There's a little hard money besides, that's drawin'

tol'rable pay,

13

A couple of hundred dollars laid by for a rainy day,-
Safe in the hands of good men, and easy to get at;
Put in another clause there, and give her all of that.

I see that you are smilin', sir, at my givin' her so much;

14

Yes, divorce is cheap, sir, but I take no stock in such; True and fair I married her, when she was blithe and

young,

And Betsy was always good to me exceptin' with her tongue.

When I was young as you, sir, and not so smart, perhaps,

15

For me she mittened a lawyer, and several other chaps; And all of 'em was flustered, and fairly taken down, And for a time I was counted the luckiest man in town.

16

Once when I had a fever-I won't forget it soon-
I was hot as a basted turkey and crazy as a loon—
Never an hour went by me when she was out of sight;
She nursed me true and tender, and stuck to me day and
night.

And if ever a house was tidy, and ever a kitchen clean,

17

Her house and kitchen was tidy as any I ever seen,
And I don't complain of Betsy or any of her acts,
Exceptin' when we've quarreled, and told each other

facts.

So draw up the paper, lawyer, and I'll go home to

night,

18

And read the agreement to her, and see if it's all right; And then in the morning I'll sell to a tradin' man I

know

And kiss the child that was left us, and out in the world I'll go.

And one thing put in the paper, that first to me didn't

occur;

19

That when I am dead at last she will bring me back to

her,

And lay me under the maple we planted years ago,
When she and I was happy, before we quarreled so.

And when she dies, I wish that she would be laid by

me;

20

And lyin' together in silence, perhaps we'll then agree; And if ever we meet in heaven, I wouldn't think it queer If we loved each other the better because we've quarreled here.

II. Write "How Betsy and I Made Up." If possible, do so before reading the poem of this title. Then compare with Carleton's version.

QUESTIONS ON CARLETON.

I. Write ten sentences descriptive of Carleton's life. Name some poems written in memory of his college life.

2.

3. Give two memory gems.

4. Name five of his poems, not before mentioned.

5.

Name some of his published volumes.

6. What qualities make his poems popular?

"Novels are sweets. All people with healthy literary appetites love them."-Thackeray.

CHAPTER III.

OUR EARLIEST NOVELISTS.

A story should, to please, at least seem true,
Be apropos, well told, concise, and new;
And whenso'er it deviates from these rules,
The wise will sleep, and leave applause to fools."

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER.

WASHINGTON IRVING.

-Stillingfleet.

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

"Novels support us under solitude, and keep us from becoming a burden to ourselves. They help us to forget the crossness of men and things, compose our cares and our passions, and lay our disappointments asleep."