DECEMBER 1 FLATTERY Flattery is like a painted armor; only for show. -Socrates FLATTERERS AND SLANDERERS THE response of Diogenes, the ancient Greek philosopher, to the question, "What beast's bite is the most dangerous?" was "If you mean wild beasts, the slanderer's; if tame ones, the flatterer's." Birthday: Clarke Mills, an American sculptor, born in Onondaga County, N. Y., December 1, 1815; died in Washington, D. C., January 12, 1883. Special Day: Arbor Day in Georgia (first Friday in December). (See Arbor Day, April 19 and 20, this book.) 2 PURPOSE But whatever you are, be true, boys! The cheating and palming, In fun and in earnest, be true, boys! -Mackay "WHAT SHALL I DO?" "WHAT shall I do?" My boy, don't stand asking; Don't turn aside for the toiling or tasking; Grasp with a will whatever needs doing; In duty your course, find the victory won. Do your best for to-day, trust God for to-morrow; Be cheerful and hopeful, and no trouble borrow; If you can climb to the top without falling, -Selected Sing: "Good Resolutions," from Uncle Sam's School Songs. Birthdays: Hernando Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, born in Medellin, Spain, in 1485; died near Seville, Spain, December 2, 1547. Richard Montgomery, an American general, born near Raphoe, Ireland, December 2, 1736; killed by a cannonball, December 31, 1775. ROBERT BURNS AND THE FARMER ROBERT BURNS was once taken to task by a young Edinburgh nobleman, with whom he was walking, for recog nizing an honest farmer in the street. "Why, you fantastic gomeral!" exclaimed Burns, "it was not the great coat, the scone bonnet, and the saunders-boot hose that I spoke to, but the man that was in them; and the man, sir, for true worth, would weigh down you and me, and ten more such, any day." Read: "The Magnet's Choice," from Howliston's CatTails and Other Tales; "Naughty Little Gold Finger," from Boston Collection of Kindergarten Stories, Bible, Prov. 22: 1-2. Sing: "The Fountain," from Songs Every One Should Know. Birthdays: Mary Baker Glover Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, born at Bow, N. H., July 16, 1821; died December 3, 1910. George B. McClellan, an American general, born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 3, 1826; died at Orange, N. J., October 29, 1885. 4 WORK There is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works. In idleness alone is there perpetual despair.-Carlyle Birthday: Thomas Carlyle, an English author, born in Ecclefechan, Scotland, December 4, 1795; died in Chelsea, London, England, February 5, 1881. My boy, I'd give the world, if it were mine, To backward turn the dial of time And be a boy again, with heart like thine; To quaff again the cup, care free To play the pranks that thou dost play on me, Be not too swift to run thy boyish race Too soon will come the time, though slow the pace, Youth comes but once; we may not change the plan; -A. E. Jackson Sing: "Follow Me, Full of Glee," from Kellogg's Best Primary Songs. Birthday: Martin Van Buren, eighth president of the United States, born at Kinderhook, N. Y., December 5, 1782; died at Kinderhook, July 24, 1862. George A. Custer, an American soldier, born at New Rumley, Ohio, December 5, 1839; killed while in command of an expedition against the Sioux Indians, June 25, 1876. 6 USEFULNESS No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.-Dickens LITTLE THINGS BY EBENEZER C. BREWER LITTLE drops of water, Thus the little minutes 7 UNKIND WORDS Kind hearts are the gardens, -Alice Cary A DINNER OF TONGUES ESOP was the servant of a philosopher named Xanthus. One day his master being desirous of entertaining some of his friends to dinner, he ordered him to provide the best things he could find in the market. Esop thereupon made a large provision of tongues, which he had the cook serve up with different sauces. When dinner came, all the courses and side dishes were of tongues. "Did I not order you," said Xanthus, in a violent passion, "to buy the best victuals which the market afforded?" "And have I not obeyed your orders?" said Æsop. "Is there anything better than tongues? Is not the tongue the bond of civil society, the key of science, and the organ of truth and reason? It is by means of the tongue cities are built, and governments established and administered; with it men instruct, persuade, and preside in assemblies." "Well, then,” replied Xanthus, "go to market to-morrow and buy me the worst things you can find. This same company shall dine with me, and I have a mind to change my entertainment.' When Xanthus assembled his friends the next day, he was astonished to find that Esop had provided nothing but the very same dishes. "Did I not tell you," said Xanthus, "to purchase the worst things for this day's feast? How comes it, then, that you have placed before us the same kind of food, which only yesterday, you declared to be the very best?" Æsop, not at all abashed, replied: "The tongue is the worst thing in the world as well as the best; for it is the instrument of all strife and contention, the fomenter of law-suits, the source of division and war, the organ of error, of calumny, of falsehood, and even of profanity." Read: "The Fairy Who Judged Her Neighbors," from Ingelow's Three Fairy Stories. |