OUR OWN S £ V N : 'D 1 8 i D F, B . ro:t Tr:. ■ * sci-tooi. VMIL-IES. BY U1CHARD STEU I NO, Si vCni^ Principal uf J^c'wortb "s* J. [» OVMPBETT BRf^* - GBEE* i i oep bv svr." .1 • Vv, TV ■t ,u.i, & aj m: T aitv e Wuftb. PERKINS LIBRARY IS Duke University Kare Docks PRESENTED BY W. W. FLOWERS \ 0,C% OWN, ION D READER; Jk* rOI THE USE Ot" SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. BY RICHARD STERLING, A. M„ Principal of Edgeworth Female Seminary, AND J. D, CAMPBELL A. M , Prof.'f Mathematics and Rhetoric. I QREENSBORO', N. C: PUBLISHED BY STERLING, CAMPBELL A ALBRIGHT. EionMon, Ya, W. IIargratii WnrTS 1883. m Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year ISfi'2, by tlicnAKD Sterling and J. D. Campbell, in the Clerk's Olftce of the District Court of the Confederate States, for the District of J?amHce, North Carolina. & Jr&IXTrS AT TOE 3TAK3A2D OKKIwE, KaLEIOH, N, a itfrl**' . PREFACE Tins volume is intended as a regular successor to " Our own First Reader." It will be found, on ex- amination, that the first lessons in this Reader are not much more difficult than, those with which the First Rea&H^closes. \\n. experience of twenty-live years of practical, labor as educators, has satisfied us that ,%c3iild si^nild not]/c required to advance more rapitlfVthau can be clone understandingly. Hence it will^ found that the lessons are so arranged, that several \f the same degree of difficulty follow each, other. And in passing from one book to another we have observed the same rule, thus guarding the pupil against discouragement. In the selection and. preparation of the Lessons, the compilers have availed themselves of all the assistance they could obtain from the labors of their predecessors in the same field. A large number of Readers have been examined, and selections made from thorn, whenever they bailed the general design vi thw work. • The variety of subjects introduced in this volume, is deemed sufficient to secure the attention of tho id bv exciting his cuiiosity, anA v at tho same time 107 /. IV , PREFACE. convey wholesome instruction. We have endeav- ored to combine simplicity of style with good sense, and to inculcate throughout a pure Bible* morality. !No system of education is- valuable that does not have truth and piety for is foundation stone. Our aim has been to impress upon the minds of our youthful readers the cardinal ..doctrines of the chris- tian religion. Much attention has been given to the Spelling Lessons. As in the First Reader, the words have been invariably selected from the reading lessons, and should be thoroughly learned before attempting to read. We have experienced much delay inybringinig out this series, owing to the difficulty in^'ocurino^aper and other materials essential to the public^on of books. Pictorial illustrations cannot be procured in the Confederate States ; our best mills are unable to obtain the chemicals necessary to make white paper; while binding materials are scarce and expensive. Whatever excellencies or defects our books may be found to possess, we are happy to know that they are purely Southern productions, both in workman- ship and material. Perhaps we offer to the public the first series of Readers, whose compilation, paper, printing and binding are wholly the products of home industry. The first two or three lessons have questions ap- pended to them, merely as specimens. We prefer that the teacher should ask such questions as will PREFACE. naturally suggest themselves. Where each lesson is furnished with printed questions, too many children fall into the very bad habit of learning the brief clause that may contain the answer, and passing slightly over all the rest. SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. The rapidity- with which a teacher carries his pu- pils through a book, is no criterion either of his own capacity, or of their progress. The pupil ^loulcl be made to read each lesson over JMp over again, till he is perfectly familiar with each wurd, so as to be able to pronounce it at sight. Aim to secure a clear and distinct enunciation of every word, giving to each syllable its appropriate sound. Great care must be taken to avoid a formal and fastidious prominence to unaccented syllables. Es- pecially guard against a drawling or sing-song tone. The chief object of the teacher should be to excite the interest of the pupil in the subject of the lesson. Th's may be done by judicious questions, with such explanations and illustrations as will naturally sug- gest themselves to every intelligent teacher. To fix the attention of the child, to enable him to understand what he reads, and to render the task a pleasure, is the perfection of the teacher's art, and 530401 VI SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. should be studiously sought by every one who takes upon himself the instruction of the young, "Too much attention cannot be given to Spelling. It is not intended that ,the teacher should confine himself to the words we have selected and arranged in the Spelling Lessons. Our own experience in the ^school-room, induces us to recommend most earnestly tlife use of the black-board or slate in" teaching spel- ling, as soon as the pupil can be taught to write. -% CONTENTS. Lesson. Page. 1 . 'M v. New Bock .... 9 2.. Family A fl" Cl ion, 10 jfcho.Old Horse; 11 j^^\V^ >• ■■• M ■ffi JWwo Dogs**. 13 W »The Eagle,...*. 14 • Son^y one Brick, 15 > qJV'liQ Lazy Boy, 16 4 vTGire**us tkisMay our daily Thread, 13 [ft. The Lion, 20 vev tell a Lm,.. . . 21 r illing to work,' 23 ip Camel, .. 24 }od is near :.*. 25 Tie Good Child, .-.T2t) IJf&£ Bad Boy Puurehed, ... 27 j 7/tS Bibis, 2 ( J 18. TR Rat with a Bell, 30 19. The Blue-bird and the Robin, 32 20. Live for Something, 33 21. Fishing, , • 34 22. The Dog .in the Manger, 35 23. The .Fair of the Acorn, 36 24. The Clothes we Wear, 33 25. Washington's regard for his Mottr% 40 26. The Banger of Delay, 41 27. A Thoughtless Mar, 43 28. How are we Related, ... .44 29. Don't Kill the Bkdt:, 45 SO. A Parable, ,...W. 47 31. Uncle Toby, v 49 S2. Praise ye the Lord, ........ 50 88. The Ten Commandments; . . 51 84. The Tiger, 52 35. Elephant and Tigress, 53 86. Lazy Slokins, the school boy, 55 87. Lazy Slokins, t.lu young man, 57 88. Lazy Solkins, the" drunkard, 5£ SS. Laiy Slokins, *he tkief, .... £9 lesson. Page. 40. The Robin's Temperance Song, 60 41. The Quarrelsome Cocks,. . . 61 42. The Ungrateful King, 63 43. About Adam, 65 44. What is Falsehood ? . 67 45. Little Henry and the Birds, 69 46. Childhood's Hours,^. 72 47. The Commandments, . 73 4S. The Snow Birds, ' 74 49. Kind Echoes, 77 oO. Marv's Kitten, 79 51. The'Lamb, ' 81 52. The Lamb— {Concluded,). . 82 53. " How far is Heaven ?" 84 54. The Four Seasons, 81 55. SourGraks,— {AFabfc).. 89 66. Try, Try Again, 90 57 Mv Mother, 91 58. Children in a Boat, 92 •59. Bible Selections, 1 Cor. 13. 94 60. Psalm 23, 96 61. The Boy who Boasted, 97 62. Honesty Rewarded, 99 63. Young'Soldiers, 101 G4. The Bee, 102 65. Story of the Coat lOi 66. The Lark and her Young,, . 