Robbie's Sleigh-Ride.

OBBIE DAWSON did so hate to write compositions, and now
he must have one about ‘‘goats” ready to be handed in by the
next Thursday. It was Tuesday already, and he didn't know
any more about goats than he did the week before, when his
subject was given him. He told his Uncle Robert that all he

8 knew about them was that they were a very fine thing for a boy
to have, and he wished he had one to drive.

Finally a happy thought struck him. “I'll go and get Uncle Robert to
write it for me,” said he to himself. ‘“He’s going back to New York next
week, and it’s a pity if he can’t do a favor for a fellow before he goes.”

Uncle Robert was easily found but not so easily persuaded, as Robbie
found to his sorrow.

“Look here, Robbie, my boy,” said he, ‘“‘your schooling wont be of the
least benefit to you, as you will learn to your cost when it is too late to rectify,
if you are going to get some one else to do all the tasks set before you. You
are the one that needs the discipline, not I, but if I were to do it I would reap
all the benefits, and you would reap allthe harm. Besices, it would be cheating
your teacher. :

“But I'll tell you what I will do. Find out all you can about goats, their
home, nature, use, etc.; copy it neatly twice, once for me and once for your
teacher. Hand your teacher hers, and if she accepts hers I will mine, and will
send you a live specimen of the animal as soon as I get home, providing that
you promise hereafter to do all the tasks assigned you without seeking or re-
ceiving unlawful assistance.”

“Tt’s a bargain,” said Robbie, and off he rushed to the library for pencils,
papers, and book helps.

By Wednesday night two neatly written sheets of foolscap lay in his
desk, one addressed to his teacher, and the other to his Uncle Robert. They
were both delivered with great solemnity Thursday morning. Friday, at
close of school, the teacher returned hers so that he might practice for reading
it at the close of the term the next week. It was marked too per cent.

He took it home in high glee, and proudly showed it to his uncle, whe
seemed as much pleased as he.

Uncle Robert left the following morning for New York, and before another
week rolled round Robbie was in possession of not one goat, but two, labeled
Punch and Judy.