trip around the world. Just now I am at Sydney with them."

"That is where Cousin Tom lives," said the mother.

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Yes, Mother," replied Ben. "Wouldn't it be fun for me to write to him about it?"

"But

"A good idea," said his father. what about the book I gave you? Are you enjoying that?"

"Robinson Crusoe? That is bul-no, I mean enjoyable, Dad. I have read it through twice since Grandma and the girls went away."

"I am glad you like your books, Ben," said the father. "Write your letter to Cousin Tom, and if you come to a hard word that you can't spell, ask your mother to help you out. Good-by, I am off to business."

Ben and his mother went to the sitting room, he to read and write, she to mend Ben's stockings.

Ben read his new book for a little while. Then he put it down, and said: "Excuse me, Mother, for interrupting you. But this is so

good that I must write at once to Tom and tell him about it."

"A good idea, Ben," was the reply. "It is not yet time for an answer to your last letter to have reached us. But there is no doubt Tom would like to hear from you. So write to him, if you will."

Ben got out his paper, pen, and ink; this is what he wrote:

MY DEAR TOM,

and

April 7, 1912.

There has not been time for me to have had a letter in reply to mine of Washington's Birthday. At least, so Mother says. But I have so much I want to tell you, that I can't wait to hear from you before writing again.

Grandma and the girls have been away for weeks. They are in New York. Since they left I have been reading two books: "Robinson Crusoe " and " Back to Hampton Roads."

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The first book you know. The second is about our battleships that went around the world. Matthews, the author, tells much about your city.

He says that you have one of the finest harbors in the world—there is only one better— Rio Janeiro.

I like best of all to read about the part your school children took in receiving our sailors. He says that at St. Mary's Cathedral a large number of them sang as our sailors marched by. I think you told me that you live near this church.

Perhaps the best way for you to know what is in the book is for me to send you a copy of it. This I will do.

After you have read the book, you will see why we are so proud of our fleet and its men. We all wish to be remembered to Aunt May.

Your loving cousin,

BEN.

MASTER TOM JONES,

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

TO THE PUPILS:

Gusty, means blowing by fits and starts; slang, vulgar or low language; fleet, a number of vessels or ships; exciting, stirring; interrupt, to break between; idea, thought.

Use one of these words for each of the dashes in the following:

1. He forced himself into our company so as to our talk.

To THE TEACHER:

Use for dictation:

Rio Janeiro is in Brazil.

Brazil is in South America.

Hampton Roads is a waterway on the east

ern coast of the United States.