SUNSET.
62 ECLECTIC SERIES,
LESSON XXIV.
BEAUTIFUL HANDS. 1. "O Miss Roberts! what coarse-looking hands Mary Jessup has!" said Daisy Marvin, as she walked home from school with her teacher.
THIRD READER. 63 2. "In my opinion, Daisy, Mary's hands are the prettiest in he class." 3. "Why, Miss Roberts, they are as red and hard as they can be. How they would look if she were to try to play on a piano!" exclaimed Daisy. 4. Miss Roberts took Daisy's hands in hers, and said, "Your hands are very soft and white, Daisy—just the hands to look beautiful on a piano; yet they lack one beauty that Mary's hands have. Shall I tell you what the difference is?" 5. "Yes, please, Miss Roberts." 6. "Well, Daisy, Mary's hands are always busy. They wash dishes; they make fires; they hang out clothes, and help to wash them, too; they sweep, and dust, and sew; they are always trying to help her poor, hard-working mother. 7. "Besides, they wash and dress the children; they mend their toys and dress their dolls; yet, they find time to bathe the head of the little girl who is so sick in the next house to theirs. 8. "They are full of good deeds to every living thing. I have seen them patting the tired horse and the lame dog in the street.
64 ECLECTIC SERIES,
They are always ready to help those who need help." 9. "I shall never think Mary's hands are ugly any more, Miss Roberts." 10. "I am glad to hear you say that, Daisy; and I must tell you that they are beautiful because they do their work gladly and cheerfully." 11. "O Miss Roberts! I feel so ashamed of myself, and so sorry," said Daisy, looking into her teacher's face with tearful eyes.
THIRD READER. 65 12. "Then, my dear, show your sorrow by deeds of kindness. The good alone are really beautiful."
LESSON XXV.
THINGS TO REMEMBER. 1. When you rise in the morning, remember who kept you from danger during the night. Remember who watched over you while you slept, and whose sun shines around you, and gives you the sweet light of day. 2. Let God have the thanks of your heart, for his kindness and his care; and pray for his protection during the wakeful hours of day. 3. Remember that God made all creatures to be happy, and will do nothing that may prevent their being so, without good reason for it. 4. When you are at the table, do not eat in a greedy manner, like a pig. Eat quietly, 3,5
66 ECLECTIC SERIES. and do not reach forth your hand for the food, but ask some one to help you. 5. Do not become peevish and pout, because you do not get a part of everything. Be satisfied with what is given you. 6. Avoid a pouting face, angry looks, and angry words. Do not slam the doors. Go quietly up and down stairs; and never make a loud noise about the house. 7. Be kind and gentle in your manners; not like the howling winter storm, but like the bright summer morning. 8. Do always as your parents bid you. Obey them with a ready mind, and with a pleasant face. 9. Never do anything that you would be afraid or ashamed that your parents should know. Remember, if no one else sees you, God does, from whom you can not hide even your most secret thought. 10. At night, before you go to sleep, think whether you have done anything that was wrong during the day, and pray to God to forgive you. If anyone has done you wrong, forgive him in your heart. 11. If you have not learned something useful, or been in some way useful, during
THIRD READER. 67 the past day, think that it is a day lost, and be very sorry for it. 12. Trust in the Lord, and He will guide you in the way of good men. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 13. We must do all the good we can to all men, for this is well pleasing in the sight of God. He delights to see his children walk in love, and do good one to another.
LESSON XXVI.
THREE LITTLE MICE.
1. I will tell you the story of three little mice,
If you will keep still and listen to me,
Who live in a cage that is cozy and nice,
And are just as cunning as cunning can be.
They look very wise, with their pretty red eyes,
That seem just exactly like little round beads;
They are white as the snow, and stand up in a row
Whenever we do not attend to their needs;—
68 ECLECTIC SERIES.
2. Stand up in a row in a comical way,—
Now folding their forepaws as if saying, "please;"
Now rattling the lattice, as much as to say,
"We shall not stay here without more bread and
cheese,"
They are not at all shy, as you'll find, if you try
To make them run up in their chamber to bed;
If they do n't want to go, why, they won't go—ah! no,
Though you tap with your finger each queer little
head.
