11. They were returning from a very prosperous voyage when they were overtaken, in the channel, by a gale of wind. It continued three days, and they were, at length, wrecked on the coast of Kent. He saw his father, endeavoring to catch hold of a rope, miss his aim, and fall overboard. He was then carried into the sea, by an overwhelming wave, and escaped death only by being thrown upon the beach.

12. The youth wept as he gave this recital; and Ralph, whose kind heart felt for every one, wept also. He had two shillings and a few halfpence in his pocket, and these constituted his only possessions; but he gave them willingly to relieve a fellow-creature in distress.

13. As the youth had traveled a long way without shoes, he very thankfully accepted Ralph's offer of remaining with him till the next day. Accordingly, they continued with the sheep till it was time for them to be taken home, and then Ralph led his guest to his father's cottage.

14. He introduced him to his mother; and she, with great good nature, prepared to broil them a slice of bacon for their supper. This was a most delicious treat to the sailor; and Ralph, who had given away his dinner, thought it more than usually good.

15. After supper, they retired to rest; and the next morning, when Ralph led out his flock, the poor traveler, being offered a pair of old shoes and a hat, took his leave, with many thanks, and recommenced his weary journey.

QUESTIONS. 1. What aroused James Corbett from his hammock? 3. What after. ward happened to his father and himself? 4. Where was the young sailor thrown? 5. To whom did he return thanks?. 6. To whom did he then commit himself? 7. What are Dover and Sandgate? 9. Whom did he meet with on the coast? 10. What did Ralph give him? 11. What account did the boy give of the storm 4. What did Ralph's mother prepare them for supper?

LESSON XXIX.

Spell and Define.

1. Oc-cur'rences, events, incidents.

2. Pen'u-ry, extreme poverty. 4. Ne-ces'si-ties, wants, needs.

5. Pri-va'tions, the loss of comforts. 8. Af-fa-bil'i-ty, civility, courteousness. 11. Rec'og-niz-ed, recollected as known. 11. Mat'tress, a quilted bed.

12. Wag'on-er, one who drives a wagon.

13. Mel'an-chol-y, gloomy, dejected.
14. Af'flu-ent, wealthy, rich.

14. Em-bark'ed, went on board a ship.
17. In-de-pend'ence, the ability to support
one's self.

19. Ben-e-fac'tor, one who confers a ben-
efit.

19. Peas'ant-ry, rural laborers.

ERRORS.-1. Aw-most' for al-most'; 1. for-git' for for-get'; 2. mis-for'tin for mis fortune; 4. pore for poor; 4. dew'ing for do'ing; 5. o-bleeg'ed for o-blig'ed; 11. re-cog'niz-ed for rec'og-niz-ed; 12. set'ting for sitting; 16. wuth for worth; 18. fol'lers for follows.

1. SEVERAL years passed away, and Ralph had almost forgotten the circumstance. He had, indeed, had sufficient on his mind to make him forget occurrences, even more important, having for a long time led a life of sorrow.

2. By misfortune, his father had been reduced to penury, and finally had abandoned his native land, leaving his wife and son, in the middle of a severe winter, without even shelter or the means of subsistence.

3. Ralph, however, being well known and generally respected, soon engaged himself as a shepherd, to a neighboring farmer, and hired a small cottage which stood at the foot of a hill adjoining the common. Here he lived, penuriously indeed, but contentedly, thankful that he could procure for his mother even this humble shelter.

4. The poor woman, smitten by misfortune, and borne down by advancing years, was incapable of doing anything for herself, and Ralph had not only to support, but to nurse her. He often found this task very difficult; but in proportion to his necessities he increased his exertions, and God, who rewards filial piety and industry, gave a blessing to all nis efforts.

5. He was enabled to pay the rent of his cottage, and to

discharge some of the debts which his father had left, which being due to some of the poorest of the cottagers, they were ill able to lose. For this he was, indeed, obliged to toil very hard, and almost starve himself; but he cheerfully endured privations, while he saw his mother surrounded by a few comforts, and felt that he was discharging an important duty.

6. One evening, he was sitting reading to his aged parent, when he heard the rattling wheels of a carriage. Such a sound was so unusual in that spot, that, after expressing his surprise at it, he rose to see whither it was going. It stopped at the cottage, and from it alighted a man about thirty years

of age.

7. Ralph made a respectful bow, and asked whom he was pleased to want.

8. "Yourself," replied the stranger, with much affability, "if, as I suppose, you are Ralph Martin."

