he prince with pity drew the arrow from the
wounded bird, nursed it, and saved its life.

While his child life was one of tenderness and mercy, the years passed
by and he became a man. His heart was still filled with pity for every
suffering creature. He went from the palace, from home and dear
friends, to become poor and a wanderer, that he might help the
suffering. It is beautifully told that in his wanderings he came upon
a flock of sheep driven along the dusty highway. There was one poor
wounded, bleeding lamb, which he took tenderly in his arms and
carried. And so through life his pity and his help were given to the
weak, whether men or beasts. From his tender and beautiful life, men
came to worship him after his death.

[Illustration: {THE PRINCE HELPS A WOUNDED SWAN.}]

The prince was Prince Gautama, of India, who is worshipped as Buddha.
Is not his loving and merciful life, from a little child to an old
man, a beautiful example to us?

CHARLES T. JEROME

THE OPOSSUM IN THE HEN-HOUSE.

"O George, the circus is coming! the handbills are all up, and such
pictures of horses and lions and tigers, and everything!"

Ned jumped about for joy, until George said,--

"But how are you going, Ned? We have no money, and papa said he could
not give us any more this month, if he gave us a gun."

"The new gun,--so he did," said Ned, sadly. "But the circus takes so
little; they would let us in at half price."

"I will tell you," exclaimed George; "let us sell our white Leghorns
to mamma. She wants them, I know, and the money we get for them will
take us both to the circus."

This was settled, and at dinner mamma was told of the plan.

"Put them up in the hen-house to-night," she said, "and to-morrow I
will look at them and we will fix the price."

The boys went to bed early that night, but had hardly settled
themselves to sleep when Melissa, the little servant-girl, rushed in
with a light in her hand.

"O, git up, boys, git up! Sompen's in de hen-house, killin' all de
fowls."

They jumped up and huddled on their clothes as fast as they could,
then ran after Melissa, who held the light while they armed themselves
with sticks.

There was a great stir, sure enough, in the hen-house,--fowls were
cackling and screaming with fright, and a curious snapping sound came
from one corner. When the light fell here they saw a rough, hairy
little animal, with small bright eyes like a pig, and