“What piece did you speak to-day, Harry?” asked his mother.
“The supposed speech of John Adams. You remember how it begins: ‘Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.’”
“Yes, I remember it.”
“I have been thinking, mother,” continued Harry “that I shall take my motto from it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this: Sink or swim, I am going to do my duty, and try to succeed in life. I am not going to be frightened by obstacles, but am going to push on as well as I can.”
“It’s a good motto, Harry. I hope you’ll have strength to adhere to it.”
“I think I’ll go out and split a little wood, now, mother.”
“I wish you would. I always burn a good deal on ironing days.”