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85

THE WHISTLE

WHEN I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pockets with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I met by the in the hands of another boy, I gave all my money 5 for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me 10 in mind of the good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This, however, was afterward of use to me; so that 15 often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, "Don't give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, 20 who gave too much for the whistle.

When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and per

haps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, “This man gives too much for his whistle."

When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own 5 affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, "He pays, indeed," said I, "too much for his whistle."

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of friend10 ship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, "Poor man," said I, "you pay too much for your whistle."

When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing improvement of the mind, and ruining his health in its pursuit, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are providing pain for 15 yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle."

If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, all above his fortune, for which he goes in debt, and ends his career in a prison, "Alas!" 20 say I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."

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In short, I believe that a great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.

Yet I ought to have charity for those unhappy people, when I consider that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempt

ing that, if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle.

cha grin', shame; court favor, the good will of a king and his court; sac'ri fic ing, giving up; at tain', reach, get; es teem', good opinion; ac cu'mu la ting, gathering.

1. In what way was Benjamin Franklin's experience with the whistle of use to him in later life? 2. How does the miser" pay too much for his whistle"? 3. Find another instance in the story where a person " pays too much for his whistle" without spending any money. 4. Read the last paragraph carefully. Suggest some of the things that might have tempted Franklin again to pay too much for his whistle. 5. Recall a time when you yourself did this. 6. What does the expression really mean? Put the thought into other words and see if you like it as well as Franklin's way of saying it.

Verbs. Make a list of all the verbs in the following sentences:

1. He pays too much for his whistle.

2. Time and tide wait for no man.

3. Pride goeth before destruction.

4. The new years come and the old years go.
5. A traveler through a dusty road

Strewed acorns on the lea.

6. The weary day turned to his rest.

7. The winds roared and the lightning flashed.

8. And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

9. With my crossbow I shot the albatross.

10. I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers.

11. The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ones ennoble it. 12. A sunny temper gilds the edges of life's blackest clouds.

13. The plowman homeward plods his weary way.

14. Success follows earnest effort.

15. The glorious sun began its course.

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CONTENTMENT

"Man wants but little here below."

LITTLE I ask; my wants are few;
I only wish a hut of stone,
(A very plain brown stone will do,)
That I may call my own:

And close at hand is such a one,
In yonder street that fronts the sun.

Plain food is quite enough for me;

Three courses are as good as ten;
If Nature can subsist on three,

Give me a mortgage here and there, Some good bank stock, some note of hand,

Or trifling railroad share,—

I only ask that Fortune send
A little more than I shall spend.

Jewels are baubles; 'tis a sin

To care for such unfruitful things; -

One good-sized diamond in a pin,—
Some, not so large, in rings, -
A ruby, and a pearl, or so,
Will do for me; - I laugh at show.

My dame should dress in cheap attire
(Good, heavy silks are never dear ;) ·
I own perhaps I might desire

Some shawls of true Cashmere, Some marrowy crapes of China silk, Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk.

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