Emma: Teacher, may Charles and I each have a new book? We have read this book through three times.
Teacher: Do you think you can spell all the words in that book, and tell me what they mean?
Emma: I think we can spell them all right; but I do not know that we can tell what they all mean.
Teacher: Well, Emma, you may spell guilt, and tell me what it means.
Emma: G-u-i-l-t, -- guilt, crime.
Teacher: Charles, you may spell neat.
Charles: N-e-a-t, -- neat, clean.
Teacher: Very well. Emma, you may spell catch.
Emma: C-a-t-c-heatch, to seize.
Teacher: Charles, you may spell clime.
Charles: C-l-i-m-b, -- climb, to mount.
Teacher: Very well done. You shall each have a new book. But you will have to study; for you will find some harder words in this book.
Emma: Thank you, kind teacher; we will try to spell them all, and tell what they mean, when we get through this book.
Teacher: Yes; but you will have to learn the sounds of the letters, and the use of marks and pauses.
Charles: Emma, I think we can learn them, too, if we study hard.
1. Two boys, who were brothers, went into the woods, one day, to seek for a bird's nest.
2. After looking for some time, they found one on a low branch of a tree, with the bird on the nest.
3. One boy crept up behind the tree, 
and caught the bird before it could fly from the nest. 
4. The other boy took the nest, which had four blue eggs in it, and they both started for home 
5. While they were going home, the boys began to quarrel about the bird; for they both wished to have it. 
6. During the struggle, the bird flew away, and they trod on the nest, and broke the eggs. 
7. The boys then began to dispute, and blame each other for the loss of the bird, and the nest of eggs. 
8. Their mother asked them to tell her what they had been doing, and what was the cause of their dispute 
9. The boys then told her what they had done, and how they had lost the bird and the nest of eggs, by getting into a quarrel. 
10. Their mother said, "My sons, I am sorry you have been so cruel and wicked. It is cruel to rob the birds of their nests, and it is wicked for brothers to quarrel." 
1. SARAH has a cat, which has four little kittens. One is white, and the other three are gray and white. 
2. Sarah has put some milk in a dish, and now She sits and looks at them, while they lap it up. 
3. I have a little kitten too. Its color is a dark gray, except the tip of its nose and one paw, which are white. 
4. When you take it up kindly, it begin to pur, and lick your hand with its rough tongue. 
5. If you hold it still for a while, and gently pass your hand over its back, it will fold its paws, curl itself up, and go to sleep. 
6. It is a sprightly little kitten, when it is awake, and will play with pieces of paper, or any thing it finds on the floor. 
7. One day, it got into my work-basket, rolled the ball of yarn and spools of thread out on the floor, and then pulled the needles and stitches out of my work. 
8. If you tie a string to a ball of yarn, and then roll it around on the floor, the kitten will chase after it, as though it were a mouse. 
9. It is not old enough to catch mice; but it will prick up its ears, and look very fierce, when it hears a sound, like nibbling or scratching. 
10. If a dog comes into the room, it will crook up its back, and raise up its hair, as though it were very angry, and getting ready to fight. 
1. A BIRD came and built her nest in a bush, near the house where little Mary lived. 
2. Mary would go and peep into the nest, to look at the little blue eggs; and she called it her bird's nest. 
3. One day, her mother said, "Mary, you must not go and look at the bird's nest again in three weeks." 
4. Mary was a good girl, and did as she was told: she did not go near the nest. 
5. After three weeks' time, her mother said, "Now, Mary, you, may go and look at your bird's nest." 
6. Mary ran out to the bush; but she saw nothing but broken shells all around the nest. 
7. She burst into tears, ran into the house, and said, "O mother, my little blue eggs are all ruined!" 
8. "Oh no, my child," said her mother; " the better part has taken wings, and flown away!" 
9. "When you went with me to see the little child who died, last week, you thought it was ruined. 
10. "The body of the little child, like the broken egg-shells, will decay; but the spirit, the better part, has taken wings and flown away -- A BIRD OF PARADISE."
1. I WILL now tell you a story about Carlo, and Albert, his little master. 
2. Carlo was a large, strong dog; and yet he was so gentle, that he would let Albert jump upon his back and ride. 
3. He was a good dog to watch round the house; for he would not allow the pigs and hens to go into the garden. 
4. When Albert and Ellen went out into the fields, Carlo would always go with them, as though he had the entire charge of them.
5. One day, as Albert and Ellen were going through the lot, a cross bull began to bellow, and run at them. 
6. Albert said, "Carlo, seize him!" Carlo sprang at the bull, seized him by the nose, and held him fast. 
7. Albert and Ellen ran out of the lot, and then Carlo let the bull go. He was glad to get, away. 
8. They ran to the house, and told their father what Carlo had done. 
9. The father said, "It was lucky that Carlo went with you; for, if he had not been there, most likely you would have been killed.
10. "Was he not a good dog, then?" said Albert and Ellen both at the same time. 
11. "Yes," said their father; "and I will buy a brass collar, and you may put it, round his nock, as a reward for his faithful care over you."
1. All idle boys and girls should learn a useful lesson from the busy bees.
2. In summer, as soon as the sun is risen, they go out to gather honey among the flowers. 
3. They do not waste the long, sunny hours of summer; but they lay up a store of food in their hives for winter. 
4. When winter comes, they have no lack of food, though there are no flowers to give them honey. 
5. They have a long bill, like a tube, which they put into the cup of the flower, to draw out the honey. 
6. If you go near them in the flower-garden, you will see how they gather the sweet food. 
7. When they get all they can carry, they fly to the hive, and store it away safely in the cells of the honey-comb. 
8. In every hive, there is one large bee which is called the queen. There are, also, some idle bees that do not work: these are called drones. 
9. Tec working bees do not allow the drones to live. They sting them to death, and then drag them out of the hive. 
10. Do not be idle like the lazy drones; but be like the busy bee, that lays up a store of food against the time of need. 
11. There is no excuse for being idle. Boys and girls can always find something to do, that will be of service to them at some future time.
1. LITTLE Flora was very fond of flowers, and she had many kinds in her garden which she tended with great care. 
2. Their bright colors and sweet fragrance gave her much pleasure; but it made her feel sad when the frost came, and killed her pretty flowers. 
3. Her father bought a large vase, filled it with fine, soft mold, and gave her a bulb to plant in it. 
4. Flora had never seen flowers grow in a vase, and she did not think the bulb would ever produce flowers. 
5. After a few days, the bulb began to swell in the vase, and a little green sprout was seen coming up. 
6 "Oh! I shall be so glad," said Flora, "if the bulb bears flowers; for then I can take the vase into the house, and keep them all winter." 
7. One day, as she went out to sprinkle water on the plant, she saw five little red buds among the leaves. 
8. Flora clapped her hands, ran into the house, and said, "O father! come and see my plant; the buds are all blooming out! " 
9. Her father said, "The plant shows the care you have taken of it; and your good conduct affords me as much pleasure as the flowers do you." 
10. "Thank you kid father," said Flora; if my conduct affords you as much pleasure as the flowers do me, you must be happy."
1. GOD is the LORD. He is great, and wise, and good. He made us. He made all things. 
2. He made the world. He made the sun, and the moon, and the stars. 
3. He made the land, and the sea, and the sky, and all things which are in them. 
4. He made all the trees and plants that grow out, of the earth, all the men and beasts that live on the land, all the birds that fly in the air, and all the fish that swim in the sea.  
5. GOD is good, and does good at all times. He takes care of all things which He has made. 
6. If He did not take care of them, and feed them, they would soon die and turn to dust. 
7. GOD gave us our life and our breath. "In Him we live, and move, and have our being." 
8. He gives us the bread we eat, and the clothes we wear. He guards us from harm all the day, and keeps us safe while we sleep in the night. 
9. Though we can not see the wind, yet it blows all around us: so GOD is with us at all times, though we see Him not. 
10. There is no place where we can hide from GOD. If we had wings to fly to the ends of the earth, He would be there, and know all we thought or said. 
11. O, let us try, at all times, to do right! Lot us speak no bad words, and do no bad acts. 
12. Let us be kind, and just, and pure, and good; and then GOD will bless us, and we shall be happy.
1. THE rabbit is a very shy and timid creature. 
2. In the day time, it lies in its burrow; but as soon as the night sets in, it comes out, and hops around to seek for food. 
3. Rabbits feed on tender herbs and plants. They are very fond of sweet, apples, cabbage, turnips, clover, and green corn. 
4. Sometimes they will creep into the garden, and nip the pinks and parsley. 
5. In the winter, when there are no green herbs to be found, they feed on buds, twigs, shrubs, and the bark of young trees. 
6. Rabbits have large, round eyes, long cars, and long, slender legs. 
7. Their hind legs are much longer than their fore legs. For this reason, they can leap very far, at a bound. 
8. Rabbits are very spry; and they can run so fast, that even a fox or a dog can seldom catch them. 
9. They are sometimes hunted for their flesh, which is thought, by many, to be very good food. 
10. The rabbit can not bite, like the dog, nor scratch, like the cat; and, for this reason, it is very timid. 
11. It depends on its long legs for safety; for when it hears the least noise, it starts up, raises its long cars, and bounds away into the bushes, where it can not be found. 
12. Cowper, the great poet, kept two tame rabbits, which he used to play with, as a boy does with his pets.
1. ALICE was eight years old. She was large for her age, and was very fond of play. She could run and jump for hours at a time. 
2. She was well and strong, and she might have been so for a long time, if she had been good, and had done as she was told. 
3. But she was fond of cakes, pies and sweetmeats, and would cat too much, when she could got them; and she would often eat fruit that was not ripe. 
4. Her mother had told her she must not eat unripe fruit; for, if she did, it would make her sick. But Alice did not obey her mother. 
5. One day, she became very ill, and had to be kept, for two or three weeks, in a dark room. 
6. She had such a pain in her head, that she could not bear the light. She could not bear to hear the children play, or oven the little birds sing. 
7. When she began to get better, she was so weak that she could not stand nor walk, without some one to assist her. 
8. She could not run, nor ,jump, nor play, for a long time. She could not go into the fields, with the good boys and girls, nor cat the ripe fruit. 
9. But while she was ill, and could not sleep at night, she thought a great deal of her past conduct. 
10. She found that those who told her not to eat too much, were her best friends, and that she had done wrong not to obey them. 
11. When Alice became quite well again, she was careful of what she ate and tired to do as she was told.
12. She grew to be a strong, healthy girl, and was loved by her parents, and all who knew her.
Pupil: What is that boy trying to do with his jack-knife?
Teacher: He is trying to carve out the letters of his name on that large tree. 
Pupil: Does he think to get rid of his name by carving it on a tree? 
Teacher: No; the boy's name is Frank, and he is trying to make the letters of his name -- F R A N C. 
Pupil: I think he must be a smart boy, to make such nice letters on the bark of a tree. 
Teacher: He is; and, if he is a good boy, and tries to learn, his name may yet be known all over the world. 
Pupil: Will his name be read on that tree, by more people, than it would be if it were printed in a book? 
Teacher: No; but, if ho is a good boy, he will make a good man; and, if he does great and noble deeds, every one will love and respect him. 
Pupil: I think I will try to get a good name, by doing good and noble deeds. 
Teacher: That is the true way to acquire a good name, and to secure the love and esteem of all good men. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."
1. LITTLE brother, darling boy, You are very dear to me; I am happy -- full of joy, When your smiling face I see. 
2. How I wish that you could speak, And could know the words I say Pretty stories I would seek, To amuse you every day, -- 
3. All about the honey-bees, Flying past us in the sun; Birds that sing among the trees, Lambs that in the meadows run. 
4. I'll be very kind to you, Never strike nor make you cry, As some naughty children do; But to please you I will try. 
5. Shake your rattle, -- here it is, Listen to its merry noise; And, when you are tired of this, I will bring you other toys.
1. AMY is a good girl. She is so kind and gentle, that she is loved by all who know her. 
2. All the little girls are glad when she comes to see, them; for she tries to make them happy. 
3. Amy is cheerful and lively, and is ever ready to assist others who may need her help. 
4. She can show the girls how to dress their dolls, and to arrange their little playthings. 
5. She never teases any of her play-mates, when they make a mistake in speaking; and, if any one is sad, she trios to comfort her. 
6. If the girls begin some play, when she wishes to have some other, she is not sullen by willful; but joins in their sport. 
7. If her playmates offend her, she does not try to injure them; but tries to return good for evil. 
8. When she has any thing nice given her, she is not selfish; but is willing to share it with others. 
9. Amy loves every one, and tries to do good to all; and that is the reason why every one loves her. 
10. If all children would act like little Amy, and do unto others as they would have others do unto them, how much more happy they would be! 
11. All children like to have others speak well of them; and they should try, at all times, to behave in such a manner, as to deserve their praise.