107 67. Prayer, 109 68. The Loaf of Bread Ill 69. The Generous Children,.. . 113 .?0. The Sparrow 115 71. Hugh Miller, 116 72. George and the Hatchet,, 117 73. What is Earth, 120 74. The Eagle and the Tortoise, (Al'<> / >'t ) :. 121 75. To little Henry ouhis Birth Dav ..-; „. 153 7«. The Falsehood, ....... 125 If. Jesus Cbrict, * . W viu CONTENTS. Lesson. Page. 78. " Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." \.... 129 79. On using bad Grammar, . . 130 80. A Garden overrun with Weeds, 132 81. The Sluggard, 184 82. The Mother's Love 136 83. The Good Little Girl, 137 84. The Good Boy 189 85. Sermon on the Mount, .... 141 86 God more Kxcelleut than His Works 143 «7. Christopher Columbus,... 144 88. The Buffalo, 146 V Lesson. Pago. 89. How to be Loved, 143 90. The Show of Wild Beasts, 149 91. The Show of Wild Beasts, ( C 'untin ued. ) 151 92. There is a God 158 93. The Child's Prayer, 186 94. Duty to Parents, 157 95. About Sin lf>8 98. Repentance, 160 97. Faith, 162 9 5 . Fn\ih~( Continued, 163 99. The Ten Commaudments, 165 100. Alphabetical Selections,. . 167 4 V* w \ \ 4(* OUE OWN SECOND READER. j *V LESSON I. book said broth-er ' gavo dear sis-ter clean learn pret-ty neat each par-ents read take giv-en hand kind o-bey MY NEW BOOK. 1. My mother gave me this new book to-day. Look, father, look, sister, how neat, and clean, and pretty it is. 2. I will try to read well; for ma, when she gavo it to me took mo by the hand, and said : 3. "Now, my dear son, I know you wish to learn to read, and I have given you this pretty book to help you." 4. When I have read my book, sister and brother, I will lend it to each of you. I am sure you will take care of it, and not tear it or soil it. How glad I am to have a kind mother to give ine such a nice, now book. I will try to bo a good OCB OWN BECOND READEK. boy, will obey my parents, and always do what they tell me. Questions. — What have you read about? Who gave you the new booh? What did your ma say when she gave you the book? To whom will you lend it? Why should you be a good child I LESSON II. sweet laugh win-ter green cool ten -dor bright heads read-ers spring sport bless-ing sleep grief fath-er shade young moth-er FAMILY AFFECTION. 1. The song of the birds is sweet, when the dark days of winter are gone, and the trees lift up their green heads in the bright light of spring. 2. The sport of young lambs is sweet, while their is lie down to sleep, by the stream that flows in he cool shade. ' 3. The hum of the bees is sweet, when the work of the day is done, and they fold their wings to rest in the full hive. 4. But far more sweet than any of these is the love of brothers and sisters to each other. It gives many or R 0\ftr-SK< H l K 1 ) nf: a dIt?. XL 1 1 a joyous laugfc to sport. It takes many a sad tear from grief. 5. And 0! with what joy it is seen by the fond' father and mother. They press their good and kind children to their breasts, and pray God to bless them- 6. And he does and will bless them ; for the good and kind find favor in his sight. 7. My little readers, have you brothers and sisters ?' Love them. Do all you can for them. Help them when in need. 8. So shall yon make glad the hearts of your pa- rents. So shall you have the blessing of the most High who made you. §y The teacher will ask such questions on each lesson as. his own judgment may suggest; adapted to secure the attention of the child, and to teach hiin to think about what he has read. LESSON IH, / horse age beast bank shoot spent como would which white keeps best next field years THE OLD HORSE. 1. Come, James, let us sit down on this bank. The man who lives on the farm next to ours owns that old white hoi a2 • 12 OUR OWN SECOND READER. 2. It has been a good horse : arid now that it is worn out with toil and old age, he does not shoot it, as some men would do ; but he is kind to it, and keeps it in this field, where it will live free from toil till it dies. 3. He is a good man, Pa. Yes, he is, my dear. We may be sure that a man is good, when he is kind to his beast, and takes care of one which has spent its best years in his service. 4. Pa, is the horse white because he is old ? I see that the hair of people becomes gray or white as they grow old. 5. No, my son, not exactly. Gray horses when young, become white if they live to be old, but black or brown or sorrel horses do not. LESSON IV. there strikes taught pole kinds w r oods coarse fore three dwells climb sucks black catch paws which claws fruits dance bod-y THE BEAR. 1. There are three kinds of Bears : the brown, the black and the white bear. 2. The soles of their feet are long and run back to the heel, so that they can with ease stand on their m OUR OWN SECOND READER. 13 hind legs; their claws are sharp, and fit them to climb high trees with great speed. 3. The body of the Bear is thick, his legs are strong and short, his hair is long and coarse. He strikes with his fore paws. 4. He dwells in woods, and lives on roots and fruits ; though it is said that the Hack bear will catch fish for food, and kill lambs and kids, the blood of which he sucks like the cat tribe. 5. A tame bear may be taught to dance, and to lay hold of a pole with his fore paws, to the great sport of boys and girls. But to learn these tricks, he must be young. tray walk would least snarl bite town snap LESSON V. growl thought hurt be-causo length should clubs death sprang harm pieces they stones those dealt much THE TWO DOGS. 1. Two dogs, Tray and Snap, went out one day to walk. Tray was a good dog, and would not hurt' tho least thing in the world ; but Snap was cross, and .A3 14: OUR OWN SECOND READfiR. would snarl and bite at all the dogs that came in his •way. 2. At last they came to a great town ; and all tho dogs came out to see them. Tray hurt none of them, and was kind to all ; but Snap would growl at all ; and at length he bit one that came too near him. 3. Then the men and boys came out with 01' R OWN SECOND READER. 21 The lion saw him at the same time, and began to fol- low him slowly. 4. When the man walked fast, the lion walked fast; and when he stopped, the lion stopped. He saw that the lion meant to follow him until dark, and then spring upon him, and make a meal of him. 5. As he could not run away from the lion, ho knew that his only chance for life was to cheat the beast in somo way. So when he came to a high cliff, below which was a deep rocky hollow, he climbed down, where the lion could not see him. 6. # Here he fixed a stick in the rocks, and put on it his coat and hat, so as to make them look like a man ;*and then he hid under a rock on one side. 7. Soon the lion came creeping slyly along, when, seeing the coat and hat, he made a sudden spring at them, and, falling down the cliff, was killed. LESSON XI. £^ lies hon-est care-less Bi-ble 'told teach-er an-gry curl-y torn win-dow your-self bad-ly truth Jp^wick-ed de-spiso be-causo it NEVER TELL A* LIE. 1. No, do not tell a lie. Tell the truth at all times, and be kind and good to all, and then all will lore you, and you wiU be happy. I ^2, OCR OVVJM SECOtfD kEADEft. 