9. Ralph said he was the person.

10. "And do you, indeed, not recollect me?" asked the stranger. "Do you not remember the poor sailor-boy whom you sheltered and relieved? I am he; and if you will give me another night's lodging and a slice of bacon, I will stay with you, and give you an account of the circumstances which have wrought such a change in my appearance."

11. Ralph, who, in the change which more than sixteen years had made, no longer recognized his shipwrecked acquaintance, was, however, extremely glad to see him in so much happier circumstances. He assured him of a hearty welcome, but added he had only a mattress of straw and a blanket to offer him.

12. "So much the better," replied Mr. Corbett; "it will remind me of former times. But now for my history. Give me that box; it will make an excellent chair, and we shall be more at our ease, sitting. When I left you, I determined, if possible, to travel to London; and by the kindness of a wag

NOTE.a See London, p. 87, note a.

oner, who seemed to feel deeply for my misfortunes, I arrived there on the third day.

13. "I found my mother in the greatest affliction; she had just been informed of the melancholy fate of my father, and was almost inconsolable. The sight of me, however, whom she had also believed dead, in some degree revived her spirits.

14. "I was happy to find she was left in comfortable, though not affluent, circumstances; and as there was a small provision for each of the children, I took my share, and embarked with it for the East Indies," where I had a cousin who had long wished me to assist him in his business. I was received by him with the utmost kindness, and my little property turned to the best account.

b

15. "Twelve years of successful industry made me a rich man; and as soon as I could settle my affairs, I returned to England. I found my mother still living, and my brothers and sisters fixed in different situations. I have paid every debt I might have contracted with them, and my only account, which remains unbalanced, is that I have to settle with you."

16. "With me, sir?" said Ralph; "you have nothing to settle with me. The trifling assistance you received was not worth remembering; it was only what I should have gladly given to any one in your circumstances. Times have altered a good deal since, and I often feel the greatest sorrow in witnessing distress which I have not the power to relieve." 17. "But you shall have the power," answered the gentle"Independence could never be better placed than in your hands. But we will talk of these things to-morrow. Now give me my supper, as you promised; for I have traveled a great distance to-day, and am rather tired." Ralph prepared his simple fare, and then showed his guest to his humble bed.

man.

18. Next morning, the little story of the misfortunes, with which Ralph had had to struggle, was recounted. The

NOTES. See East Indies, p. 109, note a. b See England, p. 110, note c.

stranger, eager to place him in a happier lot, purchased a neat house, and having stocked it with every necessary, and increased his flock by fifty sheep, the happy Ralph was made owner of it, and lived many years in that prosperity which usually follows industry and integrity.

19. His benefactor generally called once or twice a year to see him; and the peasantry, for miles around, often amused their children with repeating the good fortune which proved

a REWARD OF HOSPITALITY.

QUESTIONS. 1. What kind of a life had Ralph for a long time led? 2. What happened to his father? 3. How did Ralph support himself and mother? 6. Who called upon him one evening? 12. What was his name? 12. What is said of London? 14. What success did he have in the East Indies? 18. What present did James Corbett make Ralph for his hospitality? 19. How did the peasantry often amuse their children? What moral lesson may be learned from this piece?

LESSON

XXX.
Spell and Define.

1. Ex-traor'di-na-ry, wonderful.

1. Dis-in-ter'red, taken out of the earth.
1. Tempo-ra-ry, for a limited time.
3. Nat'u-ral-ists, those versed in natural
history.

5. Con-fig-u-ra'tion, external form.
8. Tusks, long, pointed teeth.

9. In-teg'u-ments, the covering of the body, as the skin, &c.

9. Cal'i-ber, the bore of a gun or tube. 10. Pon'der-ous, very heavy.

11. Fac'ul-ties, powers of body or mind. 11. Tra-di'tion, an oral account, transmitted from age to age.

ERRORS.1. Tem'per-a-ry for tem'po-ra-ry; 3. skille-ton for skel'e-ton; 3. sup. pris'ing for sur-pris'ing; 4. mu'se-um for mu-se'um; 5. gin'er-al for gen'er-al; 6. layg for leg; 8. curva-tchure for curva-ture; 11. ware for were; 11. tray-di' tion for tra-di'tion; 12. sich for such.

THE MASTODON.a

J. D. GODMAN.

1. In various parts of North America, especially on the banks of the Hudson and Ohio rivers, single bones of extraor

NOTES. —a This animal is frequently improperly called by the name of mammoth, that being the name of the fossil elephant, found in Siberia and other places. b North A-mer'i-ca; the northern division of the western continent, extending from the isthmus of Darien to the Arctic Ocean. c Hud'son; a river in the eastern part of New York, 350 miles long. d Ohio; a river forming the southern boundary of the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, 1300 miles long.