1. AH! what a lively time here is among the poultry! 
2. Lucy has come out with a basket of corn on her arm to feed them. 
3. When she calls, all the hens, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. gather around her for their breakfast. 
4. What a cackling, gabbling, and gobbling, all at the same time! It is their way of talking. 
5. They are like some noisy ,children,-- all talking at the same time. 
6. How tame the pigeons are! One sits on the edge of the basket, and picks up the corn, while another sits on Lucy's shoulder. 
7. See the old rooster. He stands upon the hen-coop, and crows, while the hens and chickens are picking up the corn. 
8. The turkey spreads out his tail, curves his neck, and struts about in a very proud manner. 
9. He walks around and looks on, till the rest get all they want, and then he will come to get his share. 
10. The peacock, too, acts very proudly. He stands on a high box, as though he felt too proud to be seen with the rest of the group. 
11. He acts like many vain persons, who are proud of their fine clothes.
1. ANNA had a very pretty white lamb. He was given to her by her aunt, when he was quite young. 
2. She took good care of the lamb, and fed him every day, with bread and milk; and she made a nice, warm bed for him to lie on at night. 
3. In a few days, the lamb grew so fond of Anna, that he would follow her all around the yard, just like a little dog. 
4 . Anna named her little lamb Snowball, because he was as white as snow. 
5. Sometimes, when the lamb did not see her, Anna would go and hide behind the bushes, and then call out, "Bo-peep." 
6. Snowball would answer her by crying, "Baa;" and then he would run all about the yard, and hunt in the bushes, till he found her. 
7. One day, Ann made a beautiful wreath of clover-blossoms, and daisies, and butter-cups, and tied it around Snowball's neck. 
8. And, when Snowball frisked about, and shook his head, she thought there never was a prettier pet than he. 
9. When Anna was tired of play, she would sit down on the grass, and Snowball would come and lie down by her, and lay his head on her lap. 
10. Snowball was very fond of Anna; for she was kind to him. If you would have your pets love you, always treat them kindly.
1. DARWIN had no little brothers or sisters to play with him; and his kind mother tried to amuse him in every way she could. 
2. Darwin was always happy when his mother could find time to play with him. 
3. She would show him how to draw pictures, to spin his top, to roll his hoop, and to fly his kite. 
4. Sometimes he would get into his little wagon, and she would draw him around the garden-walk.
5. But one day, Darwin's mother was taken quite ill, and she did not leave her room for nearly three weeks. 
6. Darwin was very sorry that his mother was sick; and he tried to keep quiet and still, so as not to disturb her. 
7. He tried to see how little trouble he could give to any one; and he was ready to be sent on an errand when he was wanted. 
8. Darwin was very happy, when his mother began to get well. He went into the garden, and brought her a sweet, red rose, and said, "Mother, you shall have the first rose of Spring." 
9. His mother thanked him for the beautiful present, and told him that, his good conduct gave her more pleasure than the most lovely flower.
1._ONE day as Joseph was going along the road, Mr. Preston gave him an apple, and also one to take home to his sister Nora.
2. When Joseph was going home, he ate his apple, and also the one Mr. Preston sent to his sister. 
3. Next day, as Joseph and his sister were going by Mr. Preston's orchard, he asked Nora how she liked the apple he sent her. 
4. "I have not had any of your apples, sir," said Nora. 
5. "Joseph," said Mr. Preston, "what did you do with the apple I sent to your sister?" Joseph hung his head, and said, " I ate it myself." 
6. "That was very wrong, Joseph," 
said Mr. Preston. "I will now give your sister Nora two large apples, and you shall have none for your unkind conduct. 
7. I will now tell you about a kind-hearted girl, who, if she had any thing nice given to her, would always share it with her little brothers and sisters. 
8. One day, after she came home from school, her mother told her she might go and see her aunt. 
9. It was a fine day in June, when the cherries were ripe; and her aunt gave her a basket full to take home. 
10. She did not eat the cherries herself, as some greedy girls would have done; but she took them all home, and gave some of the largest ones to each of her brothers and sisters. 
11. This is the way all children should do. They should bear in mind that their little brothers and sisters are as fond of good things as themselves; and they should always be willing to share with them.
1. GEORGE was nine years of age, and Kate, his sister, was seven. 
2. They both went to the same school, and sat, side by side, on the same scat. 
3. One day, as they were playing in the yard, George stuck Kate a cruel blow on her head. 
4. Kate was angry, and raised her hand, at once, to strike him a blow in return. 
5. The teacher saw her, and said: "Kate, you had better kiss your brother." 
6. Kate dropped her hand, and looked up to the teacher, as though she did not know what she meant. 
7. She had never been taught to return good for evil.
8. She thought that, if her brother struck her, she had a right to strike him in return. 
9. Her teacher looked kindly at her, and said again: "Kate, you had better kiss your brother." See how fierce and angry he looks!" 
10. When Kate saw how sullen and unhappy he was, she threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him. 
11. George did not expect such a kind return for his cruel blow. His feelings were touched, and he burst out crying.
12. Kate took the corner of her apron, and wiped away his tears, and tried to comfort him by saying, "Don't cry, George, you did not hurt me much." 
13. But this only made him weep the more, to think that his sister should treat him so kindly, when he had been so unkind to her.
11. If Kate had struck George as he did her, hr would not have wept as he did; but by kissing him, she made him feel sorry for his unkind and cruel conduct. 
15. When others strike you, or do any thing to you, which you think is wrong, try to do as Kate did: "give a kiss for a blow." In this way you will "overcome evil with good." 
1. FRANK'S father had a large goat, which he had brought up from a little kid.
2. Frank had a nice carriage; but he had no little pony to draw him in it. 
3. His father told him he might make a harness for the goat, and teach him to draw the carriage. 
4. Frank went to work, and made a collar and harness to fit the goat. 
5. Then he took a long cord, and fitted it around the goat's head, so that he could guide him. 
6. When the harness was first put on the goat, he began to rear up on
his hind legs, and butt at him with his horns.
7. But Frank did not mind that; for he knew it would take some time, before he could teach the goat to draw him in his carriage.
8. Frank was very patient with the goat. he coaxed and patted him kindly; and, after a few days, he could drive him where he pleased.
9. Here we see Frank riding along the road in his carriage, and the goat drawing him, like a steady horse. 
10. The two little kids act as though they did not know what to think of this strange movement.
11. One of them leaps round the old goat,, and the other runs along by the side of the carriage. 
12. When the kids get to be a little older, Frank will have a span of goats to draw him in his carriage. 
13. But, if he is a wise boy, he will begin to teach them to draw his carriage, before they get to he too old. 
14. Kids, like little children, can be trained more easily when they are young, than when they get to be older. 
1. MR. NORTON was a farmer, and he kept a large dog, by the name of Dash, to watch his house, at night. 
2. Dash was also very useful in the day-time; for he churned the cream, and went with James to drive the cows to the pasture. 
3. There was a large pond of water in the pasture, where James and Dash used to go and play together. 
4. James would take a stick, and throw it into the water, as far as he could, and then tell Dash to go and fetch it.
5. Dash would plunge into the water, seize the stick in his mouth, and swim with it to the shore.
6. Sometimes James would throw a stone into the water, and then bid Dash go and fetch it.
7. Dash would again rush into the water, and look around for the stone; but would soon return without finding it.
8. But James did not deceive Dash, in this way, more than two or three times; for, when he threw a stone into the water, and told Dash to go and fetch it, the dog seemed to say, "No; you have deceived me before; and now I do not know when to believe you." 
9. If boys wish to have their dogs obey them, they must be careful not to deceive them. 
10. It is wrong to practice deceit, even in sport; for it sometimes leads to very sad results.
11. A bad boy once, in sport, told a little girl to pick up a piece of iron in a blacksmith's shop.
12. The girl did not know that the iron was hot, and it burned her hand so badly, that she lost the use of it.
Helen: Mother, may I go into Mr. Grover's garden to-day? 
Mother: Why do you wish to go into Mr. Grover's garden, my child? 
Helen: Because he has so many pretty flowers there, and I wish to go and look at them. 
Mother: Yes, Ellen; you may go, if you will only look at the flowers, and not meddle with them. 
Helen: What docs meddle mean, mother? Does it mean touch or take?
Mother: It means both. If you touch a flower, you meddle with it; and no one can take a flower without meddling with it.
Helen: Mother, why may I not take one rose, or one small pink? Mr. Grover has a great many flowers, and I am sure he will not miss one or two. 
Mother: Do you remember the lesson your teacher gave you to learn in the Bible, last week ? 
Helen: Yes; it was, "Thou, shalt not steal." But it did not say any thing about picking a rose. 
Mother: True; but the command applies to a rose, as well as to any thing else. It matters not whether it be a small, or a big thing. 
Helen: Mother, if you will let me go to-day, I will not meddle with any of the flowers. 
Mother: Well, Helen, put on your bonnet, and you may go; but you must return by five o'clock. 
Helen: O, mother! see what a beautiful rose Mr. Grover has given me! I went along the grravel-walk, and did not touch one. He picked it himself. He is a kind, good man. 
Mother: I hope you now see that it is much better to do right than wrong. Had Mr. Grover seen you take one or two of his flowers without leave, he would have looked upon you as a bad girl, and, most likely, he would not have given you that beautiful rose.
1. little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean, and the pleasant land.
2. Thus the little minutes, humble though they be, make the mighty ages of eternity.
3. Thus our little errors lead the soul away from the path of virtue, oft in sin to stray.
4. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, make our earth an Eden, like the Heaven above.
1. Francis and his little sister Rosa, were very fond of each other; and they were never more happy, than when they were in each other's company.
2. Francis would draw her in his little wagon, all around the garden-walk, and try, in every way he could, to amuse her. 
3. Sometimes they would got up on the sofa, and Rosa would put her arms around Francis' neck, and look at the picture ,in their pretty books, while he would read to her a story. 
4. One day, Francis said to his sister, "Let us make a block-house, with little doors and windows."
5. "Oh, that will be nice!" said Rosa. "I will bring the blocks, and you may build the house."
6. When they had nearly finished it, Rosa, in trying to place a block on the top, for a chimney, hit her foot against the house, and it tumbled down on the floor.
7. There, Rosa," said Francis, in a fretful tone of voice, "you have knocked the house down! I wish you would not play with me! You are always doing some mischief."
8. Rosa turned away and wept; for her feelings were hurt, to think her dear brother, who had always been so kind, should speak to her in such a harsh manner, when she did not intend to knock down the house. 
9. When Francis saw her lips and chin quiver, and the big tears come into her blue eyes, he felt that he had done wrong, thus to grieve his sister for so slight a cause. 
10. His mother told him he did wrong, to chide his little sister, whom she did not intend to do any harm; and that he ought to confess his fault, and try to soothe and comforter. 
11. Francis ran and threw his arms around Rosa's neck, and told her he was sorry for what ho had said, and hoped she would forgive him. 
12. Francis wiped the tears from her face, and Rosa went to play with him, as happy as ever. 
13. Children should be careful not to say or do any thing that will hurt the feelings of their playmates; and when they have done wrong, like little Francis, they should confess their faults.
1. "MOTHER," said Henry, "will you please tell Laura and me a story?" 
2. "Yes;" said their mother, "if you will take your little chairs and sit quite still. 
3. "I will tell you about two children who were lost in the woods." 
4. One day, a little boy and girl, about as old as you and Laura, went into the woods to pick some berries.
5. After filling their baskets with berries, they started to go home; but they could not find their way. 
6. They rambled around in the woods, till they were lost, and did not know which way to go. 
7. Laura had torn her dress, and spilled all her berries; and she sat down and began to cry.
8. Henry wiped the tears from her cheeks, and told hr not to cry; for he would give her a part of his barrios. 
9. Night came on, and the children had no supper, and no bed to lie on. 
10. They ate the berries that Henry had picked, and then lay down by the side of a large tree; but they could not sleep.
11. They feared that some wild beast would kill them, and that they never should see their father and mother again. 
12. As the children did not come home, when it began to be dark, their father and mother went to look for them.
13. They searched for a long time, in the woods, and called aloud; but could hear no answer.
14. They then asked the neighbors if they had seen their children; but no one knew any thing about them. 
15. Their father and mother were now in great distress; for they feared that their dear little children were lost in the woods. 
16. The neighbors took their dogs, guns, and lanterns, and started out, with the father and mother, to search for the children.
17. They searched nearly all night without finding them. But, early in the morning, they heard the report of a gun, and then they thought the children were found. 
18. Soon they saw one of the neighbors coming out of the woods, with the girl on his shoulder, and leading the boy by the hand. 
19. Oh, what joy filled the hearts of the father and mother, as they clasped their dear children in their arms! 
1. IN the city of New York, there is a very large park, called The Central Park. 
2. This park has been laid out with great care, so as to make it a pleasant place for people to visit. 
3. The rocks, in many places, have been cut away, and the ground has been planted with shrubs and trees.
4. It has very fine roads and gravel-walks, leading in different directions, so that people can ride or walk to any part of it they wish. 
