after several attempts, succeeded in making it rise. Up it
went, higher and higher, as Ray let out the string. When the
string was all unwound, he tied it to a fence; and then he
stood and gazed at his kite as it floated high up in the air.
6. While Ray was enjoying his sport, some people who
were out on the street in the village, saw a strange light in
the sky. They gathered in groups to watch it. Now it was still
for a few seconds, then it seemed to be jumping up and
down; then it made long sweeps back and forth through the
air.
7. "What can it be?" said one person. "How strange!" said
another. "It can not be a comet; for comets have tails," said a
third. "Perhaps it's a big firefly," said another.
8. At last some of the men determined to find out what
this strange light was--whether it was a hobgoblin dancing in
the air, or something dropped from the sky. So off they
started to get as near it as they could.
9. While this was taking place, Ray, who had got tired of
standing, was seated in a fence corner, behind a tree. He
could see
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the men as they approached; but they did not see him.
10. When they were directly under the light, and saw what
it was, they looked at each other, laughing, and said, "This is
some boy's trick; and it has fooled us nicely. Let us keep the
secret, and have our share of the joke."
11. Then they laughed again, and went back to the village;
and some of the simple people there have not yet found out
what that strange light was.
12. When thc men had gone, Ray thought it was time for
him to go; so he wound up his string, picked up his kite and
lantern, and went home. His mother had been wondering
what had become of him.
13. When she heard what he had been doing, she hardly
knew whether to laugh or scold; but I think she laughed, and
told him that it was time for him to go to bed.
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LESSON XLII.
BEWARE OF THE FIRST DRINK.
1. "Uncle Philip, as the day is fine, will you take a walk
with us this morning?"
2. "Yes, boys. Let me get my hat and cane, and we will
take a ramble. I will tell you a story as we go. Do you know
poor old Tom Smith?"
3. "Know him! Why, Uncle Philip, everybody knows him.
He is such a shocking drunkard, and swears so horribly."
4. "Well, I have known him ever since we were boys
together. There was not a more decent, well-behaved boy
among us. After he left school, his father died, and he was
put into a store in the city. There, he fell into bad company.
5. "Instead of spending his evenings in reading, he would
go to the theater and to balls. He soon learned to play cards,
and of course to play for money. He lost more than he could
pay.
6. "He wrote to his poor mother, and told her his losses.
She sent him money to pay his debts, and told him to come
home.
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7. "He did come home. After all, he might still have been
useful and happy, for his friends were willing to forgive the
past. For a time, things went on well. He married a lovely
woman, gave up his bad habits, and was doing well.
8. "But one thing, boys, ruined him forever. In the city, he
had learned to take strong drink, and he said to me once, that
when a man begins to drink, he never knows where it will
end. 'Therefore,' said Tom, 'beware of the first drink!'
9. "It was not long before he began to follow his old habit.
He knew the danger, but it seemed as if he could not resist
his desire to drink. His poor mother soon died of grief and
shame. His lovely wife followed her to the grave.
10. "He lost the respect of all, went on from bad to worse,
and has long been a perfect sot. Last night, I had a letter
from the city, stating that Tom Smith had been found guilty
of stealing, and sent to the state prison for ten years.
11. "There I suppose he will die, for he is now old. It is
dreadful to think to what an end he has come. I could not but
think,
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as I read the letter, of what he said to me years ago, 'Beware
of the first drink!'
12. "Ah, my dear boys, when old Uncle Philip is gone,
remember that he told you
the story of Tom Smith, and said to you, 'Beware of the first
drink!' The man who does this will never be a drunkard."
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LESSON XLIII.
SPEAK GENTLY.
1. Speak gently; it is better far
To rule by love than fear:
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar
The good we might do here.
2. Speak gently to the little child;
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild;
It may not long remain.
3. Speak gently to the aged one;
Grieve not the careworn heart:
The sands of life are nearly run;
Let such in peace depart.
4. Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word.
5. Speak gently to the erring; know
They must have toiled in vain;
Perhaps unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again.
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6. Speak gently: 'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.
George Washington Langford.
LESSON XLIV.
THE SEVEN STICKS.
1. A man had seven sons, who were always quarreling.
They left their studies and work, to quarrel among
themselves. Some bad men were looking forward to the
death of their father, to cheat them out of their property by
making them quarrel about it.
2. The good old man, one day, called his sons around him.
He laid before them seven sticks, which were bound
together. He said, "I will pay a hundred dollars to the one
who can break this bundle."
