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.
THIRD READER. 145 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.
146 Eclectic Series. 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;"
Third Reader. 147
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.
5. "I love you, mother," again they said—
Three little children going to bed;
How do you think that mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?
Joy Allison.
Lesson LVIII.
JOHN CARPENTER. 1. John Carpenter did not like to buy toys that somebody else had made. He liked the fun of making them himself. The thought that they were his own work delighted him. 2. Tom Austin, one of his playmates, thought a toy was worth nothing unless it cost a great deal of money. He never tried to make anything, but bought all his toys.
148 ECLECTIC SERIES. 3. "Come and look at my horse," said he, one day. "It cost a dollar, and it is such a beauty! Come and see it." 4. John was soon admiring his friend's
horse; and he was examining it carefully, to see how it was made. The same evening he began to make one for himself. 5. He went into the wood shed, and picked
THIRD READER. 149 out two pieces of wood—one for the head of his horse, the other for the body. It took him two or three days to shape them to his satisfaction. 6. His father gave him a bit of red leather for a bridle, and a few brass nails, and his mother found a bit of old fur with which he made a mane and tail for his horse. 7. But what about the wheels? This puzzled him. At last he thought he would go to a turner's shop, and see if he could not get some round pieces of wood which might suit his purpose. 8. He found a large number of such pieces among the shavings on the floor, and asked permission to take a few of them. The turner asked him what he wanted them for, and he told him about his horse. 9. "Oh," said the man, laughing, "if you wish it, I will make some wheels for your horse. But mind, when it is finished, you must let me see it." 10. John promised to do so, and he soon ran home with the wheels in his pocket. The next evening, he went to the turner's shop with his horse all complete, and was told that he was an ingenious little fellow
150 ECLECTIC SERIES. 11. Proud of this compliment, he ran to his friend Tom, crying, "Now then, Tom, here is my horse,—look!" 12. "Well, that is a funny horse," said Tom; "where did you buy it?" "I did n't buy it," replied John; I made it." 13. "You made it yourself! Oh, well, it's a good horse for you to make. But it is not so good as mine. Mine cost a dollar, and yours did n't cost anything." 14. "It was real fun to make it, though," said John, and away he ran with his horse rolling after him. 15. Do you want to know what became of John? Well, I will tell you. He studied hard in school, and was called the best scholar in his class. When he left school, he went to work in a machine shop. He is now a master workman, and will soon have a shop of his own.
Third Reader. 151
Lesson LIX.
Persevere.
1. The fisher who draws in his net too soon,
Won't have any fish to sell;
The child who shuts up his book too soon,
Won't learn any lessons well.
2. If you would have your learning stay,
Be patient,—do n't learn too fast:
The man who travels a mile each day,
May get round the world at last.
Lesson LX.
THE CONTENTED BOY. Mr. Lenox was one morning riding by himself. He got off from his horse to look at something on the roadside. The horse broke away from him, and ran off. Mr. Lenox ran after him, but soon found that he could not catch him. A little boy at work in a field near the road, heard the horse. As soon as he saw him running from his master, the boy ran
152 Eclectic Series.
very quickly to the middle of the road, and, catching the
horse by thc bridle, stopped him till Mr. Lenox came up.
Mr. Lenox. Thank you, my good boy, you have caught my
horse very nicely. What shall I give you for your trouble?
Boy. I want nothing, sir.
Mr. L. You want nothing? So much the better for you.
Few men can say as much. But what were you doing in the
field?
B. I was rooting up weeds, and tending the sheep that
were feeding on turnips.
Mr. L. Do you like to work?
B. Yes, sir, very well, this fine weather.
Mr. L. But would you not rather play?
B. This is not hard work. It is almost as good as play.
Mr. L. Who set you to work?
B. My father, sir.
Mr. L. What is your name?
B. Peter Hurdle, sir.
Mr. L. How old are you?
B. Eight years old, next June.
Mr. L. How long have you been here?
B. Ever since six o'clock this morning.
Mr. L. Are you not hungry?
