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is plentifully intersected by canals, there is an excellent opportunity for irrigation. From the time the seed is sown till it is almost ripe the field must be covered with one entire sheet of water.

3. The rivers of China annually overflow these low grounds, bringing with them a rich manure of mud; and when the mud has lain a few days, the Chinese prepare to plant the rice. They inclose a piece of ground with a clay-bank, then plow and harrow it.

4. The grain is sprinkled rather thickly over the field and immediately water is let in till the whole field is covered to the depth of several inches. Channels are cut from the rivers and canals to effect this.

5. Where the grounds lie too high for the rivers to overflow them, the water is raised by pumps and other hydraulic machines. Sometimes a chain of pumps is constructed, each one raising the water a little till the proper height is gained.

6. This is, however, only a preparatory seed-bed. The ground is next prepared for the main crop, by plowing, harrowing, and laying it level. As soon as the plants in the seed-plot are about seven inches high, they are plucked up by the roots and planted separately in rows, either in furrows or in holes about six inches apart.

7. Water is again brought over the whole field, which is divided by low clay-banks into smaller plots, to which the water is conveyed by channels, at pleasure. As the rice grows and ripens, the water is allowed to dry away, so that the crop, when ripe, covers dry ground. The rice is reaped with a small-toothed sickle. The first crop ripens in May. The ground is immediately prepared for a second, which is reaped about October.

8. Neither carts nor cattle are used to carry away the crop. The sheaves are laid upon frames, which are carried (one hanging at each end of a pole or bamboo)

on the men's shoulders. thrashed out with a flail; sometimes the ends are beaten against a board set up on its edge, or against the sides of a tub; or, more frequently, the sheaves are laid on the ground in a circle and oxen are driven over them to tread out the grain.

Sometimes these sheaves are

9. The grain is separated from the husk, frequently, by pounding in a sort of mortar. A heavy stone fastened to a lever is raised by a man treading on the other end. In some cases mills are built, which lift up these levers perhaps twenty at a time. Sometimes the rice is ground between two flat stones, kept so far asunder as not to crack the grain itself.

10. Half the people of Asia live upon rice. It is almost the only food in many parts of Africa, especially among the Moors, in the northern provinces. Great quantities are sent to Europe and America. Rice is prepared for the table in various ways, and is highly esteemed as an article of food.

XLIV. SUCCESS IN LIFE.

1. This true story inculcates the principle of action on which success in life must always depend. It shows what may be accomplished by perseverance-by resolving to go straight ahead without delay, by overleaping petty obstacles in efforts to do what is right and desirable to be done through storms as well as sunshine.

2. It was the third year of my residence with Mr. Simpson, who had engaged to do a large amount of work for a publishing house in the city. Sufficient time had been given to accomplish it without an extra effort. But one evening, towards the close of the job, the publisher suddenly appeared in the office.

3. He and Mr. Simpson were alone together some time. When the office was closed for the evening, Mr. Simpson told us (Thomas and me) that the work must be finished in three days at the furthest, and that we must bestir ourselves early in the morning. It was my duty to open the office and prepare it for work.

4. "Thomas," said Mr. Simpson, "I want you to get up and do Robert's work to-morrow morning. He looks nearly sick to-night, and must not come into the office till after breakfast." I had taken a severe cold. The stranger saw and marked us both, and heard Mr. Simpson's directions.

5. "Robert, do you lie in bed in the morning; and, Thomas, by all means be up by four. Here, take my alarm watch and hang it up by your bed-side. Be up, sir, in good season."

6. "Yes, sir,” answered Tom, though in no willing

tone.

7. When we went to bed a severe snow-storm was beginning to rage and howl without. The cold was extreme, and the wind a furious northeaster. I soon sank into a peaceful slumber, with the agreeable expectation of lying as long as I chose in the morning. In an incredibly short time, as it seemed so profound were our slumbers Thomas and I were aroused by the alarm watch one-two-three-four! Could it be morning? 8. "It's time to get up, Tom," said I, shaking his arm. 9. "Get up, then," he growled roughly.

10. "But I am sick, and you remember what Mr. Simpson said."

11. But Thomas was not to be roused. He was not going to get up so early on such a stormy morning, not he! He was not going to do it for Mr. Simpson, nor for me, nor for any body else - not he! He was not going to get up, if he never did any more work!

12. How many are like Thomas, when a demand is made upon them for a little extra effort? No! they are not going to work so, not they!

13. Now it was evident that somebody must get up, and it must be certainly one of us. I felt I had the right to sleep the night out that time. Besides, I feared it might be hazardous to get up, for I was in a profuse perspiration, and the storm was raging violently. my persuasions had no more effect upon my bed-fellow than his master's command.

But

14. "Well, it must be done; make up your mind to do it courageously," thought I. Out of bed I jumped, dressed myself rapidly, without suffering myself to regret the snug, warm quarters I had left.

15. In spite of headache, sore throat and cough, I went bravely on. I plowed my way to the office through the drifting snow, built the fire and had every thing in readiness for the workmen long before they began to appear. Then tying the lantern before me, to see the way, I fought with the snow till I had shoveled a respectable path from the house to the office.

16. Some one beside myself was up in the house. Several times he appeared at the window, looking, and watching my progress. While I was alone in the office a heavy step ascended the stairs. Not John's, nor Thomas', nor Mr. Farley's, nor Mr. Simpson's. Lo, the publisher himself entered! He-such a rich man - up and seeing about his business so early! I was amazed.

17. "I thought you were the boy who was not to get up this morning, Robert? A stormy morning, this, and tough work you have had of it," said he, eying me keenly.

18. "My father always told me, sir, when I had any work to do, to go forward and do it, minding nothing about the weather, or any thing else.

19. "Right! right!" exclaimed the publisher, with great spirit. "You had a training that is worth something yes, worth more to begin life with than thousands of dollars. I see you can put your hand to the plow and not look back. The great fault with young men now-adays is, they are afraid of work. They want to live easy, while the fact is, we can not get any thing worth having -reputation, property, or any good-without working, aye, striving for it. I must keep my eye on you,

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20. Upon what apparently little incidents hang the well-being of men; I say apparently little, chance-like incidents, and yet they are a part of the great moral woof into which our habits weave our destinies. They are themselves the result of long trains of influences and the starting point of others. So that what many call a lucky hit, or an unlucky turn, is in fact the true result of what the past has wrought out.

21. To some it might have seemed a lucky hit that the publisher and I should have happened to meet, just as we did, at half-past four on a stormy winter's morning, in Mr. Simpson's printing office; because from that time he became my fast friend.

22. At twenty-one, I was free, with a good trade thoroughly learned. At twenty-two, I was master of two hundred and ninety dollars. At twenty-three, a profitable paper and printing establishment was for sale.

23. "How much money did you earn last year, Robert?" asked the publisher who contrived to meet me at this time.

24. "Two hundred and ninety dollars, sir, clear."

25. "Just what I expected. I have bought the Weekly Journal office and furniture, and am going to set you up in business. I see that you can take care of your own, therefore I can safely trust you with mine. You are not

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