THE

HARVEY BOYS.

CHAPTER I.

The Harveys-Edward's Question.

MR. HARVEY made it a practice to let his children gain knowledge by their own observation. He found they understood and remembered those things best which they saw and examined. For instance, in teachng them how the earth, and sun, and moon, and stars are placed, and how they move, instead of making them learn hard lessons in a book of astronomy, he would, after tea, put the large lamp in the middle of the table, to represent the sun; then he would make one of the boys hold his play-ball by a string, to represent the earth, and a ball of cotton for the moon. Another would hold marbles, or

other things, to represent the various planets and stars. By these means the children were early taught to understand how the earth rolls round the sun, and gets its light and heat from it; and why the moon is seen in quarters, or in full, or is not seen at all, or is eclipsed. They understood and could explain all these things, when many of their schoolmates could only repeat what their books said about diameter, and circumference, and revolution, and other long words which they did not comprehend.

In this way Mr. Harvey explained every thing to his children, and scarcely ever cut up a dish at table, without having something to show them of the joints or bones or muscles of the animals. The very youngest could tell how a chicken can sleep all night on a tree or perch without falling; and how the different bones of an ox, or bird, or fish are so wisely contrived as to answer the purposes for which they are made.

The children found it so pleasant to learn

in this way, that whenever they heard of or found any thing which they did not understand, they would come directly to their father to ask him about it. And they were sure not to be disappointed.

One day Edward Harvey, who was about ten years of age, happened to see in a paper an account of a Temperance Society. It was the first time he had ever heard of such a society; and there was so much said in the account about total abstinence, pledge, alcohol, poison, murder, &c., that he very quickly mquired of his father what was the meaning of it all.

When Edward put the question to his father, he at first made no reply, but looked as if a sudden thought had come into his mind, which took all his attention.

The truth was, Mr. Harvey just remembered that he had never given his children much instruction on the importance of temperance. They lived in a part of the town where drunk enness was not common. Mr. Harvey never

used spirituous liquors in his house, and though he was very much rejoiced to hear of the measures that were taking to promote temperance, he had not thought of talking about it to his children.

But Edward's question seemed to startle nim, and he soon made up his mind that he would begin at once to teach his children most effectually all that is meant by intemperance. He therefore told Edward that a temperance society was a number of persons who agreed that they would not drink nor even taste ardent spirits themselves, and would discourage its use in others; and that he would the next day talk to him and his brother more on the subject.

CHAPTER II.

The Friendly Inn.

THE next day being Saturday, Mr. Harvey soon after dinner called Edward and his elder brother George to take a walk. As this was a very usual thing for them to do on holidays, the boys asked no questions as to where they were going. But they were surprised to find that instead of getting out by the shortest way, to ramble in the fields, or along the creek, as they were in the habit of doing, their father was going into one of the dirtiest and most disagreeable parts of the town.

As soon as they left home Mr. Harvey be gan to allude to the question that Edward had asked the evening before. "I suppose," said he, "you both know what the word temperance means. As it is commonly used, it signifies the moderate and proper use of the