Year: 1870

Pcr.sc cer.ancc 10 lcng word for little
Mska, but II is . good word, and will
tell you q story which will help you On.
dssstgud Il. Il is . true seory, too, and
know you will be glad Of that. My
little people always listen with ears aod
eyes wide open whes I coy am going to
pll ihom true story.
There was little roy about four years
old, named Davy Porter. He wanted 70
speak in the Susday School concert, so
Ne learned little piece sed 'ecited it to
his mother and sisters . great many
times He eo~ld not speak all the words
plainly, but he did very we'll for such a
little fellow.


When his name was called at tho con
cert, he marched up the platform very
bravely and made his bow all right, but
when he saw so many people, whole
church full-looking right at him, he
could not think Of one word Of his piece.
So he just made another bow and
marched back to his seat. The superin.
tepdent smiled and TOLD him not to be
discouraged, he would do better next
time.


Little Davy was not in the least dis
cou~aged. He repeated his verses every
day to his usothev, aud when the evening
for the concert came round again he was
ready and as brave as ever. This time
he forgot to make bis bow, but he com.
menced bis piece right and said:


II an q very little boy"


which bit Of information was given with
such grave face and in such solemn
tones that somebody in the audience
laughed. This so confused poor Davy
that lie could not think of another word.
He plunged his right hand into his
pocket, and then his left hand into the
other pocket, hoping to find his thoughts
there, suppose, for boys pockets hold
almost everything. But Davy could not
find single thought in his pockets, so
he made his bow and walked of the plat
form % cool'y as though he he had re-
cited the whole piece. The superintend-
ens kindly said that he had done very
we'll he had maio beginning, at least,
and must try again at the next concert.
I think that most any little boy l
know would have been discouraged ty
this time. But Davy was determined to
speak the piece, and never once thought
Of giving it up. Every day his mother
heard him repeating his verses when he
was at play in the wood shed all alone,
and once in the night he began:


Tam very LITTLE boy,


and thea he struck his hand against the
bed post so hard that it woke him up.


At the next concert, Davy's fsce was
as bright as q sunbeam. His sister tried
to persuade him not to speak. She told
Him that he would not remember his
verses, and the should be ashamed Of
him II he broke down the third time.


"But shall not break down." said
Eule Davy, stoutly; ~ shall say every
word Of my piece"


He did say it all, and spoke loud
enough for everybody to hear. These
are the verses


"I am avery little boy.


And cannot read or spell,


But I've q lot Of picture books,


That knew very we'll.


And can whistle two, three tunes,


And can run and hop,


And play:with boys at hide snd seek,


And spin my humming top.


"And though I'm such little boy,


I'll do tte best can


To live a good and noble life,


And be IN honest man."


Oh, how glad Davy was whoe he 20
th,ough. The superintendent told bin
hs was a brave little fsllows and he fel
sure he would make noble man. The
be took one CT the bouquets from tn
table and gave it to him, saying:


II give you these flowers because yo'
have shown SO much perseverance,


Davy did not exactly know what tha
big word meant, but he was suro that
meant something good. He toox tn
flowers and marched down the aisle hal
pier than any king / ever heard Of in
my life, and since that night he has new
had any trouble in speaking at the cou