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LESSON IV.

KINDNESS.

JOHN is a boy who is very kind to every one. When he has an apple to eat, he gives his little friends part of it, and does not keep all to himself. When he is at play, he lends his hoop, or his ball, or his sled, to the other boys, and likes to see them play with his things.

When he sees little boys or girls fall, he helps them up, and picks up their books for them, when they have dropped them. He does not push, to get in or go out, first. He does not run, to get the best place. He likes to see other children happy; and he does all he can to make them so. We all love John.

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I know another boy; but I need not tell you his name. This boy never gives away anything he keeps all to himself: he never lends any of his playthings: he does not try to help any one whom he sees in trouble. He pushes . aside everybody, to get in or out, or to get to the fire: he never takes pleasure in giving up a good place to any one else. He seems to think that this great world was made all for him.

He will learn to behave differently, we hope,

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grows

older and wiser.

as he His teacher took him, once, to the pig-pen, and showed him how the pigs shouldered off each other from the food in the trough; each one trying to get into it, and keep off the others; all crowding, and pushing, and biting each other. The boy's teacher told him this was a picture of All-forself; and the boy, knowing what he meant, hung down his head, and slunk away, very much ashamed.

LESSON V.

A STORM.

JAMES and his father were returning home, after having rested under the great elm, by the roadside; and they were walking rather fast, as there were signs of a storm, and they wished to reach home before it came on.

"How dark it grows!" said James. "That great black cloud | is spreading over all the sky. I hear a deep sound, far off. It is thunder. It rolls, like a great drum.

"Here comes a sweeping wind, rushing. along, making a cloud of dust, and whirling the leaves and twigs away with it. How the wind roars!

"Now the thunder sounds louder and louder. There goes a flash of lightning! How bright it is! Now the thunder roars again. How grànd its sound is! Father, what is thunder? What makes it sound so ?"

"I do not think you can understand, fully, what it is," said his father.

"When you are

will give you

older, and can understand, it great pleasure to know about it. But you will think of it best, now, as the noise which the lightning makes, as it darts from one cloud to another."

James and his father soon reached home; and they were just in season; for, very soon, there came on a rushing hail-shower. James heard the hail rattle on the glass; and he ran to the window to look out.

James's mother and sisters happened to be, at that moment, coming in, from the garden; and the family were all very glad to meet each other, safe at home.

After a few minutes had passed, James ran out into the porch, and brought in several large hail-stones in his hand. "Mother," he cried,holding out his hand,-"see how large these are! What is hail? It looks just like ice."

"Hail," said his mother, "is frozen raindrops. When many drops are frozen together,

the hail-stones are very large. Sometimes, they are so large, and fall so thick, as to break off boughs from the trees, and to break the window-panes, and the glass of the greenhouses in which plants are kept. But GOD governs the storms which visit us, and seldom permits them to do the harm, which,-but for His gracious care,-they might always do."

After some time, James went again to the window, and saw the storm, ere long, pass away. All became calm and still. The clouds broke and scattered, and floated off in the sky. At length, the sun came forth, once more, shedding brightness and joy over the world.

James raised the window, calling cheerfully to his sisters, "How cool and fresh the air is! I like to breathe it. Sisters, when the ground gets dry, we shall have a good playtime."

"You remember, James," said his mother, "how sultry and oppressive the air was, before the storm. If it were lòng so, we should sicken and die. But our Father in heaven, the Bible says, 'knoweth our frame, and remembereth that we are dust.' He kindly cares for us, and sends these cooling and refreshing changes in the air which we breathe; and thus we enjoy health and strength."

LESSON VI.

LOVE YOUR TEACHER.

A LITTLE girl was going to school, one bright summer morning; and, as she passed through the yard, she turned, and said to her mother, "Mother, may I pick some of these roses, to take to my teacher ?"

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"Oh! yes, dear," said her mother. to have you think of your teacher. I am glad you love her so much. Your teacher takes great pains to teach you. I hope you will always love her, and do what she wishes.

"If our teachers do not take pains to teach us, when we are little children, we shall not know much when we are grown up."

"I love my teacher," said the little girl; "she is very kind to us. She tells us many pleasant things about our lessons, and always tries to make us happy, and to make us kind to each other.

"Some of the children bring her flowers, every morning; and she puts them into a cup, on her desk. They look beautiful, and smell so sweet, all day! We all love to see them.

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"Last May-day, she took us out into the woods; and we gathered some beautiful columbines, and rambled about, all day. She showed

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