5. The park is quite uneven; being made up of many little hills and valleys. 
6. Some of the little valleys have been filled with water, making a number of lakes or ponds.
7. In the winter, when these ponds are frozen over, the boys and girls, and even men and women, have fine sport, skating and sliding. 
8. When the weather is pleasant, and the skating is good, you may see thousands of persons, of almost all ages, skating at the same time. 
9. In the summer time, you may see a number of large white swans, sailing around on the water. 
10. They were sent to this country, as a present, by a person who lives in Europe.
11. It is a grand sight to see them curve their long, slender necks, and float around on the water. 
12. They spread out their large wings, like the sails of a vessel, and the wind blows them along. 
13. They arc so tame, that they will come and cat corn or crumbs of bread from your hand. 
14. In the picture, at the head of this lesson, there is a girl holding out her hand to feed one of these large white swans. 
15. There are two young swans by her side. Do you know what we call a young swan?
16. Yes; a young swan is called a cygnet. Like goslings, they have very fine, soft down, till they get to be five or six months old.
1. LITTLE Arthur was very fond of pets, and he would have one of some kind or other to play with. 
2. Sometimes he had a kitten, or a little dog, or a lamb, or a rabbit, for a pet. 
3. One day, he saw some little goslings swimming in a brook near the house, and he thought he would take one home, and make a pet of it. 
4. But as soon as he took it up in his hands, the old goose flew at him, and gave him such a beating with her wings, that he was glad to put it down, and run into the house. 
5. A few days after, his mother wished to pick the feathers off the geese, and she had them put into the barn for that purpose; but the little goslings were left in the yard by themselves.
6. When Arthur saw that the old geese were shut up, where they could do him no harm, and the little goslings were all alone in the yard, he took a stick and killed every one of them. 
7. When his mother saw what he had done, she said, "Why, Arthur! why did you kill all my pretty little goslings ? " 
8. "Because," said Arthur, " their mother gave me a beating, when I went to take one of them home." 
9. "Yes; but the little goslings are not to blame for what their mother did," said his mother. 
10. "Would not the little goslings grow up, and become old geese, if I had not killed them?" said Arthur. 
11. "Be sure they would, my son," said his mother. "They would have made a fine flock of geese." 
12. "Well, then," said Arthur, "would they not be just as cross as their mother, and fight me, when I went near them?" 
13. I suppose they would," said his mother, "if you should try to steal away their goslings." 
14. "Well, that is the reason why I killed them now!" said Arthur, "so that they could not grow up to be old geese, and beat me."
15. Arthur did wrong in killing the goslings. But he, and all children, have some little vices, which will do them much harm, if they do not conquer them, while they are young. 
1. OSCAR was an active little boy. He was always busy in doing something useful, either for himself or his kind parents. 
2. He was as active in getting his lessons when at school, as he was at working, when he was at home. 
3. Oscar, like other boys, was fond of play; but, when his mother asked him to go on an errand for her, he would stop playing, at once, and do what he was told. 
4. He was not like some boys who, when asked to do any thing, say, "Wait till I get through with this play, and then I will do it;" but he went and did it, at once. 
5. One morning, as Oscar was rolling his hoop on the sidewalk, his mother wished him to assist her in winding some yarn. 
6. He hung his hoop up on the peg, went into the house, and held the skein of yarn on his hands, while his mother wound it.
7. Some boys would have been ashamed to be seen helping their mother; but such boys arc not likely to make very good men. 
8. While Oscar was helping his mother, he asked her what she was going to do with the ball of yarn. 
9. She said, "I am going to knit you a pair of socks, and what remains, you may have to make a ball." 
10. "Thank you, mother," said Os car; "but what shall I do for a cover? " 
11. " I will give you some pennies, and .you can take the ball of yarn to the shoemaker, and he will cover it for you," said his mother. 
12. When Oscar's mother had used all the yarn she needed to knit his socks, there was a large ball left. 
13. Oscar took the ball of yarn to the shoemaker, and he covered it neatly with piece of soft leather. 
14. Oscar took out his money to pay him; but the shoemaker said, "Keep your money, my boy; you are welcome, if I have done you any good." 
15. "Thank you sir." said Oscar; "I did not expect you to cover my ball without pay. If I can be of any service to you, I shall be most happy to oblige you." 
1. SOME years ago, the good people of Dublin made an effort to have all the little sweeps of the city go to a free school, so that they might be taught to read. 
2. Ono of the sweeps who went to this school, was asked by his teacher, if ho knew his letters 3." Yes, sir!" said the boy;" I know them all."
4. Do you know how to read and spell?" asked the teacher. 
5. "Yes, sir," answered the lad; "I learned to read and spell, some time ago." 
6. "What book did you learn to read from?" the teacher asked, again. 
7. "Oh, I never had any book I " said the little sweep. 
8. "Will you tell me, then," said the teacher, "how you learned to read and spell?" 
9. Another sweep, who was a little older than I am, taught me," answered the boy.
10. "How could he do it " asked the teacher, "without a book?" 
11. "He did it by showing me the letters on the signs, over, the shop-doors, which we read, as we went through the city," said the sweep. 
12. The only teacher this little boy had, was a sweep, like himself; and his books were the signs over the doors of the shops and stores. 
13. If this poor little sweep, who had never been to school, had learned to read with such helps as these, how much more ought children to learn, who have plenty of good books, and good teachers to instruct them! 
1. ONE fine day in spring, Robert and his two sisters. Clara and Delia, went out into the woods to gather flowers. 
2. They soon filled their basket with buds' and blossoms of the brightest hues, -- red, white, blue, purple, yellow, and orange. 
3. "Now," said Robert, " which of you will be crowned 'Queen of the May,' Clara or Delia? " 
4. "Oh," said Clara, "let us weave the prettiest flowers into a wreath, and place it on the brow of our mother, and make her our May-Queen!" 
5. "Good!" said Robert; "that will please her much; for she is very fond of wild flowers." 
6. Then Robert cut a small twig, and bent it in the shape of a hoop, and Clara and Delia tied the flowers around it; and so they made a beautiful wreath. 
7. They took the wreath home, and Clara and Delia placed it on their mother's brow, and told her she should be their May-Queen. 
8. Robert gave the rest of the flowers in his basket to his mother. She put them into a pitcher of water, and placed them on the table, where they soon filled the room with their sweet fragrance. The mother was pleased, and said " Though the flowers will soon fade, yet I highly prize this gift; because it has been bestowed by my own dutiful children.
1. CORA was a very good girl; but she could not learn her lessons as easily as some of the girls in her class. 
2. Ono day, she came homo from school, and told her mother that the teacher was going to make a present of a book to the girl who should get the most credit marks for perfect lessons and good conduct. 
3. "But," said Cora, "there is no use of my trying to get it; for Fanny Hopkins can learn much faster than I can: I am sure she will get it." 
4. " Do you not think you can learn your lessons as well as Fanny, if you try as hard as she docs? " said her mother. 
5. "I do not know but I could, if I had nothing else to do," said Cora. " But, if I can not learn as fast as she, I can try, at least, to behave as well." 
6. " That, I think, will please your teacher quite as much, as to get perfect lessons," said her mother; "but I do not think you will fail in them, if you get up early in the morning, and study hard." 
7. "Well, mother, I am willing to try," said Cora, "if you will hear me recite my lessons every morning, before I go to school." 
8. From that time, each day, till the close of the school, the teacher marked Cora's lessons and conduct perfect; and so she won the prize. 
9. All the girls in the class seemed to be pleased that Cora obtained the present; for they all said she justly merited it. 
10. It was a largo and beautiful book, with a bright blue cover and gilt edges. It was full of pretty pictures, and stories for the young. 
11. Children, who think they can not learn as fast as others, or behave as well, should try to do as Cora did; and, like her, they may become the best scholars in their class, or even in the school.
1. OLD ROVER is the nimblest dog that ever ran a race; His car so quick, his foot so feet, and such an honest face. 
2. My playmate he, in every sport, the moment I begin: He's always ready for a race, And always sure to win. 
3. One day, he stole my hat, ad ran Away across the plain; While loudly laughed a boy and man Who saw meehase in vain. 
4. So, tired at last, I sat me down Upon a green grass-plat, When quick, old Rover turned about And brought mo back my hat. 
5. At home, abroad, where're I go, There Rover's sure to be; There never was a kinder dog, Than he has been to me.
1. As a little boy was tossing a penny into the air, it fell over a high fence, into a garden. 
2. He tried to climb over the fence, and get it; but when he found he could not do so, he sat down on the ground, and cried. 
3. The owner of the garden hearing the noise, looked over the fence, and asked the little boy why he was crying. 
4. "I have lost a piece of money," said he, "which a good man gave me for taking a kitten from some bad boys, who were going to kill it." 
5. The man took a large piece of money out of his pocket, and said to the boy, "Is this the piece of money you lost? " 6. "No, sir," said the boy; (who would not have told a lie for a great many pieces of gold;) "the piece which I lost, was not gold." 
7. "Was it this then?" said the man, showing him a fifty-cent piece. 
8 "No sir." said the truthful boy; "it was not silver." 
9. "Is it this? " said the man, showing him the penny he had lost. 
10. "Oh yes!" said the lad;" that is the very piece. I know it by the little hole in it; for I was intending to put a string through the hole, and hang the penny on my little sister's neck." 
11. The man said "You arc so good a boy, I will give you the gold and silver which I showed you, and your own cent too." 
12. The little boy was very glad that he had told the turtle. He thanked the man, and ran to tell his playmates of his good luck. 
13. Every one loved this little boy, and praised him; because ho told the truth, and would not tell a lic to get money. 
14. Another boy, who saw this good little boy's money, and heard him tell how he came by it, thought he would try to got some money from. this kind man, in the same way. 
15. He ran toward the garden, and when he came near the fence, he threw over a penny, and then sat down, and began to cry very loud. 
16. The man came to him, and asked him why he was crying. 
17. "I have lost some money," said the bad boy, "which my father gave me to buy some bread with, and he will boat mc wl.1cn I go home." 
18. "Is this the money you lost?" said the good man, showing him a piece of gold.
19. "Yes, sir," said the boy; "that is the very piece." 
20. "Indeed, it is not," said the man; "and for telling a lie, you shall not have this money; but here is your own." 
21. This bad boy thought he would be the gainer by telling a falsehood; but the conduct of the good little boy, proves that it is always best to speak the truth. 
1. THIS is the face of a clock. Clocks and watches are used to measure time. 
2. It would be a hard task to measure time, without the aid of clocks or watches. 
3. On the face of this clock, there arc twelve numbers, which arc placed at equal distances from each other. 
4. Between each of these numbers, there are five small dots, making, in all, sixty dots for the sixty minutes in an hour. 
5. The long hand moves from one figure to another, in five minutes; and it, moves from XII to XII, all round the face of the clock, in one hour. 
6. The short hand moves only from one number to another in the same time; and, therefore, it takes the short hand twelve hours to move all round the face of the clock. 
7. The hands in this picture, show that it lacks twenty-one minutes of twelve o'clock. 
8. The long hand is called the minute hand, and the short hand is called the hour hand. 
9. When the hour hand points. to I, and the minute hand points to XII, the clock strikes one; and it is then me o'clock. 
10. When the hour hand points to II, and the minute hand points to XII, the clock strikes two; and it is then two o'clock'. 
11. When the hour and minute hands both point to XII, the clock strikes twelve times, and it is then twelve o'clock. 
12. Sixty seconds make one minute; sixty minutes make one hour; twenty-four hours make one day; seven days make one week; four weeks make one month; twelve months make one year. 
13. We should be careful to mal-le a proper use of time, as it passes; for, time once passed never returns; the moment that is lost, is lost forever.
1. "Lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." 
2. Welcome to the birds! They make the spring-time cheerful. Their glad notes arc hoard in the gardens and in the groves.
3. Even the spring-time would be robbed of much of its beauty and pleasure, were it not for the sweet music of the pretty birds. 
4. But the birds were not made merely to please our eyes and our cars. They help take care of the grain and the fruit. 
5. Blackbirds are looked upon as great thieves. The farmer thought they took more than their share of the oats, rye, and corn. 
6. The farmer sowed, and they reaped. He scolded, and they twittered. He drove them away from his fields; but they soon came back again. 
7. The birds were not after the farmer's grain; but after the worms, which would have destroyed his crops. 
8. The next year the black-birds did not visit the farmer, and his crops were nearly destroyed by a great army of worms'. 
9. What could the farmer do? Who could help him save his crops? who but, his best friends -- the blackbirds. 
10. They came to his aid, and made great, havec among the worms, and thus saved the farmer's grain. 
11. Lot us not, then, kill the birds; but welcome them to our fields; for they save the grain and the fruit.
1. HUGH was a poor little boy who sold oranges, in the street, for a living. 
2. Hugh's father was dead, and his mother was very poor. She had to work hard to get food for herself and four small children. 
