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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.
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.
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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."
140 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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
THIRD READER. 141 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."
142 ECLECTIC SERIES. 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.