7. "See," says the clinging Ivy, "though but weak, Seek thou the help of God, so freely given, That thou, although so weak, may climb to heaven.” 1 8. Thus the fair flowers that in the garden grow XXVIII. THE MERCIFUL SHALL HAVE MERCY. 1. On a cold winter day William and Henry were walking in the country, when they found a strange man lying in the snow. He seemed to be fast asleep. William had compassion on him, and was fearful that he would perish, lying there in the road, exposed to the bleak winds; and so William went and tried to waken him. 2. But, though he shook him several times, the man seemed still overcome with stupor." 64 "You may shake him as much as you will," said Henry, laughing, "but it will do no good; do you not see the fellow is tipsy? Come, let him alone; it is no concern of ours. My hands are numb with the cold. Let us be moving." 3. "But the poor man will freeze to death," said William."Well," replied Henry, "he had no business to get drunk. It will serve him right." "Ah! do we not all sin, at times? Do we not all need mercy? This poor creature is intoxicated, but is that a reason why we should leave him to die?" 4. "O, come, now! if you are going to preach, I'm off," said Henry. "I'll not stand here freezing any longer.""Go, if you will," replied William, "but I know very well what my duty is. I will do all I can to save the life of this poor fellow, degraded and abandoned as he is." 5. Henry passed on in a pet, and William remained. He had heard that snow is sometimes a protection from the wind, and a means of preserving life in such situations. He first covered the man with snow. He then ran to the nearest village to procure a sleigh. Fortunately he met a kind-hearted farmer, to whom he told his story. 31 6. The farmer took William into his sleigh, and drove him to the spot where the half-perished stranger was lying. They helped him into the sleigh, took him to the nearest house, and rubbed him with coarse towels till he was restored to life and to his senses. He 7. The drunken man was much astonished and agitated when he learned how near he had come to perishing. resolved that he would never again taste of any intoxicating liquor. He kept his resolution. He reformed, and grew to be respected and trusted. 64 8. He often visited the village where William and the farmer lived; and, to express his gratitude, he would generally bring them some little present. Now, which boy acted well under the circumstances I have described? How would you have acted? 1. IN the month of September, in the year 1838, the For farshire, a steam-vessel, proceeding from Hull, in England, to Dundee, in Scotland, encountered some rough weather off the coast of Northumberland. The vessel not being strong, and the machinery of the steam-engine being defective, she was wrecked on the rocks. Many of the crew and passengers were washed off the deck, and drowned. In a situation of such great peril, no one expected to escape. 2. Early in the morning, the family who dwelt in the North Sunderland light-house, on looking abroad, beheld the vessel upon the rocks, with a powerful sea beating upon her, and which threatened her with complete destruction. Darling, the keeper of the light-house, would fain have gone in his boat to rescue a few of the distressed passengers, but he despaired of carrying his little bark through such a heavy sea. 3. He was at length encouraged to make the attempt by his daughter Grace, a girl of twenty-two years of age, who offered to accompany him, and work one of the oars. They went; they reached the vessel; nine persons trusted their lives to the boat; and, notwithstanding the raging of the sea, the whole party arrived safely at the light-house, where every necessary kindness was shown to the individuals who had been rescued. 4. As no other persons were saved from the wreck, it may be concluded that these would have perished had it not been for the heroism of Grace Darling, who was willing to risk her own life rather than allow so many fellowcreatures to sink before her eyes, without an effort being made in their behalf. 5. The generous conduct of this young woman attracted much attention. Her praises were, for a time, in every mouth. Artists flocked to her lonely dwelling to take her portrait, and depict the scene in which she had been engaged. A sum exceeding three thousand dollars, collected by subscription, was presented to her; and some of the most eminent persons in the land wrote letters to her, containing warm expressions of regard. 6. It is probable that her name and her heroic act will not soon be forgotten; for less admirable actions, which took place several thousand years ago, are still remembered. Yet this excellent girl, as modest as she was brave, was heard to remark that she never would have supposed she had done anything extraordinary, if her conduct had not been so much spoken of by others. EI “WILL you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly; "Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy; The way into the parlor is up a winding stair, And I have many a curious thing to show when you are there!" “O, no, no! "said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.' "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high ; Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly; "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin, And if you like to rest a while, I 'll snugly tuck you in.” "O, no, no!" said the little fly; " for I've often heard it said, Said the cunning spider to the fly, "Dear friend, what can I do I have, within my pantry, good store of all that 's nice; I'm sure you 're very welcome, — will you please to take a slice?" "O, no, no!" said the little fly; "kind sir, that cannot be; I've heard what 's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see." "Sweet creature," said the spider, "you 're witty and you 're wise; How handsome are your gaudy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf: If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." The spider turned him round about, and went into his den, And set his table ready to dine upon the fly. Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, Alas! alas! how very soon this silly little fly, He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye, XXXI. THE YOUTH OF WASHINGTON. 48 1. GEORGE WASHINGTON was born in Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732. His father was a wealthy planter; but he died in 1743, and George, then eleven years old, was left to the care of his mother, who was a good and wise woman. 2. She was often asked, in the latter part of her life, what course she had pursued in training up her illustrious son; and her reply was, "I only required obedience, diligence, and truth." 3. On these principles the greatness of Washington was founded. He was obedient: obedient to his mother; obedient to his teachers; obedient to his own sense of duty, and to God's law. 4. He was diligent. What he did; he did patiently, accurately, and thoroughly. He studied neatness and precision. Several quires of his school manuscripts remain, which show how careful he was in his early habits at school; how attentive to little things, as well as to great. 5. He was true. He had a noble scorn of falsehood, and a brave readiness in speaking the truth on all occasions. Among some maxims copied out by him at the age of thirteen, and found after his death among his papers, was this: "Labor to keep alive in your heart that spark of heavenly fire called Conscience." He 6. And this fire he kept undimmed through life. was one of those men of whom it is said, "Their word is as good as their bond." He made no promise which he was not prepared to keep. He was accurate and just in his dealings, and punctual as the sun in all his appointments. 7. The teaching, then, of Washington's example, is this |