tter, constituted the
furniture. Also, the time-honored St. Pierre was worse off even when he
wrote his celebrated "Studies of Nature." His study was a garret, less
capacious than that which Nat occupied, and there he spent four years of
his life in the most laborious study.

Night after night Nat and Charlie met in the aforesaid attic, to read,
study mathematics, and discuss the subjects of the volumes which they
read. They made very commendable progress in mathematics, and probably
kept in advance of their companions who were in school. Among the
characters who were discussed by them, none received more attention than
Dr. Franklin and Patrick Henry.

"Which of these characters do you like best?" inquired Charlie one
evening.

"I suppose that Dr. Franklin would be considered the best model; but
such eloquence as that of Patrick Henry must have been grand. Dr.
Franklin was not much of a speaker, though what he said was sound and
good."

"And Patrick Henry was a lazy fellow when he was young," added Charlie.
"You remember that his father set him up in business two or three times,
and he failed because he was too shiftless to attend to it."

"Very true; and he suffered all through life on account of not having
formed habits of industry, economy and application. It shows what a
splendid man he might have made, if he had reduced Franklin's rules to
practice."

"Let us read over those rules of Franklin again," said Charlie. "You
copied them, I believe."

Nat took up a paper, on which the rules were penned in a handsome hand,
and proceeded to the following:

1. "TEMPERANCE.--Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE.--Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;
avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER.--Let all your things have their places; let each part
of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION.--- Resolve to perform what you ought; perform
without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY.--Make no expense but to do good to others or
yourself; that is, waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY.--Lose no time; be always employed in something
useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY.--Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and
justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE.--Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION.--Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries as
much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS.--Tolerate