3. Hugh, who was the oldest, said he could help her, if he only had some pennies to buy some oranges. 
4. His mother gave him some money, and he went and bought a basket of oranges, and sold them for fifteen cents more than he gave for them. 
5. Hugh gave back to his mother the money she lent him, and with the fifteen cents profit, he bought another basket of oranges.
6. Thus he went on, buying and selling oranges. In this way, he helped his poor mother, besides earning his own living. 
7. One day, a man bought some oranges of Hugh, and in paying for them, gave him a five-dollar gold piece, by mistake. 
8. Hugh put the money into his pocket; but, soon after the man had gone, he began to count it over.
9. When he saw the five-dollar gold piece, he took up his baskets of' oranges, and ran to find the man who gave it to him.
10. He soon came up with him, and said, " Sir, did you not make a mistake in paying for the oranges? " 
11. "How so?" said the man. " Did I not pay the price? " 
12. " Yes, sir," said Hugh; "but, with the pennies, you gave this five-dollar gold piece." 
13. "A gold piece! " said the man, as he put his hand into his pocket, to know whether it was really so. 
14. "Ah, yes! You arc right, my boy," said the man. "But why did you take so much pains to run after a stranger, to correct his mistake?"
15. "Because," said Hugh, "I have been taught to be honest; and never to take any thing that docs not belong to mc." 
16. "You are an honest little boy" said the man. " And, now, I should like to know your name, and where you live." 
17 "My name is Hugh," said the boy, "and I live with my mother, in that small house, in the alley." 
18. The next day, the man sent a large basket-full of nice sweet oranges, to Hugh, as a present. 
19. When Hugh was fourteen years of age, the man sent for him to come, and servo him as a clerk, in his store. 
20. Hugh went to live with the gentleman; and, in a few years after, he became a partner in his business. 
21. Hugh was honest in all his dealings, and soon became a very rich man. This shows that it is always best and safest to do right.
1. BLANCHE lived m the city. She had an uncle living in the country, who was a farmer. Blanche liked to run in the fields, where she could fill her apron with butter-cups and clover-blossoms. 
2. She watched to soc when the grass in the yard would become green; and the very first dandelion she saw, she ran to her mother, saying, "The 'sunshine' has now come; when shall we go to see uncle? " 
3. In July she had her wish. As she rode along, she saw the trees laden with fruit, and the gardens filled with flowers. 
4. She was in such haste to get to her uncle's, whore she could run in the fields, that, she could hardly sit in the carriage. 
5. At last, they arrived at her uncle's; and her aunt, and her little cousins, were glad to see Blanches and her mother. 
6. As soon as her bonnet was taken off, she ran out to the barn, with her cousins, to see the cow and the calf. 
7. The white hen had a fine brood of chickens; and Blanche clapped her hands, when she first saw them running about to pick up the seeds. 
8. After tea, all the children went into the fields to gather flowers; and Blanche saw a little squirrel run along on the top of the wall. 
9. She ran after him; for she thought she could catch him. She wanted to take him home, to live with her little kitten, in the city. But the squirrel hid himself in his hole, where Blanche could not find him. 
10. Her mother told her she was glad she could not catch the squirrel; for, if she had taken hold of him, it would have frightened him, and made his little heart beat very fast; and, unless he were shut up in a cage, he would run away. 
11. When Blanche know this, she said she did not want the pretty squirrel; but she liked dearly to hear her mother tell about his snug house, and the nuts in his little pantry. 
12. In the evening, Blanche saw some fire-flies; and she said to her uncle, " See how the ground is covered with pretty little stars! Did they come from the sky? " 
13. Her uncle told her they were insects; and that GOD had so made them, that they could give light from their bodies. 
14. Then Blanche asked her uncle to tell her their name. He said the people in the country called them lightning-bugs. 
15. Blanche had never seen any fire-flies before, and she talked a great deal about them. But, when she tried to tell her mother about them, she forgot the name, and she said, "O mother! I have seen some thunder-bugs! " 
16. The next day, Blanche went into the meadow with her cousins, to pick some cranberries. She had never seen any of these berries growing before, and she called them little red apples, just big enough for her doll. 
17. As the children were coming home, they heard a great noise behind the barn, and they all ran to see what it was. 
18. A cross dog was trying to bite a poor little calf. But there was a great ox feeding in the pasture, and he ran to the calf, and stood by him; and, when the dog tried to bite the calf, the ox would hook at him with his horns. 
19. So the naughty dog was driven off, and the calf was not hurt. Blanche called him a good ox, and wanted to give him some of the cranberries in her little basket.
20. When it was time for Blanche to go to her home in the city, she cried; but her mother told her how much her father wanted to see his little girl, and how he would like to hear her tell about the things she had seen in the country.
21. Blanche loved her father, and she was willing to go home. She told him about the chickens, and the squirrel, and the ox, and the fire-flies; and what a mistake she made in calling them thunder-bugs. She said., "I am glad I did not catch the pretty little squirrel." 
Norman: Father, my teacher wishes me to draw the branch of a rose-bush, with one rose on it; but I can not do it. 
Father: My son, I do not think- your teacher would ask you to do any thing you can not do. 
Norman: Well, I have tried and tried to draw it; but it does not look at all like the pattern. I wish you would draw it for me. 
Father: Do you think it would be right for me to draw your picture, when your teacher expects you to do it? 
Norman: No, sir; but I can never draw that rose like the pattern. I know I can not. 
Father: Try again, and then it may not be as difficult as you now think it is. Give it one more trial, and then let me see it. 
Norman: Father, I have done it! I have done it! It now looks almost as well as the pattern.
Father: Yes, Norman; you have done it very well. And, now, do you not, feel much better, than you would have felt, if I had drawn it for you? 
Norman: Yes, Father; and now I think I shall know how to draw another picture much better than I have done this. 
Father. Yes; every task you perform by your own skill and labor; enables you to perform still greater ones. And remember, my son, that any thing which does not cost you time, thought, or labor, is of little worth. 
1. I'M Very glad the spring is come; The sun shines out so bright; The little birds upon the trees, Are singing with delight 
2. The young grass looks so fresh and green, The lambs do sport and play; And I can skip and run about, As merrily as they. 
3. I like to see the daisies blue, And buttercups once more, The primrose, and the cowslip too, And every pretty flower. 
4. I like to sec the butterfly Extend her painted wing, And all things seem just like myself, So Pleased to sec the spring. 
5. The fishes in the little brook Are leaping up so high; The lark is singing very sweet, And mounts into the sky; 
6. The rooks arc building up their nests Upon the great oak-tree; And every thing's as full of joy, As ever it can be. 
7. There's not a cloud upon the sky, There's nothing dark or sad: I jump, and scarce know what to do, I feel so very glad.
8. God must be very good indeed, Who made each pretty thing; I'm sure I ought to love Him much, For bringing back the spring. 
1. THERE was once a shepherd who had' a great many sheep and lambs. He took good care of them, and gave them fresh grass to cat, and clean water to drink. 
2. If any of them were sick, he nursed them with great care; and, when they climbed up a steep hill, and the lambs were tired, ho used to carry them in his arms. 
3. Every night the shepherd drove the sheep and lambs into the fold, where they lay snug and warm; and the shepherd's dog" lay on the outside, to guard them from wild beasts. 
4 They were all contented, and pleased with the kind treatment of the shepherd, except one foolish, little lamb, that did not like to be shut up in the fold. 
5. This silly lamb seemed to think, if he could run and skip about by moonlight, and go where he pleased, he would be much more happy than ho would, to be shut up with the rest of the flock. 
6. So, when the evening came, and the shepherd called the sheep to come into the fold, this foolish little lamb would not come; but crept slyly under a hedge, and hid' himself. 
7. When all the rest of the Sheep and lambs were in the fold, fast asleep, he came out, and ran, and skipped, and frisked about in high glee. 
8. He jumped out of the lot, and ran into the woods; but soon a large 
wolf came out of his den, and gave a very loud, fierce growl. 
9. Then the silly lamb wished he had been shut up in the fold; but that was a great way off, and he did not know how to get back to it. 
10. The wolf seized the poor lamb, and carried him off to a dark den, where ho tore him in pieces, and ate him up. 
11. Boys and girls who wish to have their own way, may, like this silly lamb, get into trouble; and then they will regret that they did not obey those who have the charge of them. 
1. THE cow is one of the most useful animals. She supplies us with milk, cream, butter, and cheese. 
2. When she is well fattened, her flesh is good for food, and her tallow is made into candles. 
3. Her hide, when it is tanned, makes thick, strong leather. Out of this leather, our boots and shoes arc made. 
4. Her horns are made into combs; and her bones arc made into buttons and knife-handles. 
5. Her hair is mixed with the mortar, that we use to plaster our rooms. 
6. But cows arc not the only milk-givers. In South America, people obtain very rich milk from a tree, called the " Cow-tree." 
7. The Cow-tree grows on dry, rocky land, where there is no grass, and the cow could find no pasture. 
8. The branches and leaves look dry and withered; but, when the trunk of the tree is pierced, rich milk flows from it. 
9. The tree yields most freely in the early morning. The natives may then be seen around it, with their pitchers, to obtain the rich milk. 
10. How good and wise is GOD, who provides for the wants of all His creatures! Let us be grateful for His goodness, and serve Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. 
1. WILLIAM very much wished to have a wheel-barrow; and, as he had been a good boy, his father told him he might go to the shop, and order one to be made. 
2. The man was very busy, and could not sot about it just then; so William had to wait a few days. At last, the wheel-barrow was made, and sent home. 
3. It was a very pretty one, indeed. The sides were painted green; the inside was red and it had a strong, iron band round the wheel, to keep the spokes together. 
4. William rolled his wheel-barrow into the garden, and asked the gardener to give him some work to do. 
5. The gardener told him he might take his little spade, and put some mold into the wheel-barrow, and spread it on his flower-bed. 
6. William filled his wheel-barrow so full, that he could not move it. Then the gardener said, "You must take out some of the mold, and then you can roll it along." 
7. William took out a part of the mold, and then he found he could move it along very easily. This taught him never to attempt more than he could perform. 
8. He wheeled it to his flowerbed, and turned the wheel-barrow on its side, and the dirt came out. 
9. William worked till he was tired and hungry. Ho was glad when the bell rang to call him to dinner. 
10. When he came into the house, ho said "I like my wheel-barrow very much, and I have learned a good lesson too; besides, I hope I have been of some use." 
11. William also found his wheel-barrow very useful in gathering potatoes, turnips, apples, and other kinds of fruit. 12. If all boys would try, like William, to be useful, they could do many things, which would be a benefit to others, as well as a pleasure to themselves.
1. THERE are many things to learn, before you can become wise; but you should never try to learn more than one thing at a time.
2. Some little boys and girls think that, because they can not learn, in one mouth, as much as their teacher knows, they never will be able to do so.
3. No one can become wise in a short time. The wisest men in the world, once did not know their letters, and could not spell and read a word.
4. but they began first to learn their letters, and then to spell and read, and so on, learning one thing at a time.
5. If you were going up a mountain, you would not think of trying to step from the bottom to the top, at once; but you would move on, step by step, till you reach the top.
6. So you must do, if you would climb up the hill, called Science. You must first learn to read and spell well, then you can learn to write, and can study grammar, and many other useful things.
7. Sometimes little boys and girls say, "I do not see the use of learning this lesson." But they should never say so; for, if they do not, at first, at first, see the use of it, they will when they have learned it.
8. When a large, stone house is to be built, some men dig the stones from the quarry, and others hew them into proper shapes.
9. Now, if these men should stop their work, because they do not know where each stone is to be placed in the house, it would never be built.
10. So, if you cease trying to learn your lessons, because you can not, at first, see their use, you will never become wise.
11. But, if you are careful, each day of your life, to learn something new and useful, you will become wise and good, and gain the esteem of all.
1. What a noble-looking dog! What an honest-looking face! How good-natured he looks! With what care he carries that basket in his mouth!
2. This dog's name is Fido; and he is rightly named; fir he safely keeps anything that his master confides to his care.
3. His master can send him to the meat-market, with a written order for a beef-steak or some poultry, and Fido will go alone, and bring it home with the greatest care.
4. See, he is now going home with some poultry in that large basket, for his master's dinner!
5. His honest-looking face does not deceive you; for he never meddles with any thing put into the basket, although he may very hungry.
6. When he is sent on an errand, he does not stop by the way, to play with other dogs; but he goes ad carries his message, and returns again as quickly as possible.
7. Fido is also a very good-natured dog. He never snaps and snarls, like many smaller dogs, neither will be quarrel with the larger ones.
