She took a few almonds from her pocket and went gently along towards the mouse and put it close by its side. The mouse began to nibble, and soon finished it. Agnes then put down two or three more, and left the mouse to eat its Christmas dinner. I think you would have enjoyed seeing the mouse eating the almonds. I hope you will always be kind to poor dumb animals. I have seen children who were cruel to dumb animals. This is very wrong, and such children will never be respected, nor can they expect to be befriended.
THE TWO ROBINS.
A few summers ago I was sitting on a garden seat, beneath a fruit tree, where the works of nature look very beautiful. Very soon I heard a strange noise among the highest branches of the tree over my head. The sound was very curious, and I began to look for the cause. I shook one of the lower branches within my reach, and very soon I discovered two birds engaged in fighting; and they seemed to gradually descend towards the ground. They came down lower and lower, tumbling over one another, and fighting with each other. They soon reached the lowest branch, and at last came to the ground very near me. It was with some difficulty that I parted them; and when I held one of them in each of my hands, they tried to get away, not because they were afraid of me but because they would resume the conflict. They were two young robins, and I never before thought that the robin had such a bad spirit in its breast. Lest they should get to fighting again, I let one go, and kept the other housed up for several days, so that they would not have much chance of coming together again.
Now, children, these two little robins woke in the morning very cheerful, and appeared very happy as they sat on the branch of the tree, singing their morning songs. But how soon they changed their notes. You would have been sorry to have seen the birds trying to hurt each other.
If children quarrel, or in any degree show an unkind temper, they appear very unlovely, and forget that G.o.d, who made them, and gives them many blessings, disapproves of their conduct. Never quarrel, but remember how pleasant it is for children to love each other, and to try to do each other good.
Every hour is worth at least a good thought, a good wish, a good endeavor.--_Clarendon_.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
THE PLEASANT SAIL.
Down by the sea-coast is the pleasant town of Saco, where Mr. Aimes has resided for many years. Once a year he had all his little nephews and nieces visit him. It was their holiday, and they would think and talk about the visit for a long time previous to going there. Their uncle took much pleasure in making them happy as possible while they were with him. He owned a pleasure sail boat which he always kept in good order.
On this occasion he had it all clean and prepared for the young friends, as he knew they lotted much on having a sail. As his boat was small, he took part of them at a time and went out with them himself, a short distance, and sailed around the island, and returned. In the picture you see them just going out, with their uncle at the helm, while three of the nephews are on the beach enjoying the scene.
But I must tell you children to be very careful when you go on the water to sail. There are some things which it is necessary for you to know, as a great many accidents occur on the water for the want of right management. When you go to sail, be sure and have persons with you who understand all about a boat, and how to manage in the time of a squall.
Always keep your seats in the boat, and not be running about in it.
Never get to rocking a boat in the water. A great many people have lost their lives by so doing. Sailing on the water may be very pleasant and agreeable to you if you go with those who understand all about the harbor, and are skilled in guiding the boat on the dangerous sea.
THE SAILOR BOY.
Yarmouth is the princ.i.p.al trade seaport town in the county of Norfolk.
Fishermen reside in the towns and villages around, and among the number was a poor man and his wife; they had an only son, and when ten years old his father died. The poor widow, in the death of her husband, lost the means of support. After some time she said to her boy, "Johnny, I do not see how I shall support you." "Then, mother, I will go to sea," he replied. His mother was loth to part with Johnny, for he was a good son and was very kind to her. But she at last consented on his going to sea.
John began to make preparations. One day he went down to the beach hoping to find a chance among some of the captains to sail. He went to the owner of one and asked if he wanted a boy. "No," he abruptly replied, "I have boys enough." He tried a second but without success.
John now began to weep. After some time he saw on the quay the captain of a trading vessel to St. Petersburg, and John asked him if "a boy was wanted." "Oh, yes," said the captain, "but I never take a boy or a man without a character." John had a Testament among his things, which he took out and said to the captain, "I suppose this won"t do." The captain took it, and on opening the first page, saw written, "_John Read, given as a reward for his good behavior and diligence in learning, at the Sabbath School_." The captain said, "Yes, my boy, this will do; I would rather have this recommendation than any other," adding, "you may go on board directly." John"s heart leaped for joy, as, with his bundle under his arm, he jumped on board the vessel.
The vessel was soon under weigh, and for some time the sky was bright, and the wind was fair. When they reached the Baltic Sea a storm came on, the wind raged furiously, all hands were employed to save the vessel.
