And not a minute ever comes back.

2. We are but minutes; use us well,
For how we are used we must one day tell.
Who uses minutes, has hours to use;
Who loses minutes, whole years must lose.

52 ECLECTIC SERIES

LESSON XVIII.




THE WIDOW AND THE MERCHANT.
1. A merchant, who was very fond of music, was asked by
a poor widow to give her some assistance. Her husband, who
was a musician, had died, and left her very poor indeed.
2. The merchant saw that the widow and her daughter,
who was with her, were in great

THIRD READER. 53
distress. He looked with pity into their pale faces, and was
convinced by their conduct that their sad story was true.
3. "How much do you want, my good woman?" said the
merchant.
4. "Five dollars will save us," said the poor widow, with
some hesitation.
5. The merchant sat down at his desk, took a piece of
paper, wrote a few lines on it, and gave it to the widow with