket.

21.  John.  Why, if that is not the whipcord!  I wish I had saved mine.

22.  A few days afterward, there was a shooting match, with bows and arrows, among the lads.  The prize was a fine bow and arrows, to be given to the best marksman.  “Come, come,” said Master Sharp, “I am within one inch of the mark.  I should like to see who will go nearer.”

23.  John drew his bow, and shot.  The arrow struck within a quarter of an inch of Master Sharp’s.  “Shoot away,” said Sharp; “but you must understand the rules.  We settled them before you came.  You are to have three shots with your own arrows.  Nobody is to borrow or lend.  So shoot away.”

24.  John seized his second arrow; “If I have any luck,” said he;—­but just as he pronounced the word “luck,” the string broke, and the arrow fell from his hands.

25.  Master Sharp.  There!  It is all over with you.

26.  Ben.  Here is my bow for him, and welcome.

27.  Master Sharp.  No, no, sir; that is not fair.  Did you not hear the rules?  There is to be no lending.

28.  It was now Ben’s turn to make his trial.  His first arrow missed the mark; the second was exactly as near as John’s first.  Before venturing the last arrow, Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow; and, as he pulled it to try its strength, it snapped.

29.  Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy.  But his dancing suddenly ceased, when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent piece of cord, and began to tie it to the bow.

30.  “The everlasting whipcord, I declare!” cried John.  “Yes,” said Ben, “I put it in my pocket today, because I thought I might want it.”

31.  Ben’s last arrow won the prize; and when the bow and arrows were handed to him, John said, “How valuable that whipcord has been to you, Ben.  I’ll take care how I waste anything hereafter.”

Definitions,—­2.  Ex-am’ine, to look at carefully. 6.  Sig’ni—­fies, to be important. 22.  Marks’man, one who shoots well. 28.  Pru’dent-ly, with proper caution. 29.  Ceased, stopped. 30.  Ev—­er-last’ing, lasting always.

Exercises.—­What is this lesson designed to teach?  Which of the boys preserved his whipcord?  What good did it do him?  What did the other boy do with his?  What was the consequence?  What did he learn from it?

XXII.  JEANNETTE AND JO. (67)

By Mary Mapes Dodge, who was born in New York City in 1838.  She is the editor of the “St. Nicholas” magazine, and has written many stories for children.