2. Do you know that it is wicked to tell lies ? Yes, you Lave often been told so. The holy Bible says so ; and the Bible tells the truth. , It is very mean, as well as very wicked, to tell lies. 8. If you tell lies, God will be angry with you", all good men will despise you ; and all good boys and girls will shun you. Then what would you gain by telling lies ? You would not gain any thing, but you. would lose much. 4. If you tell lies, you will also feel badly yourself. You will know that you have done wrong; and when you are wicked you cannot help feeling badly. A bad boy cannot be happy. 5. Then be a good and honest child, so that all can love you. If you have been careless, and have broken a window, or torn a nice -book, or lost the door-key, or upset the ink on the table, go to your father, or potjAr, oflteacbftr, ajjfd own it.~ s6. \ r es, , ^pat^ tTTeiHest vtay pTJhat is tlrwight way ; thattis the honest way. Would you not like to be happy? Then bean honest child, and never, new?' tell a lie. Do you wish to be a child of God? Then speak the truth. 7. Once there w^> f a little boy, J^^C With curly hair and pleasant eye, A 1)0^' who always loved the truth, And never, never told a lie. 8. And when he started off to school, The children all about would t'ry, OUR OWN SECOND READER. 9A1 There goes the curry-headed boy — > The boy that never tells a lie. 0. And every body loved him so, Because he always told the truth, That often, as he older grew, ; Twas said, " There goes the honest youth," 10. And when the people that stood near, Would turn to ask the reason why, The answer would be always this : Because he never told a lie> work which .help yes school LESSON XII brings deal pleaso proud some-times use-ful du-ti-ful . light mer-ci-ful sau-cy £\y W I L L I N a TO WORK. 1. What can this boy do? He is willing to work, but he is not old enough to do much. 2. But there are many things in which children can help their parents a little. Oh, yes, he can do many things ; sometimes he brings water for his mother, and sometimes he goes to school. 24: OUR OWN SECOND READER. 3. And what does Mary do? Oh, she does a great deal to help her mother. 4. How pleasant it is when children try to be use- ful and dutiful to their parents ; when they are not idle, nor proud, nor saucy. When they do not tell lies, nor say bad words, nor steal, nor fight; but are kind, and good, and merciful both to man and beast. 5. If }'our parents take care of you, and teach yon to be good, they are very kind to you. You ought to help them, when you can do it with good will. 6. When you think how much such parents have done for } r ou, it should give you pleasure to please them. lesson : cam-el bod-y tise-fttl * humps •r S an-i rnal * 'need-ed tough kneel dea-erts cloth cross-in g flesh o-ceans neck XIII. trav-el satxd-y heav-y with-out peo-ple sup-plies almost THE CAMEL. 1. The camel is a very useful animal. It is found where it is most needed ; in ,lands where there are great deserts. From its use in crossing these oceans of sand, it is called " The Ship of the Desert." OCR OWN SECOND READER. 25 2. The camel lias a long neck, a small head, and a stout body. It has long legs. Some ca/nels have two humps on the back, and some have only one. 3. The camel has broad feet ; and the sole of the foot is covered with a tough skin, so that the animal can travel with ease over dry, stony, and sandy places. 4. It carries a heavy load on its back ; and it can travel, with a load, thirty or forty miles in a day. It can go many days without water. 5. The camel will kneel for its master to put the load on its back, or to have it taken off. 6. Tins animal supplies almost all the wants of the people of the desert. Its flesh and milk are used for food ; and its hair and wool are made into cloth. ♦ LESSON XIT. earth birds keep good-nesa made warm thoughts pray stars rain grain bless roam dew on-ly right GOD 18 NEAR. 1. It is God who made all things. He made tho earth, and lie made the sun, and the moon, and the stars also. 2. God made the beasts that roam over tho earth, the birds that fly in the air, and the fish that swim in 20 OUR OWN SECOND READER. the rivers, the lakes, and the great sea. He made man also. 3. God makes the tender herb and the grass to grow, as well as the tall trees of the forest; and -he sends the rain and the dew to water them, and the sun to warm them. 4.4 He gives us all onr food: t\>v if he did not take care of the beasts, and the birds, and the fish, and the grain that we sow, and the seeds that we plant, all of them would die; and then we should die also. o. But God not only takes care of us, and all things around us, hut he is also near us at all times. He sees us now. He sees all that we do, and lie knows all our thoughts. ; He knows all things. 6. We should thank God for all his goodness to us. We should pray to him often, and ask him to keep us from sin, and to bless us. 7. When we rise from bed in the morning, and when we lie down at night, we should lift up&our hearts to him in prayer. God will hear us, and if we pray to him with a right heart, he will bless us, both in this world, and in the world to come. LESSOR [ XV. please mam -ma plcas-ed dai-ly Bpell Sav-iour giv-en pic t ure rule chil-dren pa-pa pret-ty mind heav-en leg-son lit-tle OUIi OWN SECOND READER. 27 T II E G < ) D CHILD. 1. I love to do as I am bid; I love to please mamma; I love to get my lesson, too,. And spell to my papa. 2. When children want my pretty toys, Or little picture-book, I dearly love to give them up, And see how pleased they look. 3. I love to please the Saviour, too, And mind the rule he's given, For then I think that I shall go To live with Him in Heaven. LESSON XVI. speak touch mean want tree found branch cries climb riglit round flown clothes hold worth build down nest shrieks town A BAD 7J0 Y I 1 U N r.S II E D . Frank. O, mother, look at that boy in the tree. Mother. You should nut climb trees, little boy; you will tear your clotlies, and your father and moth- er, I dare bay, have to work hard to get them for you. Come down, and let mc &peak to you. 28 OUR OWN SECOND READER. Boy. Let me get this bird's nest first. Charles. O, do not touch the bird's nest. Boy. And why not? I found it, and I have a right to take it. Mother. You are a rude boy, and a bad one, too, I fear. Why should you rob the poor bird of its nest? Charles. Look, mother ! he has got hold of the nest ; and see ! there are some young birds in it ; and hark! what a sad cry the old ones make for them, as they fly from branch to branch round the boy's head. Mother. Pray do not hurt them. Come down, and 1 will give you more than the birds are worth. Charles. Do, mother. Mother. What would you say, little boy, if some one w r ere to find out your home, and were to take you from your father and mother, in spite of all the shrieks and cries which you or they might make ? Boy. Why, as to that, not much ; but what do you mean to give me? Mother. Do you not know that those poor birds, whose nest you now want to take, have flown miles and miles, day by day, to pick up twigs, and moss, and hay, and bits of wool, to build it with? Boy. There is no wool in it that I can see. Mother. Fie, fie ! you are a bad boj r ; and God, who sees you do ill, will one day make you feel for all the pain you give to those poor birds. Come, m} 7 dear, it is time for us to tarn back. The next day, when Frank and Charles went to OUR OWN SECOND READER. 