3. One day as I stood by the side of the cage,
Through the bars there protruded a funny, round tail;
THIRD READER. 69
Just for mischief I caught it, and soon; in a rage,
Its owner set up a most pitiful wail.
He looked in dismay,—there was something to pay,—
But what was the matter he could not make out;
What was holding him so, when he wanted to go
To see what his brothers upstairs were about?
4. But soon from the chamber the others rushed down,
Impatient to learn what the trouble might be;
I have not a doubt that each brow wore a frown,
Only frowns on their brows are not easy to see.
For a moment they gazed, perplexed and amazed;
Then began both together to—gnaw off the tail!
So, quick I released him,—do you think that it pleased
him?
And up the small staircase they fled like a gale.
Julia C. R. Dorr.
LESSON XXVII.
THE NEW YEAR. 1. One pleasant New-year morning, Edward rose, and washed and dressed himself
70 ECLECTIC SERIES. in haste. He wanted to be first to wish a happy New Year. 2. He looked in every room, and shouted the words of welcome. He ran into the
street, to repeat them to those he might meet. 3. When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars. 4. His face lighted up as he took them. He had wished for a long time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore.
THIRD READER. 71 5. He left the house with a light heart, intending to buy the books. 6. As he ran down the street, he saw a poor German family, the father, mother, and three children shivering with cold. 7. "I wish you a happy New Year," said Edward, as he was gayly passing on. The man shook his head. 8. "You do not belong to this country," said Edward. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak our language. 9. But he pointed to his mouth, and to the children, as if to say, "These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time." 10. Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in distress. He took out his dollars, and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife. 11. How their eyes sparkled with gratitude! They said something in their language, which doubtless meant, "We thank you a thousand times, and will remember you in our prayers." 12. When Edward came home, his father asked what books he had bought. He hung his head a moment, but quickly looked up.
72 ECLECTIC SERIES. 13. "I have bought no books," said he, "I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry and wretched. 14. "I think I can wait for my books till next New Year. Oh, if you had seen how glad they were to receive the money!" 15. "My dear boy;" said his father, "here is a whole bundle of books. I give them to you, more as a reward for your goodness of heart than as a New-year gift. 16. "I saw you give the money to the poor German family. It was no small sum for a little boy to give cheerfully. 17. "Be thus ever ready to help the poor, and wretched, and distressed; and every year of your life will be to you a happy New Year." LESSON XXVIII.
THE CLOCK AND THE SUNDIAL. A FABLE. 1. One gloomy day, the clock on a church steeple, looking down on a sundial, said,
THIRD READER. 73 "How stupid it is in you to stand there all the while like a stock! 2. "You never tell the hour till a bright sun looks forth from the sky, and gives you leave. I go merrily round, day and night, in summer and winter the same, without asking his leave. 3. "I tell the people the time to rise, to go to dinner, and to come to church.
74 ECLECTIC SERIES. 4. "Hark! I am going to strike now; one, two, three, four. There it is for you. How silly you look! You can say nothing." 5. The sun, at that moment, broke forth from behind a cloud, and showed, by the sundial, that the clock was half an hour behind the right time. 6. The boasting clock now held his tongue, and the dial only smiled at his folly. 7. MORAL.—Humble modesty is more often right than a proud and boasting spirit.
LESSON XXIX.
REMEMBER.
1. Remember, child, remember,
That God is in the sky;
That He looks down on all we do,
With an ever-wakeful eye.
2. Remember, oh remember,
That, all the day and night,
He sees our thoughts and actions
With an ever-watchful sight.
THIRD READER. 75
3. Remember, child, remember,
That God is good and true;
That He wishes us to always be
Like Him in all we do.
4. Remember that He ever hates
A falsehood or a lie;
Remember He will punish, too,
The wicked, by and by.
5. Remember, oh remember,
That He is like a friend,
And wishes us to holy be,
And happy, in the end.
6. Remember, child, remember,
To pray to Him in heaven;
And if you have been doing wrong,
Oh, ask to be forgiven.