B. Yes, sir, but I shall go to dinner soon.
Third Reader. 153
Mr. L. If you had a dime now, what would you do with it?
B. I do n't know, sir. I never had so much.
Mr. L. Have you no playthings?
154 ECLECTIC SERIES.
B. Playthings? What are they?
Mr. L. Such things as ninepins, marbles, tops, and wooden
horses.
B. No, sir. Tom and I play at football in winter, and I have
a jumping rope. I had a hoop, but it is broken.
Mr. L. Do you want nothing else?
B. I have hardly time to play with what I have. I have to
drive the cows, and to run on errands, and to ride the horses
to the fields, and that is as good as play.
Mr. L. You could get apples and cakes, if you had money,
you know.
B. I can have apples at home. As for cake, I do not want
that. My mother makes me a pie now and then, which is as
good.
Mr. L. Would you not like a knife to cut sticks?
B. I have one. Here it is. Brother Tom gave it to me.
Mr. L. Your shoes are full of holes. Do n't you want a new
pair?
B. I have a better pair for Sundays.
Mr. L. But these let in water.
B. I do not mind that, sir.
Mr. L. Your hat is all torn, too.
B. I have a better one at home.
THIRD READER. 155
Mr. L. What do yon do when it rains?
B. If it rains very hard when I am in the field, I get under a
tree for shelter.
Mr. L. What do you do, if you are hungry before it is time
to go home?
B. I sometimes eat a raw turnip.
Mr. L. But if there is none?
B. Then I do as well as I can without. I work on, and never
think of it.
Mr. L. Why, my little fellow, I am glad to see that you are
so contented. Were you ever at school?
B. No, sir. But father means to send me next winter.
Mr. L. You will want books then.
B. Yes, sir; each boy has a Spelling Book, a Reader, and a
Testament.
Mr. L. Then I will give them to you. Tell your father so,
and that it is because you are an obliging, contented little
boy.
B. I will, sir. Thank you.
Mr. L. Good by, Peter.
B. Good morning, sir.
Dr. John Aiken
156 Eclectic Series.
Lesson LXI.
Little Gustava.
1. Little Gustava sits in the sun,
Safe in the porch, and the little drops run
From the icicles under the eaves so fast,
For the bright spring sun shines warm at last,
And glad is little Gustava.
2. She wears a quaint little scarlet cap,
And a little green bowl she holds in her lap,
Filled with bread and milk to the brim,
And a wreath of marigolds round the rim:
"Ha! ha!" laughs little Gustava.
3. Up comes her little gray, coaxing cat,
With her little pink nose, and she mews, "What's that?"
Gustava feeds her,—she begs for more,
And a little brown hen walks in at the door:
"Good day!" cries little Gustava.
4. She scatters crumbs for the little brown hen,
There comes a rush and a flutter, and then
Down fly her little white doves so sweet,
With their snowy wings and their crimson feet:
"Welcome!" cries little Gustava.
5. So dainty and eager they pick up the crumbs. But who is this through the doorway comes?
Third Reader. 157
Little Scotch terrier, little dog Rags,
Looks in her face, and his funny tail wags:
"Ha! ha!" laughs little Gustava.
6. "You want some breakfast, too?" and down
She sets her bowl on the brick floor brown,
And little dog Rags drinks up her milk,
While she strokes his shaggy locks, like silk:
"Dear Rags!" says little Gustava.
7. Waiting without stood sparrow and crow, Cooling their feet in the melting snow.
158 Eclectic Series.
"Won't you come in, good folk?" she cried,
But they were too bashful, and staid outside,
Though "Pray come in!" cried Gustava.
8. So the last she threw them, and knelt on the mat,
With doves, and biddy, and dog, and cat.
And her mother came to the open house door:
"Dear little daughter, I bring you some more,
My merry little Gustava."
9. Kitty and terrier, biddy and doves,
All things harmless Gustava loves,
The shy, kind creatures 't is joy to feed,
And, oh! her breakfast is sweet indeed
To happy little Gustava!
Celia Thaxter.