There is no harm in wishing to have a good thing that belongs to another, if he is willing to part with it, and you are able and willing to give him what he asks for it in return.

In the tenth commandment the word is used to express that sinful desire which is often felt for the goods of another to which we have no right, and which it is not proper for us to possess.

When Charles Smith came with his father to live in the village of B-, he had a little dog which he loved very dearly. The dog was very fond of Charles, and seemed to return all the love he received from his young master.

You would often see them strolling in the streets or in the fields together, and if you saw the dog coming you might be sure that Charles was not very far behind or if you saw the lad coming, the little dog would soon appear.

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The boys in the village were not long in getting acquainted with Charles, and as he was a lad of good temper and kind to all who played with him, he was very much loved by the boys, who often came to see him.

The father of Charles was pleased when he saw that his son, who was a stranger, was so soon gaining the esteem of his new friends, and he did not hinder him from keeping company with those whose habits were good.

But the boys loved Charles' dog, and almost every one of them wished that he had it. Some of them talked about it, and tried to contrive some way by which they might get the dog to be their own.

They would coax it, and try to make the dog love them and follow them when they went home, but the dumb dog knew its best friend, and refused to leave him.

Among the boys who often went to see Charles, there was one by the name of George, who often said to his playmates that he did not think it was right to wish for what they could not have.

"But what is the harm in wishing?" said James Green to him; "we do not want to steal him, we only wish he was ours."

George thought a minute and replied: "You have tried to coax him away, and if you should get him home and keep him, it would be stealing."

"Not by a good deal," said James; "if the dog follows us, we are not thieves."

'But you have the same desire for him that the thief would have, if he came by night and stole him away. The Bible says that we must love our neighbour as ourself, and if we loved Charles as much as we ought to do, we should not want to get his dog away from him when we know that he loves it."

"Why, George, you would make a brave little preacher. Can't you give us a sermon ? "

You ought not to make fun of serious things, but if you would listen to a sermon from the tenth commandment, it would do you some good."

"I know the tenth commandment; it begins 'Thou shalt not covet.""

"So it does, and it forbids you to want the goods of another; even to want the little dog that belongs to your playmate."

George never said anything to Charles or his father about the boys who were so anxious to have the dog, but his manners were so winning, and he was always so willing to give up his own wishes for the sake of pleasing others, that Mr. Smith said to him one day, "How would you like to have a little dog like Charley's?"

George was at first so much surprised that he could hardly speak, but he soon replied by saying that he should love to have one, but he had no money to buy one.

Mr. Smith told his son to bring out the dogs, and sure enough he had sent off to the place from which he had recently moved, and obtained another just like the one that Charles had, and now gave it to George.

The little fellow's heart was full, and he was ready to burst into tears. He thanked Charles and his father for their kindness and said, "I did want a little dog, but I never wanted yours."

LESSON XXX.

SPEAK GENTLY.

SPEAK gently! it is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently! let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here.

Speak gently! Love doth whisper low The vows that true hearts bind, And gently friendship's accents flow: Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child,
Its love be sure to gain,
Teach it in accents soft and mild,
It may not long remain.
Speak gently to the aged one,

Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run ;
Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently to the young, for they

Will have enough to bear;

Pass through this life as best they may,

"Tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently, kindly to the poor,

Let no harsh tones be heard,
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.

Speak gently to the erring, know They may have toiled in vain ; Perchance unkindness made them so, Oh! win them back again;Speak gently! He who gave his life To bend man's stubborn will, When elements were in fierce strife

Said to them, "Peace, be still!"

Speak gently! 'tis a little thing
Dwarfed in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy which it may bring
Eternity shall tell.

LESSON XXXI.

THE CONTESTED SEAT.

“I DECLARE I will never speak to Susan Green again as long as I live," said Matilda, as she

entered the house on coming home from school.

"My daughter," said her mother, "I hope I may never hear you make such a remark again. It is very unamiable, and very wrong."

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'Well, mother, I feel so, and may just as well say so."

"You have no right to feel so; and, besides, one sin does not excuse another sin. Wrong feeling does not justify wrong speaking."

“Well, I can't help feeling so; and I don't see how I am to blame for what I can't help : Susan is 80 provoking."

"What does she do?"

"She is always getting my seat, and won't give it up to me, and laughs at me when I tell her to give it up; and if she gets any body else's place, she gives it up as soon as she is asked."