and darkness-still known as "the dark day" a day when the light of the sun was slowly extinguished as if by an eclipse. The Legislature of Connecticut was in session, and as the members saw the unexpected and unaccountable darkness coming on they shared in the general awe and terror. It was supposed by many that the last day— the day of judgment-had come. Some one in the consternation of the hour moved to adjourn. But there arose an old Puritan member, Davenport of Stamford, and said that if the last day had come, he desired to be found in his place doing his duty, and moved that candles be brought in so that the House could proceed to do its duty.

There was quietness in that man's mind, the quietness of heavenly wisdom and firm willingness to obey present duty.

Duty, then, is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things like the old Puritan. You can not do more, you should never do less. Never let me or your mother wear one gray hair for any lack of duty on your part.

THE FOX AND THE GOAT

A fox having fallen into a deep well, was kept a prisoner there, as he could find no way to get out.

A goat, that was very thirsty, came to the well, and seeing the fox, asked if the water was good.

The fox, hiding his sad plight behind a merry manner, praised the water very highly, and asked the goat to come down.

The goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped in the well, when just as he had satisfied his thirst, the fox told him what a fix they were both in and suggested a means of getting out.

"If," said he, "you will place your fore-feet upon the wall, and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards."

The goat agreed to this, the fox leapt upon his back, and steadying himself by holding to the goat's horns, climbed out of the well, and made off as fast as he could go.

The goat upbraided him for not keeping his promise, when the fox turned round and said: "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your

beard, you would never have gone down before you knew how you would get out, nor exposed yourself to dangers from which you saw no escape."

It is prudent to look before you leap.-Aesop.

THE HORSE AND HIS BUYER

A man wished to buy a horse, and agreed with its owner that he should try him before he bought him. He took the horse home and turned him in the barn-yard with the other horses. Immediately the horse left all the others, and joined himself at once to the most idle and the greatest eater of them all. The man led him back to his owner, who asked how, in so short a time, he could have found him out.

"I did not need to make a trial of him. When he took as his companion the laziest and most trifling horse in the barn-yard, I knew he was like him. So here is your horse," said the would-be buyer.

Even a horse is known by the company he keeps.-Aesop.

THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES

A lark had made her nest in the early spring in the young green wheat. The young birds had almost grown to their proper size, and had begun to use their wings, when the owner of the field, looking over his crop one day, which was now quite ripe, said: "The time has come when I must call in my neighbors to help me harvest my wheat."

One of the young larks heard what the farmer said, and told it to his mother, asking to what place they should move for safety.

"There is no reason for moving yet, my son; the man who only sends to his neighbors to help him with his harvest, is not really in earnest," replied the mother.

The farmer came again in a few days and seeing that his crop was spoiling for want of harvesting said:

"I will come myself to-morrow with my laborers, and with as many reapers as I can hire, and will get in the harvest."

The mother lark, on hearing these words, said to her little ones: "It is now time to be off, my children; for the man is in earnest. He no longer

trusts to his neighbors, but will reap the field

Self-help is the best help.-Aesop.

THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN

A hunter, who was not very bold, was searching for tracks of a lion. He asked a man who was cutting trees in the forest, if he had seen any marks of the lion's footsteps, or if he knew where his lair

was.

"I will at once show you the lion himself," said the woodman.

The hunter, turning very pale, his teeth chattering from fear, replied:

"No, thank you. I did not ask that. I am only looking for his track, not the lion himself."

The hero is brave in deeds as well as words.Aesop.