GOD made man in his own image, and gave him. power over the fish of the sea, the fowls of the air, the cattle, and every 1 living thing.

1 The attention of the learner should be particularly directed to the sounds of the letters printed in Italics. Never let a word be indistinctly uttered in the school room, and a good articulation will soon become habitual.

He

The horse, and the ox, and many other animals are very strong; yet man rules over them. makes them work for him, and do what he wishes. He can do this, because he has a mind, and can think and plan, which the brute creation cannot do. Some animals can be taught to do a great many things, and some are naturally very cunning; but 2 of them can reason or contrive like man. They are guided in all they do by what is called

none

instinct.

Birds build their nests, and beasts seek their prey, by instinct. They do that which God has taught them to do, but they do not know why they do it.

The birds do not build their nests now any better than they did a thousand years ago. The beasts seek their food in the same way as those did that were first created. This sort of knowledge which the animals have without teaching is called instinct.

Man obtains his knowledge in a very different way. God does not teach him, as he does the animals; but he gives him the power to learn, which is far better.

Children know scarcely any thing about what they see until they are taught. They do not know that fire will burn them, or that water will drown them. They have to learn every thing. Their parents 3 have therefore to tell them these things. They send them to school to learn to read books, by which they may learn many other things.

1 Pronounced är. 2 Pronounced nun. 3 Pronounced părꞌents.

If we would be wise we must study. We must read good books, and think, and observe. We must listen to those who are older and wiser than ourselves. We must try to avoid all evil.

It is the power to do these things, and thus to become wiser and better every day, which distinguishes man from the brute creation; but the greatest difference of all is this: Man has an immortal soulman only can worship God!

Man only, of all creatures, is able to know, and love, and obey the God who made him. He only can pray. He only can say, Our Father.

Think of this when you pray to God, and thank him for giving you the power to know and love him. Ask him to bless you. Seek his Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. Implore him to forgive your sins, through Jesus Christ, and after death to take you to himself in heaven.

NOTE. All teaching, to be effective, must be thorough.

Children

should therefore be early required to define all the words that occur in

their reading lessons.

1 Pron. wür/ship.

2 o̟-bā'. 8 kat'tl. 48v1.

5 rê'zn.

6 prā.

II. THE GREAT TEACHER.

WHO taught the bird to build her nest
Of wool, and hay, and moss?
Who taught her how to weave it best,
And lay the twigs across?

Who taught the busy bee to fly
Among the sweetest flowers,
And lay her store of honey by,
To eat in winter hours?

Who taught the little ant the way

Her narrow hole to bore,

And through the pleasant summer day

To gather up her store?

'Twas God who taught them all the way, And gave their little skill;

He teaches children how to pray,

And do his holy will.

III.-TEACHINGS FROM NATURE.

LET us walk out into the fields and study the works of nature. Above you is the bright blue sky, the sun, and the clouds. At night you can see the moon and the stars.

Around you are trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and fruit; hills, vales, streams, and rocks; men, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and worms.

You can see all sorts of forms; some round, some square, some bent, some straight, some short, some long, some thin, some thick, some sharp, some blunt, some smooth, and some rough.

You can see things of all colors-red, blue, yellow, white, black, brown, and green. Some are very bright, and some are dull.

You can hear the song of birds, the hum of voices, the fall of waters, the rush of winds, and the cry of beasts; and at times the sound of bells, and other music.

Look at your own body. You have eyes, ears, hands, arms, legs, and feet; a head, a face, a nose, and a mouth; teeth, tongue, and lips.

You can eat, drink, sleep, move, run, walk, jump, breathe, laugh, and cry; you can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell; and what is more strange, you can think and speak.

You have a mind, and can reason, reflect, and judge. You can learn what all these things are for, and how to make use of them.