29 school, they were told that a boy had been found dead in a lane close by the town. It was the boy they had seen in the tree ! LESSON XVII. though book mam-ma broth-ers think worth leis-ure pret-ty know pre-cious rush-es your-selves please writ-ten Mo-ses Sam-sou THE BIBLE. 1. Can you see God? No: you cannot see Him. No one in this world can see Him, though He can see us all the time. He looks at us, and sees all we do ; He hears all we say, and He knows every Aing which we think about or wish, even if we do not tell it to any body. / 2. Do you not wish to rJeaisXiod, who is so good and kind to you ? Yes. I hoyjjje you do. 3. But how do we kn\v just what will please Him ? We never saw Him to ask Him how we could please Him, and how shall we know ? 4. I will tell you. He has given us a book in which is written down just what lie wishes us to do ; and in it are written also what kind things He has done for us, and what more He means to do. Must not this be a very precious book ? 5. What is its name? It is the Bible. The Biblo is God's book ; it is the book which He has given us SO OTTR OWN 8££&£rt) feEAfcEB. to teach us what will please Ilim. It is the most pre- cious book in the whole world. It is worth more than all the rest of the books in the world put together. 6. When you learn how to' read well, you must love to read the Bible. God did not make it for grown up people only; it was made for children too. A great man} 1 things in it are about little children. It is full of the most beautiful stories in the world; stories for children. 7. Ask your mamma, when she is at leisure, to tell you one of the pretty stories out of the Bible. The story of Moses in the ark of bulrushes, or the story of that good man, Daniel, who was shut up in the lion's den, or of Samson-, who was so very strong, or of Joseph, who was sold for a slave by his brothers. 8. But I cannot tell you the names of all these pretty stories-; you must learn to read the Bible, and find them all out for yourselves. j -LESSON xpiii^ house boards strange trice teeth gnaw flight whole shelves plague pride thought guard caught curse hole cheese friends crept young THE EAT WITH A BE1L. 1. A large old house was so full of rats, that not a thing could be kept from their teeth. They would "i i: OWN SECOND READER. 3tf climb walls to get at the hams; shelves, hung from the roof by strings, were no safe guard to the cheese, and bread, and pies; and they could gnaw their way through floors, and doors, and boards, and walls. 2. They were so sly and quick that the cat could Dot get at them. So great was the plague of these rats, that it was thought the house must needs be torn down, as the only way to get rid of them, when two boys, by a rare chance, caught a young one in a trap. 8. For mere sport, and with no thought of the good that would grow out of the act, they made fast a small bell to his neck, apd then let him go. The rat ran with great joy to the first hole, to join his friends ; but they, when they heard the strange sound of the bell, made off, some this way and some that* 4. Our rat at once knew the cause of their flight. Full of the joke, he rang his bell as loud as he could ; and drove them from hole to hole and from room to room, till at last, in their fear, they all fled out of the house. 5. The young rat had now the whole house for his own use, and ate much of the good things in it. But at last ho tires of this lone way of life, and longs to have his old friends back. G. lie now tries to get rid of his bell, and drags and pulls at it with his fore feet till ho wears the skin off his neck, but all in vain. The bell, which had been his pride and joy, was now his curse ; he heeds no more the rich when there is no one to caf it- 32 OUR OWN SECOND READER. with him ; and one day, as, sad and slow, lie crept from room to room, he fell in the way of puss, who put an end to his life and his grief in a trice. LESSON XIX. spring thrown grain car-ries homes fields trees nse-ful shores mate young farm-er builds cake rob-in de-stroy crumbs worms ex-cept gar-den THE BLUE-BIRD AND THE ROBIN. 1. The blue-bird and the robin are the first birds we see in the spring. When the snow has gone, and the first warm days of spring have come, they leave their homes, in far off lands, and come to our shores. 2. The blue-bird makes its nest in a box in the gar- den, or in a hole in an old tree ; and the robin builds her nest near the top of a tall apple-tree. 3. The blue-bird and the robin sometimes build nests near the house: most other birds, except the martin and swallow, are afraid to come near to a house. 4. When the robin has built its nest, you will 6ee the father bird, perhaps many times in the day, come close to the door, to pick up the crumbs that are thrown out of the house. He does not eat them him- self, but carries them to the nest where his mate, the OUR O^VN SECOND HEADER. 83 , — . L. mother bird, is. with her young ones, and lie gives the crumbs to them. 5. Sometimes you will see him in the garden, or in the field, when the ground has been dug up, look- ing for worms; for robins love to eat worms quite as well as they love crumbs of bread and cake. When the father bird has fed his mate and the young ones, he sits on a tree near the nest, and sings to them. G. Robins are very useful to farmers, for they de- stroy the worms that would hurt the trees, or the grain. LESSON XX, look light scat-ter op-press-ed while some-thing bles-sings re-turn-ing smiles em-ploy path-way fount-ain earth self-ish dis-pel-ling dark-en-ed grief ac-tive sym-pa-thy glad-den LIVE FOR SOMETHING. 1. Live for something, be not idle, Look about thee for employ ; Sit not down to useless dreaming : Labor is the sweetest joy. Folded hands are ever weary, Selfish hearts are never gay; Life for thee hath many duties : Active be,^hen, while you may. 34 OVR OWN SECOND READEB, 2. Scatter blessings in thy pathway ! Gentle words and cheering smiles, Better are than gold and silver, With their grief-dispelling wiles, As the pleasant sunshine falleth Ever on the grateful earth, So let sympathy and kindness Gladden well tho darkened hearth. 3. Hearts there are oppressed and weary ; Drop the tear of sympathy, Whisper words of hope and comfort, Give, and thy reward shall be Joy unto thy soul returning, From this perfect fountain-head, Freely, as thou freely givest, Shall the grateful light be shed. LESSON XXI. sports food trout roacli pleas-ant enrv-ed cost-ly at-tach-ed leave fish-ing some-times fin-gers catch ought get-ting fish-cs sur-geon knife re-sort at-tracts brook carry own pur-sued FISHING. 