The winners of the

panies played games. games were made captains.

These companies did much hard work in order to make the youth very strong. They also became brave and true.

They gathered reeds and rushes from the river. With these reeds and rushes they made beds. The water was cold and the river was full of stones; but these Spartan boys did not mind the cold and the stones.

worked bare-footed.

Their beds were very hard.

They always

They would

have been ashamed to lie on a soft bed. Do you think it makes a boy strong to lie on a hard bed?

These boys had no with their bare hands.

tools. They worked They ate coarse food.

They never tasted sweets. They worked hard for their food. Perhaps it tasted all the better for this.

In the great games of Greece these Spartan boys often won. One Spartan boy once won a game. Some one offered him money. He said, "I do not want money. Let me go into battle with my king. Let me stand in the front."

the games.

Once a great number of boys went to see On one side sat a crowd of boys from Sparta. On the other side was a great crowd of boys from Athens.

An old man came slowly into the arena. He was so feeble he could scarcely walk. He looked around for a seat. The seats were all taken.

The boys of Athens sprang up and called to the old man to come over and sit with them. He slowly made his way to them, glad to find a seat.

Just as he was about to sit down, all the boys of Athens sat down, filling the seats and laughing at the old man. They thought it great fun to fool him.

The Spartan boys then arose and called to the old man. He walked over to them. A Spartan boy took the old man by the arm and led him to a good seat.

After he was seated all the boys of Sparta quietly sat down.

Then the old man said, "The boys of Athens know what is right, but the boys of Sparta do what is right."

chat hungry merry dates honey fright

XXIII.-TWO MICE.

A country mouse had a friend which lived in the city. The country mouse once asked the city mouse to come and dine with him.

The city mouse was glad to go. So away they went and sat down to a meal of corn and wheat and apples.

When the meal was ended they began to chat. Do you know," said the city mouse, "that you live an ant's life out here in the country? Why, I have all sorts of food and pleasure in my home. Won't you come and enjoy them with me?"

Now the country mouse had long wanted to see the city. So he answered, "My friend,

I shall be very glad to go with you to your city home."

They set out together, and just as it was growing dark they reached the city. When they came to the city mouse's home they were tired and hungry.

The city mouse showed his friend beans and meal, dates and honey, and cheese and fruit. The country mouse was delighted. They ate, drank, and were merry.

The country mouse began to feel how poor his home really was. He said, "How rich you are; and how poor I am!"

Just then a man came into the room, and the mice ran and hid in a crack.

"Who was that?" asked the country mouse. "Do you often have such a fright?”

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Oh, that is nothing," laughed the city mouse. "The man often comes in while I

am at my dinner. I run and hide, and when he is gone I return to my meal."

The country mouse shook his head. He was thinking. They began to eat some nice figs, when a maid came into the room to get a pot of honey or a bit of cheese.

"Run for your life," cried the city mouse; and they were soon safe in a hole in the wall. "Who was that?" asked that?" asked the country

mouse; "and do you often have to run from your meal because of her?"

"Oh," answered the city mouse, "I don't mind her. She never can catch me. I am too quick for her."

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But, my friend," said the frightened country mouse, "I could not be happy here. Hark! What is that?"

"Hush, hush, that's the old gray cat! Don't show yourself for your life."

The little country mouse sat still. His heart was beating wildly. At last all was quiet once more. Then he said,

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Do as you like, good friend; but as for me, I will go home, live on my poor food, and be glad that I live at a place where I fear no one."