6.  A few days after, Robert was bathing with some schoolmates, and got out of his depth.  He struggled, and screamed for help, but all in vain. 7.  The boys who had called Henry a coward, got out of the water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help him. 8.  Robert was fast sinking, when Henry threw off his clothes, and sprang into the water.  He reached Robert just as he was sinking the last time.

78 Eclectic series. 9.  By great effort, and with much danger to himself, he brought Robert to thc shore, and thus saved his life. 10.  Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed at having called Henry a coward.  They owned that he had more courage than any of them. 11.  Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.

Lesson XXXI.

Weighing an elephant. 1.  “An eastern king,” said Teddy’s mother, “had been saved from some great danger.  To show his gratitude for deliverance, he vowed he would give to the poor the weight of his favorite elephant in silver.” 2.  “Oh! what a great quantity that would be,” cried Lily, opening her eyes very wide.  “But how could you weigh an elephant?”

Third reader. 79 asked Teddy, who was a quiet, thoughtful boy 3.  “There was the difficulty,” said his mother.  “The wise and learned men of the court stroked their long beards, and talked the matter over, but no one found out how to weigh the elephant. 4.  “At last, a poor old sailor found safe and simple means by which to weigh the enormous beast.  The thousands and thousands of pieces of silver were counted out to the people; and crowds of the poor were relieved by the clever thought of the sailor.” 5.  “O mamma,” said Lily, “do tell us what it was!” 6.  “Stop, stop!” said Teddy.  “I want to think for myself—­ think hard—­and find out how an elephant’s weight could be known, with little trouble and expense.” 7.  “I am well pleased,” said his mother, “that my little boy should set his mind to work on the subject.  If he can find out the sailor’s secret before night, he shall have that orange for his pains.” 8.  The boy thought hard and long.  Lily laughed at her brother’s grave looks, as he sat leaning his head on his hands.  Often

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she teased him with the question, “Can you weigh an elephant, Teddy?” 9.  At last, while eating his supper, Teddy suddenly cried out, “I have it now!” 10.  “Do you think so?” asked his mother. 11.  “How would you do it,” asked Lily.

Third reader. 81 12.  “First, I would have a big boat brought very close to the shore, and would have planks laid across, so that the elephant could walk right into it.” 13.  “Oh, such a great, heavy beast would make it sink low in the water,” said Lily. 14.  “Of course it would,” said her brother.  Then I would mark on the outside of the boat the exact height to which the water had risen all around it