1. Of all tho sports of young persons, there is none which attracts them more than fishing. It is often pursued for the sake of getting fish for food. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 35 2. When bpys catch fish they ought, to carry them home to eat, or sell them, or give them away, for others to eat. 3. In the spring of the year, the brook, the river, and the pond afford a pleasant resort and fine sport. The sly tront, the dace, the carp, the perch, and the roach, invite the boys with their rods and lines, hooks and bait, in great numbers. 4. The best lines are made of raw silk, and the best hooks are always a little curved. Little bovs sometimes get the hook in their own hands or fingers, and then the surgeon has to come, with his sharp knife, and cut it out. 5. Fishing rods are sometimes made in joints that slide into each other, and make a cane. Such rods are costly. Lines are also sometimes wound upon reels which arc attached to the rod. With a reel, the fisher can, with ease, make his line long or short. LESSON XXII. meal straw broth-er can-not trough think naugh-ty some-thing cross hun-gry al-thongh wa-ter growls him-self sis-ter man-ger THE DOG IN THE MANGER. 1. Here is an ox going to his manger. His man- g-er is a box or trough, where his food is kept. His food is hay, or straw, or meal wet with water. b2 * 36 OUR OWN SECOND READER. 2. But the ox finds a cross dog in the manger, and the cross dog barks and growls at him ; so that the poor ox, who is very hungry, dares not go near his manger, for fear this cross dog will bite him. 3. The dog knows that the poor ox is hungry; but the cross dog cannot eat the hay himself, nor will he let the poor hungry ox eat it. 4. Now, this is very much like a cross little boy, who has a little brother or a sister that wants some- thing which he has, and which this cross little boy will not give up, although he does not want to play with it himself. 5. Now, if your little brother or your little sister wants something which you have, think of this story of the dog in the manger, and do not act like this naughty dog, who, though lie did not wish to eat the hay himself, would not let the poor hungry ox eat it. LESSON XXIII. shade trust splen-clid track-less large lj-ing y el-low bul-wark world pump-kin a-corn home-ward struck grow-ing ap-pearance myf-i-ads learn creep-ing in-stru-ment wis-dom THE FALL OF THE ACORN. 1. A man was lying in the shade of an oak tree, and looking at a pumpkin which was growing in a OUR OWN SECOND READER 37 garden close by. He shook Lis head, and said, " Well, well ! Here seems to be a mistake. 2. "It does not appear quite right to me, that the little creeping pumpkin-vine should produce such a large, splendid fruit, and the large, noble oak tree should bring forth such a poor little one. 3. "Now, if I had made the world, the oak tree should have made a splendid appearance, with large pumpkins as yellow as gold, and heavy as a cannon ball." 4. Hardly had he said this, when an acorn dropped from the tree, and struck him so sharply on the nose as to make it bleed. 5. He started to his feet, and exclaimed, "It is all right, after all ! If this acorn had been a pump- kin, my head would have been broken, to a cer- tainty i" 6. God has made the world in wisdom and in love ; and where we cannot understand the uses of things, we should believe that God, who sees their begin- nings and their ends, is the best judge. 7. Learn to trust in God, and to believe that all He does for us is for the best. | r 8. Nothing so small that God has made But has its destined end ; All in their turn his purpose serve — All to his glory tend. 9. The grain of dust, to sight unseen, With myriads may combine 38 OUR OWN SECOND READER. To form a bulwark to the sea, Its limits to confine. 10. The little drop of pearly dew Which on the blue-bell lies, May, in the sun's bright beams, appear A rainbow in the skies ; 11. Or in the trackless ocean main, With others, have a share, On which the ship, when homeward bound. Some loving heart shall bear. r> 12. And thus the humblest of us all God's instrument may prove, To bless and shed o'er fellow-men The bounty of his love ! LESSON XXIV clothes truth cloth-ing kn owl -edge know wool ap-pear vir-tue sheep pret-ty dress-ed rai-ment coat be-fore but-tcr-fly col-ors spun tu-lip ap-par-el silk-worm THE CLOTHES WE WEAR. 1. Do yon know what your clothes are made of? The new coat which yon think so pretty, was once wool which grow on the back of the sheep. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 39 2. It kept the sheep warm before it kept you warm. It was a coat which the sheep wore. And when the eheep had done with it, it was made into a coat for you. 3. Has your brother a nice pair of silk gloves? A little worm spun the silk of which they were made. 4. Is your dress as pretty as that which the tulip wears? Some ilies aro dressed in rich green coats; and the butterfly wears a coat of many colors. Aro your clothes as pretty as theirs? 5. How proud we are j how fond to show Our clothes, and call them rich and new; When the poor sheep and silk-worm wore That very clothing long before. G. The tulip, and the butterfly Appear in gayer coats than I : Let me be dressed fine as I will, Flies, worms, and flowers, exceed me still. 7. Then will 1 set my heart to find Inward adorning of the mind; Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace; These arc the robes of richest dress. 8. No more shall worms with me compare ; This is the raiment angels wear ; The Son of God, when here below, Tut on thi* blest apparel too. Bi 40 OUR OWN SECOND READER. LESSON XXV. George bless en-tlre-ly Vir-gin-ia sliore Po-to-mae ' punc-tu-al eoun-try-men trunk de-cis-ion pi-e-ty Feb-ru-a-ry thought heav-en-ly ful-fill-ed Pres-i-dent sake "Wash-ing-ton o-be-di-ent dil-i-gent Washington's regard for his mother, 1. George "Washington, when a boy, had gotten ready to go to sea, as a midshipman. Every thing w r as arranged for his departure. 2. The vessel lay opposite to his father's house on the river Potomac ; the small boat had been sent to the shore to take him off, and his heart was bent on going. 3. After his trunk had been put on board the boat, lie went to bid his mother farewell. He saw the tears in her eyes : she was sad at the thought of his leaving her. 4. George said nothing to her; but he saw that she would be greatly distressed if he went ; and he resolved that, for his mother's sake, he would give up his wish to go to sea. 5. He said to the man who had carried his trunk to the boat: "Go and bring back my trunk; I will not go away, if my mother is to be made unhappy bv it." 6. George's mother was glad at his decision ; but still more glad because of the filial piety it showed ; OtJR OWN SECOND HEADER. 41 .«. ... ■ and she said to him : " My dear boy, you will not re- pent of this step. Our heavenly Father 1ms promis- ed to bless the children who honor their parents; and I believe He will bless you." 7. How entirely was the mother's fond belief ful- filled ! AVho is there among men more honored by his countrymen, and by good men and children all over the world, than George Washington ? 