7. Be sorry, in your little prayer,
And whisper in his ear;
Ask his forgiveness and his love.
And He will surely hear.
8. Remember, child, remember, That you love, with all your might,
76 ECLECTIC SERIES.
The God who watches o'er us,
And gives us each delight;
Who guards us ever through the day,
And saves us in the night.
LESSON XXX..
COURAGE AND COWARDICE. 1. Robert and Henry were going home from school, when, on turning a corner, Robert cried out, "A fight! let us go and see!"
ECLECTIC READER. 77 2. "No," said Henry; "let us go quietly home and not meddle with this quarrel. We have nothing to do with it, and may get into mischief." 3. "You are a coward, and afraid to go," said Robert, and off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon went to school, as usual. 4. But Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a coward, and they laughed at him a great deal. 5. Henry had learned, however, that true courage is shown most in bearing reproach when not deserved, and that he ought to be afraid of nothing but doing wrong. 6. A few days after, Robert was bathing with some schoolmates, and got out of his depth. He struggled, and screamed for help, but all in vain. 7. The boys who had called Henry a coward, got out of the water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help him. 8. Robert was fast sinking, when Henry threw off his clothes, and sprang into the water. He reached Robert just as he was sinking the last time.
78 ECLECTIC SERIES. 9. By great effort, and with much danger to himself, he brought Robert to thc shore, and thus saved his life. 10. Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed at having called Henry a coward. They owned that he had more courage than any of them. 11. Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.
LESSON XXXI.
WEIGHING AN ELEPHANT. 1. "An eastern king," said Teddy's mother, "had been saved from some great danger. To show his gratitude for deliverance, he vowed he would give to the poor the weight of his favorite elephant in silver." 2. "Oh! what a great quantity that would be," cried Lily, opening her eyes very wide. "But how could you weigh an elephant?"
THIRD READER. 79 asked Teddy, who was a quiet, thoughtful boy 3. "There was the difficulty," said his mother. "The wise and learned men of the court stroked their long beards, and talked the matter over, but no one found out how to weigh the elephant. 4. "At last, a poor old sailor found safe and simple means by which to weigh the enormous beast. The thousands and thousands of pieces of silver were counted out to the people; and crowds of the poor were relieved by the clever thought of the sailor." 5. "O mamma," said Lily, "do tell us what it was!" 6. "Stop, stop!" said Teddy. "I want to think for myself— think hard—and find out how an elephant's weight could be known, with little trouble and expense." 7. "I am well pleased," said his mother, "that my little boy should set his mind to work on the subject. If he can find out the sailor's secret before night, he shall have that orange for his pains." 8. The boy thought hard and long. Lily laughed at her brother's grave looks, as he sat leaning his head on his hands. Often
80 ECLECTIC SERIES.
she teased him with the question, "Can you weigh an elephant, Teddy?" 9. At last, while eating his supper, Teddy suddenly cried out, "I have it now!" 10. "Do you think so?" asked his mother. 11. "How would you do it," asked Lily.
THIRD READER. 81 12. "First, I would have a big boat brought very close to the shore, and would have planks laid across, so that the elephant could walk right into it." 13. "Oh, such a great, heavy beast would make it sink low in the water," said Lily. 14. "Of course it would," said her brother. Then I would mark on the outside of the boat the exact height to which the water had risen all around it while the elephant was inside. Then he should march on shore, leaving the boat quite empty." 15. "But I do n't see the use of all this," said Lily. 16. "Do n't you?" cried Teddy, in surprise. "Why, I should then bring the heaps of silver, and throw them into the boat till their weight would sink it to the mark made by the elephant. That would show that the weight of each was the same." 17. "How funny!" cried Lily; "you would make a weighing machine of the boat?" 18. "That is my plan," said Teddy. 19. "That was the sailor's plan," said his mother. "You have earned the orange, my boy;" and she gave it to him with a smile. Adapted from A. L. O. E. 3,6.
82 ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXXII.
THE SOLDIER.
1. A soldier! a soldier! I'm longing to he:
The name and the life of a soldier for me!