8. In all these respects, many children might learn very good lessons from the conduct of this noble dog.
9. I will now tell you about another dog, that was called Cato.
10. This dog had been to taught, that his master could send him from the field, to the house, for any thing he wanted.
11. One day, his master, who was at work about a half a mile from home, told Cato to go to the house, and bring him the ax.
12. Cato started off, and after being gone some time, came sneaking back; but did not bring the ax.
13. His master bid him go back and get it. Cato went the second time; and, after being gone as long as before, came back with a large beetle in his mouse.
14. The man then thought the dog could not find the ax, and he went himself, and found it fastened in a log.
15. The dog had gnawed the handle from one end to the other, in trying to get it out; but it struck so firmly, that he could not do it, and so he took the beetle to his master, instead of the ax.
16. Some dogs may taught to do many useful things, if we only take pains to teach them.
1. WHEN I was a boy, about nine years ago, I went out into the forest, where my father was chopping wood.
2. In one of the large, hollow trees, which he had cut down, I found a squirrel's nest, with four young ones in it.
3. I took them out of the nest, and thought I would take them home for my little pets.
4. but my father told me to put them back into the nest, as their mother knew how to take care of them much better than I did.
5. I put them into the nest, and then went and hid in the bushes, a little way off, to see what the mother squirrel would do, when she found her house gone.
6. Soon she came running along, with a nut in her mouth, and went, with great speed, to the place where the old tree had stood.
7. Finding nothing but stump, she dropped the nut, and went smelling all about the ground, and then jumped upon the stump to look around.
8. She ran round the stump several times. And seemed to be in great distress. She then raised herself up, on her hind legs, as thought at a loss to know what to do.
9. At last, she jumped on the fallen trunk of the tree, and ran along till she came to the hole, where she found her little ones all safe, in their little warm bed of moss.
10. What the manner of their meeting was, no one can tell; but, no doubt, the mother's heart beat with gladness, to find her lost treasure all safe.
11. After staying with them a short time, she came out, and ran off through the bushes; but she soon came back again, and took one of the young ones in her mouth, and carried it into a hole in another tree.
12. She then came back, and took the others, one by one, in the same way, till she carried them all safely into their new home.
13. The care which this squirrel had for the safely on her little family, made me feel anxious for their welfare.
14. When I drove the cows to the pasture, I always went by that tree, to see hoe the young family were getting along.
15. In a short time, they were running all over the tree, with their careful mother, eating acorns under the shady boughs, quite ignorant of the perils they had passed through in their infancy.
16. It is always best to leave the little birds and squirrels to the care of their own mothers; for they know how to provide for them much better than we do.
1. Now, little girls, and little boys, what I'm about to say, try and remember, at your work, your study, or your play.
2. Lily was a happy child, as parents ever had; for she was cheerful all the day; her heart was never sad.
3. Not every home has trees and flowers, as little lily's had; but with the sunshine of the heart, your homes may be as glad;
4. If, living in the city grand, or in the country wild, you learn as she, from all you see, to be a better child.
5. Then, if you live in such a place, as little lily did, you'll be yourselves the sweetest flowers, all lovely things amid.
1. "Edwin, will you please bring me a glass of cold water," said little Frances, as she lay on her pillow, with a burning fever.
2. but Edwin kept on playing with his top, as though he did not hear her, till he quite forgot her request.
3. After a few minutes, Frances asked him once more, for a glass of cold water.
4. Edwin left his play, filled the glass with water, which had been standing for some time in the pail, and gave it to his sister.
5. But, when she put it to her burning lips, she turned her head, and said, "O brother! Please get me some fresh and cool from the well."
6. "Why won't this do?" said Edwin, in a fretful tone of voice; "I am too busy now to go to the wall."
7. Frances drank the water which Edwin brought her; but it was the last time she ever called on him for any little act of kindness.
8. Before the sun went down, that day, she stood beside the River of Life, and drank of its cool waters, never to thirst again.
9. Of all who wept around the coffin of little Frances, there was none that shed more bitter tears than Edwin, who could not forget, that he refused the last request of his sister.
10. Children, are you kind to each other; or, are you cross and selfish? Remember, the time may come, when some of you will be taken away; and then, oh, how gladly would you give all you possess, to have them back again!
11. Edwin was a kind-hearted boy, and dearly loved his little sister. She had been sick only a few days, and he did not think she would die so soon. But this was no comfort to him, when she was gone.
12. "Oh, mother!" Edwin would say, "if I had only brought that cold water for Frances, I could ber it; but now I can never wait on her again."
13. Think of this, when you are temped to quarrel, or to be selfish; for if one of you should die, the rest would remember every unkind act, and all the bitter words which had fallen from your lips; but then it would be too late to recall them, -- too late to ask forgiveness.
1. Julia Elmer was a lovely girl, and her father bought her a beautiful doll, for a New-Year's present.
2. It was one of those large dolls that can open and shut their eyes, and make a squeaking noise, like crying.
3. Julia was highly pleased with the doll, and she amused herself, for hours at a time, in dressing it, and rocking it in a little candle.
4. But, after a while, Julia become tired of playing with her doll; "for," said she, "I have to emake believe' everything I do with it.
5. "I wish I had a real, live pet, of some kind, -- something that can bark, pur, or sing. I am tired of dumb pets.
6. "If I had a little dog, or a kitten, or a rabbit to play with, I should take much more pleasure, than I can with this doll."
7. Julia had a kind father, who loved dearly to gratify his daughter in every thing that was proper. Hearing her make this wish, he brought home a beautiful little fawn, and gave it to her for a pet.
8.Julia was delighted with the gentle little creature; and the fawn soon became as much attached to his little mistress, as she was to him.
9. When Julia took her hoop, and went to roll it in the park, the fawn would throw up his head, and bound along by her side.
10. Julia named the fawn her "Little Dear;" "for," said she, "if he is not a little dear, certainly there never was one."
11. The deer is a very timid creature, and, also, very grateful and elegant in all its movements.
12. If little girls wish to be grateful and elegant, they must not bestow too much attention on their person and dress, and so neglect to cultivate the mind and the heart.
Mary: I wish you would lend me your thimble, Sarah; for I can never find mine when I want it.
Sarah: And why can you not find yours, Mary?
Mary: I am sure I can not tell; but if you do not choose to lend me yours, I can borrow of somebody else.
Sarah: I am willing to lend it to you; but I should like to have you tell me why you always come to me to borrow, when you have lost any thing?
Mary: Because you never lose your things, and always know where to find them.
Sarah: And how do you think I always know where to find my things?
Mary: How can I tell? If I knew, I might sometimes contrive to find my own.
Sarah: I will tell you the secret, if you will hear it. I have a set place for everything, and, after I have done using a thing, I always put it in its proper place, and never leave it to be thrown about and lost.
Mary: I never can find time to put my things away; and who wants, as soon as she has used a thing, to have to run and put it away, as if one's life depended upon it?
Sarah: Your life does not depend upon it, Mary; but your convenience does; and let me ask, how much more time it will take to put a thing in its proper place, than to hunt after it, when it is lost, or to borrow of your friends?
Mary: Well, Sarah, I will never borrow of you again, you may depend upon it.
Sarah: Why, Mary, you are not affronted, I hope.
Mary: No; but I am ashamed, and am resolved, before night, to have a place for every thing, and to keep every thing in its place.
1. One very pleasant Christmas-day, Mr. French asked his daughter Fanny, if she would not like to take a sleigh-ride with him.
2. "Oh, yes! father," said Fanny; "I should like to go and see that poor old lady, who came to our house, last week, for some cold victuals, she must be very poor!"
3. "Will not some other time do just as well to call on her?" said her father. "I should like to ride out for pleasure, this afternoon."
4. "I suppose it would," said Fanny; "but, if you are willing, I will put up a basket of food for her, and we can ride round that way, and see how she is getting along."
5. "Well, Fanny," said Mr. French, "we will go and see the poor woman; for we must seek the comfort of others, as well as our own pleasure."
6. By the time the horse and sleigh were brought up to the door, Fanny had filled her basket with food, and was all ready to go with her father, and see the poor woman.
7. Mr. French had a very fleet horse, and he made the bells jingle merrily, as he bounded along over the little hills and valleys.
8. When they came to the cottage, where the poor woman lived, Fanny went in, and gave her the food she had brought.
9. The woman thanked her for her kindness, and said, "I hope you will have a merry Christmas and many happy New-Years."
10. "Thank you for your kind wish," said Fanny, as she came out, and jumped into the sleigh.
11. While they were riding home, Fanny said, "I really like to assist that poor old lady; for she seems to be so thankful for the least favors."
12. "Although I take pleasure in riding, yet it affords me greater pleasure to receive the wants of the poor and needy."
13. "He that hath pity on the poor, lendeth unto the Load; and that which he hath given, will He pay him again."
1. Maria would have been a very good girl, had it not been for one fault, which sadly marred her happiness: she was stubborn.
2. All the girls in school said they would like to play with Maria, if she were not willful.
3. If she could have every thing done in her own way, she was a very pleasant girl to play with; but, if not, she would refuse to play.
4. She caused the teacher a great deal of trouble; for, if she was told to do any thing, which she did not wish to do, she would even refuse to obey her teacher.
5. But Maria was taught a severe lesson, one day, which, I think, she will not very soon forget.
6. She had to cross a stream of water, on a narrow plank, which served as a foot-bridge; but just as she stepped on one end, a goat jumped upon the other.
7. Maria resolved she would not give up to the goat; so they met on the middle of the plank, and stood, a few minutes, looking at each other.
8. The plank was so narrow, that the goat could not turn back, and Maria would not; so he ended the dispute by pushing her into the water, and walking quickly over.
9. She screamed for help; but, as no one heard her, she had to get out of the water the best way she could. She was thoroughly drenched, and came very near being drowned.
10. She was very much humbled; but it proved a good lesson for Maria; for it cured her of her willful conduct.
11. After this, when she showed the least sign of being stubborn, the mere mention of "The goat on the foot-bridge," would subdue her at once.
12. Though we should be firm in matters of duty and principle, yet we should not be stubborn about trifle; nor too proud to yield, when we know we are in the wrong.
1. A lady had a very pretty canary-bird, which was so tame, that she let it come out of its cage, and fly round the room, to pick up the crumbs of bread.
2. She had, also, a large black cat, which she had so trained, that the little canary-bird would perch on her head, and the cat would perch on her head, and the cat would not disturb it, in the least. Indeed, they were real friends.
3. One morning, the lady opened the door of the cage, and let the bird fly and hop about the room, while she was engaged in sewing.
4. The old cat, which lay asleep on the rug, suddenly sprung up, seized the bird in her mouth, and jumped upon the table.
5. The lady was alarmed for the life of her pretty canary, and she started from her seat, to snatch the bird from the mouth of the cat.
6. Just at that moment, she saw the cause of the cat's strange conduct. The door had been let open, and a strange cat had just crept into the room, and was about to seize the bird for her prey.
7. The lady drove the strange cat out of the house, when her own cat leaped from the table, and released the little canary, without doing it the slightest injury.
8. It was the nature of this friendly cat to catch and destroy all the strange birds that came within her reach; but in respect to this little canary, she had learned to exercise self-control.
9. If children do not learn to control their appetites and evil passions, they will do them much harm.
10. When they have some nice fruit, or any thing which they like, unless they control their appetites, they are apt to sat too much, and thus injure their health.
11. Sometimes they get angry with their little playmates, and seek revenge by doing them some injury.
12. But they should learn to control this evil passion. The Bible teaches us to love our enemies, and to do good to them that hate us.
13. It says, "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head, and the Load shall rewarded thee."
1. I would not be a fairy bird, with wings of garden hue, that can not think, or speak a word, or learn to read, -- would you?
2. I would not be a butterfly, to soar the bright air through, only to glitter, and to die, and live no more, -- would you?
3. I would not be a rose-bud gay, all speaking in the dew, only to blossom for a day, and give out sweet, -- would you?
4. But, like this birds, I would be free, as bright and happy too, caroling still my note of glee, to cheer the world, -- wouldn't you?
5. Or, like the glittering butterfly, I would be fair to view, and useful, too, that every eye might love me, -- wouldn't you?
6. Or, like the rose, I would like to be fair, and kind and loving too, shedding rich fragrance everywhere for others, -- wouldn't you?
7. But, more than all, I would be good, sincere, and pure, and true; and, as I eat my daily food, grow wiser, -- wouldn't you?
1. Here we see Herman and Charlotte going home from school, and reading, in their new book, about the servant who was cured of stealing.
2. The story is this: "An ignorant servant, who had never seen any writing, was sent by his mistress, to carry a letter and some oranges to a lady.
3. "On the way, he ate the oranges. When he gave the letter to the lady, she read it, and then asked fir the oranges.
4. "He, at first, tried to conceal the theft, by feigning to be ignorant of what she wanted. But she told him that the letter said, that his mistress had sent her some oranges.
