A few summers ago I was sitting on a garden seat, beneath a fruit tree,
where the works of nature look very beautiful. Very soon I heard a
strange noise among the highest branches of the tree over my head. The
sound was very curious, and I began to look for the cause. I shook one
of the lower branches within my reach, and very soon I discovered two
birds engaged in fighting; and they seemed to gradually descend towards
the ground. They came down lower and lower, tumbling over one another,
and fighting with each other. They soon reached the lowest branch, and
at last came to the ground very near me. It was with some difficulty
that I parted them; and when I held one of them in each of my hands,
they tried to get away, not because they were afraid of me but because
they would resume the conflict. They were two young robins, and I never
before thought that the robin had such a bad spirit in its breast. Lest
they should get to fighting again, I let one go, and kept the other
housed up for several days, so that they would not have much chance of
coming together again.
Now, children, these two little robins woke in the morning very
cheerful, and appeared very happy as they sat on the branch of the tree,
singing their morning songs. But how soon they changed their notes. You
would have been sorry to have seen the birds trying to hurt each other.
If children quarrel, or in any degree show an unkind temper, they appear
very unlovely, and forget that God, who made them, and gives them many
blessings, disapproves of their conduct. Never quarrel, but remember how
pleasant it is for children to love each other, and to try to do each
other good.
* * * * *
Every hour is worth at least a good thought, a good wish, a good
endeavor.--_Clarendon_.
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