8. lie was one of the best of boys. Ho was dili- gent, punctual and obedient. Some of his school writing-books still remain, and show how careful he was to write well. 9. He was born in Virginia, on the 22d of Febru- ary, 1732. He was the first President of the United States. He died on the 14th of December, 1790. His fame is inostMear to us all. LESSON XXVI. plant kept a-bout beau-ti-ful true once with-er-ed pun-ish-ed earth droop-ing fall-ing wa-ter-ing ought for-got to-day at-ten-tion fault need-i'ul to-mor-row an-oth-er THE DANGER OF DEL A Y . Mrs. Home. Look at that plant which I gave you but a short time ago; it is dead. Ann. O ! I am so sorry it is dead, mother, that I could cry ! BO 42 OUR OWN SECOND READER. 3Irs. II. Last Friday I heard you say, "That flower is drooping; I must give it some water, or it will die." Ann. But, mother, I forgot all about it. Mrs. II. Yes, you put off the needful attention till morning ; and when the morning came, you did not think of it. Ann. That is true, mother ; and so the poor plant was left all day without water in the hot sun. Mrs. II. Its leaves, that were so fresh and green, are now withered and falling off. Its flowers, that were so bright and gay, are faded. Ann. The plant is lost, for want of nourishment ; it is bending to the earth ; it will bloom no more. Mrs. II. And yet, a little timely care would have saved it. Ann. Ah ! if I had watered it last night, it might have been gay and blooming still. . Mrs. II. Did you not think it would die? Ann. Indeed, mother, I did not mean to neglect it; I meant to water it in the morning. Mrs. II. But why, my dear child, did you leave 'it till the morning? Why did you not water it at once? Ann. I wanted to do something else at the mo* ment, and so I thought it would be just as well to put off watering the plant till morning. Mrs. II. Is it easier to do a thing to-morrow than to-day? I think not. I think it is far better to do every thing at the time when it ought to be done. E uWN BECOND READER. 43 Ann. Dear mother, I see my fault ; I am pun- ished for it in the loss of this beautiful plant. Mrs. II. See the danger there is in delay. You might have kept the plant alive ; but now that you have let it die, you cannot bring it to life again. Ann. I shall always think of my poor plant when I want to put a thing off, after this. Mrs. II. Let its loss be a lesson to you, never to put off till another time that which you ought to do at once. Delay is almost sure to be the cause of sorrow. LESSON XXVII. win-do w guit-ar a-wake beau-ti-ful niorn-ing rais-ed hap-py car-ried rob- in rest-ing thought-less seem-ed v pret-ti-er sweet-ly fin-ish-ed mo-ment A THOUGHTLESS MAN 1. There came to my window, ( hie morning in spring, A sweet little robin, She came there to sing; And the tune that she sung Was prettier far, Than ever I hoard < Mi the flute, or £uik*r. 2. She rawed ber light wings To <:oar fa] 44 OCR 0\VN SECOND EEADKjS. Then renting a moment, Seemed sweetly to say, " O happy, how happy This world seems to be, Awake little girl, And be happy with me." 3. But just as she finished Her beautiful son Shun words, and thoughts, and deeds unclean; 8. Steal not, though thou art poor and mean. 9. Don't make a wilful lie ; nor love it. 10. What is thy neighbor's, do not covet. THE WORLD IS FULL OF BEAUTY, There is beauty in the forest Where the trees are green and fair, There is beauty in the meadow Where wild flowers scent the air; There is beauty in the sunlight, And the soft blue beams above : Oh, the world is full of beauty When the heart is full of love ! LESSON XXXIV. flanks snatch pleas-ing ex-treme stripes ti-ger con-trast dis-pute fierce hand-some taw-ny trust-ed T II E TIGER. 1; The tiger is a very handsome beast. His whole body is marked with black stripes, which form a OUR OWN SECOND HEADER. 53 pleasing contrast with the tawny color upon which they are placed. 2. His face and flanks are nearly white. His tail, which is marked with black rings, is nearly as long as his whole body. 3. The royal tiger of India is sometimes found even larger than the lion, and is the only beast of prey which is able to dispute with him. 4. In form and motion he is much like a cat. He is fierce and cruel in the extreme ; and is seldom tamed so as to be trusted by his keepers. 5. The tiger, for the most part, preys upon other animals, but when pressed by hunger, will attack a man ; and has been known even to snatch a person from his friends, with whom he was walking, and carrv him with ease over a garden wall. LESSON XXXV. quite jump- spy-ing dig-ni-ty loose growl-ed . ,.ti-ger ven-tur-ed means seized Lj llde-fence seam-per-ed sprung coup-le M 1 con r -age sat-is-fied caught de-cide^j Jpre-par-ed el-e-phant noose keep-er If • ap-pe-tite con-fu-sion ELEPHANT AND TIGRESS. 1. One day, the keeper of some animals went to his dinner as usual ; and as he went out, left all of them quite sate, as he thought, in their cages. But 54- OtjR OWN SECOND HEADER. it was not so. Quo of the cages, which contained a tiger and tigress, was quite old, and the couple broke loose. They looked around to lind something to gratify their appetite, and spying the lama, they pitched upon her for their dinner. 2. The poor lama was sorely frightened at their ap- proach, with mouths wide open ; but against such terriiic animals she had no means of defence. In a moment, the tigers grasped her by the throat, and began to suck her blood. 3. At this moment the keeper entered. Being a man of great courage, he seized a rope, and ventur- ed forward, intending to throw a noose over the heads of the two animals, as they were busily sucking the blood of the lama. 4. Just as he was throwing the noose, the tigress turned and prepared to jump upon him. He knew not what to do. Her eye-balls were flashing fire, and her jaws were ready to destroy him. He had but a moment to decide. In that moment he sprang behind an elephant which stood near. The tigress saw the keeper, and sprang toward him. But, as she was bounding past the elephant^ almost with the swiftness of a bulletj this animal reached forth his trunk, caught the tigress, and threw her headlong to the farther end of the building. 5. Every thing was now in confusion. The mon- keys jumped for their lives, and the baboons scam- pered up to the rafters. The elephant stood still, and, at the command of the keeper, took him up with his OtR OWN SECOND REAt)K». 55 trunk, and, with a single toss, placed him upon his back, out of danger. 