LESSON XXIII.

Happiness not the Result of Wealth.

[The following lesson is a continuation of the last; it would, therefore, be proper for the class again to repeat the substance of the last before beginning to read.]

25. As soon as John and James, the two little Irish boys, had filled their woodbox, they took their books, and set off for school.

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26. "Oh, Johnny," cried James, as they glided through the crowded streets of New York, only see what beautiful stores, and what quantities of fine things they have got in them! and what crowded streets! I wonder where all these people can come from. How different it is in Ireland!"

27. "Yes," said John, "it is very different from the part of Ireland we came from. But I have heard father talk of Dublin, where he once lived, and it seems to me that it must be a place somewhat like this, with its fine streets, its grand houses, its beautiful stores, and its rich people. But it could not have been exactly like this place either. For there were a great many beggars and very poor people there, he said."

28. "Where is Dublin?" said James.

29. "Dublin is the largest city in Ireland, just as this is the largest in America "

"For all America is not like

said John.

this city. I dare say there are a great many poor places, and poor folks in it too. But this is a fine country for the poor. Father says, that nobody here who is strong and willing to work need be poor long. If he has his health, he says, he'll soon be able to buy us better clothes, and as good things to live on as the people have here."

30. "Oh, I don't care much about fine clothes and good eating," said James. "We have plenty of potatoes, and clothes enough to keep us warm. But I hope father and mother will keep well. Do you remember what a dreadful time we had when father was sick so long in Ireland? Poor mother was almost worn out; and, when we came home, she sometimes had not a single potato to give us."

31. "Well, I'll soon be able to help father," said John, "and then he 'll not have to work quite so hard."

32. "Yes, and maybe I'll be able to do something soon, too," said James. "Oh! how I should like to have some money to carry home to father on Saturday nights."

33. "Well, then, we must study hard. at school," said John. "For, you know, father says he can't have us go to work at all, till we can read, write, and cipher well. I told him of Dick Ellis, who worked all day for his widow mother, and went to night school in winter. He said Dick was a real

good boy, and it was right for him to work for his poor mother; but as long as he lived, and had his health, he could not let us do so, or at least till we were older. Well, I have begun to cipher, and I don't find it so hard as I expected. I mean to try to get through it in a year. The teacher says I may, if I pay a great deal of attention. And then see if I don't do something for father and mother. I can't think of letting them toil for us all their days."

34. "I wish I was as old as you, Johnny," cried James, with a sigh. "I am afraid it'll be a long time before I can do much for them."

35. "Oh, well, Jemmy, you recollect what mother told us, that if we were only good, father and she didn't care how hard they had to work for us."

36. 66 Yes, yes, I know all that. And I mean to be as good as I can. But still I don't like that they should have so much to do for us, and we do nothing for them. You can see by brother Willie and the baby what a trouble we have been to them all our lives, and they'll have a good deal to do for us yet, let us do all we can."

37. By this time they had arrived at the school, which put an end to the conversation. Instead of accompanying them back again, let us go home with two other brothers who attended the same school, whose parents

were in better circumstances than the Irish family.

38. "Come, Jerome," said Carlos, when school was dismissed, "let's go and have some fun with the Paddy boys."

39. "I guess you had better let them alone," said Jerome. "The biggest fellow looks as if he would not bear much bantering."

40. " Oh, he looks as good-natured as can be," said Carlos.

41. "Yes; they both look good-natured enough," said Jerome. "But see the big fellow's fist! It looks as if it would soon be fit to fell an ox."

42. "I'm not afraid of him," said Carlos. So he made after the Irish boys, who were already on their way home.

43. "Hurrah! you Paddy boys! what's all your haste?" cried he.

44. Both the boys looked back, but kept on their way.

45. "Hurrah! boys! can't you stop?" cried Carlos again.

46. "What do you want?" said John.

47. "Oh, stop a little. I want to have some talk with you," said Carlos. "What do you call this kind of cloth in Ireland? It seems to be a coat of many colors."

48. "Oh! it's good enough for us," said John, laughing. "We are poor folks. We can't afford to have such fine clothes as you."

49. "Well; but what's become of your stockings and shoes? I should think you might have put them on when you came to school."

50. Mother spoke of our waiting till we could get them," said John, again laughing. "But we told her we should do well enough without them. We didn't care for being laughed at by the fine folks. And father thought it was not best to lose any schooling for the sake of show."

51. These good-natured replies would have completely disarmed most boys. But not so with Carlos. They rather encouraged him to bring forward more of his impertinence.

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Why, you've got your coat on the wrong way, said Carlos, seizing hold of James's coat, and twitching him round, with such force as almost to throw him down. "The Paddies wear their coats buttoned behind."

53. As long as the bantering was confined to himself, John bore it with the utmost patience and good temper. But this rough attack upon his brother completely upset him. His warm Irish blood rushed into his face, and he struck Carlos a blow, which sent him staggering along the pavement, and brought the blood in a stream from his nose and mouth. When he saw the consequence of the blow, John stood for a few moments astounded, and at a loss how to act. But