"UNCLE HENRY wishes to know, Mr. Blacher," said Robert Warren, "if you can spare Jerry and John this evening? If you can, he would like to have them come to the farm at eight o'clock, as he leaves town in the morning for New York, and on Saturday takes the steamer for Europe."

"Yes, they can go. Remember the time, boys," replied Mr. Blacher, readily. "But is not this a sudden start, Robert?"

66 Yes, sir; he did not decide to go till last night. He told me to say to you that, had it been less sudden, he would not have

taken the liberty to make a request which it might occasion you some inconvenience to grant. But he wishes very much to see the boys again before he leaves."

"Oh, they can go," returned Mr. Blacher; "they always take care that I can af ford to be accommodating. I guess it does not do them any harm to go to the farm, -maybe they work the better for it! Tell your uncle I am happy to oblige him.”

"Well, then, boys, remember, promptly at eight o'clock, for uncle is very busy. It will be the last time for six months, at least. I am going to tell James, and am full of business;" and Robert left in haste.

"Seems to me you young men are great favorites with Mr. Henry Warren," said Mr. Page, a little sharply. "For my part, I do not believe in teachers having favorites."

Mr. Page was a frequent lounger at the store, and his son was the most indifferent

and careless scholar that Mr. Warren found to try his patience, without seeming to justify a large expenditure of it. Jerry felt this attack upon his teacher more keenly than if it had been upon himself, and answered, promptly, "Mr. Warren shows no favoritism in school, I am sure, sir! It is because we are in his Sabbathschool class that he wishes to see us.'

"I do not see how a teacher can help having favorites, for my part," said Mr. Blacher. "If a scholar is obedient and studious, he must like him better than one who is just the opposite, and I do not blame him if he shows it, provided he is just to all."

Mr. Blacher had a high opinion of Mr. Warren, and did not like to hear him unjustly censured. But he was quite careless of offending Mr. Page. Indeed, Mr. Blacher would have been entirely willing to see him take himself and his undesira