ling to your horse!"

The son, who feared his father more than he did the raging river, obeyed
the command; and the noble animal on which he was mounted, struggling
for some time, carried him safe to shore.

"My son!" exclaimed the glad father, bursting into tears, "remember,
hereafter, that in danger you must possess courage, and being determined
to save your life, cling to the last hope!

"If I had replied to you with the tenderness and fear which I felt, you
might have lost your life; you would have lost your presence of mind,
been carried away by the current, and I should have seen you no more."

What a noble example is this! The heroism of this father and his
presence of mind saved the life of his boy.

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--In _calling tones_, as on pages 237 and 238,
notice that the falling inflections only can be used.[14]

* * * * *

Language Lesson.--Let pupils make out an _analysis_, and use it in
telling the story in their own words.

[14] See the last six paragraphs.

* * * * *

LESSON LI.

rug'ged, _full of rough places_.

con cealed', _covered over; hidden_.

ra vines', _deep and narrow hollow places_.

prec'i pice, _a very steep place_.

dis'lo cate ed, _thrown out of joint_.

mis'er y, _great unhappiness_.

ev'i dence, _signs; that which is shown_.

de scent', _going down_.

haz'ards, _dangers; difficulties_.

toil, _hard work_.

pro ject'ing, _hanging over_.

* * * * *

HALBERT AND HIS DOG.

Far up in the Highlands of Scotland lived Malcolm, a shepherd, with his
wife and his son Halbert.

Their little cottage was far from any village, and could only be reached
by a rugged path through the mountains.

One evening Halbert's mother was taken very ill, and Malcolm made
preparations to go to the village to obtain some medicine for her.

"Father," said Halbert, "I know the path through the dark glen better
than you. Shag will walk before me, and I will be quite safe. Let me go
for the doctor, and you stay at home and comfort mother."

Old Shag, the dog, stood by, wagging his tail and looking up into
Malcolm's face as if to say, "Yes, master, I will take good care of
Halbert. Let him go."

Malcolm did not like to have his boy undertake a journey of so much
peril, as the snow was falling in heavy flakes, a