But the storm increased, and the captain thought all would be lost.
While things were in this state the little sailor boy was missing. One of the crew told the captain he was down in the cabin. When sent for he came up with his Testament in his hand and asked the captain if he might read. His request was granted. He then knelt down and read the sixtieth and sixty-first Psalms. While he was reading the wind began to abate, (the storms in the Baltic abate as suddenly as they come on.) The captain was much moved, and said he believed the boy"s reading was heard in Heaven.
THE BRACELET;
OR, HONESTY REWARDED.
At St. Petersburg, the birth day of any of the royal family is observed as a time of great festivity, by all kinds of diversions. When the vessel in which John Read shipped arrived, he was allowed to go on sh.o.r.e to see the sport on that occasion. In one of the sleighs was a lady, who at the moment of pa.s.sing him lost a bracelet from her arm, which fell on the snow. John hastened forward to pick it up, at the same time calling after the lady, who was beyond the sound of his voice. He then put the bracelet into his pocket, and when he had seen enough of the sport, went back to the ship.
John told the captain all about it, showing him the prize which he had found.
"Well, Jack," said the captain, "you are fortunate enough--these are all diamonds of great value--when we get to the next port I will sell it for you." "But," said John, "It"s not mine, it belongs to the lady, and I cannot sell it." The captain replied "O, you cannot find the lady, and you picked it up. It is your own." But John persisted it was not his.
"Nonsense, my boy," said the captain, "it belongs to you." John then replied--"But if we have another storm in the Baltic," (see story preceding.) "Ah me," said the Captain, "I forgot all about that, Jack. I will go on sh.o.r.e with you to-morrow and try to find the owner." They did so; and after much trouble, found it belonged to a n.o.bleman"s, lady, and as a reward for the boy"s honesty, she gave him eighty pounds English money. John"s next difficulty was what to do with it. The captain advised him to lay it out in hides, which would be valuable in England.
He did so, and on arriving at Hull, they brought one hundred and fifty pounds.
John had not forgotten his mother. The captain gave him leave of absence for a time, and taking a portion of his money with him, he started for his native village. When he arrived there, he made his way to her house with a beating heart. Each object told him it was home, and brought bygone days to his mind. On coming to the house he saw it was closed. He thought she might be dead; and as he slowly opened the gate and walked up the path and looked about, his heart was ready to break. A neighbor seeing him, said, "Ah, John, is that you?" and quickly told him that his mother still lived--but as she had no means of support, she had gone to the poor house. John went to the place, found his mother, and soon made her comfortable in her own cottage. The sailor boy afterwards became mate of the same vessel in which he first left the quay at Yarmouth.
NO PAY--NO WORK.
"Little boy, will you help a poor old man up the hill with this load?"
said an old man, who was drawing a hand cart with a bag of corn for the mill.
"I can"t," said the boy, "I am in a hurry to be at school."
As the old man sat on the stone, resting himself, he thought of his youthful days, and of his friends now in the grave; the tears began to fall, when John Wilson came along, and said,--"Shall I help you up the hill with your load, sir?" The old man brushed his eyes with his coat sleeve, and replied, "I should be glad to have you." He arose and took the tongue of his cart, while John pushed behind. When they ascended the top of the hill, the old man thanked the lad for his kindness. In consequence of this John was ten minutes too late at school. It was unusual for him to be late, as he was known to be punctual and prompt; but as he said nothing to the teacher about the cause of his being late, he was marked for not being in season.
After school, Hanson, the first boy, said to John, "I suppose you stopped to help old Stevenson up the hill with his corn."
"Yes," replied John, "the old man was tired and I thought I would give him a lift."
"Well, did you get your pay for it?" said Hanson, "for I don"t work for nothing."
"Nor do I," said John; "I didn"t help him, expecting pay."
"Well, why did you do it? You knew you would be late to school."
"Because I thought I _ought_ to help the poor old man," said John.
"Well," replied Hanson, "if you will work for nothing, you may. _No pay, no work_, is my motto."
"To _be kind and obliging_, is mine," said John.
Here, children, is a good example. John did not perform this act of kindness for nothing. He had the approbation of a good conscience--the pleasure of doing good to the old man--and the respect and grat.i.tude of his friends. Even the small act of benevolence is like giving a cup of cold water to the needy, which will not pa.s.s unnoticed. Does any body work for nothing when he does good? Think of this, and do likewise.