y just discovered,
and which must originally have been by the side of a river. I'll take
you there to-night if you can get permission to come."

Nothing delighted the boys more than an expedition with old Principle.
They promised to be down at his shop punctually at half-past seven that
evening, and then the conversation drifted into other channels.

"Old Principle, do you think we ought to make opportunities?" questioned
Dudley, presently; "Roy thinks we ought, and I did make one the other
day, but it didn't turn out well."

"Ay, Master Roy is always for making," said the old man with a smile;
"he will try and cram his life with what will come fast enough
naturally, if he only waits."

"But will it?" questioned Roy, flushing up with eagerness; "do you
think it will? I'm longing to do something big and grand and good; I
mayn't live to grow up you know, and I'm sure we're meant to do
something when we're boys."

"We're trying to do good to all men as we have opportunity," said
Dudley, gravely.

"Ay, stick to that, boys, and you'll succeed. There's none too small to
be true philanthropists."

"What is a philanthropist?" asked Roy.

"A man who benefits his fellow creatures. 'Tis a good principle to keep
in mind."

"But it's difficult for boys to do grown-up people good. They always do
boys good."

"Now look here, Master Roy. I've lived and learned where you haven't,
and I try and pass my principles on to you. That's how I do you good.
You come to me and take what I give you and seeing you act out the
advice I offers you does me good. You do me good too, every time you
comes to see me; it's cheery to hear and see you."

"But that's very tame for us," said Roy, a little scornfully.

"Oh, well, if your own likes must come into the question, it's a
different story! I didn't know it mattered about our feelings as long as
the good is done! 'Tis a bad principle to try to please others only when
it pleases ourselves."

Roy looked a little ashamed of himself. He said no more on the subject,
and shortly after he and Dudley ran home to tea.

They were very disappointed when their aunt refused to let them go out
again that evening.

"It is too damp a night for Jonathan to be wandering through wet grass
and bog. You can go, David, if you like, but he must wait for another
opportunity."

"I shan't go without Roy," said Dudley, sturdily.

"We'll come and make a cave in the attic," suggested Roy, trying to be
cheer