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How bright they are! Here is one very dark, almost black; here is one quite white; and here is a red one. There, I see a bright yellow one. Jane will like these as well as the flowers; and they will last longer, too.-Mother, what makes these pebbles so very smooth?"

James's mother replied, "When the rain swells the brook, it rushes down with such force, that it carries along all the little pebbles in its way, and rolls them among the sand, till they become quite smooth; and when they are wet, they shine like glass.

"Now come to the edge of this pool, and look down into it; and you will see something that will please you very much."

"Oh!" exclaimed all the children, "how many little fishes! Now they are all gone. How swiftly they darted away!"

"Why should they feel afraid, mother?" asked one of the sisters.

"They have nothing," answered her mother, "with which to defend themselves, if any creature should wish to hurt them. GOD, who made all living things, has made those that are weak very timid, so that they may keep out of the way of harm.

"Those which are strong, are brave, and are not easily frightened. Some are bòld, and fight

with those that would hurt them. Such creatures have teeth, or other weapons, to fight with. But the weak and fearful are swift, to dart away, and escape from danger; and often save their lives, in that way. Were they not so timid and so swift, they would be caught, and destroyed, by larger and fiercer animals.”

LESSON XI.

THE POOR TRAVELLER.

JAMES was sitting, one evening, looking out at the window, and he saw a man walking along the road, very slowly, with a bundle slung over his shoulder, on the end of a stick. He seemed lame and sick.

"Father," said James, "may I ask that poor man to come into the house and rest, and take a bowl of bread and milk? He seems quite tired, and very feeble."

James's father willingly gave him leave to do as he wished; and, after some time, James came into the parlour, saying that the man was very thankful for the bread and milk. The man wished, James said, to stay and lodge in the barn, as he was so much fatigued, that he did not feel able to walk farther.

James's father went to the room where the poor man was, and asked him some questions, and talked with him awhile; and, when he returned to the parlour, he said to James, "You may tell the man, that he may sleep on the bed in the little room over the woodhouse; and that if he feels strong enough, to-morrow, to do some light work, I shall be glad to employ him, for a day or two, and pay him money for his labour, so as to help him on his journey."

James came back, with a glad face, saying that the man wished very much to find work to do, such as his strength would allow; for he wanted very much to get home, and see his children, again.

"His home," continued James, "is a great way off; and he needs more money than he has now, to pay his way home."

"Yes," replied James's father; "he was working at a great distance from home, he says, when he was taken sick, and lay ill, for a long time, and is not able to do much work yet. But he hopes to get home soon, and be able to work again, all day. His family, he fears, may be suffering, from the want of his aid. Should you like to send something, by him, to his children ?"

"Yes," said James; "he may have my shoes

that are too small for me, if they will do for one of his children; and he may have one of my story-books, for them to read; and he may have that piece of money you gave me last, and buy what he thinks best for them."

LESSON XII.

BE PATIENT.

HENRY walked out, one day, with his little brother, and they had a very pleasant time. The sun shone brightly, and the fields were all gay with wild flowers; and the little boy. smiled and talked, and laughed,* all the way.

They went on thus, very well, for a while. But, by and by, Henry wanted to turn, and go home; for it was near school time. So he told his little brother they must go home, now. But the little boy wanted to go on, and would not turn back; and, when Henry tried to make him turn, he pulled the other way, and cried out, "No, no!"

Henry had not much patience; and his little brother's pulling back, and crying out so, vexed him. At last, Henry got quite angry, and

* See note, p. 58.

seized his little brother very rudely by the arm, and dragged him along so fast, that the poor little boy fell down upon a large stone, and bruised his face so badly, that it bled.

Then Henry felt very sorry, to see what he had done; and took up his little brother in his arms, and carried him all the way home.

Now Henry was a boy who always told the truth. So, when he got home, he told all, just as it was; and said he was very sorry, and would try to be patient, next time.

Henry's mother washed the little boy's face, and put cream on it, which cooled and soothed

it ; and he soon began to feel better. Then she told Henry that she felt very much grieved, to think he had been unkind and impatient; and hoped that he would never forget what had happened that day.

LESSON XIII.

THE BENIGHTED CHILD.

A CHILD, having lost his way, laid himself down to sleep in a cave; for he was very tired. But he could not sleep, for his couch of moss was quite another thing than his little bed; and the cave was all strange to him. He turned

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