THE PRETTIEST SIGHT.

Mother and seven Children.

MOTHER.

COME, children, your mother is waiting for you,
Come one- come all; and now tell me true,
In the various places where you have been,
The prettiest sight that you ever have seen.

JOHN.

Why, mother, I think the most beautiful sight
Are the soldiers, all clad in their armor so bright, -
The tall, waving plume, and the gay epaulette,
Is the prettiest sight I have ever seen yet.

CHARLES.

They look well enough, brother Johnny; but I
Saw a prettier sight on the Fourth of July;

'Twas the circus-men riding their horses of gray — No soldiers were ever so pretty as they.

SUSAN.

Dear mother, I think the most beautiful sight

Is the pure silver moon on a clear summer's night, With a host of bright stars, like the train of a queen; 'Tis the prettiest sight that I ever have seen.

WILLIAM.

I like the high mountain that kisses the sky,

Where the eagle looks down with his dark, piercing eye; And I love the broad river, and cataract's roar,

And the waves that roll up on the smooth, sandy shore.

BESS.

I went with two cents to buy dolly a dress,
And what think I saw? I know you can't guess;
'Twas a red sugar horse! such a beautiful one
That I bought it, and ate it, so now it is gone.

LUCY.

Well, mother, I think the most beautiful things
Are the dear little birds, with their soft, shining wings;
When they sing on the trees, and the branches are green,
'Tis the prettiest sight that I ever have seen.

MARY.

I, too, love the notes of the dear little bird,
But they are not the sweetest I ever have heard;
I am glad when they come to the tall green trees,
But I think there are prettier sights than these.

On a sweet Sabbath morning, so balmy and cool,
To see children come to our own Sabbath-school,
So constant as never a lesson to miss

I know of no prettier sight than this.

ALL.

Now, mother, dear mother, wherever you 've been,
Pray tell us the prettiest sight you have seen.

MOTHER.

Well, children, your mother loves not to behold
The soldier's bright armor that glitters like gold;
For she thinks of the holy commandment of God,
That long since forbade us to shed human blood.

And the poor circus-horses-I often have been
Where there are far prettier sights to be seen;
But one thing I'm sure,—if those horses could speak,
We should find them ashamed of the company they keep.

I think, with dear Susan, the moon in the sky,
On a clear summer's night, presents to the eye
A beautiful picture, displaying abroad
The wonderful goodness and glory of God.

And, William, my dear son, in the cataract's roar,
And the waves that roll up on the smooth sandy shore,
We see the great power of Him, in whose eye
Not even a sparrow unnoticed shall die.

And what shall I say to my dear little Bess,

Who, spending her money, robbed do 1 of her dress? I think she has learned the good lesson to-day,

That red sugar horses soon gallop away.

Yes, Lucy, the birds, with their soft, shining wings,
Are among our Creator's most glorious things;
They sing to His praise on the green waving trees;
Let the children unite in anthems like these.

But, children, your dear sister Mary is right-
Mother never has seen a more beautiful sight,
On the sea or the sky, in the field or the wood,
Than a circle of children all happy and good.

Mary.

THE WAY TO GAIN LOVE.

O Sarah! how I wish that a fairy would give me a charm that would cause everybody to love me!

Sarah. Why, Mary, are you not loved already? I am sure I love you.

Mary. Yes, I know that you love me, and my parents love me; but there are several girls in our school who say they do not like me, and I am sure I do not know why it is so.

Sarah. I am sorry to hear you say so, Mary. Are you very certain that you have done nothing to induce them to dislike you?

Mary. I do not know that I have.

Sarah. Are you always pleasant and kind; and do you try to oblige them and to assist them? Mary. Why, I cannot say that I am always pleasant, for they sometimes vex me and make

me angry.

Sarah. Which, of all your schoolmates, do you love the best, Mary?

Mary. Why, Clara Jacobs, to be sure. I love her more than any other, and I think all the scholars love her. I never heard any one speak against her.

Sarah. Well, can you tell why you and others love Clara so much?

Mary. You would not ask that question if you knew her, Sarah. She is so kind, so amiable, and so gentle, that one cannot help loving her. I never saw her angry in my life, and I never heard her speak unkindly. She seems to love everybody, and she is loved by all. She is always cheerful and happy.

Sarah. It seems, then, that Clara is a good girl, and beloved because she is good. Now, if you will imitate her, you will have as many friends as she has. Be kind, be pleasant, be obliging, be cheerful, and you will be happy, and be loved by all who know you.