i.

THERE was once afi actor-manager who set out to produce a drama which was ' to take the whole of London by storm. I Wherefore, regardless of expense, he ! secured a caste of the most eminent I actors and actresses in the world. j To each was assigned a part of vary- i ing importance, and the actor-manager was to have the best part of all.

And each was so perfected in his art that he must needs say, " I do not want any rehearsal for this; I shall be all j right on the night." And the actor-manager, being a man of little strength of will, assented. And they practised not.

In due course the play was produced, but, alas! each of these great artistes wanted the whole stage to himself; none could remember his cues; all ignored the frantic exhortations and advice of their manager; each wanted to make the play a success; but this was impossible, for the lack of rehearsal had turned the drama into a farce.

And so the curtain was rung down, and the actor - manager wept very bitterly.

Moral.—Practice makes perfect.

II.

Two friends once went to a football match. • The players were all pro- fessionals, and each one had made the game the study of a lifetime, practising fully with great earnestness.

And the two friends fell to discussing the play, and the tactics of the players, until one spoke and said, "That" is a bad team, and I could produce a team that would defeat it with no difficulty." And his friend disagreed with him, and ventured a wager of a goodly sum that he could produce no such team.

Wherefore each went his own way, and he that had boasted set about to secure a team and fix up the match. And at great cost he secured eleven of the best players of the country, and on an agreed date the two teams met in contest. But the eleven best players were not accus- tomed to each other's play, and lacked that discipline and obedience to the instructions of their captain which is necessary to win a match. So they were sorely defeated, and of the two friends one became a very poor man and was much distressed, and the other was able to buy a house out of his gainings.

Moral.—See tale I.

III.

There was once a very noble boat in a house by the seashore. And she was painted red, white, and blue, and was intended to save life. And the men who went out in her were toilers of the sea, and each man was a great toiler, knowing the sea in all its moods. He had done this- thing from his boyhood up. And for a while the men went out often in this red, white, and blue boat for practice. But anon they said, " We have been toilers of the sea all our lives, what need have we of practice? Let us therefore cease practising, and enter the red, white, and blue boat only when necessary to save life." And they did so. And there came a great storm, and drove a large vessel ashore, so that she was in great danger.

Wherefore people called and said, "Launch forth the red, white, and blue boat!" And many folk sped down to do so. But there was much delay.

Some were unable to find their way in the great darkness; others stumbled and hurt themselves greatly, and when at length the boat-house was gained there was much delay in donning the belts and skins for their greater com- fort and safety.

Then, behold, all with one acco'rd did seize the same ropes, so that on some ropes there were many men, and on others none at all.

And they said, " Give us light, that we may see." But there was no light, for there was no oil in the lamps. So after many minutes they entered the boat, but each man knew not his fellow's place, and there was much confusion.

And they heeded not the cry of the coxswain. So after yet greater delay the boat was launched, and they made sail for the wreck. And the coxswainsaid, "Burn ye a white flare to give comfort to those in the distressed vessel." And it was very dark, and, mistaking the flare in the darkness, they did light them a green flare.

Whereat there was much rejoicing ashore, and they cried, " Behold, they return ; all is well! " And when they returned not at once, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth. And they on the shore cried, " Behold, they are taken from us." And they in the boat did essay to draw near the wreck, but it was all very i dark, and they knew not how to act.' And each man gave his own opinion, and none heeded the orders of the coxswain, And they were in great danger, but those in the shipwrecked vessel were in even greater danger. And day dawned, and the sea abated ; but of the wreck there remained no sign.

And so the red, white, and blue boat returned.

Moral.—This is a longer tale : yet the moral remains the same..