I would not be living at ease and at play;
True honor and glory I'd win in my day.
2. A soldier! a soldier! in armor arrayed;
My weapons in hand, of no contest afraid;
I'd ever be ready to strike the first blow,
And to fight my way through the ranks of the foe.
3. But then, let me tell you, no blood would I shed,
No victory seek o'er the dying and dead;
A far braver soldier than this would I be;
A warrior of Truth, in the ranks of the free.
4. A soldier! a soldier! Oh, then, let me be!
My friends, I invite you, enlist now with me.
Truth's bands shall be mustered, love's foes shall
give way!
Let's up, and be clad in our battle array!
J. G. Adams.
THIRD READER. 83
LESSON XXXIII.
THE ECHO. 1. As Robert was one day rambling about, he happened to cry out, "Ho, ho!" He instantly heard coming back from a hill near by, the same words, "Ho, ho!" 2. In great surprise, he said with a loud voice, "Who are you?" Upon this, the same words came back, "Who are you?" 3. Robert now cried out harshly, "You must be a very foolish fellow." "Foolish fellow!" came back from the hill. 4. Robert became angry, and with loud and fierce words went toward the spot whence the sounds came. The words all came back to him in the same angry tone. 5. He then went into the thicket, and looked for the boy who, as he thought, was mocking him; but he could find nobody anywhere. 6. When he went home, he told his mothe
84 ECLECTIC SERIES.
that some boy had hid himself in the wood, for the purpose of mocking him. 7. "Robert," said his mother, "you are angry with yourself alone. You heard nothing but your own words." 8. "Why, mother, how can that be?" said Robert. "Did you never hear an echo?" asked his mother. "An echo, dear mother? No, ma'am. What is it?" 9. "I will tell you," said his mother. "You know, when you play with your ball,
THIRD READER. 85 and throw it against the side of a house, it bounds back to you." "Yes, mother," said he, "and I catch it again." 10. "Well," said his mother, "if I were in the open air, by the side of a hill or a large barn, and should speak very loud, my voice would be sent back, so that I could hear again the very words which I spoke. 11. "That, my son, is an echo. When you thought some one was mocking you, it was only the hill before you, echoing, or sending back, your own voice. 12. "The bad boy, as you thought it was, spoke no more angrily than yourself. If you had spoken kindly, you would have heard a kind reply. 13. "Had you spoken in a low, sweet, gentle tone, the voice that came back would have been as low, sweet, and gentle as your own. 14. "The Bible says, 'A soft answer turneth away wrath.' Remember this when you are at play with your school mates. 15. "If any of them should be offended, and speak in a loud, angry tone, remember the echo, and let your words be soft and kind."
86 ECLECTIC SERIES. 16. "When you come home from school, and find your little brother cross and peevish, speak mildly to him. You will soon see a smile on his lips, and find that his tones will become mild and sweet. 17. "Whether you are in the fields or in the woods, at school or at play, at home or abroad, remember, The good and the kind, By kindness their love ever proving, Will dwell with the pure and the loving."
LESSON XXXIV.
GEORGE'S FEAST. 1. George's mother was very poor. Instead of having bright, blazing fires in winter, she had nothing to burn but dry sticks, which George picked up from under the trees and hedges. 2. One fine day in July, she sent George to the woods, which were about two miles from the village in which she lived. He
THIRD READER. 87 was to stay there all day, to get as much wood as he could collect. 3. It was a bright, sunny day, and George worked very hard; so that by the time the
sun was high, he was hot, and wished for a cool place where he might rest and eat his dinner. 4. While he hunted about the bank he saw among the moss some fine, wild strawberries, which were a bright scarlet with ripeness.
