ERRORS.-1. Mer'ri-ed for mar'ri-ed; 1. am'e-ble for a'mi-a-ble; 3. Reg-e-lar'i ty for reg-u-lar'i-ty; 3. leas for least; 7. in'ner-cent for in'no-cent; 8. deu'ing fo do'ing; 9. sun'thing for something; 9. och'ud for or'chard; 10. com'futs for com' forts; 18. ruth'er for rather.

THE GOOD SON.

E. MANGIN.

1. SOME years ago, in a small village in England," there lived a clergyman, who had the care of a parish in the neighborhood. He was married to a very amiable young lady, and they lived in a neat, pretty, small house, which they called Primrose Cottage, because it was originally of the color of the primrose; though afterward it was hardly possible to know the color of the building, as it was nearly covered with ivy and honeysuckle.

2. Here they lived poor, but contented and happy, because they were both good, and greatly beloved. The wife was loved, because she used to help the sick and needy, and by giving, now and then, a piece of flannel or linen to such as wanted clothes in the winter time for themselves or their little ones; and by her way of doing all this, and her civil manner of speaking to people, she won their hearts still more.

3. The clergyman, on his part, gained general respect and

NOTES. See England, page 110, note c. b Prim'rose; a flowering plant found in abundance on the eastern continent, and some few species are seen in Canada. The flowers are white, red, or yellow, and very beautiful.

good-will by doing all his duties, public and private, with perfect regularity, and as if he took true pleasure in these and in nothing else. He was simple in his devotions, and with the sorrowful and dying among his flock he was sad and solemn; and when he could not console them otherwise, he would show that he at least felt for their misfortunes

4. But with the young, the gay, and the happy he seemed happy and gay himself, and encouraged them in their innocent sports and games; and when they played cricket or football, he would look on delighted, as he sat in his green arm-chair, on the little grass-plot before his own door; while his wife worked at her needle, seated near him, and their healthy, cheerful boy played in their sight.

5. These were their joyful times. Both were young; and if they had not fortune, they had hope to enliven them; and when they had an hour to spare from their different duties, they passed that hour in laying plans for the happiness of their dear son, who, at the time this history commences, was about five years old.

6. One day, however, the clergyman, on coming home after the church service was over, was silent and pale; he went to bed early; the next morning he could not rise, and in four days more he was dead.

7. And now woe came where joy had been, and weeping instead of smiles; and where all before had been hope, there was now nothing but despair. A new clergyman arrived, to fill the place of the last; and the poor, forlorn, and friendless mother was obliged to lead her innocent boy by the hand, from what was no longer their own door, and bid farewell forever to the Primrose Cottage.

8. Nothing can well be imagined more miserable than the unfortunate widow. In losi. g her husband, she had lost her protector and her beloved companion, all her power of doing good to others, and almost all her means of supporting herself, and one she loved more than herself, her little son. She had

no friends except among the poor, who can be of no use to such as are poor like themselves; and she had scarcely any money to hire a lodging, or buy a meal to eat.

9. But something she must do; and therefore, she went to the house of a humble farmer, a good man who had known her in better times, and he readily agreed to give her shelter in a small room, that looked out on an orchard at the back of his house, in which there was a bed for herself, and in a little closet behind it a crib for her boy.

10. It was also settled that they should share the plain food which the farmer and his wife were contented to eat; and by way of paying for these comforts, the poor lady undertook to do as much for them, as she was able to perform. By degrees she made herself useful; and she was so gentle and so sweettempered, and had so little pride, that at last they perceived they could not live happily without her.

11. Any spare time she had, she employed in teaching her boy to read and write; and at night, when he was in bed and asleep, and she thought no one observed, she would many a time, sit down and weep, then pray to God for pity, and at length go to sleep herself. In this manner, and walking with her boy in the orchard, and conversing with the farmer and his wife, and seldom being heard of or spoken to by anybody else, some years passed away.

12. Her son was not only the chief object of her affection, but her constant companion; and so fond was he of his mother, and so grateful to her, which is a strong proof of his having a noble mind, that he would hardly ever leave her; and while he was seated by her side, as children must do something, he used to amuse himself with cutting little bits of wood into different shapes, or molding a lump of bees-wax, which the farmer had given him, into the resemblance, as he thought, of birds, cows, and so forth.

13. He at last finished the likeness of a goat in wax, so much to the satisfaction of his friends, that the farmer grew

proud of showing the little figure to gentlemen and others passing by.

14. One day, an old gentleman, plainly clad, stopped for many minutes to look at the goat, as it stood in the parlor window, and presently coming in, asked very humbly to be allowed to examine the waxen figure. The farmer was pleased with this, and said, "Sit down, sir, and look at it as long as you like."

15. The old stranger sitting down, desired the farmer to tell him, if possible, who made the goat. The farmer said he would soon do that; and calling the boy from his mother's little room, introduced him to the old man, who made many inquiries about him; as, who he was, how old, and who was his teacher.

16. The boy answered that he lived with his mother, at the house of the good farmer where they then were; that he was nine years of age, and had learned to read and write from his mother, but had not been taught to carve or mold by any one.

17. The stranger then asked, with great humility, to see his mother, who immediately came out to him, and repeated the information which the boy had already given him.

18. The old man said he seemed to be a good child and rather ingenious; that he himself had once, in his better days, a turn for carving sticks and stones, and was pleased with anything of the kind; that he knew a stone-mason in the next village, who would, he thought, give the poor boy something to do in his way, if his mother had no objection; and that, with her leave, he would speak of him to the mason on his road home.

19. The boy, who seldom smiled, smiled now at the notion of having something large to carve. The mother was thankful to the old stranger, only she was rather sad at the thought of her boy being absent from her for some hours every day, as he must be if employed; but the good-hearted farmer and

his wife advised her not to refuse the offer, if the mason would agree to the old man's plan; and so he went away.

QUESTIONS. 2. What caused the clergyman's wife to be beloved? 3. How did the clergyman gain the good will of his people? 6. What happened to the clergy. man? 8. What means of support had the clergyman's wife now? 9. Who gave her shelter? 11. How did she employ her spare time? himself? 18. What did Mr. N. offer to do for him? with the proposal?

12. How did her son amuse

19. How was the boy pleased

ERRORS. 2. De'sunt for de'cent; 2. coun'try-mun for coun'try-man; 3. sev'ral for sev'er-al; 3. o-be'je-ent for o-be'di-ent; 6. us'yal-ly for us'u-al·ly; 9. mod'l for model; 10. mis'tris for mis'tress; 11. gownd for gown; 13. fort'nit for fort'night; 14. lyvery for liv'er-y; 20. gin'er-ous for gen'er-ous.

THE GOOD SON, CONCLUDED.

E. MANGIN.

1. In a few days after this visit from the old stranger, the boy's mother received a letter signed N., but nothing more, telling her that, if her son would go along with the messenger who left the letter, he would take him to the mason they had spoken of together; and as the distance was but about half a mile, the exercise of walking would do him good.

2. A decent looking countryman waited for him; the mother sighed, but let him go; the boy went, half joyful, half melancholy, and the farmer, who greatly liked the child, went with him, and promised to bring him back on his return from market.