9. 'No,' said his aunt, No, Julius, I shall not buy it for you. It is not right that you should have it, because you have conducted very improperly. I shall buy some cakes and candy for all of you; and give to each a nine-pence to spend as you please.' She then took out her purse, purchased the cakes and candy, and gave the children their

money.

10. Julius immediately bought a sugar eagle and a basket of fruit. While he was making his purchases his cousins were talking earnestly with each other, and did not come forward to look at the things any more. 11. See what I have got,' said he, holding up his eagle and basket. What are you going to buy?' 'Not anything,' answered Amelia. 'Mother has given us enough; and we want our money for something else.' 12. Before I would be so stingy of a nine-pence. Well, if I could not have the trumpet, I have got these pretty things, I know,' said Julius, swinging himself round in a triumphant manner. Just then he let his basket of fruit fall, and it broke into a great many pieces.

13. 'I don't care,' said he, 'I can eat it now;' and placing his eagle on the stove, he began to pick up the pieces of his basket. Presently he looked up at his eagle, and found it nearly melted by the heat of the fire.

14. Little Mary could not help laughing, and saymg "There is the end of your nine-pence, cousin Julius.' But observing that her cousin began to look very sorrowful and angry again, she ran up to him, and kindly said, 'Come, Julius, be a good boy, and leave crying. You shall take a walk with us by and by.'

15. I am not going to cry about a nine-pence, I would have you know:-nor about a sugar basket, or eagle. I can have as many of them as I want, and trumpets too, when I am at home.'

16. But,' said Amelia, 'you cannot have us when you are at home, Julius; so let us be kind now we are together.'

17. You are always kind, cousin Amelia; and you are always happy. I wish I was always happy.' 'If you are good and kind, you will feel a great deal happier than you now do, Julius. You will be as happy as our little Mary here. She is happy every day, and all day long. But, mother, when we have finished our work, may we walk down to Nurse Hall's ? We are all going to put our money together, and buy her a nice apron for a new-year's gift, and we want to ask what color she would like best.'

He

18. Their mother consented; the work was soon finished and they set off upon their walk, accompanied by Julius, who was much more silent than usual. did not appear to feel unkindly, but very thoughtful. He was drawing a comparison between himself and his cousins; and he was beginning to wish, that he could be a better boy, as well as a happier boy.

19. It was not long before they reached Mrs. Hall's neat house, and were received with a hearty welcome. They told their errand, and their nurse seemed to feel pleased and grateful for their kind remembrance of her. She said she should like a purple apron best,. and the children hastened away to the store in the village to purchase it. They soon agreed on a pattern, and returned to Mrs. Hall's to present their gift.

20. Mrs. Hall thanked them, and said she should certainly think of them every time she looked at her new apron, and a great many other times besides She then opened her clothes-press, and took out three pairs of warm, delicate mittens, which she had been knitting for them, as a new-year's gift, and which she begged they would put on, as it was a frosty morning, and she thought their fingers must be cold with nothing more than their kid gloves. 'I am sorry I have not a pair of mittens for you, my little man,' said she to Julius. Had I thought of your coming with your cousins, I should have knit some for you.'

21. Julius shall wear my mittens, Nurse,' said Mary, for his hands look colder than mine do. Francis taught me how to keep mine nice and warm. So,' continued she, clapping them together, 'this is the way, and Julius has no brother Francis to tell him how.'

22. 'No, indeed, Mary, I will not wear your mittens. I shall never be happy like you, while I think more of myself than I do of anybody else. I hope I shall not be a selfish boy any more, cousin Amelia.' 'I hope you will not, dear little Julius; but come, we must go home now. It is almost dinner time, and mother will wonder what has become of us.'

23. They hastened home, after taking a kind leave of their nurse, and it gave great pleasure to their parents to see their bright and happy faces. Julius continued pleasant and kind the remainder of the day; and when he went home at night, promised to come and see his cousins again as soon as he could.

ERRORS.

3. spiled for spoiled. 8. setting-room for sitting-room. 9. 17. nus for nurse.

pus for purse.

QUESTIONS.

What is the Rule? Can you give any account of this story? Which of these children seems to have been most frequently in fault? How had he been educated?

LESSON XLIII.

RULE. It is an ill excuse for any fault, to say 'I forgot to do right.' Remember, and be willing, to do correctly, whatever has been taught you; and you will become good readers, and good in all things.

THE BLIND BOY - continued.

1. Nor a great while afterward, Julius went to pass some days at his uncle's, as his father was going a journey, and his nurse wanted to visit her friends. He had been with his aunt and cousins but a short time, before they were struck with the alteration in his looks and manners. His countenance no longer wore that discontented, irritable expression, which it had formerly given them so much pain to observe; and his voice sounded kind and gentle.

2. 'I know you have been a good boy, dear Julius,' said Amelia, because you look so happy.' 'I have tried to be a good boy, cousin Amelia, but I was naughty too long, and sometimes I forget, and it seems hard to be good. Will you go with me to nurse Hall's today? I have saved more than nine-pence, and I want to buy something for her as quick as I can, that I may feel as you all did the last time I was here.'

3. We will go to walk with you, Julius; but it is very likely there are many others to whom your money would be of more service than to our nurse. She is not very poor, but she has always been very kind to us, and now she has grown old, we thought it would please her if we carried her a new-year's gift. You would feel much happier to assist any one who is very poor, than to make a present to Mrs. Hall, because you would be doing more good.'

4. 'I am in a hurry to do some good, I know,' said little Julius; but he waited patiently till his cousins got through with their morning lessons, and then they all went to walk, accompanied by their mother.

5. Mrs. Percival walked slowly with the elder children, while Mary and Julius went on considerably in advance of them. Presently their attention was attracted by a pretty looking boy coming towards them. He appeared to be of their own age, and moved cautiously along, holding a little dog by a string.

6. Mary and Julius felt much interested by his appearance, and were also curious to know why he mov ed so slowly, and kept such fast hold of his dog. Mary did not love to ask any questions; but Julius went up