3. Each one strained every nerve to break the bundle.
After a long but vain trial, they all said that it could not be
done.
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4. "And yet, my boys," said the father, "nothing is easier
to do." He then untied the bundle, and broke the sticks, one
by one, with perfect ease.
5. "Ah!" said his sons, "it is easy enough to do it so;
anybody could do it in that way."
6. Their father replied, "As it is with these sticks, so is it
with you, my sons. So
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long as you hold fast together and aid each other, you will
prosper, and none can injure you.
7. "But if the bond of union be broken, it will happen to
you just as it has to these sticks, which lie here broken on the
ground."
Home, city, country, all are prosperous found,
When by the powerful link of union bound.
LESSON XLV.
THE MOUNTAIN SISTER.
1. The home of little Jeannette is far away, high up among
the mountains. Let us call her our mountain sister.
2. There are many things you would like to hear about her,
but I can only tell you now how she goes with her father and
brother, in the autumn, to help gather nuts for the long
winter.
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3. A little way down the mountain side is a chestnut wood.
Did you ever see a chestnut tree? In the spring its branches
are covered with bunches of creamy flowers, like long
tassels. All the hot summer these are turning into sweet nuts,
wrapped safely in large, prickly, green balls.
4. But when the frost of autumn comes, these prickly balls
turn brown, and crack open. Then you may see inside one,
two, three, and even four, sweet, brown nuts.
5. When her father says, one night at supper time, "I think
there will be a frost tonight," Jeannette knows very well what
to do. She dances away early in the evening to her little bed,
made in a box built up against the wall.
6. Soon she falls asleep to dream about
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the chestnut wood, and the little brook that springs from rock
to rock down under the tall, dark trees. She wakes with the
first daylight, and is out of bed in a minute, when she hears
her father's cheerful call, "Come, children; it is time to be
off."
7. Their dinner is ready in a large basket. The donkey
stands before the door with great bags for the nuts hanging at
each side. They go merrily over the crisp, white frost to the
chestnut trees. How the frost has opened the burs! It has
done half their work for them already.
8. How they laugh and sing, and shout to each other as
they fill their baskets! The sun looks down through the
yellow leaves; the rocks give them mossy seats; the birds
and squirrels wonder what these strange people are doing in
their woods.
9. Jeannette really helps, though she is only a little girl;
and her father says at night, that his Jane is a dear, good
child. This makes her very happy. She thinks about it at
night, when she says her prayers. Then she goes to sleep to
dream of the merry autumn days.
10. Such is our little mountain sister, and
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here is a picture of her far-away home. The mountain life is
ever a fresh and happy one.
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LESSON XLVI.
HARRY AND THE GUIDEPOST.
1. The night was dark, the sun was hid
Beneath the mountain gray,
And not a single star appeared
To shoot a silver ray.
2. Across the heath the owlet flew,
And screamed along the blast;
And onward, with a quickened step,
Benighted Harry passed.
3. Now, in thickest darkness plunged,
He groped his way to find;
And now, he thought he saw beyond,
A form of horrid kind.
4. In deadly white it upward rose,
Of cloak and mantle bare,
And held its naked arms across,
To catch him by the hair.
5. Poor Harry felt his blood run cold,
At what before him stood;
But then, thought he, no harm, I'm sure,
Can happen to the good.
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6. So, calling all his courage up,
He to the monster went;
And eager through the dismal gloom
His piercing eyes he bent.
7. And when he came well nigh the ghost
That gave him such affright,
He clapped his hands upon his side,
And loudly laughed outright.
8. For 't was a friendly guidepost stood,
His wandering steps to guide;
And thus he found that to the good,
No evil could betide.
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9. Ah well, thought he, one thing I've learned,
Nor shall I soon forget;
Whatever frightens me again,
I'll march straight up to it.
10. And when I hear an idle tale,
Of monster or of ghost,
I'll tell of this, my lonely walk,
And one tall, white guidepost.
LESSON XLVII.
THE MONEY AMY DID N'T EARN.
1. Amy was a dear little girl, but she was too apt to waste
time in getting ready to do her tasks, instead of doing them at
once as she ought.
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2. In the village in which she lived, Mr. Thornton kept a
store where he sold fruit of all kinds, including berries in
their season. One day he said to Amy, whose parents were
quite poor, "Would you like to earn some money? "
3. "Oh, yes," replied she, "for I want some new shoes, and
papa has no money to buy them with."
