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.
124 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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
126 ECLECTIC SERIES, 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;
THIRD READER. 129 "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.
130 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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,
THIRD READER. 131 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.
132 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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
THIRD READER. 135 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
136 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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.