uty bound,
The joke applauded, and the laugh went round.
At length, Modestus, bowing low,
Said (craving pardon, if too free he made),
"Sir, by your leave, I fain would know
_Your_ father's trade!"

"_My_ father's _trade?_ Heavens! that's too bad!
My father's trade! Why, blockhead, are you mad?
My father, sir, did never stoop so low.
He was a gentleman, I'd have you know."

"Excuse the liberty I take,"
Modestus said, with archness on his brow,
"Pray, why did not your father make
A gentleman of you?"

_Selleck Osborne._

* * * * *

fain, gladly.

archness, sly humor free from malice.

suit (s[=u]t), the people who attend upon a person of distinction;
often written _suite_ (_sw[=e]t_).

Write the plural forms of _boy, man, duty, youth, family,
secretary._

Copy these sentences, using other words instead of those in italics:

He was an _unassuming_ boy, of decent _parts_ and good
_repute_. His _diffidence obscured_ his merit.
_Excuse_ the _liberty_ I take.

Memory Gems:

The rank is but the guinea's stamp,--
The man's the gold for a' that!

_Burns._

One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.

_Goethe_ (_g[^u]' t[=e]_).

* * * * *

_30_

WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.[002]

For Recitation:

Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
'Twas my forefather's hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman, let it stand,
Thy ax shall harm it not!

That old familiar tree,
Whose glory and renown
Are spread o'er land and sea--
And wouldst thou hew it down?
Woodman, forbear thy stroke!
Cut not its earth-bound ties;
Oh! spare that aged oak,
Now towering to the skies.

When but an idle boy,
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here;
My father pressed my hand;--
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that old oak stand.

My heartstrings round thee cling,
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild bird sing,
And still thy bran