There is growing in Africa a thorn called "Stop-a-while." If a person
once gets caught in it, it is with difficulty he escapes with his
clothes on his back, and without being greatly torn, for every attempt
to loosen one part of his dress only hooks more firmly another part.
The man who gets caught by this thorn is in a pitiable plight ere he
gets loose. You would not like--would you, boys? to be caught in this
thorn. And yet many, I fear, are being caught in a worse thorn than
"Stop-a-while." Where do you spend your evenings? At home, I do hope,
studying your lessons, and attending to mother's words; for if you
have formed a habit of spending them on the streets with bad boys, you
are caught in a thorn far worse.
[Illustration: {BIRDS PERCHING ON PLANTS.}]