"But our hay is all in,” quickly urged Harry. "That makes no difference. There is plenty for you to do. Why do you stand there idle? Take your hoes and hoe the young corn by the house. Holidays, holidays,” grumbled he, going away; “I don't believe in boys having any time to themselves. I have worked hard every day of my life, and am better off for it too." Frank wearily took up a hoe, and proceeded slowly to the corn. Harry soon joined him. "Cruel, hard-hearted man!" muttered Harry. "The corn does not want hoeing. But I shall not stay another summer with the stingy old miser, see if I shall!” "Oh! don't speak so of him, Harry. He has given us our home, Harry; and he is our uncle, -our father's brother,—and we ought to respect him. I know he is cross, and doesn't ever give us a pleasure, and that he is unkind in his way, but A quick, heavy step behind, and the uncle, who had heard the last few words only, grasped the delicate boy and dealt him several blows on the head. "I'm unkind and cross, am I? You ungrateful little rascal! you young viper! This is your reward for me, is it? Well, I'll keep up my reputation!" and his huge hands fell heavily on the boy's face. Frank staggered under the blows, and sank to the ground. "It was my fault, uncle," quickly exclaimed Harry. "I called you names. He was defending you." But when he saw his brother faint and bleeding on the ground, he said, "You've killed him! You've almost killed him with work, and now you want to finish it." But Frank rose slowly, and urged his brother to stop. "Go to your work!" exclaimed their uncle, livid with rage. "And don't you dare to leave it till dark." He turned to leave them, when Harry called out, "It'll be the last I do for you. You treat us like dogs. I'll not stay with you. See if I do." His uncle seized a stick and laid it across the boy's back. "Now to your work!" he said. "If I ever hear you speak so again, you'll suffer for it, I can tell you." "No, you'll never hear me speak so again," muttered Harry, as his uncle went away. "You'll never have the chance." But Frank was silent. He went quietly to work, and after a while Harry did too, but with very little of the ardour displayed half an hour before in the hay-field. Presently Frank's strength gave way, and after nervously attempting to hold his hoe, he suddenly fell upon the ground in a swoon. Poor Harry, half frightened to death, dragged his brother to the house. They laid the boy on his bed, and bathed his face with vinegar, but to no effect; he still lay pale and motionless. 3 4 Imimic artillery, the shooting at the fair. in the wake of, immediately after. successively, one succeeding the other-that is, year after year without interruption. reputation, name; estimation in which a person is held. miserly, fond of hoarding money. ardour, eagerness, zeal. 6 5 HUNTING SONG. WAKEN, lords and ladies gay! All the jolly chase is here, With hawk, and horse, and hunting-spear. 1 Hawks are whistling, horns are knelling, "Waken, lords and ladies gay." Waken, lords and ladies gay! The mist has left the mountain grey, 1 Springlets in the dawn are steaming, To track the 2 buck in thicket green; Louder, louder chant the lay, Tell them youth, and mirth, and glee 5 Time, stern huntsman ! who can baulk, Gentle lords and ladies gay. Sir Walter Scott. couples, the chains or cords which join each pair together. 2 buck, a male deer. frayed, rubbed, grazed. to bay, the stag is brought to bay when it is hard pressed, and turns on its pursuers. baulk, put off, make anything give up its purpose. THE LAST LOAD OF HAY PART IL be-wil'-der-ment de-struc'-tion scram'-bled fu'-ri-ous-ly re-proach'-es When the hard-hearted uncle looked nephew, he was a little moved at first. been too long in the sun," he said. V.-Moffatt's Ex. Reader. upon his "He has At which 13 1 Harry was bold enough to utter reproaches, and spoke of certain heavy blows which his brother had received. Then the old man drove him back to his work, and watched from the window to see him go to it. Full of burning hate, the boy went to the corn, but not to give it protection. Out of his uncle's sight, he angrily seized his hoe, and dealt many blows here and there among the tender stalks. It was dark when the work of destruction was over. He stood for a moment to receive the cool wind on his heated cheeks, and then hastened to the house. "I have no time to lose," he said, as he softly stole up the stairs, and put a few treasures into his pockets. The tears stood in his eyes as he bent over Frank and kissed him. "Good-bye, brother." The sick boy opened his eyes, and said, "Why, Hal, what is the matter?" "I'm going, Frankie. I can't stay here any longer." And after another kiss, he was gone. 2 Down through the meadow where he had tossed his last load of hay, and through a stretch of woods till he came to the river that came in from the sound and flowed by the farm. He went to a place where he knew a little old boat was kept tied. He scrambled down the bank, and hunted among the bushes for the oars hidden near at hand for ready use. As he was untying the boat, he heard footsteps behind him on the bank. He leaped quickly in, and pushed off; but, turning his head, |