largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking
the good gentleman.
3. But Gretchen, a poorly-dressed little girl, did not
quarrel or struggle with the rest,

THIRD READER. 173

but remained standing modestly in the distance. When the
ill-behaved girls had left, she took the smallest loaf, which
alone was left in the basket, kissed the gentleman's hand, and
went home.
4. The next day the children were as ill behaved as before,
and poor, timid Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the
size of the one she got the first day. When she came home,
and her mother cut the loaf open, many new, shining pieces
of silver fell out of it.

174 ECLECTIC SERIES.
5. Her mother was very much alarmed, and said, "Take
the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must
have got into the dough by accident. Be quick, Gretchen! be
quick!"
6. But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's
message, he said, "No, no, my child, it was no mistake. I had
the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to reward you.
Always be as contented, peaceable, and grateful as you now
are. Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is
your own."

LESSON LXVII.

SUSIE AND ROVER.
1. "Mamma," said Susie Dean, one summer's morning,
"may I go to the woods, and pick berries?"

THIRD READER. 175
2. "Yes," replied Mrs. Dean, "but you must take Rover
with you."
3. Susie brought her little basket, and her mother put up a
nice lunch for her. She tied down the cover, and fastened a
tin cup to it.
4. The little girl called Rover--a great Newfoundland
dog--and gave him a tin pail to carry. "If I bring it home
full, mamma," she said, "won't you make some berry
cakes for tea?"
5. Away she tripped, singing as she went down the lane
and across the pasture. When she got to the woods, she put
her dinner basket down beside a tree, and began to pick
berries.
6. Rover ran about, chasing a squirrel or a rabbit now and
then, but never straying far from Susie.
7. The tin pail was not a very small one. By the time it
was two thirds full, Susie began to feel hungry, and thought
she would eat her lunch.
8. Rover came and took his place at her side as soon as
she began to eat. Did she not give him some of the lunch?
No, she was in a selfish mood, and did no such thing.

176 ECLECTIC SERIES.
9. "There, Rover, run away! there's a good dog," she said;
but Rover staid near her, watching her steadily with his clear
brown eves