88 ECLECTIC SERIES. 5. "How good these will be with my bread and butter!" thought George; and lining his little cap with leaves, he set to work eagerly to gather all he could find, and then seated himself by the brook. 6. It was a pleasant place, and George felt happy and contented. He thought how much his mother would like to see him there, and to be there herself, instead of in her dark, close room in the village. 7. George thought of all this, and just as he was lifting the first strawberry to his mouth, he said to himself, "How much mother would like these;" and he stopped, and put the strawberry back again. 8. "Shall I save them for her?" said he, thinking how much they would refresh her, yet still looking at them with a longing eye. 9. "I will eat half, and take the other half to her," said he at last; and he divided them into two heaps. But each heap looked so small, that he put them together again. 10. "I will only taste one," thought he; but, as he again lifted it to his mouth, he saw that he had taken the finest, and he put it back. "I will keep them all for her,"
THIRD READER. 89 said he, and he covered them up nicely, till he should go home. 11. When the sun was beginning to sink, George set out for home. How happy he felt, then, that he had all his strawberries for his sick mother. The nearer he came to his home, the less he wished to taste them. 12. Just as he had thrown down his wood, he heard his mother's faint voice calling him from the next room. "Is that you, George? I am glad you have come, for I am thirsty, and am longing for some tea." 13. George ran in to her, and joyfully offered his wild strawberries. "And you saved them for your sick mother, did you?" said she, laying her hand fondly on his head, while the tears stood in her eyes. "God will bless you for all this, my child." 14. Could the eating of the strawberries have given George half the happiness he felt at this moment?
90 ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXXV.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.
1. Our Father in heaven,
We hallow thy name;
May thy kingdom holy
On earth be the same;
Oh, give to us daily
Our portion of bread;
It is from thy bounty,
That all must be fed.
2. Forgive our transgressions.
And teach us to know
The humble compassion
That pardons each foe;
Keep us from temptation,
From weakness and sin,
And thine be the glory
Forever! Amen!
THIRD READER. 91 AN EVENING PRAYER.
92 ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON XXXVI.
FINDING THE OWNER. 1. "It's mine," said Fred, showing a white handled pocketknife, with every blade perfect and shining. "Just what I've always
THIRD READER. 93 wanted." And he turned the prize over and over with evident satisfaction. 2. "I guess I know who owns it," said Tom, looking at it with a critical eye.
3. "I guess you do n't," was the quick response. "It is n't Mr. Raymond's," said Fred, shooting wide of the mark. 4. "I know that; Mr. Raymond's is twice as large," observed Tom, going on with his drawing lesson. 5. Do you suppose Fred took any comfort in that knife? Not a bit of comfort did he take. He was conscious all the time of having something in his possession that did
94 ECLECTIC SERIES. not belong to him; and Tom's suspicion interfered sadly with his enjoyment. 6. Finally, it became such a torment to him, that he had serious thoughts of burning it, or burying it, or giving it away; but a better plan suggested itself. 7. "Tom," said he, one day at recess, "did n't you say you thought you knew who owned that knife I found?" 8. "Yes, I did; it looked like Doctor Perry's." And Tom ran off to his play, without giving the knife another thought. 9. Dr. Perry's! Why, Fred would have time to go to the doctor's office before recess closed: so he started in haste, and found the old gentleman getting ready to visit a patient. "Is this yours?" cried Fred, in breathless haste, holding up the cause of a week's anxiety. 10. "It was," said the doctor; "but I lost it the other day." 11. "I found it," said Fred, "and have felt like a thief ever since. Here, take it; I've got to run." 12. "Hold on!" said the doctor. "I've got a new one, and you are quite welcome to this."
THIRD READER. 95 13. "Am I? May I? Oh! thank you!" And with what a different feeling he kept it from that which he had experienced for a week!
LESSON XXXVII.
