When Mr. White and his little boy arrived, the school had just begun the lessons of the day. Freddy looked round in wonder; he thought all the boys in the world must be there surely. He had never before seen so large a gathering of them; and all were so busy at work, too. Although there were six or seven classes in the room, everything was going on so orderly and quietly that the master conversed with the new comers with the greatest ease. In some schools they would scarcely have been able to hear themselves.

Mr. White entered his son as a scholar, and told the master a few things about Freddy, which it is not necessary to mention here. He then took his leave, telling his son to be a good boy, to be diligent and attentive to his lessons.

The master examined Freddy, and was much astonished to find him so well advanced for his age. He answered smartly, and appeared a quick and intelligent child. However, as he was very young, and had learnt scarcely anything besides reading, writing, and arithmetic, he was placed in one of the lowest classes of the school.

The class in which Freddy was placed consisted of about thirty boys, most of whom were older than he. The teacher was a youth of about eighteen, who took great pains with his class, and was never weary of assisting his boys to get on. According to the usual custom, Freddy, being a new comer, was placed at the bottom of the class.

Everything our little friend saw and heard was new to him. To be among so many boys at first made him rather timid and nervous.

It

was only towards the close of the morning that

his teacher could get him to take part in the lessons at all.

Some of the boys were rather inclined to tease him. One asked him if he wore his mother's curls; another, how long he had left off wearing frocks; while a third tried to pinch him when the teacher's back was turned. He took all this in good part, and showed such a cheerful face, that by the end of the morning he had won the good opinion of his little classmates.

It was a great relief to Freddy when the morning's lessons were over and the school dismissed for dinner. The master patted him on the head, told him to be of good courage, and that in a few days he would be all right and settled down at school.

Of course, he had a long tale to tell his mother about the wonderful things of his new school. He talked about Latin, and history, and geology, which the older boys were learning, as though they had been studies of his own. His mother was much pleased to see that he had made up his mind to like the school, and was already taking an interest in it.

Dinner over, he trudged back to school in capital spirits, and even joined in the games that were going on in the playground just before afternoon school. The boys did not attempt to tease him this time. Two or three of them even made friends of him, and promised to help him at any time.

The afternoon passed away more pleasantly than the morning. Freddy took his share in the lessons, and did so well that his teacher said he was a boy of great promise, and that if he was diligent he would soon be moved into a

higher class. A great source of delight to Freddy was the singing lesson, which was given that afternoon. He had a sweet voice, and a very good ear for music, and the little songs which the boys sung rang in his ears for many days; we may say nights too, for a few nights afterwards, as his mother looked into his room, she heard him singing in his sleep-yes, in his sleep. And so passed Freddy's first day at school.

Those evening bells, those evening bells,
How many a tale their music tells
Of youth, and home, and that sweet time
When last I heard their soothing chime.
Those joyous tones have passed away,
And many a heart that then was gay
Within the silent tomb now dwells,
And hears no more those evening bells.
They hear no more an earthly voice,
But still in heavenly songs rejoice,
In songs whose music far excels
Your richest notes, sweet evening bells.
And so 'twill be when I am gone,
Your tuneful peal will still ring on;
While other bards shall walk these dells,
And sing your praise, sweet evening bells.

MOORE

60. HIDDEN TREASURE.

brace-lets, ornaments for | high-way-men, robbers

Perhaps next to getting money and other wealth, the most difficult thing is to take care of it. A great many people spend it pretty much as it comes, so they have no need to trouble themselves about where to keep it. Many others have so very little of it, that the idea of keeping it never troubles them.

Still, many people have treasures which they wish to keep, and to put in some place or other to be safe. So we have banks, safes, strong rooms, and iron chests for this purpose. Here we can lock up our money, or our deeds, or any other valuables, and feel sure that fire cannot burn them, and that thieves cannot steal them.

This was not always the case. Our forefathers were never safe. They might earn money or obtain other treasure, but they had to hide it, or it would be stolen. Highwaymen rode about the country, stopping coaches and robbing the passengers. Thieves, with blackened faces, and old coats and hats, would break into houses, bind the people with ropes, and then carry off all they could find.