6. The tigress was not yet satisfied, but made another jump at the keeper. But the elephant caught her again, and threw her with such force against the side of the house, that she was glad to go quietly back into her cage. 7. In the mean time, the tiger was looking about to see what animal he should attack. On raising his eyes, the first thing he saw was the lion, who was looking on from his cage with great dignity. The tiger showed Ins teeth and growled ; the lion shook his mane. 8. At last the tiger sprang at the cage with great fury, and forced one of his paws through the bars. But the lion made a grab at the tiger's foot, and caught if. He pulled the whole leg into the cage, and held it there till the keeper could jump from the back of the elephant, and throw a noose over the tiger's hcack 0. Both the tigers were then secured in their cage. Thus, by the instinct of the elephant, and the teeth of the lion, as well as his own courage, the keeper was saved from the jaws of the tiger and tigress. LESSON XXXVI. smart think road-ing be-cause bright name ta-rv sup-poso 50 OUR OWN SECOND READER. strange Slo-kins les-son get-ting nice bns-y & searce-ly used torn al-though ac-tive dir-ty I, A Z Y S L O K I N S , THE SCHOOL BOY. 1. One of the two boys Las a book in his hand, and he is very busy reading it. It looks like a new book, although the boy has used it a long time. 2. This boy is getting his lesson in school ; and he will have a good lesson, and will recite it well. You can see that he is not a lazy boy, and that he takes good care of his books. 3. The name of the other boy is Slokins. What •do you think of him ? He looks like a lazy fellow. He has a book in his hand, but it is all torn in pieces. He can scarcely read in it. When he reads, he has to stop and spell out the hard words. 4. Slokins does not like a book. You can see that in his face. His face tells on him. It tells that he is lazy. Do you think, if he were a good, smart, and active boy, and one who liked to read, his face would - look so \ 5,, jST6, his face would not look so. lie would have a bright look, for smart boys look bright. And how do you suppose Slokins' book, became so torn and dirty? It is because he did not take care of it. 6. Is it not strange that the books of the boys who get their lessons always look' clean and neat ? Et OWN SECOND KEADEK. 57 ^ LESSON X&XVII. sleep shoos bet-ter 1 o fir wliy wife it him -self be-como wears while mon-ey with-out one work pic-ture some-times SL O K I N s , THE YOUNG MAN. 1. What a lazy man tin's is ! Don't you think he looks lazy? Why dont he get up and go to work ? 2. He is too lazy to work ; so he sits iown in the sun, and goes to sleep. Who do you think he is? Why, that is Slokins himself. He is a man now, but he is just as lazy as ever. 3. What a poor old hat he wears! Wliy]f don't he get a better hat? A better hat! How can he get a hat without money, and how can he get money if he will not work? Lazy men have but little money. 4. Do you see one of his shoes ? Do you see how his toes stick out of it? Why don't he get a pair of new shoes? New shoes! How can he get them without money? He has a wife at home ; but what do you think will become of her? 5. Sometimes this man works a little while, and gets a little money; but he does not use it to buy a hat, or shoes. What does ho do with it? Do you ask me what he does with it? Look in the next les- son and see what he does with it. a 5S OUR OWN SECOND READER. LE5SON XXXVIII sharp drunk pock-et be-comes mean e-nough cra-zy drunk-ard chin sign-board do-ing fill-ed drink hur-ry « ]it-tle some-times hurt bot-tle stag-ger grog-shop LAZY S L K I N S , THE DRUNKARD. 1. Sure enough ! Here he is again. This is the same mum, only a little older. It is Slokins himself. I can tell by his long nose, and his sharp chin, and his mean look. 2. But where is he now! Where is he now? He is on the "road to ruin." Don't you see that the sign -board says so ! But Slokins did not stop to read it. Lazy man as he is, he is sometimes in a hurry. 3. What kind of a place do y ou think that is which you see at the corner of the street? It is a grog- shop. And what is Slokins doifig there ? He has gone there to get a drink — to get a drink of rum, and to get his bottle filled with rum. Do you seethe bottle in his pocket ? 4. What harm will it/do if Slokins does drink rum ? What harm will it okfl If he drinks a little, it will make him want to- drink more; if he drinks a little more, it wilk-mlike him wild and crazy ; and if he drinks much more, it will make him stagger and fall down drunk in the street. 5. It is not safe for a man to drink any mm, for if L OUR OWN SECOND READER """"J 50 lie drinks only a little at a time, he will goon love it so that lie will be apt to drink more and more, until he becomes a drunkard. LESSON XXXIX. stole straw mock-er red-ncss wife earn racing tar-iy • child a-bout bab-blings bit-c'th touch pris-on con-ten-tions sting-oth LAZY SLOKINS, THE THIEF. 1. But what became of that man, Slokins, whom we read about in the last lessons ? Did he become a drunkard I 2. Yes, he became a drunkard ; and then he stole money to buy rum with, and then he was put in pri- son. There you may see him— a poor old drunkard, on a bed of straw. 3. But what became of \\h wife? She is very poor, and has to work very hard to earn some money to buy food for herself and child. 4. If you do not wish to be a drunkard, do not taste rum nor any other strong drink. Do not go where it is sold. "Touch not, taste not, handle not/' That is the safest way. 5. Do you know what the Bible says about stron- drink? [| says, "Wine is a mocker; strong drinl ing. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who GO OUR OWN SECOND READER. Lath contentions? "who hath babblings? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine." 6. The Bible also says, "Look not upon the wine when it is red. At last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." LESSON XL. tried arm-y nest-lings tee-to-tal guess sweet-ly be-long sing-ing wrong re-pli-ed be-sides morn-ing beak dip ped tem-per-ance be-cause crumb brush-ed re-mem-ber wait-ing THE robin's TEMPERANCE SONG. 1. I asked a sweet robin, one morning in May, Who sung in the apple-tree over the way, What 'twas she was singing so sweetly about, For I'd tried a long time, but could not find out; "Why, I'm sure/' she replied, "you cannot guess wrong; Don't you know I am singing a temperance song? 2. " Teetotal — oh, that's the first word of my lay; And then, don't you see how I twitter away ? ; Tis because I've just dipped my beak in the spring, And brushed the fair face of the lake with my wing. Cold water, cold water; yes, that is my song, And I love to keep singing it all the day long. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 61 3. " And now, my sweet child, won't you give me a civumb ? For the dear little nestlings are wailing at home : And one thing besides : since my story you've heard, I hope you'll remember the lay of the bird ; And never forget, while you list to my song, All the birds to the cold-water army belong." LESSON XLI. grain two chick-ens an-oth-cr s perch seiz-ed naught-y con-quer-ed drove quar-rel Jlght-ing quar-rel-some fought feath-ers gaih-er-ed to-geth-er cocks hun-gry re-veng-ed farm-yard » THE QUARRELSOME COCKS. 1. Here is a story about two foolish cocks that were always quarreling, which is very naughty. You do not quarrel? No! I ani glad of it; but if you see any little boys that quarrel, you may tell them the story of the cocks. 