12. Well, thus the two went wandering along the highway and in shady lanes
and through pleasant villages, and wherever they went, behold! there was
the image of old Mr. Toil. If they entered a house, he sat in the parlor;
if they peeped into the kitchen, he was there! He made himself at home in
every cottage, and stole, under one disguise or another, into the most
splendid mansions. Everywhere they stumbled on some of the old
schoolmaster's innumerable brothers.
13. At length, little Hugh found himself completely worn out with running
away from Mr. Toil. "Take me back! take me back!" cried the poor fellow,
bursting into tears. "If there is nothing but Toil all the world over, I
may just as well go back to the schoolhouse."
14. "Yonder it is; there is the schoolhouse!" said the stranger; for
though he and little Hugh had taken a great many steps, they had traveled
in a circle instead of a straight line. "Come, we will go back to the
school together."
15. There was something in his companion's voice that little Hugh now
remembered; and it is strange that he had not remembered it sooner.
Looking up into his face, behold! there again was the likeness of old Mr.
Toil, so that the poor child had been in company with Toil all day, even
while he had been doing his best to run away from him.
16. Little Hugh Idle, however, had learned a good lesson, and from that
time forward was diligent at his task, because he now knew that diligence
is not a whit more toilsome than sport or idleness. And when he became
better acquainted with Mr. Toil, he began to think his ways were not so
disagreeable, and that the old schoolmaster's smile of approbation made
his face sometimes appear almost as pleasant as even that of Hugh's
mother.
DEFINITIONS.--l. Ven'ture, to dare, to risk. 3. Dis-may', fright, terror.
Pre-cise'ly, exactly. 4. En-list', to put one's name on a roll, to join.
5. Com-pos'ed-ly, calmly, quietly. 6. Re--sumed', recommenced. 10.
Ob-served', remarked. 12. In-nu'mer--a-ble, not to be counted. 16.
Ap-pro-ba'tion, the act of regarding with pleasure.
EXERCISES.--To whose school was Hugh Idle sent? Why did he run away?
Relate the adventures of Hugh and the stranger. What lesson is taught by
this story?