have nothing to do with it, and
may get into mischief."
3. "You are a coward, and afraid to go," said Robert, and
off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon
went to school, as usual.
4. But Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a
coward, and they laughed at him a great deal.
5. Henry had learned, however, that true courage is shown
most in bearing reproach when not deserved, and that he
ought to be afraid of nothing but doing wrong.
6. A few days after, Robert was bathing with some
schoolmates, and got out of his depth. He struggled, and
screamed for help, but all in vain.
7. The boys who had called Henry a coward, got out of the
water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help
him.
8. Robert was fast sinking, when Henry threw off his
clothes, and sprang into the water. He reached Robert just as
he was sinking the last time.

78 ECLECTIC SERIES.
9. By great effort, and with much danger to himself, he
brought Robert to thc shore, and thus saved his life.
10. Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed at having
called Henry a coward. They owned that he had more
courage than any of them.
11. Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.

LESSON XXXI.

WEIGHING AN ELEPHANT.
1. "An eastern king," said Teddy's mother, "had been
saved from some great danger. To show his gratitude for
deliverance, he vowed he would give to the poor the weight
of his favorite elephant in silver."
2. "Oh! what a great quantity that would be," cried Lily,
opening her eyes very wide.
"But how could you weigh an elephant?"

THIRD READER. 79
asked Teddy, who was a quiet, thoughtful boy
3. "There was the difficulty," said his mother. "The wise
and learned men of the court stroked their long beards, and
talked the matter over, but no one found out how to weigh
the elephant.
4. "At last, a poor old sailor found safe and simple means
by which to weigh the enormous beast. The thousands and
thousands of pieces of silver were counted out to the people;
and crowds of the poor were relieved by the clever thought
of the sailor."
5. "O mamma," said Lily, "do tell us what it was!"
6. "Stop, stop!" said Teddy. "I want to think for myself--
think hard--and find out how an elephant's weight could be
known, with little trouble and expense."
7. "I am well pleased," said his mother, "that my little boy
should set his mind to work on the subject. If he can find out
the sailor's secret before night,