20 ROBERT DAWSON.

he had devoted to my studies, Sleep soon came, and
I forgot the seventh sum and every other vexation until
the cock crowed the next morning. Do you suppose
I awoke refreshed and grateful, and longing to begin
study? Oh,no! Although I enjoyed asleep so sweet,
and awoke in the bright, early dawn, as soon as I
thought of my arithmetic I began to kick the clothes
and toss about in bed, and to declare I did not feel
like looking at my slate at all. “The sum was so hard,
I was sure I could not do it;” and “It was just like
father not to help me.”

Ungrateful boy! I forgot my prayers and all good
thoughts while I lay there, dreading and shrinking from
duty. The consequence was that the sun was high up
in the east before the cow was in the pasture and I
was on my way home again,

“A pretty plight I am in!” I said to myself again
and again ; “but I know what Illdo. Imean to make
it just as late as I can, before I get home from pasture,
and then there will not be a minuté to study before

School begins, and then—and then ”—and I chuckled

4