THE NEW SCHOLAR. | 11

“Come now,” said Frank Henley, “all who wish to
find out about the new scholar stand round me, and we
will cast lots who shall go and ask Mr. Harding, and
then there will be no trouble about it.”

The lot fell upon little Joseph Green, one of the
smallest boys. Joseph was very timid, and it was a °
hard task for him, but he felt ashamed to own it, or
complain of his lot.

“ Now,” said Frank, “it will not answer to ask too
many questions of Mr. Harding, for he would think
that rude, and perhaps not tell us anything.”

“Well,” said one, “ask his name of course. There
is a great deal in a name; it seems to tell one how a
boy looks.”

“Ask his age,” said another. “Ask where he is
from,” said another. “Where he will sit,” said a
third. ‘ Where he will sleep,” said a fourth. “What
kind of a boy he is,” said a fifth.

“Oh, that is too many,” said some of the older boys.
“It would never do to ask so many. I think three
questions are as many as it will do to ask.’

“T think so too! I think so too!” said several voices.
“Three are enough ; what shall | they be? Three will
tell very little.” .

After some discussion, it was decided the three most
important items were his name, his age, and whether
he was from the city or the country, and little Joe
Green was despatched to acquire the important infor-