God, the Lord, has counted all; There are sporting in the sun'?1 God has counted every one. 3. Knowest thou how many children Wake up with the morning light?1 Knows thee too', and loves thee well. [LESSON XII. illustrates God's omniscience, or knowledge of all things. We are told in the Bible that even "the hairs of our heads" are all numbered by him; and that "a sparrow can not fall to the ground without his notice."] LESSON XIII. A BARGAIN IS A BARGAIN. 1. "A bargain is a bargain," said John Smith, who had just bought a knife of Willie Reed, and given him a kite for it. But Willie soon found that the kite was broken', and wished to trade back again. "I shall not do it," said John. "You did not ask me if the kite was broken'; and do you think I would be so foolish as to tell you of it'?' No!" A bargain is a bargain." 2. Yes, so it was a bargain', but a very unfaira one. John deceived Willie'; and if he did not tell a falsehood', he acted one. Don't you think the knife he got in that way will be apt to cut his fingers'?1 3. As George Davis and Charley Brown were on their way to school one day, Charley took out of his basket a nice large cake which his mother had given him for his dinner. George offered him a large red apple for it. "Is it a good apple'?”1 asked Charley. "Do you think I would take a poor apple to school for my dinner?" asked George. "I tell you it is a real juicy apple', for I know the tree on which it grew." So Charley let him have his cake for the apple. 4. At noon, when Charley tasted his apple, he found it was so sour that he could not eat it, and he wished to trade back again. "No," said George, “I don't trade back. A bargain is a bargain.' 5. So it was a bargain', George Davis". But what kind of a bargain was it? You cheated Charley', and you knew it', and you meant to do it'. You are not an honest boy', and it was not a fair trade'. I should not wonder if the cake should choke you when you eat it. 6. Mr. Jones went out to buy a horse. He found one that he liked, and that the owner wished to sell'; but he determined to purchase him, if possible, for less than he was worth. The owner asked a hundred dollars for him. "Eight 7. "What is the of age horse1?" your years old, I believe," said the man. "That is what the person from whom I bought him told me'." "Eight years old'? Why', he is certainly more than twelve. See how his teeth are worn down." 8. The owner could not be positive as to his "And besides," said Mr. Jones, "he seems age. a little stiff in the joints'. He carries his head badly', and is too hard upon the bit', and I don't like the color. If he were a bright bay', I would give much more' for him. I am willing to pay all he is worth', but I can not think of offering you more than seventy-five dollars." 9. Thus he cheapens the animal as much below his real worth as he can. The owner can not afford to keep the horse. He is in want of money, and must take what he can get. So Mr. Jones buys the horse for seventy-five dollars; but when he has taken the horse home', he boasts what a good bargain he has made'. 10. A man very much like Mr. Jones is described in the Book of Proverbs, the twentieth chapter, and fourteenth verse: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way', then he boasteth" 11. "I would not sell that horse for one hundred and fifty dollars," says Mr. Jones. "He is of the right age, and just what I want. I am suited' with him in every respect." 12. "But how cheap you bought him', Mr. Jones'. Did not you cheat the man' ?"" "Cheat him'!" Oh no! A bargain is a bargain. Every one must look out for himself, you know." 13. But, Mr. Jones, were you honest when you told the owner that the horse was certainly twelve years old? Did not you like the color of the horse? Were you willing to pay all he was worth to you'? Ah, Mr. Jones', I am afraid that will be a hard-backed horse for you to ride'. 14. And then, again, he is so stiff in the joints that he may stumble, and throw you. Or, what is still worse', he is so hard upon the bit that he may run away' with Are you not sorry that you bought so bad a horse', Mr. Jones'? you. a UN-FAIR', not honest; not just. b DE-CEIV'ED, misled; cheated. Pos'-I-TIVE, certain. 10 See Note to RULE X. d CHEAP-ENS, lessens the value. 2 RULE II., direct address. [LESSON XIII. Another lesson on character. There are two examples of cheating, on the part of John Smith and George Davis; and a case of more open falsehood, but not less dishonesty, on the part of Mr. Jones. Did these persons act fairly in making bargains? Did they act honestly? Did they obey the Golden Rule?] LESSON XIV. THE THUNDER-STORM. 1. Look'!10 the black cloud rises high; 2. Yet I will not shrink with fear 3. When the black cloud rises high', 4. Never will I feel alarm; God can shielde me from all harm: Him will I adore. a SPREADS, extends. C SHRINK, draw back. d THUN'-DER-CLAP, burst of thunder. [LESSON XIV. is a brief description of one of the most sublime scenes in nature. Yet He who causes the thunder and the lightning can shield us from all harm. What is the first notice we have of a rainbow? Why does God cause the rainbow to appear in the heavens after such a storm? LESSON XV.* THE LAUGHING, HAPPY MAN. 1. What a laughing face!" How round and plump the cheeks are! What a merry eye!" How large and round the head is!10 What a wide mouth', and what a broad grin'! And the teeth, how white' they are!" And the hair, how long and curly' it is !1o 2. Is the man merry'?' Is he very much pleased'? Does he look like a happy man'?' Is he laughing aloud'? Is his hair black', as well as curly'? Has he heard something funny'?' Has he seen something pretty'? Do you think he is an old man'?1 3. Why do you think he is merry'? What do you see in his eye'? Why does he look happy?3 What do you think it is that pleases him? How do you know that his hair is black'? Who said that he had heard something witty'? How do know that he is not an old man'?3 you 4. Are his eyes black', or are they gray'? Are they large', or are they small? Is he an old man', or a young man? Who can answer so many ques * [LESSONS XV. and XVI. embrace a great variety of the different examples of inflections, as eight of the eleven rules for inflections are here illustrated. Yet it is not expected that the pupils will be required to explain these inflections by references to the rules. It will be sufficient if they read the sentences correctly, by the aid of the marks given.] |