o be done, and become, at last, a great man, and do
some good in the world. I don't want to sit still in a corner half
of my life, and never use my faculties. Now, Mother, Harry and I
have told our wishes; will you tell yours?"

"First," said the mother, "let me show you how near you may, even in
this life, come to your wishes, and then I will tell mine. Harry
will not continue to wish for a flying horse, because he will know
he can never have it in this world; but his wish will change into a
desire of travelling and seeing all that is beautiful and wonderful
in God's glorious world, and then he will find his flying horse in a
rail carriage or steamboat. And you, my dear Frank, if you continue
to wish to be strong and brave, and truly great, will have, perhaps,
more than you ask for; for, if you do not have a strong body, you
will have a brave spirit, and you will be what is better than a
strong man--a good, great man. True greatness does not depend upon
physical strength; for instance, a brave and noble woman may be
greater than a man."

"How is that, Mother?"

"Because, from the weakness of her body she has more obstacles to
overcome. Her power arises from an inward strength that lasts long,
and shines most brightly in the darkest hour of trial. Mere bodily
strength, without this power of soul, is often cowardly and useless.

I will tell you a true story that I heard the other day, which will
show you what I mean. Somewhere in the State of Maine there is a
beautiful little lake, on the banks of which are a number of farms
and pleasant dwelling houses. There are boats on the lake, and the
people are in the habit of allowing the children to learn early the
management of a boat; girls and boys together are allowed to go out
on the lake, without any man to take charge of them. One day, a
little party went out. They had been rowing about for some time, and
gathering pond lilies, and waking up all the echoes in the
surrounding woods with loud shouts, merry laughs, and happy songs.
The children were in the middle of the lake, and were thinking of
returning, when, by some accident, one of the boys fell overboard. A
boy of fourteen years of age had the management of the boat; he was
the principal oarsman. He was strong and active, and could swim, but
he feared for his own life, and he immediately began to row for the
shore to get help. In the mean time, the poor boy, who could not
swim to the shore, and whose strength wou