THE MAN WHO COULD SEE AND THINK.

Arab, a native of Arabia, in Asia. des'ert, a sandy tract of land where little grows.

faint, not easily seen.

grazed, eaten grass.

herb'age, grass or other plants.

An Arab was walking alone in the desert, when two merchants met him. 'You have lost a camel,' said he. 'Indeed we have,' replied the merchants. 'Was he not blind in his right eye, and lame in his left leg?' said the Arab. 'He was,' they answered. 'Had he lost a front tooth?' he inquired. 'He had,' was the reply. And was he not loaded with honey on one side, and corn on the other?' 'To be sure he was, and as you have seen him so lately, and examined him so carefully, you can tell us where he is, no doubt.'

'My friends,' said the Arab, 'I have never seen him.' 'O you villain,' said the merchants, where are the jewels that were part of his load?' 'I have never seen them,' he answered. Then they seized him, and carried him to the judge, who ordered him to be searched. No jewels were found; whereupon the judge demanded of him how he knew all about the camel.

'I will tell you, sir,' replied the Arab. 'I have lived in the desert a long, long time. There is not much to see in it, and that has made me take the more notice of the few things which there are. I knew that this camel was a stray one, because there were no human footsteps. I knew that he was blind of one eye, because he had cropped the herbage on one side of the path only. I knew that he was lamę

of one foot, because of the faint impression which that foot had made in the sand. I knew that he had lost a tooth, because, wherever he had grazed, one small tuft of herbage remained uninjured in the centre of his bite. As to the corn and honey which formed his load, I knew of these by the crowd of ants on one side of his path, and of flies on the other.'

THE TRAVELLERS AND THE MONEY-BAG.

accident'al, happening by chance, | part'ner, one who shares.

not looked for. hue, a shouting.

togeth'er.
trav'elling.

As two men were travelling on the road, one of them saw a bag of money lying on the ground; and picking it up, 'I am in luck this morning,' said he; ‘I have found a bag of money.' 'Yes,' returned the other, ' though, methinks, you should not say I, but We have found it; for when two friends are travelling together, they ought equally to share in any accidental good fortune that may happen to attend them.' 'No,' rejoined the former, it was I that found it, and I must insist upon keeping it.'

He had no sooner spoken these words, than they were alarmed with a hue and cry after a thief, who had that morning taken a purse upon the road. 'Oh!' said the finder, this is extremely unfortunate, we shall certainly be seized.' 'Good sir,' replied the other, 'be pleased not to say We, but I: as you would not allow me a share in the prize, you have no right to make me a partner in the punishment.'

B

There was a little boy about thirteen years old, whose name was Casabianca. His father was the commander of a ship of war called the Orient. The little boy accompanied his father to the seas. His ship was once engaged in a terrible battle upon the river Nile. In the midst of the thunders of the battle, while the heavy shots were flying thickly around, and strewing the decks with blood, this brave boy stood by the side of his father, faithfully discharging the duties which were assigned to him.

At last his father placed him in a particular part of the ship, to perform some service, and told him to remain at his post till he should call him away. As the father went to some distant part of the ship to notice the progress of the battle, a ball from the enemy's vessel laid him dead upon the deck. But the son, unconscious of his father's death, and faithful to the trust reposed in him, remained at his post, waiting for his father's orders. The battle raged dreadfully around him. The blood of the slain flowed at his feet.

The ship took fire, and the threatening flames drew nearer and nearer. Still this noble-hearted boy would not disobey his father. In the face of blood, and balls, and fire, he stood firm and obedient. The sailors began to desert the

burning and sinking ship, and the boy cried out: 'Father! may I go?' But no voice of permission could come from the mangled body of his lifeless father. And the boy, not knowing that he was dead, would rather die than disobey. And there that boy stood at his post, till every man had deserted the ship: he stood and perished in the flames.

1.

The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but he had fled;
The flame that lit the battle's wreck,
Shone round him o'er the dead.

2.

Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to rule the storm;
A creature of heroic blood,

A proud though childlike form.

3.

The flames rolled on-he would not go
Without his father's word;
That father, faint in death below,
His voice no longer heard.

4.

He called aloud: Say, father, say,
If yet my task is done!'

He knew not that the chieftain lay
Unconscious of his son.

5.

'Speak, father!' once again he cried,
'If I may yet be gone!'

And-but the booming shots replied,
And fast the flames rolled on.

6.

Upon his brow he felt their breath,
And in his waving hair ;

And looked from that lone post of death,
In still, yet brave, despair;

7.

And shouted but once more aloud:

'My father! must I stay?'

While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud The wreathing fires made way.

8.

They wrapped the ship in splendour wild,
They caught the flag on high,

And streamed above the gallant child,
Like banners in the sky.

9.

Then came a burst of thunder sound

The boy-oh! where was he? Ask of the winds that far around

With fragments strewed the sea

10.

With mast, and helm, and pennon fair
That well had borne their part—
But the noblest thing that perished there,
Was that young, faithful heart.