set
the jug on the ground, and fell down beside it a corpse.

Thus suddenly, in the prime of his young life, was he called into
eternity. In a moment from perfect health, he passed to death.

I seem to hear you saying, little reader, "This was very sudden; but
surely such unexpected deaths are rare, I shall not die in that way."
That you cannot tell, you must go in the time that God appoints, it
may be before another sunset. But whether it be sooner or later that
you are called home to heaven, would you not love to leave with your
friends the memory of as good a life as this of which you have been
reading. On the neat white slab that shows where Josiah sleeps it
says, "Here lies a good boy, who blessed the world while he lived in
it." Go ye little readers and do likewise.

* * * * *

'Tis well to walk with a cheerful heart
Wherever our fortunes call,
With a friendly glance, an open hand,
And a gentle word for all.
Since life is a thorny and difficult path
Where toil is the portion of man,
We all should endeavor, while passing along,
To make it us smooth as we can.

* * * * *

THE FIRST DECEPTION.

When I was a boy, and attended school, I was like a great many other
boys, more inclined to play and read story books than I was to study
my lessons; it was a rule at our school to carry a book home every
night and study the lesson for the following day; but I would avoid
this by some deception, and of course the next morning my recitation
would be very imperfect.

One morning I awoke quite early, and I remembered that we were to have
a very difficult lesson on that morning, and I had neglected it that I
might join in a game of foot-ball. It was too late then to commit it
to memory, and I felt ashamed to go to school without it, for I knew
that I should be punished, and be obliged to remain in at recess to
make up the lesson. I did not want to play truant, for I was fearful
of detection, so I went to my father and feigned headache, and plead
that I might remain at home that day. The wish was granted, and for a
moment I felt relieved, but at breakfast or dinner, I was not allowed
to eat anything; I was obliged to remain in doors all day, although
the sun was shining brightly out of doors, and with a conscience
restless and reproving me all the time, I passed a wretched day.

My father, always kind and attentive to his child