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 world, but he was of use in it, after all; he could save these little lives. He was poor and despised, bruised by stones and drenched by storms; yet was he content, for he had not been made quite in vain.

The sunset poured its red and golden splendors through the darkness of the boughs, and the birds sang all together, shouting for joy and praising God.

—

LAZY JACK

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack. His mother was very poor, but she was hard-*working and tried to get her living by spinning. Jack was so lazy he never did anything to help her. So, at last, she said that he should not eat his porridge unless he earned it.

At this out shuffled Jack and hired himself to a farmer and got for his day's labor a shining new penny. Home he went with it, but on the way let it slip out of his fingers into a brook, unknown to himself.

When his mother saw him smiling and holding his fist closed, she said, "Well, Jack, did you earn your porridge to-day?"

"That I did, mother," said Jack, "and here's the penny." With that he opened his empty hand.

"A penny," cried his mother, in high delight, "give it here, my darling boy." But when she saw