5. "He denied that any had been sent by him. Finally, he concluded that the letter had seen him eat the fruit, and had revealed the fact.
6. "When he was sent again to carry a letter and some oranges to the lady, he hid the letter under a stone, that it might not see him eat the oranges.
7. "He then took the letter from under the stone, and carried it to the lady; who, after reading it, asked him for the oranges; when he confessed he had eaten them.
8. "After that, when he was sent on a similar errand, he dared not steal; for he thought that the letter knew and revealed his wicked conduct."
9. If any of my young readers should ever be temped to steal, or deceive by telling a falsehood, I hope they will call to mind the story of this ignorant servant.
10. Although they would know that a letter could not see nor reveal what they did, yet they should remember, there is One who sees and knows all they think or do.
11. "The eyes of the Load are in every place, beholding the evil and the good;" and "He knoweth the secrets of the heart."
1. "Oh, dear!" said little Edward, "I never can learn this long lesson; it is so hard! I mean to give it up!"
2. "Give it up, my son?" said his mother. "Never let it be said that a lesson which a thousand other children have learned, shall conquer you."
3. "Well, mother," said Edward, "I have read this lesson over more than twenty times, for the last hour, and still I can not repeat it."
4. "And yet, my son," said his mother, "you have not tried it one half as many times as the little ant did to get a kernel of corn into his cell."
5. "Why, mother," said Edward, "how many times did he try? Please tell me the story."
6. "The story is this," said his mother: "Timour was a great warrior; but he was several times defeated by his enemies, and he was obliged to flee from them, and hide in an old building.
7. "He was very much east down by his defeat, and he almost resolved that he would never try to conquer them again.
8. "One day, he saw a little ant trying to get a kernel of corn into his cell, which was nearly at the top of the wall; but just before he reached it, his strength failed, and he fell to the floor. 
9. "But the little ant did not give it up, he seized hold of the kernel of corn, and tried again; and he fell to the floor the second time. 
10 "Thus he went on trying sixty-nine times, and fell to the floor as many times; but the seventieth time he reached the cell with his prize. 
11. "The conduct of the ant gave Timour courage to try 'again to conquer his enemies; and he was sueeessful. He never forgot the lesson he learned from the little ant." 
12. "Good! for the little ant and the warrior too! " exclaimed Edward. " I will do by my lesson, as the ant did by the kernel of corn: I will not give it up: I will yet conquer it." 
13. After a little effort, he did get his lesson. He learned it thoroughly. And seldom, after that, did Edward fail to conquer his lessons. 
14. 'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again; If, at first, you don't sueeeed, Try, try again: All that other folks can do, Why, with patience, may not you? Only keep this rule in view, -- Try, try again.
1. A Boy, hearing his father say, "It. was a poor rule that would not work both ways," thought, if his father could app]y this rule to his work he would try it in his play. 
2. So he set up a long row of bricks, four or five inches apart, and then he tipped over the first brick, which struck against the second, and caused it to fall against the third, and so on through the whole course, until all the bricks lay prostrate. 
3. "Well," said the boy, "each brick has knocked down his neighbor which stood next to him; but I only tipped one. Now I will raise one, and sec if it will raise all the rest." But ho looked in vain to see them rise. 
4. "Here; father," said the boy, "is a poor rule; for it will not work both ways. The bricks knock each other down; but they will not raise each other up."
5. "My son," said the father "your bricks and mankind are, in some respects, very much alike. They are both made of clay, and are more active in knocking each other down, than they arc in helping each other up. 
6. "When men fall, they like to have others fall too; but when they rise, they like to stand alone, and see others prostrate, and below them." 
7. The Bible say, "The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; but the rich hath many friends." 
8. We should never rejoice at the misfortune of others; but seek to pro-mote the welfare and happiness of our fellow-beings.
1. PETER SPRAGUE was a mischievous boy, and caused himself and others a great deal of trouble. 
2. He was a very bright boy; but he seemed to take more pleasure in doing mischief than in doing good. 
3. One day, he found a hornet's nest in some bushes that stood in the edge of the pasture, in which some cattle and horses were feeding. 
4. Perhaps, you never saw a hornet's nest. It is made round, like a bladder, and hangs on the limb of a tree or bush. with a hole at the bottom, through which the insects pass in and out. 
5. Hornets are much larger than the honey-bee. They have powerful stings, and fight dreadfully when any one disturbs their nest. 6. Peter would often thrust a stick into their nest, and then run and hide in the thick hushes, where the hornets could not find him. In this way, he made them very cross. 
7. One day, he took some salt, and spread it on the grass, near the hornet's ' nest, and then called the cattle and horses to lick it up. 
8. As soon as they began to lick the salt, Peter threw a club against the nest, when the hornets rushed out and stung the cattle and horses, in a cruel manner. 
9. They ran, bellowing and kicking, around the pasture, as though they would kill themselves. This was very cruel, and yet it was sport for this wicked boy. 
10. But he was justly punished for his cruel conduct. He was so pleased to see the poor cattle and horses jump and writhe with agony, that he leaped out of the bushes, clapping his hands, and laughing and shouting at a great rate. 
11. But his joy was soon turned to sorrow; for, some of the hornets, seeing him coming out of the bushes, flew at him, and stung his face and neck, causing him to cry for pain. 
12, He ran homo as fast as he could; but his face was so swollen by the stings of the hornets, that he could scarcely soc for many days. 
13. But Peter did not receive much pity from his young companions; for they all had heard how he came to be stung so badly. 
14. I hope none of my young friends who read this story, will ever be as cruel as this wicked boy. 
15. "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked areeruel."
1 MR. ROMER taught a boarding-school, in a pleasant village near the banks of the Hudson River. 
2. He kept two little ponies, on purpose for his pupils to ride out in the country, when the weather was pleasant. 3. Mr. Romer also kept a fine large horse for his own use; and when his pupils rode out,, he always went with them. 
4. If any of the pupils failed in getting their lessons, or did not deport themselves in a proper manner, Mr. Romer would not allow them to ride on his ponies. 
5. As the pupils were all very fond of riding, they seldom failed in their lessons and always tried to behave m a proper manner. 
6. This they should try to do, at all times; not merely for the sake of riding on the ponies; but because it will add to their real pleasure to do so. 
7. One afternoon, as they were riding along near the railroad, they saw a train of cars approaching, and Mr. Romer told them to turn the next corner, and 'ride up the hill; "for," said he, "I fear your ponies will be frightened." 
8. Soon after they turned the corner, the whistle of the engine so frightened the ponies, that they cantered up the hill with all their might. 
9. But Mr. Romer had taught his pupils how to manage them, when they became frightened, so that they had no fear of being thrown off and hurt. 
10. When they came to the top of the hill, they turned the ponies around to look at the train of cars, as it passed, so that they might not again be frightened by it. 
11. Then they rode home; and, after tea, they wrote letters to their friends, describing the incidents that had transpired, and the delightful ride they had enjoyed.
Susan: Mother, will you please hear me recite my lesson? 
Mother: Yes, Susan; bring mo your book. What is the shape of the earth? 
Susan: It is round, like a globe or ball. 
Mother: How do you know that the earth is round? 
Susan: Why, it looks as though it were round, on the map. 
Mother: Mot7tcr. Yes; but the map is only a picture of the earth; and the picture may be wrong. 
Susan: Well, the book says the earth is round; for many people have sailed around it. 
Mother': Yes; that is one proof that the earth is round; and another is, that the shadow of the earth on the moon is round; and if the shadow is round, the earth must be round. How much of the earth's surface is land? 
Susan: About one-fourth is land: the rest is water. 
Mother: Can you toll how far it is round the earth? 
Susan: Yes; it is about twenty-five thousand miles. 
Mother: Has the earth any motions? 
Susan: Yes; it revolves on its axis, from west to cast, once in twenty-four hours, and this causes day and night. 
Mother: How do you know that the earth revolves on its axis, from west to cast, once in twenty-four hours? 
Susan: Why, the sun, moon, and stars, all appear to move from cast to west; and if the earth rolled round from east to west, they would all appear to move from west to cast. 
Mother: Yes; as you ride along in a rail-car, the trees and houses appear to move in an opposite direction from that in which you arc going. It is just so with the sun, moon, and stars. Has the earth any other motion? 
Susan: Yes; it revolves around the sun, once in a year, whicheauses the different seasons, -- Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. 
1. A VERY little boy once found A tiny acorn on the ground; A while he held it in his play, Then threw it carelessly away. 
2. Winters and summers ran their round, And now on that same spot is found A sturdy oak, whose branches high, The winter's fiercest storms defy. 
3. The child who threw the acorn them, has been a man this many a year; But though a large, strong man is he, He never could uproot that tree. 
4. And so 'tis with our habits strong, They glow each dry for right or wrong; And he who forms them as he should, Will see that every one is good. 
1. As a man was once traveling on the northern coast of Ireland, he saw more than a hundred crows, at once, trying to break open the shells of the muscles that lay strewed along the shore. 
2. But finding the shells too hard to break with their beaks, they contrived to affect their object in some other wiry. The mode of doing this was truly worthy of notice. 
3. Each of the crows took a muscle up in the air, thirty or forty yards high, and let it fall on the stones; and thus, by breaking its shell, easily obtained its flesh.
4. Some children, when they arc told to do any thing, will say, "I can't do it," -- even before they have once tried. This is a very silly remark, and should never again be heard. 
5. One trial more, and the thing, perhaps, may be done; but should this fail, it may be done in some other way. Never say, "I can't do it." 
6. The crow that could not open the shell with his beak, broke it by a fall, and so got the muscle; and the little boy or girl who is told to do any thing, should not give it up, till all ways have been tried. 
1. ARTHUR and Laura had each a little garden of their own, which had been given them by their kind father. 
2. He told them that they must take care to pull out all the weeds, and to do all they could to make the flower-plants grow. 
3. Their father also gave them some money, and told them to purchase flower-seeds to plant in their garden. 
4. When the little germs began to peep out of the ground, Arthur and Laura watered them every day; and, as the plants grew, they were careful to keep them free from weeds and insects. 
5. They made a nice gravel-walk around their flower-beds, which they kept quite smooth and clean. 
6. Each day, when they came homo from school, they would run into the garden to look at their sweet flowers with all this care, their flower-beds looked very pretty. 
7. But the weeds gave them a great deal of trouble. For, almost as fast as they were plucked up in one place, they grew in another. 
8. " I do not like those ugly, naughty weeds " said Laura to her mother. "They must not grow in my garden: I want only sweet flowers to be there." 
9. "Yes," said Arthur; " I am sure we have tried our best to keep them out; but still they will grow in spite of all we can do." 
10. " It is just like some other little gardens," said then mother, "m which I wish to see only sweet flowers grow; but, I am sorry to say, I have seen many noxious weeds thrive there, though great pains have been taken to keep them out. 
11. "I have often thought I could see a few buds; but they have not come into full blossom. And, some-times, where I hoped to find a flower, I have only plucked a weed." 
12 "What little gardens do you mean, mother? " said Laura. 
13. "They are the gardens of your young hearts, my children," said their mother. "You know I have wished to see nothing grow there but pleasant flowers. 
14. "Ono of these is Kindness; and a very large and pretty plant it is, when full-grown; but the weeds of Selfishness too often spring up around it, until it is quite covered from my view. 
15. "Humility is a very lovely flower. It docs not make much show; for, like the sweet violet; it hides itself among its own leaves. 
16. " It is a sweet-smelling blossom; but there are tall and showy weeds, called Pride and Vanity, which, thought they please some eyes, are very hurtful to the flowers. 
17. "Truth is another plant in these gardens; but the hurtful weeds of' False-hood will come up by its side, and cause' it soon to wither and die. 
18. "Then there arc other flowers, known by the names of Industry and Peace, which arc very beautiful; but the weeds of Idleness and Anger often choke the plants, before they are fully grown." 
19. "Oh, mother! now I know what you mean," said Arthur. " The flowers arc good tempers and conduct, and the weeds are our wicked passions and evil ways." 
20. "You arc right, Arthur; and you and your sister should know, that the soil of your hearts is friendly to the growth of these hurtful weeds. 
21. "You must strive to root out, and subdue these noxious weeds; and thon I shall sec in you those flowers, which are the most lovely that can be found in the human heart." 
1. THERE is a child, -- a boy or girl -- I'm sorry it is true, -- Who doesn't mind when spoken to: Is it? -- it isn't you! O no! it can't be you! 
2. I know a child, -- a boy or girl, -- I'm loth to say I do -- Who struck a little playmate child: Was it? - it wasn't you! I hope that wasn't you! 
3. I know a child, a boy or girl, -- I hope that such are few, -- Who told a lie! yes; TOLD A LIE! Was it? -- it wasn't you! It can not be 'twas you! 
4. There is a boy, -- I know a boy, -- I can not love him though, -- Who robs the little birdie's nests; Is it? -- it can't be you! That bad boy can't be you!
