it, and these may increase and injure the ship."

So the

"No, I think not. To be sure the wood is not worth much; but I do not wish to lose it. Come, never mind the worm; we have seen but one; put it in." wormy piece of wood was put in. The ship was finished, and she looked very fine. indeed. She went to sea, and for some years did well. But it was found on a long voyage that she grew weak and rotten. Her timbers were found to be much eaten by the worms. The captain thought he would try to get her home; but she sprang a leak. She filled with water, and soon after sank, with all the goods and most of the people on board.

How much wealth, and how many lives may be lost by a little worm! And how much evil may a man do, when he does a small wrong, as he did who put the wormy timber into the ship!

LITTLE drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the solid land,

WRITE-How much evil a man may do when he does a small wrong!

WRITE-1st, The names of boys in the school; 2nd, The names of girls in the school; 3rd, The names of places; and 4th, The names of the days of the week.

XV. THE YOUNG MOUSE.

Cup'-board, a case with shelves.
Bis'-cuit, dry, hard bread.
Crumbs, small broken pieces.
Di'ned, took dinner.

Trap, snare.

Built, made.

Fol-low, go after.

Toast'-ed, cooked before the
fire.

Luck'-y, good chance.
Guile, cunning.
Lodge, live.

Fierce, savage.

Carp'-et, cover of the floor.

A YOUNG mouse lived in a cup-board where sweet-meats were kept. She dined every day upon biscuit, fruit, and fine sugar. Never did any little mouse live so well.

She had often dared to peep at the family while they sat at supper. Some. times she even stole on the carpet, and picked up the crumbs. No one ever hurt her.

Well, one day she came to her mother in great joy, crying out, "Mother! the good people of this family have built me a house to live in; it is in the cupboard. I am sure it is for me, for it is just the right size. The bottom is of wood, and it is covered all over with wires. There is a door, too, just big enough for me, so that puss cannot follow me. The good people

R. I,

C

34

THE YOUNG MOUSE.

have put in some toasted cheese, which smells so nicely, that I should have at once run in ; but I thought I would tell you first. Let us both go in, and lodge there to-night, for it will hold us both.

My dear child," said the old mouse, "it is lucky you did not go in; for your fine house is nothing but a trap. You would never have come out again, except to have been killed. Though man has not so fierce a look as a cat, he is as full of guile, and is no friend of ours."

SCRIPT EXERCISE.

Write the names of all the colours that you know.

WRITE-She dined daily on biscuit and sugar.

Lock'ed, closed with a key.
Greed'-i-ly, eagerly.

Look at these rabbits.

are.

Se-cure', safe.

Foes, enemies.
Signs, appearances.

See how tame they Some of them are white, some black,

and some brown.

They live in a little house made of wood, and the little boy and girl to whom they belong are very careful to keep the door of this house locked after the rabbits are put in, in order to keep them from being