Part 5 (1/2)

I saw him busy at his work, While blithe as skylark's song His merry, mellow whistle rang The pleasant street along.

”Oh, that's the kind of lad I like!”

I thought as I pa.s.sed by; ”These busy, cheery, whistling boys Make grand men by and by.”

Just then a playmate came along, And leaned across the gate-- A plan that promised lots of fun And frolic to relate.

”The boys are waiting for us now, So hurry up!” he cried; My little whistler shook his head, And ”Can't come,” he replied.

”Can't come? Why not, I'd like to know?

What hinders?” asked the other.

”Why, don't you see,” came the reply, ”I'm busy helping mother?

She's lots to do, and so I like To help her all I can; So I've no time for fun just now,”

Said this dear little man.

”I like to hear you talk like that,”

I told the little lad; ”Help mother all you can, and make Her kind heart light and glad.”

It does me good to think of him, And know that there are others Who, like this manly little boy, Take hold and help their mothers.

LANGUAGE WORK:

Describe the little lad spoken of in the poem. Do you know any boy like him?

Tell what this ”little man” said to his playmate.

When night came, was the boy sorry that he had missed so much fun? What kind of man did he very likely grow up to be?

_11_

rid' dle brand'-new mys' ter y un rav' el like' ness es

A CONTENTED WORKMAN.

Once upon a time, Frederick, King of Prussia, surnamed ”Old Fritz,” took a ride, and saw an old laborer plowing his land by the wayside cheerily singing his song.

”You must be well off, old man,” said the king. ”Does this land on which you are working so hard belong to you?”