5. A girl there is, -- a girl I know, -- And I could love her too; But that she is so proud and vain; Is it? ? it can't be you! That surely isn't you!
Edgar: Father, I have heard some people say, we have five senses; and I asked a man what they are, and he said he could not tell. I then asked my cousin, and he said we have four senses, walking, talking, eating, and drinking. Is it so? do tell me. 
Father: You have just been telling me how beautiful the country looked, covered with snow, as you were riding through it, a few days ago; how did you find it out? 
Edgar. How did I find it out? Why, father, I saw it with my eyes. 
Father: Could you know any thing, if you had no eyes, Edgar? 
Edgar: I think not, father. I should then be, as I feel in the night; it is so dark, that it, seems as if there i were nothing around mc. 
Father. Shut your eyes. There; tell me now, is this bench hard or soft? 
Edgar: The bench is hard, father. 
Father: How do you know that it is hard, when your eyes are shut? 
Edgar: It is true. I can not see it but I know it very well, when I touch it.
Father. You can know' something in two ways, then, - by sight and touch. Now shut your eyes again, and put your hands behind you. What is this that I have put under your nose? 
Edgar: Why, it is a rose, Father! 
Father: But how do you know it is a rose, when you' have neither seen nor felt it? 
Edgar: Why, I smelled it; nothing smells so sweet! Oh, father, there are three ways of knowing things by seeing, feeling, and smelling! 
Father: I will now blindfold you with this handkerchief, so that you can not see, if you wish to. There, do you see now? 
Edgar: Indeed, father, I can not see any thing. 
Father. Now, put one hand behind, you, 'and hold your nose with the other, so that you can neither see, feel, nor smell. I will now introduce a visitor to you. Come here, my friend, and wish Edgar, good evening. 
Anna: Good evening, Edgar. 
Edgar: Good evening, Anna. 
Father: Ha! how do you know this is Anna ? 
Edgar: Because I heard her speak; and do you not think I can tell my sister's voice? 
Father: Very well; here, then, is, a new discovery. Now do you know how many ways there are of knowing things? 
Edgar: Four, - seeing, feeling, smelling, and hearing. 
Father: Anna, place your hands over Edgar's ears; then we shall see if there is another way of knowing things. Open your mouth. What have I put into it? 
Edgar: A piece of candy. 
Father: How do you know that it is candy? 
Edgar: Trust my taste, to be sure, -- I am quite a judge of that article. 
Father: Your taste has not deceived you. But what new way have you found of knowing things? 
Edgar: By my taste.
Father: Now, my son, you have found out five means, by which we can gain a knowledge of any thing; and they are seeing, feeling, smelling, hearing, and tasting. These are called the FIVE SENSES. 
1. Two boys came to a market-town, early in the morning, and; spreading out their little stands, stood waiting for customers. Richard sold melons and other fruits, and William dealt in oysters and fish.
 2. The market-hours passed along, and the little dealers saw, with pleasure, their stores steadily decreasing, while the money was filling their pockets. 
3. The last melon lay on Richard's stand, when a gentleman came along, and, placing his hand upon it, said, "What a fine, large melon! I think I must buy it. What do you ask for it, my boy? " 
4 "That melon is the last I have sir; and, though it looks very fair, there is an unsound spot on the other side," said Richard, turning it over. 
5. "So there is," said the man. "I think I will not take it. But," said he, looking at Richard, "is it very business-like to point out the defects of your fruit to customers? " 
6. "I think it is better than to be dishonest, sir," said Richard. 
7. "You are right my boy " said the man; " always speak the truth, and you will find favor with GOD and man. You have nothing else I wish for, this morning; but I shall not forget your little stand in future."
8. The gentleman then passed along to William's stand, and said, "You have some very fine-looking oysters, my boy. Arc they fresh?" 
9. "Yes, sir," said William; " they were fresh this morning." The gentleman purchased a peek of oysters, and went home. 
10. After the man had gone, William turned to Richard, and said, "What a ninny you were, to show the gentle-man that spot in the melon I Now you can take it home for your pains, or throw it away. 
11. "How much wiser is he about those oysters? I sold them at the same price I did the fresh ones. He never would have looked at the melon, until he had gone away." 
12. I would neither tell a lie, nor act one, for twice what I have earned this morning," said Richard. " Besides, I shall be richer in the end; for 1 have gained a customer, and you have lost one."
13. And so it proved; for, the next day, the gentleman bought quite a supply of fruit of Richard; but he never spent another penny at William's stand. 
14. The gentleman, finding he could get a good article of Richard, always bought of him; and sometimes talked a few minutes with him, about his future hopes and prospects. 
15. Richard had a great desire to be a merchant; and when the winter came, the gentleman wanted a trusty boy for his store, and he decided to give the place to Richard. 
16. Richard went to live with the gentleman; and he steadily won the confidence of his employer, till, at length, he became one of the partners in the firm.
1. WHEN Benjamin West was a, little boy, his mother requested him to rock the cradle, in which his infant brother was sleeping, while she went to visit one of her neighbors. 
2. While rocking the cradle, he observed the child with much attention, and was pleased to see it smile in its sleep. 
3. Seeing a piece of paper, pen and ink, lying on the table, he began to draw a picture of the smiling infant. 
4. When his mother came home, he entreated her not to be angry with him for taking the pen, ink, and paper; and showed her the picture ho had made. 
5. His mother knew, at once, what the picture was intended to represent. She kissed her dutiful boy, and told him he had done well. 
6. She was so much pleased with his first effort, that she told him ho might try to draw a picture of some flowers that stood in a vase. 
7. He drew them with much accuracy, and painted them so as to resemble, very nearly, the natural flowers. 
8. Thus he went on, improving every day, till, at last, ho became one of the finest painters in the world. 
9. What Benjamin West could do, other little boys might do, if they would, like him, employ their time to some useful purpose. 
10. Children can not pay too much attention to the wishes of their pa-rents. Mr. West was often heard to say, " My mother's kiss made mo a painter."
1. Do you know what this girl has on her head? Yes; it is a sheaf of wheat or barley.
2. She has been out, in the field to glean after the reapers. She is a gleaner. Do you know what a gleaner means? 
3. Yes; it' is one that gainers after the reapers. This girl has gathered a large sheaf, besides filling her apron with what the reapers had left. 
4. Did you ever read about a gleaner, by the name of Ruth, who gleaned barley, after the reapers, in the fields of Boaz? 
5. If you have not, you can read an interesting account of her, in the Book of Ruth, in the Bible. 
6. Some one who writes for the "Young Reaper," a very pretty paper for children and youth, has written the following beautiful versos, about The Little Gleaner: 
7. Nimbly flies the shining sickle, Swiftly drops the golden grain. Eagerly the little gleaner Hastens o'er the new-mown plain.
8. Reticently she stoops to gather, Gratefully her hand receives all the busy reaper scatters From his over-flowing sheaves, 
9. Little children, there are reapers In the harvest field of time; You may be the happy gleaners Of the truths of life sublime. 
10. Dearer they than costly rubies; Purer than the finest gold; Oh, with earnest spirit hasten, Ere the days of youth are told! 
1 NEVER Say "I can't," my dear; 'Never say it. When such words as those I hear, from the lips of boy or girl, Oft they make me doubt and fear: Never say it. 
2. Boys and girls that nimbly play, Never say it,. They can jump and run away, Skip and toss and play their pranks; Even dull ones, when they're gay, Never say it. 
3. Never mind how hard the task, Never say it. Find some one who knows, and ask, Till you have your lesson learned; Never mind how hard the task; Never say it. 
4. Men who do the noblest deeds, Never say it. He who lacks the strength he needs, Tries his best, and ne'er gives o'er, Surely will, at last, succeed; Never say it. 
5. But, when tempted to do wrong, Always say it. In your virtue, firm and strong, Drive the tempter from your sight; And when follies round you throng, EVER say it.
6. When good actions call you near, Never pay it. Drive away the rising fear, Get your strength where good men do. All your paths will then be clear, And you'll find a happy year; NEVER SAY IT. 
1. LYMAN FOSTER was a quiet little boy, with a smiling face, who, at first sight, won the esteem of all who knew him. 
2. He was a good-natured boy, and seldom did any thing occur to banish the pleasant smile from his countenance. 
3. But still he was not a favorite boy to play with. Most of the boys at school, would rather play with any other boy, even though he did some-times get out of humor. 
4. One day, Thomas Benton had formed a company of little soldiers, and he was marching them round the square with a great deal of pride. 
5. Lyman Foster wished to join the company, and he felt very proud, when he was raised to the office of corporal. 
6. But he did not do his duty. Captain Benton was constantly finding fault with him. " Corporal Foster," ho would say, "why don't you toe the mark?"
7. Corporal Foster gave a good-natured smile; but did not seem to think it important to do what he had been told. 
8. This put the captain out of patience; and he declared that he would not have a man in his company, who would not obey orders: and so the company was broken up. 
9. While, all the other boys were vexed, Corporal Foster was as cheerful as ever, and thought it strange, that, the others did not like to train with him. The trouble was, "he would not toe the mark." 
10. So it was in all their sports. The boys did not like to Play with corporal Foster; for he never really tried to do any thing exactly as it ought, to be done.
11. It has been just so with him ever since. Corporal Foster is careless still. "He docs not toc the mark" in any thing he attempts to do. 
12. When he went to school, it was very seldom he had a good lesson. 
He went to learn a trade; but he never became a skillful workman. 
13. He never could be trusted to do any work that required special care; because he did not learn to "toe the mark " when he was young.
1. How neatly all the seeds arc laid Within the ripening pod! How skillfully they, too, are made I This is the work of God. 
2. The lining is not harsh or rough; But soft and polished well; Each little seed has room enough within its tiny cell. 
3. How very tight the sides are closed Against the wind and rain! For, if the seeds were left exposed, They would not grow again. 
4. There's no disorder anywhere In what my Father does; He condescends to make with care The smallest flower that grows. 
5. Let children who would learn from Him, Neat habits seek to gain; Or they will waste much precious time, And do their work in vain. 
1. SOLOMON, the wisest man that ever lived, has said, " Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." 
2. Boys and girls, even while they are very young, often show signs of what they are likely to be, when they come to be men and women. 
3. When I see a boy who is loth to go lo school, and who tries to find some excuse to stay at home, and to neglect his books, I think it is a sign, that he will be a dunce. 
4. When I see a boy always saving nice things for himself, and not willing that others should share with him, I think it is a sign, that he will become a selfish person. 
5. When I see a boy hoarding his pennies, and not willing to part with them for any good purpose, I think it is a sign, that he will be a miser. 
6. When I see a boy spending all his money, as soon as he gets it, I think it is a sure sign, that he will be a spendthrift. 
7. When I see boys and girls often disputing and quarreling with each other, I think it is a sign, that they will become passionate and quarrelsome men and women.
8. When I see a boy smoking cigars, or chewing tobacco, I think it is a sign, that he will soon be guilty of other filthy habits. 
9. When I see a boy willing to take strong drink of any kind, I think it is a sure sign, that he will become a drunkard and a pauper. 
10. When I sec boys and girls who are not obedient lo their parents, I regard it as a sign, that they will not enjoy a long and happy life. 
11. When I hear a boy using profane or vulgar language, I think it is a sign, that he will be shunned and despised by all good persons. 
12. When I see a boy taking from his playmates small things that do not belong to him,'1 think it is a sign, that he will become a thief. 
13. When I see a boy spending his time in idleness, when ho should be at steely or work, I think it is a sign, that he will become a lazy man. 
14. These signs I have observed for many years; and, through great changes sometimes take place in the character of parsons, yet as a general rule, THESE SIGNS SELDOM FAIL.
1.A LITTTLE boy happened, one morning, to see A robin constructing her nest on a tree; The fabric so curious she just had begun, So he watched her, each day, till the work was all done. 
2. Hither and thither, and around and around, Now on the branches, and now on the ground, The little bird flew: but, whenever she came, She brought something back her new fabric to frame. 
3. "I wonder she never stops even to rest," The little boy thought; but the robin knew best; 
And, if she was weary, it was not very long, Or she could not have sung such a sweet, cheerful song. 
4. The little boy watched her with patience, each day, Until she no longer kept flying that way; And then, pretty soon, ah! what did he see? Four little blue eggs in the nest on the tree. 
5. The boy did not take them; but, ah! by and by, There came from the nestlings a weak tiny cry,-- Such sweet little tones he had ne'er before heard, And he guessed that they came from a dear little bird. 
6. The boy guessed aright; for there, by and by. The old bird was teaching the young ones to fly; For she knew the cold winter would come, and that they To a warm, sunny country, must soon fly away. 
7. The little boy learned, and so may all we, A lesson of profit from the bird on the tree: He learned that, whatever our hands find to do, We must patiently toil till our labor is through. 
