Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

But the disgrace to which Jenny Jenkins was brought, did not cure her of her ill-natured tattling. Hearing that a man had been caught setting fire to Robert Ball's barn, she posted off to the neighbors, telling them that Robert Ball had been trying to burn his own barn.

Now the fact was, Jenny had acquired such a habit of thoughtless tattling, that she did not even stop to learn the truth of a story; but would catch up a few words of it, and making up the rest, would run to be the first to tell of it.

You may be sure that Robert was in great rage, when he heard what a false report Jenny had been spreading about him among his neighbors.

He lost no time in coming to the school, where all had heard the scandal, when she was obliged not only to beg Robert Ball's pardon, but her teacher made her stand on a dunce block for an hour, with the label

hung from her neck, "Here stands the town tattler."

At last an evil report was spread about Jenny herself, and it ran through the whole neighborhood; and though there was no truth in it, every one seemed willing to believe it.

It was reported that Jenny had stolen Sandford Langdon's handkerchief, and was seen picking out the marks of his name with a pin, that it might not be known.

Jenny cried out against this wick ed and false report, but she seemed to forget, that she now only began to suffer from others the very same evil, they had so often suffered from her.

She said that people ought not to believe evil tales, till they had taken pains to learn whether they were

true or not.

At last Jenny learned to practice towards others what she wished them to practice towards her. If all persons would do this, no one

would have to suffer the scandals, which are so often spread to the ruin of their peace and characters.

[blocks in formation]

Take care! take care! my pretty fly,
For sure you look so fine,

It seems a pity you should die!
But ah! you're mine, you're mine.
For since you've trampled on my book,
I'll nail you here so fast,
You ne'er shall in another look;
Ah, yes, you're mine at last.
My lad, the insect quick replies,
Your foolish threat forbear;
Not you alone, but even flies,
Are creatures of God's care.
Should you not then, your mercy lend?
For shame to crush a fly!

Since you so oft, your God offend,
And soon like me must die!

[blocks in formation]

Eliza is not yet seven years old; but she thinks more than some chil dren of twice that number of years; and she remembers what she reads and hears.

One evening, as her mother was sitting by the fire, "Eliza," said she, "if you could go directly up into the air two or three miles, when the sun is almost over our heads, do you think it would be colder than it is here, or warmer?"

Eliza. O, a great deal warmer! Mother. Many people think so. But it is found to be colder; much colder.

E. How does any body know?

M. By going into the air in balloons; and also by ascending high mountains.

E. What is a balloon?

M. It is a kind of sack or bag, almost round, made of silk, or some thin substance, and can be made airtight, and filled with a kind of gas or air which makes it rise.

You have seen smoke rise, I dare say. If you should put a cork into the bottom of a pail of water, and then let go of it, what do you think it would do?

E. It would not do any thing. It would stay there; would it not?

M. My dear, I do not think you understand me. It would rise to the top of the water; and this is because it is lighter than water. Smoke rises because it is lighter than air And balloons rise for the same reason. E. But do people ever go up in balloons?

M. Not in the balloon exactly; for

« AnteriorContinuar »