What question did the good man, upon this ask him? What could not Tom do? Was not that a sad thing? What did the good man tell him it was not too late to do? What did he say he would do for him? What did Tom say to this offer? Whither did the good man take him? What did he there learn to do? What did he wish when he was told how good God is? What was he when he went to church? Can you not read then? said his friend, do you not know how to pray? No, said Tom. That is a sad thing, said his friend. Well, it is not too late for you to learn ; 1 will take you to a place where you may be taught to know God, and serve him; and what to do and say at church, and a great deal that will do you good to know. Will you go, my boy? Yes, that I will, said Tom, if you will shew me the way, and get me in. So the man took Tom to school, and there he learnt to read; and when he was told how good God is, he did so much wish What did he soon learn he had known it when he to do? What did he leave off? What did he become? What is the lesson learnt from this story? A. How thankful every child ought to be, who has any good friend to put him to school. LESSON VI. When did Jack begin to talk to Tom? What did he say to him? What did he hope? What did he say they would not then think more of? What did he say they should do? How long did Jack say he would play with Tom? was quite young. And when he went to church he was so glad; and he soon learnt to pray to God, and praise him for all things; and left. off all his bad words, and bad ways, and was one of the best boys in the whole school. Whither did Tom then go with Jack? For what purpose? What did Tom think when they played together? But which played best? Why did it not vex Tom? When they ran a race, which beat? When they spun a top, whose top stood firm, and made a loud hum, and kept up a good while? What happened to Tom's top? When they drove a hoop, what happened to Jack's? What could not Tom do to his hoop? What happened to it then? What did Tom ask Jack to tell him? What had he thought about Jack? What was Jack's reply? they set off full of mirth and glee, to play at all such sort of games, as are fit for good boys, till it was time to go home for the night; but as they had long been friends, and dwelt in the same street, Tom went home with Jack, to spend half an hour, and have some more chat. Do you know, Jack, says he, that I thought, when we left school, and went to play, that though you beat me out and out at book, yet I should have my turn at play; but I own it made me stare, and if you had not been my friend it would have vexed me, to find that you beat me quite as much at play as at book. When we ran a race your speed was such that I had no chance to keep up with you: when we spun our tops, yours stood firm, and made a loud hum, and kept up a long while; but mine was weak on its leg, and fell down in less than half the time; and when you drove your hoop, it went round a tree or a stone, as if it had life in it, while mine ran from me, and I could not rule it, nor keep it up, so down it fell at the end of the street; for I could not make it turn down the next as you did yours, and yet you scarce had need to touch it. How is this, Jack? for I did not think you could What had Tom thought of him? What did Tom tell Jack he had observed about Ralph Quick's losing his place in his class? What did Tom think about Ralph's being so vexed at losing his place? What did Tom observe that Mr. Hope, the master, had not done to Ralph ? What did Jack upon this say to him? If Ralph had kept the first place all the week, what did Jack say would, have been Ralph's reward? What would he have had for minding and hearing the class? What did Jack say all the other boys in the school were? What did he say they learnt to mind by this? play at all. In that, said Jack, you was not far wrong; for I am not the best at play in my class, by one, two, or three, of them. Why then, who is, pray? said Tom. Ralph Quick, says Jack. What! said his friend, the boy that stood at the head of his class? I had set that boy down for a fool. What made you think him so? said Jack; why, said he, when I stood to look on, Ralph was at the head of the class; but he missed a word in the task, and the next boy said it, and took his place: on which he looked so sad, the tears stood in his eyes, and his cheeks were first red, then pale; and he was on the watch, what all the boys in the class said, so thought I that boy must be a fool,what can all that fuss be for? cannot he stand as well in that place as the first, for Mr. Hope did not scold him, nor beat him? O Tom! says Jack, you do not know our ways; we hold it a sad thing to lose a place, but to lose the first is worst of all: for Ralph knew if he kept first the whole week, he should next week be set in a place of trust; that is to mind and hear the class, for which he would have pay and praise too. But you want to know A 6 3 What did they mind when at school? A. Their book. Tom how it is that we are good at play; now 1 will tell you. You saw how sad What did they mind at Ralph was, when he lost his play? place, and how he was on the watch for a chance to get back to it: so are we all on the watch all the time of school, so that we can mind or think of nought else. I think from this we all learn to mind but one thing at a time, and some how we get a knack of it; so when we go out to play, we mind that in the same sort, and take the same pride to beat the boys we play with, and to be first in that way too. But it is now grown late, and time to think of bed, so good night Tom. Good night Jack, said he, and thank you. LES-SON VII. The Bees, Drones, and Wasp. A set of drones went to a hive, where there was a swarm of bees, and laid claim to it; and said that the rich store and the combs were their goods. The bees went to law with them, and the wasp was to be judge of the cause, as one who well knew each one's right, and of course knew how to put an end to their suit. Friends, says he, the mode we use in these courts is so slow, and the suit costs so large a sum; but as you are both In whose hands did he tell them they had better place the cause? What were they at the thought of this? What did they give him? In what way did he then tell them they had better decide the cause? What did the bees do after he had thus spoken? What did the drones do? Upon this, how did judge wasp decide? What is the lesson you learn from this story? A. That it is foolish and wrong in any one to claim merit which he does not deserve. How will it sooner or later be shewn whether his claim is just ? A. By his works. LESSON VIII. The Lark and her young ones. Of what was the lark afraid who had young ones in a field of ripe corn? When she went therefore from home to seek for food, what charge did she leave with them? When she was gone, what did the young ones hear? What did the young ones do when the old lark came home? What do you mean by "ere?" A. Before. my friends, and I wish you well, I beg you will place the cause in my hands, and I will put an end to it in a short time. They were both glad at the thought of this, and in turn gave him thanks. Why then, that it may be seen who have a just claim to these rich combs, do you, says he to the bees, take this hive, and to the drones, do you take that, and go fill the cells as fast as you can, that we may know by the taste and look of it, who has the best claim in this cause. The bees then set to work, but the drones would not stand to it, and so judge Wasp gave the claim to the bees, and broke up the court. LES-SON VIII. The Lark and her young ones. A lark who had young ones, in a field of corn, which was ripe, was in some fear lest they should come to reap it, ere her young brood could fly and leave the place. And when she went from home to seek for food, she left this charge with them, that they should mark what they heard while she was out, and tell her of it when she came back. When she was gone, they heard the man whose corn it was, call to his |