ed sons
could protest. 10

"Now," said he, "those broken sticks are you, my seven
sons. As long as you hold together, nobody can break your
friendship or your reputation. When you fall apart, anybody
can make broken reeds of you. Need I say more
about the lesson that you have pledged yourselves to learn 15
in spirit and in deed?"

The rebuke touched the seven brothers. They agreed to
forget their petty grievances, thanked their father for the
lesson he had taught them, and gladly joined in a big feast
he had had prepared. And thereafter all who knew them 20
spoke of them as "the seven blood brothers."

1. Did the seven brothers have any good reason for
quarreling? About what matters did they disagree?
What is the difference between disagreeing and
quarreling? How did they probably get into their
contentious habits?

2. What was their father's agreement with them? Was
it a fair one? What part of the story is
illustrated on page 214?

3. This is an old story retold. Groups of seven,
three, or twelve are very common in folk tales and
legends. See how many famous groups of seven you
can find.

THE PRAYER PERFECT

BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Dear Lord! kind Lord!
Gracious Lord! I pray
Thou wilt look on all I love,
Tenderly to-day!
Weed their hearts of weariness; 5
Scatter every care
Down a wake of angel wings
Winnowing the air.

Bring unto the sorrowing
All release from pain; 10
Let the lips of laughter
Overflow again;
And with all the needy
Oh, divide, I pray,
This vast treasure of content 15
That is mine to-day!

1. James Whitcomb Riley (1853-1916) is an American
poet, best known for his poems for and about
children. You probably know "The Raggedy Man,"
"Little Orphant Annie," and "The Circus-Day
Parade." "The Prayer Perfect" is an example of his
serious verse.

2. From what three evils does the poet pray to have
his friends delivered? What good things does he
want them to have? What, beside