like the peasant, had been able to capture such a strong young fellow: but the proof was before them. The fifty francs were paid, and the prisoner was sent back to the galleys. 11. After he had gone, the peasant asked to see the mayor in private, and told him the whole story. The mayor was so much affected that he not only added fifty francs to the peasant's purse, but wrote to the Minister of Justice, begging the young prisoner's release. 12. The minister examined into the affair, and, finding that the young man had been condemned to the galleys for a small offense, and that he had already served out half of his time, ordered his release. 13. Was not this a noble deed of self-denial and charity on the part of the young man'?' And it not only benefited' others', but it benefited himself also. Can you explain how it benefited himself' ?1 a SERVE, work; labor. BOARD, deck of a ship. d RE-POSED', rested; slept. 1 CON'-VICT, a person found guilty of a crime. RE-WARD', pay for services. h REC'-OG-NIZE, know; recollect. 1 BEN'-E-FIT-ED, did good to; profited. [LESSON V. is a lesson on character. It shows the great generosity and noble-heartedness of the young galley-slave, when he knew that his kindness to another would consign him again to a prison. How his conduct was rewarded. How were the mayor and minister benefited? Who was most benefited? (The galley-slave.) Why? How are you benefited by reading this story?] A kindness is never lost. To be happy, you must be good. LESSON VI. NIGHT AND DAY. 1. The world is round, and, like a ball, 2. Water and land upon the face places; and when we see the sun setting, others, in a distant part of the world, see it rising. Our evening is their morning, and our midnight is their noonday. 5. Would you know the cause of these changes?'* The earth is a large globe or ball; and it turns over, from west to east, once in every twenty-four hours', at one time carrying us toward the sun', and at another time carrying us away from it. 6. When we are carried toward the sun', it is the early part of the day to us'; and when we are carried away from it', the sun seems to go downdown until it sets in the west, and at length night comes upon us. The sun seems to us to go round the earth; but it does not. 7. While we are on the side of the earth toward the sun, there are other people who are on the opposite side of the earth, where it is night; and when we see the sun rising in our east', others see it setting in their west'. 8. The sun, to us, is setting now';4 Behold him in the west';4 And soon the busy people here 9. In other countries, far away',2 10. But when the sun comes round again, The evening will begin with them',* a EX-TENDS', stretches out; reaches. b DIS'-TANT, remote; far away. CAUSE, that which produces. d TO BREAK, to dawn. [LESSON VI. explains, in a familiar way, some of the first principles in Geography. The earth is a globe or ball, divided into land and water, and surrounded by the air, sky, and stars. What causes day and night, morning and evening, etc.] GOD IS SEEN IN EVERY THING. LESSON VII. THE SNOW-STORM. 1. How cold the blast!10 The snow falls fast, The wind doth blow the falling snow, 2. Jack Frost is near, we feel him here, And covered deep, the flowers sleep 3. Come out and play, this winter day, Come young and old, nor fear the cold, Nor howling winds that blow. [LESSON VII. is a description of a snow-storm. The cold of winter. Invitation to come out and play.] LESSON VIII A KING REPROVED. 1. A king, riding along in disguise," and seeing a soldier at the door of a public house, stopped and asked the soldier to drink with him. While they were talking, the king swore. The soldier said, "Sir, I am sorry to hear a gentleman swear." His majesty' took no notice of the remark, and soon swore again. 2. The soldier then said, "Sir, I will pay my part, if you please, and go; for I dislike swearing. If you were the king himself, I should tell you of it." 1 "Should you, indeed?" said the king. "I should," said the soldier. 3. His majesty said no more, but left him. A while after, the king having invited some of his lords to dine with him, the soldier was sent for; and, when they were at dinner, the soldier was ordered into the room to wait awhile. Presently the king uttered an oath. The soldier immediately, but with great modesty, said, "Should not my lord, the king, fear an oath?"1 4. The king, looking first at the lords, and then at the soldier, said: He can "There, my lords, is an honest man. respectfully remind me of the great sin of swearing; but you can sit by, and let me take God's name in vain, and not so much as tell me of it." 5. Children, remember the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” a DIS-GUISE', false appearance. d UT-TERED, pronounced; expressed in language. [LESSON VIII. This is another lesson on character. A king is reproved for profane swearing. The honesty and moral courage of the soldier are in marked contrast with the servile conduct of the lords, who do not appear to have shown, in any manner, their disapproval of profanity.] LESSON IX. · TRUE DUNCAN. 1. There was a little boy in our school named Duncan. All called him True Duncan, because he never would tell a lie. |