4. "Well, Amy," said Mr. Thorhton, "I noticed some fine,
ripe blackberries in Mr. Green's pasture to-day, and he said
that anybody was welcome to them. I will pay you thirteen
cents a quart for all you will pick for me."
5. Amy was delighted at the thought of earning some
money; so she ran home to get a basket, intending to go
immediately to pick the berries.
6. Then she thought she would like to know how much
money she would get if she picked five quarts. With the help
of her slate and pencil, she found out that she would get
sixty-five cents.
7. "But supposing I should pick a dozen quarts," thought
she, "how much should I earn then?" "Dear me," she said,
after
THIRD READER. 125
figuring a while, "I should earn a dollar and fifty-six cents."
8. Amy then found out what Mr. Thornton would pay her
for fifty, a hundred, and two hundred quarts. It took her some
time to
do this, and then it was so near dinner time that she had to
stay at home until afternoon.
9. As soon as dinner was over, she took
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her basket and hurried to the pasture. Some boys had been
there before dinner, and all the ripe berries were picked. She
could not find enough to fill a quart measure.
10. As Amy went home, she thought of what her teacher
had often told her--"Do your task at once; then think about
it," for "one doer is worth a hundred dreamers."
LESSON XLVIII.
WHO MADE THE STARS?
1. "Mother, who made the stars, which light
The beautiful blue sky?
Who made the moon, so clear and bright,
That rises up so high?"
2. "'T was God, my child, the Glorious One,
He formed them by his power;
He made alike the brilliant sun,
And every leaf and flower.
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3. "He made your little feet to walk;
Your sparkling eyes to see;
Your busy, prattling tongue to talk,
And limbs so light and free.
4. "He paints each fragrant flower that blows,
With loveliness and bloom;
He gives the violet and the rose
Their beauty and perfume.
5. "Our various wants his hands supply;
He guides us every hour;
We're kept beneath his watchful eye,
And guarded by his power.
6. "Then let your little heart, my love,
Its grateful homage pay
To that kind Friend, who, from above,
Thus guides you every day.
7. "In all the changing scenes of time,
On Him our hopes depend;
In every age, in every clime,
Our Father and our Friend."
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LESSON XLIX.
DEEDS OF KINDNESS.
1. One day, as two little boys were walking along the
road, they overtook a woman carrying a large basket of
apples.
2. The boys thought the woman looked very pale and
tired; so they said, "Are you going to town? If you are, we
will carry your basket."
3. "Thank you," replied the woman, "you are very kind:
you see I am weak and ill." Then she told them that she was
a widow, and had a lame son to support.
4. She lived in a cottage three miles away, and was now
going to market to sell the apples which grew on the only
tree in her little garden. She wanted the money to pay her
rent.
5. "We are going the same way you are," said the boys.
"Let us have the basket;" and they took hold of it, one on
each side, and trudged along with merry hearts.
6. The poor widow looked glad, and said that she hoped
their mother would not be angry with them. "Oh, no," they
replied;
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"our mother has taught us to be kind to everybody, and to be
useful in any way that we can."
7. She then offered to give them a few of the ripest apples
for their trouble. "No,
thank you," said they; "we do not want any pay for what we
have done."
8. When the widow got home, she told her lame son what
had happened on the road,
3. 9.
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and they were both made happier that day by the kindness of
the two boys.
9. The other day, I saw a little girl stop and pick up a piece
of orange peel, which she threw into the gutter. "I wish the
boys would not throw orange peel on the sidewalk," said she.
"Some one may tread upon it, and fall."
10. "That is right, my dear," I said. "It is a little thing for
you to do what you have done, but it shows that you have a
thoughtful mind and a feeling heart."
11. Perhaps some may say that these are little things. So
they are; but we must not wait for occasions to do great
things. We must begin with little labors of love.
LESSON L.
THE ALARM CLOCK.
1. A lady, who found it not easy to wake in the morning as
early as she wished,
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bought an alarm clock. These clocks are so made as to strike
with a loud whirring noise at any hour the owner pleases to
set them.
2. The lady placed her clock at the head of the bed, and at
the right time she found herself roused by the long, rattling
sound.
3. She arose at once, and felt better all day for her early
rising. This lasted for some weeks. The alarm clock
faithfully did its duty, and was plainly heard so long as it
was obeyed.
4. But, after a time, the lady grew tired of early rising.
When she was waked by the noise, she merely turned over in
bed, and slept again.
5. In a few days, the clock ceased to rouse her from her
sleep. It spoke just as loudly as ever; but she did not hear it,
because she had been in the habit of not obeying it.
