THE LAST RACE.

Ir was getting late in the afternoon: the races were nearly
finished, and most of the boys were tired. When the big
bell rang for the last race only three boys took their places.
“It is easy to guess which will win,” said a gentleman.
in the crowd. “Please, sir, which will win?” said a little
girl standing by him. ‘The tall strong-looking one, of
course,” said the gentleman. The little girl smiled—the
tall boy was her brother; but one of the school-boys close
by shook his head. “I hope he is wrong,” he said; “I
want the smallest boy to win. He hasn’t taken a single
prize this afternoon, and he does run well.” But the
gentleman said decidedly, “ The small boy hasn’t a chance.”
It seemed at first as if the gentleman were right, for the
small boy was far behind the other two when they had
been twice. round the field; but on the third round the.
small boy began to gain quickly on the others. Near
the winning-point the three boys were close together.
The gentleman waved his hat, the little girl her hand-
kerchief, and the school-boy shouted loudly. And who

won the race? Look at the picture and you will see.