BATS. 1. Bats are very strange little animals, having hair like mice, and wings like birds. During the day, they live in crevices of rocks, in caves, and in other dark places. 2. At night, they go forth in search of food; and, no doubt, you have seen them flying
96 ECLECTIC SERIES. about, catching such insects as happen to be out rather late at night. 3. The wings of a bat have no quills. They are only thin pieces of skin stretched upon a framework of bones. Besides this, it may be said that while he is a quadruped, he can rise into the air and fly from place to place like a bird. 4. There is a funny fable about the bat, founded upon this double character of beast and bird, which I will tell you. 5. An owl was once prowling about, when he came across a bat. So he caught him in his claws, and was about to devour him. Upon this, the bat began to squeal terribly; and he said to the owl, "Pray, what do you take me for, that you use me thus?" 6. "Why, you are a bird, to be sure," said the owl, "and I am fond of birds. I love dearly to break their little bones." 7. "Well," said the bat, "I thought there was some mistake. I am no bird. Do n't you see, Mr. Owl, that I have no feathers, and that I am covered with hair like a mouse?" 8. "Sure enough," said the owl, in great surprise; "I see it now. Really, I took you
THIRD READER. 97 for a bird, but it appears you are only a kind of mouse. I ate a mouse last night, and it gave me the nightmare. I can't bear mice! Bah! it makes me sick to think of it." So the owl let the bat go.
9. The very next night, the bat encountered another danger. He was snapped up by puss, who took him for a mouse, and immediately prepared to eat him. 10. "I beg you to stop one moment," said the bat. "Pray, Miss Puss, what do you suppose I am?" "A mouse, to be sure!" said the cat. "Not at all," said the bat, spreading his long wings. 11. "Sure enough," said the cat: "you seem to be a bird, though your feathers are 3,7.
98 ECLECTIC SERIES. not very fine. I eat birds sometimes, but I am tired of them just now, having lately devoured four young robins; so you may go. But, bird or mouse, it will be your best policy to keep out of my way hereafter." 12. The meaning of this fable is, that a person playing a double part may sometimes escape danger; but he is always, like the bat, a creature that is disgusting to everybody, and shunned by all. S. G. Goodrich—Adapted.
LESSON XXXVIII.
A SUMMER DAY.
1. This is the way the morning dawns:
Rosy tints on flowers and trees,
Winds that wake the birds and bees,
Dewdrops on the fields and lawns—
This is the way the morning dawns.
2. This is the way the sun comes up: Gold on brook and glossy leaves,
THIRD READER. 99
Mist that melts above the sheaves,
Vine, and rose, and buttercup—
This is the way the sun comes up.
0
3. This is the way the river flows:
Here a whirl, and there a dance;
Slowly now, then, like a lance,
Swiftly to the sea it goes—
This is the way the river flows.
100 ECLECTIC SERIES.
4. This is the way the rain comes down:
Tinkle, tinkle, drop by drop,
Over roof and chimney top;
Boughs that bend, and skies that frown—
This is the way the rain comes down.
5. This is the way the birdie sings:
"Baby birdies in the nest,
You I surely love the best;
Over you I fold my wings"—
This is the way the birdie sings.
6. This is the way the daylight dies:
Cows are lowing in the lane,
Fireflies wink on hill and plain;
Yellow, red, and purple skies—
This is the way the daylight dies.
George Cooper.
THIRD READER. 101
LESSON XXXIX.
I WILL THINK OF IT. 1. "I will think of it." It is easy to say this; but do you know what great things have come from thinking? 2. We can not see our thoughts, or hear, or taste, or feel them; and yet what mighty power they have! 3. Sir Isaac Newton was seated in his garden on a summer's evening, when he saw an apple fall from a tree. He began to think, and, in trying to find out why the apple fell, discovered how the earth, sun, moon, and stars are kept in their places. 4. A boy named James Watt sat quietly by the fireside, watching the lid of the tea kettle as it moved up and down. He began to think; he wanted to find out why the steam in the kettle moved the heavy lid.
102 ECLECTIC SERIES.
5. From that time he went on thinking and thinking; and when he became a man, he improved the steam engine so much that it could, with the greatest ease, do the work of many horses. 6. When you see a steamboat, a steam mill, or a locomotive, remember that it would never have been built if it had not been for the hard thinking of some one. 7. A man named Galileo was once standing in the cathedral of Pisa, when he saw a chandelier swaying to and fro.