8. That little by little, and so every one Should toil at his task till his work is all done; And that, though the labor be tiresome and long, lye can make it quite pleasant by a sweet., cheerful song. So the little boy acted on this noble plan, And he grew up to be a wise and good man.
1. Each flower holds up a dainty cup, to catch the rain and dew; the drink of flowers, that comes in showers, is just the drink for you.
2. The stars so bright that gem the night, in the round heaven so blue, fling down their beams, upon the streams, which flow with drink for you.
3. the nightingale, which charms the vale, from yonder fountain flew, the song-birds' drink should be, I think, the drink for birds like you.
1. FATHER, hear mc from above, Guard me with Thine arms of love; Keep mc safe from every sin, Pure without, and pure within, Let, oh let no evil word From my lips be ever heard! Let, oh let my heart be fraught With no vain or idle thought! Keep my soul from folly free; Let mc fully trust in Thee. 
2. Help me to be kind and true, Gentle, pure, and faithful too; Guard me from the tempter's power; Save mc in each dangerous hour; Keep mc in the path of truth; Let mc serve Thee while in youth; And when life's short dream is o'er, Lead me to the heavenly shore, Where all hearts from sin arc free, Happy through eternity. 
1. LOOK! why do all the birds fly off to that old poor-tree? How loud they are chattering! Let us go and see what is the matter! 
2. Matter enough there was! An industrious Blue-bird had found a snug little place in the hollow of that old pear-tree, and was busy in carrying sticks and wool there to make her nest. 
3. A Wren saw her at work, and, while the Blue-bird was gone to seek materials, the busy little body hopped in, without .as much as saying, "By your leave, Mrs. Blue-bird." ' 
4. The Wren went to work, as fast as she could, to carry in twigs and feathers, to build her own nest in the snug little bedroom, which the Blue-bird was preparing for herself. 
5. When the Blue-bird came back, the Wren popped her little head out of the hole, and told her she must not come in. Oh, what a quarrel they did have! 
6. At last, the Blue-bird, finding that words were wasted on the shameless little thief, went and sat on a tree, near by, to watch her movements. 
7. After a while, the Wren was hungry, and wished to go and find some dinner. She peeped out, and looked all around. But the Blue-bird, up in the 
tree, kept very still, and the Wren thought she was far off; so, away she flew. 
8. The instant she was gone the Blue-bird went into the house, and tossed out all the Wren's furniture in a hurry. You never saw any thing done quicker than she did that business! 
9. When the Wren came back, you may be sure they had another quarrel. They made such an outery, that all the birds in the neighborhood heard it, and went to see what they were doing. 
11. They all agreed that the Wren was an impudent little thief. They called her all manner of bad names, and told her she ought to be ashamed of herself. 
11. This made her very angry, and she went off scolding every body, at a great rate. They told her not to come back into their neighborhood again. But she had the last word; of that you may be sure. 
12. And (would you believe it?) the very first time the Blue-bird went to get something" to eat, in the Wren went with twigs, and began to build her nest again. But, while she was gone for feathers to line it, the Blue-bird came back, and pitched all the bedding out of doors. 
13. Then they had a worse battle than ever. But the Wren got into the bed-room again, and would not allow the Blue-bird even to set her foot in her own entry. 
14. All the birds in the neighbor-hood cried, " Shame! shame!" But the Wren told them she did not care a berry what they said, and they might go homo and mind their own business. 
15. Thus it seems that even little birds as well as little folks, sometimes get to quarreling about their rights. But chicken should be careful not to do any thing unto others, which they would not, like to have others do unto them. 
1. DEAR little squirrel I won't you tell How you can pick a nut so well, With no hammer to break the shell? The squirrel answered not at all, But slipped into the old stone-wall. 
2. Beautiful butterfly! I wish I knew Who gave those silken wings to you, And painted them with every hue!
'Tis useless to ask the gaudy things How they came by their painted wings. 
3. Diligent bee! I must ask you How you make cells so neat and true, And draw from flowers clear honey dew? The busy bee buzzed no reply, But with his load he hurried by. 
4. God's little creatures, every one, Know how their own affairs are done, And what to seek and what to shun; But they can't teach us to make a nest; Nor could we learn it, do our best. 
5. There's much that we can never know, Of things above and things below; Simply because God wills it so. How angels live, there's none can say; Nor how bees homeward find their way. 
6. We only know that God above, Who formed the eagle and the dove, Created all with wisest love; And gave due wisdom unto each, Better than all that man can touch. 
1. THERE is a right way and a wrong way of doing things. Now the right way is always the easier and the more pleasant, while the wrong way is always difficult and troublesome. 
2. Besides, when a thing is done wrong, it has to be done over again; and it commonly takes longer to do it the second time, than it would to do it right at first. 
3. When children do not know how to do any thing in the best manner, they should ask their parents or teachers to show them; and when they are told, they should attend to what has been said, and remember it. 
4. Many a little girl has had to take apart all her work and do it over again, because she was not careful to do it as she had been directed. 
5. And many a little boy, by not at-tending to the directions of his teacher, has had to rub out his sums, and do them over again. 
6. A boy was sent to the store to buy some indigo; and, because he did not observe what was said, he forgot his errand, and bought some starch; so ho had to go back again for his heedlessness. 
7. Another boy was sent to the store to buy some pepper and salt. When he came there, he had forgotten his errand, and bought some powder and shot; for that sounded more like pepper and salt, than any thing he could think of. 
8. In human life, there arc many ways that are wrong, while there is only one way that is right. Solomon says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof arc the ways of death." 
1. " On, would I were a soldier!" Cried little Herbert Lee: If I were only older, How very brave I'd be! I'd fear not any danger, I'd flee not from the foe; But, where the strife was fiercest, There I'd be sure to go. 
2. " I'd be the boldest picket, Nor fear the darkest night; Could I but see a traitor, How bravely I would fight! I'd nobly do my duty, And soon promoted be, -Oh, would I were a soldier I " Sighed little Herbert Lee. 
3. "But, when I'm grown to manhood, This war will all be o'er; I can not join the struggle Our dear flag to restore. I may not bleed for freedom, That glory's not for me; My name will not be written, The hero, Herbert Lee! " 
4. Then answered Herbert's mother, In tender, loving tone, " My darling little Herbert, You need not thus bemoan; A noble strife awaits you, 'Tis even now begun, And you may gain the victory, If brave and true, my son.
5. You are a little soldier, A picket-guard, my boy, To ward off every evil That may your soul annoy The noblest of all soldiers My little son may be, His name in Heaven recorded, The hero, Herbert Lee! " 
1. CAN a boy be a hero? Of course he can, if he has courage, and a good opportunity to show it. The boy who will stand up for the right, stick to the truth, resist temptation, and suffer rather than do wrong, is A MORAL HERO. 
2. Here is an example of true heroism. A little drummer-boy, who had become a great favorite with the officers, was asked by the captain to drink a glass of rum. But he declined, saying "I am a cadet of temperance, and do not taste strong drink." 
3. "But, you must take some now," said the captain. "You have been on duty all day, beating the drum and marching, and now you must not refuse. I insist upon it." But still the boy stood firm, and held fast to his integrity. 
4. The captain then turned to the major and said, " Our little drummer-boy is afraid to drink. He will never make a soldier! " 
5. "How is this?" said the major, in a playful manner. " Do you refuse to obey the orders of your captain?" 
6. "Sir," said the boy, " I have never refused to obey the captain's orders, and have always tried to do my duty, as a soldier, faithfully; but I must refuse to drink rum; because I know it will do me an injury." 
7. "Then," said the major, in a stern tone of voice, in order to test his sincerity, " I command you to take a drink, and you know it is death to disobey orders I " 
8. The little hero, fixing his clear, blue eye on the face of the officer, said, "Sir, my father died a drunkard; and when I entered the army, I promised my dear mother, that I would not taste a drop of rum, and I mean to keep my promise. I am sorry to disobey your orders, sir; but I would rather suffer any thing than disgrace my mother, and break my temperance pledge." WAS NOT THAT BOY A HERO? 
9. The officers approved the conduct of this noble boy, and told him, that so long as he kept that pledge, and per-formed his duty faithfully, as a soldier, he might expect from them their regard and protection. 
1. THERE was a little boy, by the name of Thomas Ettrick, who lived in the northern part of Ireland. He was a smart, active lad, and his parents were very proud and fond of him. 
2. Mr. Ettrick was a poor fisherman, and lived in a small cabin, near the sea-shore. He had to get up early, every morning, to catch fish, and his wife went out to service in the family of their landlord. 
3. Thomas was left to take care of himself so much, that, when he was twelve years old, he was more bold and fearless than most boys of his age. 
4. He earned all he could to help the family, by doing errands for the neighbors. He had a warm heart, and was so much attached to Peter, their land-lord's son, that he seemed willing to do any thing he could to please him. 
5. He had heard Peter say, he wished he had a young eagle, and Thomas said, he would try to get one for him. He knew where there was a nest of young eagles, about half way up a rocky cliff that stood by the sea-shore; but the rocks were so steep he could not reach them from the water side. 
6. But, Thomas was a persevering boy, and finally hit upon a plan by which he hoped to reach the nest, and get one of the young eagles. So, he got a long rope, and started off, with some other boys, and went to the top of the cliff from the land side. 
7. When he reached the top, Thomas tied the rope around his waist, and his companions let him down over the rocks. When they had lowered him a few yards, his courage began to fail; for, nearly two hundred feet below him, he could see the waves foaming and dashing against the rocks, and he knew, if he fell, he would be dashed in pieces.
8. But he did not give up the attempt. He told his companions to let him down slowly, lest he should strike against the jagged rocks. When about half way down the cliff, he saw the nest, with three young eagles in it, and he made signs to his young friends to stop let-ting out the rope. 
9. He swung himself into a little niche in the rock, close by the nest. The young birds made a great outcry, and be was afraid the old eagles would hear them, and fly to their relief. He caught one of the young eagles, and then jerked the rope for the boys to pull him up; but no notice was taken of it. 
10. He pulled again and again, and called aloud to his companions to draw him up; but he received no reply. He then gave the rope a hard, sudden jerk, which drew it from their hands, and it fell on the rocks below him. He was struck with horror at the awful doom that seemed to await him, and he began to be faint and dizzy. 
11. He could not climb out of the place where he stood, without falling; and no one could hear his cry for help. He had but a narrow foothold, and he feared that when the old eagles returned to their nest, they would sweep him off with their strong wings, and hurl him upon the rugged rocks below. 
12. He knew his companions would run for help; but, as it was nearly two miles to the nearest house, it would take them some time to go and return, before any help could reach him. Every minute 'seemed an hour; for he knew that he could not remain there long, unless some one should soon come to his assistance. 
13. He knew he had done wrong in coming there, without the consent of his parents; and thought that the awful death that seemed to await him, was but a just judgment for his misconduct. He thought, if ho could only be saved, he would never do wrong again. 
14. He hid his face against the rocks, and prayed that God would forgive him, and deliver him from his perilous position. Suddenly he felt something seize him by the shoulder. He thought it was the eagle's talons. But how great was his surprise and joy, when he found it to be his own father's hand! 
15. The boys had given the alarm, and Mr. Ettrick and a few of his neighbors ran to the cliff to rescue the venturesome boy. With a strong rope, Mr. Ettrick was let down in the same manner as Thomas had been, till he reached the eagle's nest. 
16. He tied the rope around his son's waist, and the men on the top of the rock drew hi„m up. Then they let down the rope, and Mr. Ettrick was drawn up in the same way, bringing two of the young eagles with him. 
17. He gave one of the young eagles to Peter, and told him to keep it as a memorial of the dangers and hardships, to which Thomas had exposed himself, in order to obtain it for him. 
18. The other he gave to Thomas, and told him to keep it as a memorial of that kind Providence, who had so mercifully preserved his life, and by whom he had been rescued from his perilous position. 
1. "WILL you come with me, my pretty one? " I asked a little child, -- "Will you come with me and gather flowers?" She looked on me and smiled; Then, in a low, sweet, gentle voice, She said, " I can not come, I must not leave this narrow path, For I am going home." 
2. "But will you not?" I asked again, "The sun is shining bright, And you might twine a lily-wreath To carry home at night; And I could show you pleasant things, If you would only come;" But still she answered as before, " No; I am going home. 
3. "I must not loiter on the road, For I have far to go; And I should like to reach the door Before the sun is low. I must not stay; but will you not. Oh, will you not come, too? My home is very beautiful, And there is room for you." 
4. "I took her little hand in mine ' Together we went on; Brighter and brighter o'er our path The blessed sunbeams shone. At length, we saw the distant towers; But, ere we reached the gate, The child outstripped my lingering feet, Too overjoyed to wait. And, as she turned her radiant face Once more to bid me come, I heard a chorus of glad songs, A burst of "WELCOME HOME!"