s composed.

"Just look at my superior finish," said one of the top pieces to those
beneath it. "You are only plain pieces of granite, while I am polished,
elegantly carved, and the admiration of all eyes. Do I not see all the
people, as they pass by, look up at me?"

"Not so fast," replied one of the foundation stones. "A little less pride
would become you; for do you not see that, but for us below, you could
not be so high? And it matters very little, it strikes me, what part of
the building we are placed in, if we but remain firm and peaceful."

The words of the wise stone pleased the owner so much that he
resolved to remove a little of the vanity of the top one, and lay awake
a long time that night, thinking of some plan by which to effect his
purpose. The elements, however, spared him any effort on his part, for
the next day a terrible hail-storm swept over the land, and its hard
stones defaced all the ornaments which had led the lofty one to boast so
loudly of its superiority.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" moaned the vain piece of granite. "How I wish I had
been taken for a foundation stone, instead of being here to have all my
beauty destroyed by this awful storm! I'd much rather have been in the
middle of the building than up here, where all the force of the storm is
spent on my head."

The stone at the foundation could not help smiling, though he really
pitied the vain thing above him. "It will teach her wisdom," he said to
himself; "and she may learn that none in life are lowly if they bear
their part, and that a lofty position is far more dangerous than a humble
one."

There was a fearful crash in the air at that instant. The foundation
stone thought the building was coming down. Something struck him,
which he recognized as a part of the top stone; for he had seen the
workmen cutting and smoothing it day after day for many weeks prior to
its elevation. Now she could boast no more of superior finish or
position.

The following day, the remaining shattered portion was removed and
left by the roadside, where it could see another prepared to take its
place.

"I thought that stone was a little weak when we raised it," said one of
the workmen as it was placed aside.

It lay by the roadside until it grew to be humble and glad to be of any
use,--even delighted when one day the owner of the building took it to
finish a wall which was being built around some pasture land.

"Here I can be of use," she said, as the