Mr. Lenox was one morning riding by himself. He got o. from his horse to look at something on the roadside. The horse broke away from him，and ran o.. Mr. Lenox ran after him，but soon found that he could not catch him.
A little boy at work in a.eld near the road，heard the horse. As soon as he saw him running from his master，the boy ran very quickly to the middle of the road，and，catching the horse by the bridle，stopped him till Mr. Lenox came up.
Mr. Lenox. Thank you，my good boy，you have caught myhorse very nicely. What shall I give you for your trouble.
Boy. I want nothing，sir.
Mr. L. You want nothing. So much the better for you. Few men can say as much. But what were you doing in the.eld.
B. I was rooting1 up weeds，and tending2 the sheep that werefeeding on turnips3.
Mr. L. Do you like to work.
B. Yes，sir，very well，this.ne weather4.
1 Rooting，pulling up by the roots.
2 Tending，watching，attending.
3Turnips，a vegetable.
4Weather，state of the atmosphere.
Mr. L. But would you not rather play.
B. This is not hard work. It is almost as good as play.
Mr. L. Who set you to work.
B. My father，sir.
Mr. L. What is your name.
B. Peter Hurdle，sir.
Mr. L. How old are you.
B. Eight years old，next June.
Mr. L. How long have you been here.
B. Ever since six oˊclock this morning.
Mr. L. Are you not hungry.
B. Yes，sir，but I shall go to dinner soon.
Mr. L. If you had a dime now，what would you do with it.
B. I don't know，sir. I never had so much.
Mr. L. Have you no playthings.
B. Playthings. What are they.
Mr. L. Such things as ninepins，marbles，tops，and wooden horses.
B. No，sir. Tom and I play at football in winter，and I have ajumping rope. I had a hoop，but it is broken.
Mr. L. Do you want nothing else.
B. I have hardly time to play with what I have. I have to drive the cows，and to run on errands1，and to ride the horses to the.elds，and that is as good as play.
Mr. L. You could get apples and cakes，if you had money，youknow.
B. I can have apples at home. As for cake，I do not want that. My mother makes me a pie now and then，which is as good.
Mr. L. Would you not like a knife to cut sticks.
B. I have one. Here it is. Brother Tom gave it to me.
1 Errands，messages.
Mr. L. Your shoes are full of holes. Donˊt you want a new pair.
B. I have a better pair for Sundays.
Mr. L. But these let in water.
B. I do not mind that，sir.
Mr. L. Your hat is all torn，too.
B. I have a better one at home.
Mr. L. What do you do when it rains.
B. If it rains very hard when I am in the.eld，I get under a tree for shelter.
Mr. L. What do you do，if you are hungry before it is time togo home.
B. I sometimes eat a raw1 turnip.
Mr. L. But if there is none.
B. Then I do as well as I can without. I work on，and never think of it.
Mr. L. Why，my little fellow，I am glad to see that you are socontented. Were you ever at school.
B. No，sir. But father means to send me next winter.
Mr. L. You will want books then.
B. Yes，sir； each boy has a Spelling Book，a Reader，and a Testament2.
Mr. L. Then I will give them to you. Tell your father so，and that it is because you are an obliging，contented little boy.
B. I will，sir. Thank you.
1Raw，not cooked.
2Testament，the last twenty-seven books of the Bible.
Mr. L. Good by，Peter.
B.Good morning，sir.
（Dr. John Aiken）