6. Finding that she might as well be without it, she
resolved that when she heard the sound she would jump up.
7. Just so it is with conscience. If we will obey its voice,
even in the most trifling things, we can always hear it, clear
and strong.
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8. But if we allow ourselves to do what we have some
fears may not be quite right, we shall grow more and more
sleepy, until the voice of conscience has no longer power to
wake as.
LESSON LI.
SPRING.
1. The alder by the river
Shakes out her powdery curls;
The willow buds in silver
For little boys and girls.
2. The little birds fly over,
And oh, how sweet they sing!
To tell the happy children
That once again 't is Spring.
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3. The gay green grass comes creeping
So soft beneath their feet;
The frogs begin to ripple
A music clear and sweet.
4. And buttercups are coming,
And scarlet columbine,
And in the sunny meadows
The dandelions shine.
5. And just as many daisies
As their soft hands can hold,
The little ones may gather,
All fair in white and gold.
6. Here blows the warm red clover,
There peeps the violet blue;
Oh, happy little children!
God made them all for you.
Celia Thaxter.
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LESSON LII.
TRUE COURAGE.
One cold winter's day, three boys were passing by a
schoolhouse. The oldest was a bad boy. always in trouble
himself, and trying to get others into trouble. The youngest,
whose name was George, was a very good boy.
George wished to do right, but was very much wanting in
courage. The other boys were named Henry and James. As
they walked along, they talked as follows:
Henry. What fun it would be to throw a snowball against
the schoolroom door, and make the teacher and scholars all
jump!
James. You would jump, if you should. If the teacher did
not catch you and whip you, he would tell your father, and
you would get a whipping then; and that would make you
jump higher than the scholars, I think.
Henry. Why, we would get so far off, before the teacher
could come to the door, that he could not tell who we are.
Here is a snowball just as hard as ice, and George
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would as soon throw it against the door as not.
James. Give it to him, and see. He would not dare to
throw it.
Henry. Do you think George is a coward? You do not
know him as well as I do.
Here, George, take this snowball, and show James that you
are not such a coward as he thinks you are.
George. I am not afraid to throw it; but I do not want to. I
do not see that it
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will do any good, or that there will be any fun in it.
James. There! I told you he would not dare to throw it.
Henry. Why, George, are you turning coward? I thought
you did not fear anything. Come, save your credit, and throw
it. I know you are not afraid.
George. Well, I am not afraid to throw. Give me the
snowball. I would as soon throw it as not.
Whack! went the snowball against the door; and the boys
took to their heels. Henry was laughing as heartily as he
could, to think what a fool he had made of George.
George had a whipping for his folly, as he ought to have
had. He was such a coward, that he was afraid of being
called a coward. He did not dare refuse to do as Henry told
him, for fear that he would be laughed at.
If he had been really a brave boy, he would have said,
"Henry, do you suppose that I am so foolish as to throw that
snowball, just because you want to have me? You may throw
your own snowballs, if you please!"
THIRD READER. 137
Henry would, perhaps, have laughed at him, and called
him a coward.
But George would have said, "Do you think that 1 care for
your laughing? I do not think it right to throw the snowball. I
will not do that which 1 think to be wrong, if the whole town
should join with you in laughing."
This would have been real courage. Henry would have
seen, at once, that it would do no good to laugh at a boy who
had so bold a heart. You must have this fearless spirit, or you
will get into trouble, and will be, and ought to be, disliked by
all.
LESSON LIII.
THE OLD CLOCK.
1. In the old, old hall the old clock stands,
And round and round move the steady hands;
With its tick, tick, tick, both night and day,
While seconds and minutes pass away.
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2. At the old, old clock oft wonders Nell,
For she can't make out what it has to tell;
She has ne'er yet read, in prose or rhyme,
That it marks the silent course of time.
3. When I was a child, as Nell is now,
And long ere Time had wrinkled my brow,
The old, old clock both by night and day
Said,--"Tick, tick, tick!" Time passes away.
THIRD READER. 139
LESSON LIV.
THE WAVES.
1. "Where are we to go?" said the little waves to the great,
deep sea.
"Go, my darlings, to the yellow sands: you will find work
to do there."
2. "I want to play," said one little wave; "I want to see
who can jump the highest."
"No; come on, come on," said an earnest wave; "mother
must be right. I want to work."
3. "Oh, I dare not go," said another; "look at those great,
black rocks close to the sands; I dare not go there, for they
will tear me to pieces."