THIRD READER. 103 8. This set him thinking, and it led to the invention of the pendulum. 9. James Ferguson was a poor Scotch shepherd boy. Once, seeing the inside of a watch, he was filled with wonder. "Why should I not make a watch?" thought he. 10. But how was he to get the materials out of which to make the wheels and the mainspring? He soon found how to get them: he made the mainspring out of a piece of whalebone. He then made a wooden clock which kept good time. 11. He began, also, to copy pictures with a pen, and portraits with oil colors. In a few years, while still a small boy, he earned money enough to support his father. 12. When he became a man, he went to London to live. Some of the wisest men in England, and the king himself, used to attend his lectures. His motto was, "I will think of it;" and he made his thoughts useful to himself and the world. 13. Boys, when you have a difficult lesson to learn, do n't feel discouraged, and ask some one to help you before helping yourselves. Think, and by thinking you will learn how to think to some purpose.
104 ECLECTIC SERIES. LESSON XL. CHARLIE AND ROB. 1. "Do n't you hate splitting wood?" asked Charlie, as he sat down on a log to hinder Rob for a while. 2. "No, I rather like it. When I get hold of a tough old fellow, I say, 'See here, now, you think you're the stronger, and are going to beat me; so I'll split you up into kindling wood." 3. "Pshaw!" said Charlie, laughing; "and it's only a stick of wood." 4. "Yes; but you see I pretend it's a lesson, or a tough job of any kind, and it's nice to conquer it." 5. "I do n't want to conquer such things; I do n't care what becomes of them. I wish I were a man, and a rich one." 6. "Well, Charlie, if you live long enough you'll be a man, without wishing for it; and as for the rich part, I mean to be that myself." 7. "You do. How do you expect to get your money? By sawing wood?" 8. "May be—some of it; that's as good a
THIRD READER. 105
way as any, so long as it lasts. I do n't care how I get rich, you know, so that it's in an honest and useful way." 9. "I'd like to sleep over the next ten years, and wake up to find myself a young man with a splendid education and plenty of money."
106 ECLECTIC SERIES. 10. "Humph! I am not sleepy—a night at a time is enough for me. I mean to work the next ten years. You see there are things that you've got to work out—you can't sleep them out." 11. "I hate work," said Charlie, "that is, such work as sawing and splitting wood, and doing chores. I'd like to do some big work, like being a clerk in a bank or something of that sort." 12. "Wood has to be sawed and split before it can be burned," said Rob. "I do n't know but I'll be a clerk in a bank some time; I'm working towards it. I'm keeping father's accounts for him." 13. How Charlie laughed! "I should think that was a long way from being a bank clerk. I suppose your father sells two tables and six chairs, some days, does n't he?" 14. "Sometimes more than that, and sometimes not so much," said Rob, in perfect good humor. 15. "I did n't say I was a bank clerk now. I said I was working towards it. Am I not nearer it by keeping a little bit of a book than I should be if I did n't keep any book at all?"
THIRD READER. 107 16. "Not a whit—such things happen," said Charlie, as he started to go. 17. Now, which of these boys, do you think, grew up to be a rich and useful man, and which of them joined a party of tramps before he was thirty years old?
LESSON XLI.
RAY AND HIS KITE. 1. Ray was thought to be an odd boy. You will think him so, too, when you have read this story. 2. Ray liked well enough to play with the boys at school; yet he liked better to be alone under the shade of some tree, reading a fairy tale or dreaming daydreams. But there was one sport that he liked as well as his companions; that was kiteflying. 3. One day when he was flying his kite, he said to himself, "I wonder if anybody ever tried to fly a kite at night. It seems
108 ECLECTIC SERIES. to me it would be nice. But then, if it were very dark, the kite could not be seen. What if I should fasten a light to it, though? That would make it show. I'll try it this very night." 4. As soon as it was dark, without saying a word to anybody, he took his kite and lantern, and went to a large, open lot, about a quarter of a mile from his home. "Well," thought he, "this is queer. How lonely and still it seems without any other boys around! But I am going to fly my kite, anyway." 5. So he tied the lantern, which was made of tin punched full of small holes, to the tail of his kite. Then he pitched the kite, and,
THIRD READER. 109 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
110 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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.
THIRD READER. 111
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.
112 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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,
THIRD READER. 113 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."
114 ECLECTIC SERIES.
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.
THIRD READER. 115
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.