"The terror of the old man and his horse was increased, and the
latter ran away with him, to the great danger of his life. He
contrived, however, to stop his horse just in season prevent his
being dashed against a loaded wagon. A short distance brought him
to the house of his son. That son, boys, is your instructor, and
that 'old fellow' was your teacher's father!"

When the boys perceived how rude and unkind their conduct
appeared from another point of view, they were very much ashamed
of their thoughtlessness, and most of them had the manliness to
apologize to their teacher for what they had done.


DEFINITIONS:--Populous, full of inhabitants. Excursion, a
pleasure trip. Incidents, things that happens, events. Warrant,
to declare with assurance. Capsized, upset. Venerable, deserving
of honor and respect. Blunted, dulled.

EXERCISES.--Repeat the boy's story of the sleigh ride. The
teacher's story. Were the boys ill-natured or only thoughtless?
Is thoughtlessness any excuse for rudeness or unkindness?



THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

BY JOHN G. SAXE.

It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined,