the little lake in his native land, watching the rays of
the setting sun as they melted away from its surface. The beautiful lily
was in his hand, and while he looked at it the leaves became withered,
and fell at his feet. Then he felt a light touch on his hand. He looked
up, and there on the chair beside him stood the little fairy.

"O wonderful fairy!" he cried, "how can I thank you for your magic gift?
I can give you nothing but my thanks. But at least tell me your name, so
that I may cut it on a ring and always wear it."

"My name," replied the fairy, "is Perseverance."

_Jean Ingelow._

* * * * *

[Illustration:]

Name the different objects you see in the picture. What did the artist
desire to tell? What is the central object? Where is the scene of the
picture placed? What time of the day and of the year does it show?

Describe the boy. How old is he? What impresses you most about him?

Suppose your teacher took the class to this lake for a day's outing.
Write a composition on how the day was spent.

* * * * *

_74_

A BUILDER'S LESSON.

Memorize:

"How shall I a habit break?"
As you did that habit make.
As you gathered, you must lose;
As you yielded, now refuse.
Thread by thread the strands we twist
Till they bind us, neck and wrist;
Thread by thread the patient hand
Must untwine, ere free we stand.
As we builded, stone by stone,
We must toil, unhelped, alone,
Till the wall is overthrown.

But remember, as we try,
Lighter every test goes by;
Wading in, the stream grows deep
Toward the center's downward sweep;
Backward turn, each step ashore
Shallower is than that before.

Ah, the precious years we waste
Leveling what we raised in haste:
Doing what must be undone
Ere content or love be won!
First, across the gulf we cast
Kite-borne threads, till lines are passed,
And habit builds the bridge at last!

_John Boyle O'Reilly._

* * * * *

Memory Gem:

Habit is a cable. Every day we weave a thread, until at last it is so
strong we cannot break it.

* * * * *

_75_

in ured'
ru' di ments
nine' ti eth
ma tur' er
ac' cu ra cy
in ad vert' ence
an' ec dote