antly heard coming back from a
hill near by, the same words, "Ho, ho!"
2. In great surprise, he said with a loud voice, "Who are
you?" Upon this, the same words came back, "Who are
you?"
3. Robert now cried out harshly, "You must be a very
foolish fellow." "Foolish fellow!" came back from the hill.
4. Robert became angry, and with loud and fierce words
went toward the spot whence the sounds came. The words all
came back to him in the same angry tone.
5. He then went into the thicket, and looked for the boy
who, as he thought, was mocking him; but he could find
nobody anywhere.
6. When he went home, he told his mothe

84 ECLECTIC SERIES.

that some boy had hid himself in the wood, for the purpose
of mocking him.
7. "Robert," said his mother, "you are angry with yourself
alone. You heard nothing but your own words."
8. "Why, mother, how can that be?" said Robert. "Did you
never hear an echo?" asked his mother. "An echo, dear
mother? No, ma'am. What is it?"
9. "I will tell you," said his mother. "You know, when you
play with your ball,

THIRD READER. 85
and throw it against the side of a house, it bounds back to
you." "Yes, mother," said he, "and I catch it again."
10. "Well," said his mother, "if I were in the open air, by
the side of a hill or a large barn, and should speak very loud,
my voice would be sent back, so that I could hear again the
very words which I spoke.
11. "That, my son, is an echo. When you thought some
one was mocking you, it was only the hill before you,
echoing, or sending back, your own voice.
12. "The bad boy, as you thought it was, spoke no more
angrily than yourself. If you had spoken kindly, you would
have heard a kind reply.
13. "Had you spoken in a low, sweet, gentle tone, the
voice that came back would have been as low, sweet, and
gentle as your own.
14. "The Bible says, 'A soft answer turneth away wrath.'
Remember this when you are at play with your school mates.
15. "If any of them should be offended, and speak in a
loud, angry tone, remember the echo, and let your words be
soft and kind."

86 ECLECTIC SERIES.
16. "When you come home from school, and find your
little brother cross and peevish, speak mildly to him. You
will soon see a smile on his lips, and find that his tones will
become mild and sweet.
17. "Whether you are in the fields or in the woods, at
school or at play, at home or abroad, remember,
The good and the kind,
By kindness their love ever proving