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a famous man, and it cost me a guinea.

us out of all our difficulties.

it is; what does it say?'

It will get

Wife, you can read-here

The wife took the paper, and read these two lines: 'PETER BERNARD, NEVER PUT OFF TILL TO-MORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO-DAY.'

'There you have it,' cried the farmer, delighted. 'Come, look sharp; out with the carts, the lads, and the lasses, and let us bring in the hay.'

His wife would fain have resisted; but he declared that he was not going to pay a guinea for an opinion for no good, and that the advice of the lawyer must be followed; and he himself set the example, by going out to the field at once.

What followed shewed the wisdom of his conduct; for during the night the weather changed-an unforeseen storm burst over the valley; and, on the following day, the river had overflowed its banks, and dragged all the outstanding hay into its current. The harvest of the neighbouring farmers was entirely destroyed; Bernard alone lost nothing.

This first experience gave him such faith in the lawyer's opinion, that he adopted it for a rule of conduct, and consequently became-thanks to his method and industry

-one of the wealthiest farmers in the country. Nor did he forget that he owed it to the lawyer, to whom he carried every year a couple of fat fowls.

[Write from dictation]

After finishing his market business, the farmer resolved to make a good use of his opportunity, and obtain an opinion from a lawyer of experience and reputation. He consequently waited on the lawyer as one of numerous clients, and procured advice which carried him over many difficulties.

ON MAY MORNING.

Now the bright morning-star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose.

Hail! bounteous May, that doth inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

THE HISTORY OF HASSAN THE ROPEMAKER.

[Spell and write]

comprehend, constitute, situation, salutations,

astonished,

sufficient, benefactor, neighbourhood, melancholy, liberality, circumstances, independently, immediately.

In order to make you comprehend the means by which I obtained my present wealth, I must begin by speaking of two friends, the one called Saadi, and the other Saad. Saadi, who is very rich, has always been of opinion that a man cannot be happy in this world without such a fortune as shall enable him to live independently of every one. Saad thinks differently; he maintains that virtue ought to constitute the happiness of men, without more of the good things of this world than is necessary to supply our

B

real wants. One day, in a conversation nearly on this subject, Saadi asserted that the poor are poor only because they cannot come at a sum of money large enough to enable them by industry to improve their fortunes.

Saad was of opinion that a poor man may become rich by many other means, as well as with a large sum of money. Some days after this dispute, it happened that the two friends passed through that part of the town where I was at work as a ropemaker. My situation and dress clearly shewed my poverty.

'Let us accost this man,' said Saadi, 'and see if he is as poor as he seems to be.'

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The two friends came to me, and after the usual salutations, when I had told them my name; 'Hassan,' said Saadi, as there is not any trade which does not support its master, I am astonished that you have not saved something, and bought a good stock of hemp to increase your business.'

'Sir,' I replied, 'you will cease to be surprised when I tell you that though I work hard from morning till night, it is with difficulty I can earn enough to procure bread and vegetables for myself and family. I have a wife and five children, and not one of the latter is of an age to give me any assistance. It is sufficient that we are contented with the little it pleases Heaven to give us, and are not under the necessity of begging.'

On hearing this, the generous Saadi drew a purse from his bosom, and putting it into my hand: 'Take it,' said he, 'you will find two hundred pieces of gold in it, make a good use of them.'

I was so transported with joy that I could not speak. I put out my hand to seize the border of my benefactor's

robe to kiss it, but he instantly withdrew it, and they continued their walk. After they were gone, my first thought was where I should put the purse for safety. In my little house I had neither box nor chest with a lock to it. As I had been used, like other poor people in my way of life, to hide the little money I had in my turban, I went into my house, drew ten pieces of gold out of the purse, and wrapped the remainder in the folds of linen which went round my cap. The principal expense of that day was to buy a good stock of hemp, and as I had not had a bit of meat for a long time, I went to the market and bought some for supper.

Returning to my home, I held the meat in my hand, when a half-starved kite darted upon it, and in the effort I made to resist him, my turban fell to the ground. Immediately the kite let go his hold, and, seizing my turban, flew away with it. I uttered such piercing cries, that the men, women, and children in the neighbourhood were alarmed, and joined their cries to mine, but without frightening the kite, who carried my turban so far that we quite lost sight of him.

I returned home very melancholy at the loss I had sustained, but what gave me most uneasiness was the little satisfaction my benefactor would receive from his ill-placed liberality.

It was about six months after the kite had caused this misfortune, when the two friends passed at a little distance from the place in which I lived. This naturally brought me to their recollection.

'Let us go,' said Saad, and see if the two hundred pieces of gold that you gave Hassan have put him in the way to be at least in a better situation than that in which we found him.'

'I wish to do so,' replied Saadi, 'you are going to see a great alteration in him; I question whether we shall know him again.'

Saad, who first saw me in the distance, said to his friend I see Hassan; but the only difference I can discover is that his turban is not quite so dirty.'

On coming near, Saadi saw that Saad was right, and was so much astonished that it was not he who spoke when they came up.

'Well, Hassan,' said Saad, 'we do not ask how your affairs have prospered; the two hundred pieces of gold must have helped to improve them.'

'Gentlemen,' replied I, 'I am much mortified to be compelled to tell you both that your expectations as well as mine have not been attended with the success I had promised myself.' I then told them my adventure, with all the circumstances which I have just related.

Saadi gave no credit to the story. 'Hassan,' said he, 'you make a jest of us and you wish to deceive me. Kites do not attack turbans.' Saad took my part, and related many histories of kites not less surprising than mine, some of which he had himself known.

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Saad,' said his friend, 'you are now at liberty to convince me that there are other means which can make the fortune of a poor man.'

Saad held a piece of lead in his hand, which he shewed to Saadi. 'You have seen me,' replied he, 'pick up this piece of lead, which lay at my foot: I am going to give it to Hassan, and you will see how valuable it will prove to him.' Saadi burst into a violent fit of laughter, while I thought Saad was only amusing himself. However, I took the piece of lead, thanking him for it, and put

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