XXXII. OCTOBER'S BRIGHT BLUE

WEATHER

1. Sun and skies and clouds of June, And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October's bright blue weather.

2. When loud the bumblebee makes haste, Belated, thriftless vagrant,

And golden-rod is dying fast,

And lanes with grapes are fragrant.

3. When gentians roll their fringes tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burs
Without a sound of warning.

4. When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,

And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining.

5. When all the lovely wayside things

Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields, still green and fair,

Late aftermaths are growing.

6. When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,

Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods for winter waiting.

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7. Oh, sun and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together-

God loveth best of all the year
October's bright blue weather.

-HELEN HUNT JACKSON.

XXXIII. DUTY

1. You must study to be frank with the world; frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right. If a friend asks a favor, you should grant it if it is reasonable; if not, tell him plainly why you cannot; you will wrong him and wrong yourself by equivocation of any kind.

2. Never do a wrong thing to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly but firmly with all your classmates; you will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not. If you have any fault

to find with any one, tell him, not others, of what you complain; there is no more dangerous experiment than that of undertaking to be one thing before a man's face and another behind his back. We should live, act, and say nothing to the injury of any one. It is not only best as a matter of principle, but it is the path to peace and honor.

3. In regard to duty, let me, in conclusion of this hasty letter, inform you that, nearly a hundred years ago, there was a day of remarkable gloom and darkness — still known as "the dark day”- - a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished, as if by an eclipse. The legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as its members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on, they shared in the general awe and terror. It was supposed by many that the last day the day of judgment had come.

Some one, in the consternation of the

hour, moved an adjournment.

4. Then there arose an old Puritan legislator, Davenport, of Stamford, and said that, if the last day had come, he desired to be found at his place doing his duty, and therefore moved that candles be brought in, so that the House could proceed with its duty. There was quietness in that man's mind, the quietness of heavenly wisdom and inflexible willingness to obey present duty. Duty, then, is

the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things, like the old Puritan. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less. Never let your mother and me wear one gray hair for any lack

of duty on your part.

ROBERT E. LEE.

XXXIV. THE VINE AND THE WALL

I.

"I am so weak," said the little vine;

"Over the wall my tendrils twine;

I quiver in every passing breeze,

And bear no fruit, like the orchard trees;
No birds can build in my branches small;
I wonder why I was planted at all."

2. The old wall heard her, and answered low,
"You were planted over my stones to grow.
You with my strength must your beauty blend,
That each to the other some good may lend.
The world has need of us, each and all,
The clinging vine and the rough, gray wall;
And so,
Although

You may not know,

Be content, little vine, just to grow."

- Selected.

XXXV. SELECTION FROM THE

BIBLE

1. Can the blind lead the blind? both fall into the ditch?

Shall they not

2. The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4. Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

5. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit: for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

6. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.