4. "Take my hand, sister," said the earnest wave; "let us go
on together. How glorious it is to do some work."
5. "Shall we ever go back to mother?" "Yes, when our
work is done."
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6. So one and all hurried on. Even the little wave that
wanted to play, pressed on, and thought that work might be
fun after all. The timid ones did not like to be left behind,
and they became earnest as they got nearer the sands.
7. After all, it was fun, pressing on one after another--
jumping, laughing, running on to the broad, shining sands.
8. First, they came in their course to a great sand castle.
Splash, splash! they all
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went over it, and down it came. "Oh, what fun!" they cried.
9. "Mother told me to bring these seaweeds; I will find a
pretty place for them," said one--and she ran a long way over
the sands, and left them among the pebbles. The pebbles
cried, "We are glad you are come. We wanted washing."
10. "Mother sent these shells; I do n't know where to put
them," said a little fretful wave. "Lay them one by one on the
sand, and do not break them," said the eldest wave.
11. And the little one went about its work, and learned to
be quiet and gentle, for fear of breaking the shells.
12. "Where is my work?" said a great, full-grown wave.
"this is mere play. The little ones can do this and laugh over
it. Mother said there was work for me." And he came down
upon some large rocks.
13. Over the rocks and into a pool he went, and he heard
the fishes say, "The sea is coming. Thank you, great sea; you
always send a big wave when a storm is nigh. Thank you,
kind wave; we are all ready for you now."
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14. Then the waves all went back over the wet sands,
slowly and carelessly, for they were tired.
15. "All my shells are safe," said one.
16. And, "My seaweeds are left behind," said another.
17. "I washed all of the pebbles," said a third.
18. "And I--I only broke on a rock, and splashed into a
pool," said the one that was so eager to work. "I have done
no good, mother--no work at all"
19. "Hush!" said the sea. And they heard a child that was
walking on the shore, say, "O mother, the sea has been here!
Look, how nice and clean the sand is, and how clear the
water is in that pool."
20. Then the sea, said, "Hark!" and far away they heard
the deep moaning of the coming storm.
21. "Come, my darlings," said she; "you have done your
work, now let the storm do its work."
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LESSON LV.
DO N'T KILL THE BIRDS.
1. Do n't kill the birds! the little birds,
That sing about your door
Soon as the joyous Spring has come,
And chilling storms are o'er.
2. The little birds! how sweet they sing!
Oh, let them joyous live;
And do not seek to take the life
Which you can never give.
3. Do n't kill the birds! the pretty birds,
That play among the trees;
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For earth would be a cheerless place,
If it were not for these.
4. The little birds! how fond they play!
Do not disturb their sport;
But let them warble forth their songs,
Till winter cuts them short.
5. Do n't kill the birds! the happy birds,
That bless the field and grove;
So innocent to look upon,
They claim our warmest love.
6. The happy birds, the tuneful birds,
How pleasant 't is to see!
No spot can be a cheerless place
Where'er their presence be.
LESSON LVI.
WHEN TO SAY NO.
1. Though "No" is a very little word, it is not always easy
to say it; and the not doing so, often causes trouble.
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2. When we are asked to stay away from school, and
spend in idleness or mischief the time which ought to be
spent in study, we should at once say "No."
3. When we are urged to loiter on our way to school, and
thus be late, and interrupt our teacher and the school, we
should say "No." When some schoolmate wishes us to
whisper or play in the schoolroom, we should say "No."
4. When we are tempted to use angry or wicked words, we
should remember that the eye of God is always upon us, and
should say "No."
5. When we have done anything wrong, and are tempted
to conceal it by falsehood, we should say "No, we can not
tell a lie; it is wicked and cowardly."
6. If we are asked to do anything which we know to be
wrong, we should not fear to say "No."
7. If we thus learn to say "No," we shall avoid much
trouble, and be always safe.
3.10.
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LESSON LVII.
WHICH LOVED BEST?
"I love you, mother," said little John;
Then, forgetting work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.
2. "I love you, mother," said rosy Nell;
"I love you better than tongue can tell;"
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Then she teased and pouted full half the day,
Till her mother rejoiced when she went to play.
3. "I love you, mother," said little Fan;
"To-day I'll help you all I can;
How glad I am that school does n't keep!"
So she rocked the baby till it fell asleep.
4. Then, stepping softly, she took the broom,
And swept the floor, and dusted the room;
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and cheerful as child could be.