2. There was once a hen that lived in a farm-yard, and she had a large brood of chickens. She took a great deal of care of them, and gathered them under her wings every night, aud fed them and nursed them very well. 3. The chickens Were all 1, except two cocks, thai qnarn ith one another. They were hardly out of the shell, before they began 62 OUR OWN SECOND READER. to peck at each other; and when they grew larger, the}' fought till they were all bloody. 4. If one picked up a grain of corn, the other al- ways wanted it. They never looked pretty, because their feathers were pulled off in lighting, till they were quite bare ; and the}- pecked at one another's eyes, till they were both almost blind. 5. The old hen very often told them how naughty it was to quarrel so ; but they did not mind her. 6. One day these two cocks had been fighting, as they always did; and the largest cock, whose name was Poco, beat the other, and crowed over him, and drove him quite out of the yard. 7. The cock that had been beaten, slunk away and hid himself; for he was vexed that he had been con- quered, and he wanted sadly to be revenged ; but he did not know how to manage it, for he was not strong enough himself. 8. So, after thinking a great deal, he went to an old sly fox that lived near, and said to him, "Fox, if you will come with me, I will show you where there is a large, fat cock in a farm-yard, and you may eat him up, if you will." 9. The fox was very glad, for he was hungry enough ; and he said, "Yes, I will come, with all my heart, and I will not leave a feather of him; come now, and show me where he may be found." 10. So they went together, and the cock showed the fox the way into the farm-yard; and there was poor Poco asleep upon the perch. And the fox seized OUR OWH. SECOND READER. 63 him by the neck, and ate him up; and the other cock stood by and crowed for joy. 11. But when the fox had done, he said, " Poco was. very good, but I have not had enough yet;" and so lie flew upon the other cock, and in a moment ate him up too. LESSON XLII. years moist strug-gling re-proach-ed proud cru-el re-pli-ed hap-pi-ness mere jnmp-ed be-sido eas-i-ly touch shock-cd grat-i-tudo af-ter-ward drown faith-ful re-mem-ber o-ver- board THE UNGRATEFUL KING. 1. In a kingdom of India, there lived many years ago, a king, who, one day, fell into the river. A man jumped in after him, seized him by the hair and saved his life. 2 Now, this king was quite young — a mere boy; but he was proud and cruel. There was an old law ill the kingdom that he who laid his hands on a king should be put to death. This king chose to bring up tins law against the man who had saved his life. 3, The king caused him to be put to death for hav- ing laid rude hands on a king. All the people had thought the king would reward the man, and they were much shocked when the man was put to death. 4. You, mv children, will also be shocked; for you 64 OUR OWN SECOND EEADEK. have been told to do good, not only to him who does good to yon, but even to him who does evil to you. 5. Alas ! there are some bad men who have no gratitude ; but we should be kind even to such men. They are no! happ} T ; and some day they may fare as badly as did the young king, after he had put to death the faithful man who had saved his life. 6. One morning, soon after this event, the young king was in a boat on a lake, when, in trying to stand up, he fell overboard. The men who rowed the boat could easily have saved him ; but they were afraid to touch him : they let him drown. 7. While he was struggling in the water, they took off their caps, and bowed to him with all respect, and cried, " Long live the king!" but they did not move a finger to help him : they feared to do it. 8. When they were afterward reproached for their conduct, they replied : " We remember too well the fate of the poor man who saved the king's life be- fore." They ought to have saved his life at any risk ; but they did not do it. 9. And so the want of gratitude in the king ended in the loss of his own life. Be sure, my young friends, that gratitude is a virtue which we all ought to practice, both for our own good and that we may add to the happiness of other 10. Tho little brook, that runs beside the tree, Keeps the roots moist, and helps the leaves to grow ; The tree's return of good you soon shall see ) 'Twill shield the brook from summer's fervid elow. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 65 LESSON XL1II. knew drove gar-den for-bidden grew peo-ple be-came un-hap-py fruit wo-man wick-ed wreteh-ed touch some-thing sin-ner dis-pleas-ed sweet re-main beau-ti-ful per-fect-ly ABOUT ADAM. 1. God did not make all the people in the world at once. He made one man at first, and then he made one woman. The name of the man was Adam, and the woman's name was Eve. 2. There were no other people in the world when they were first made. God made Adam perfectly- good. His heart was good, and all that he did was good. He was not a sinner at first. He loved God, and did right, and was happy, for he knew that God loved him. So was Eve good and happy. 3. God put them in a beautiful garden to live, where all kinds of fruit grew upon the trees for them to eat ; and God let them take care of this beautiful garden, so that they might have something to do, for they would not have been happy, if they had been idle. 4. But I am sorry to tell you that the}' did not re- main good, as God first made them. 5. God told thorn that they might eat the fruit which grew upon every tree in the garden, except one; and God told them not to touch that one, so CO 66 OUR OWN SECOND READER. that he might try them, whether they would always obey him, and love him, and be happy. 6. It* thev had not eaten of the fruit of the tree that God told them they should not eat, they and all their children would have continued as holy and liappy forever, as they were when first created. The world would then have been free from all sin and sorrow. 7. But they did not obey God. They took the fruit which God had forbidden them to touch, and they both ate it. And then their hearts, which al- ways had been good before, became wicked, and they felt afrSid of God, and were very unhappy. 8. O, was not this a very sad thing? God was displeased with them, and would not let them live in that sweet garden any longer; but drove them out of it. O how wretched they were. Their hearts were bad because they had sinned against God, and they were full of sorrow and trouble. 9. When they had some little children of their own, these children were born with wicked hearts, just like their father and mother. They did not have good hearts, as Adam and Eve had when God iirst made them, but the children had sinful hearts be- cause their father and mother had sinned against God, and their children were like them. 10. Ever since that time, all the children that have been bom in the world have had wicked hearts, and it has always been easier to do wrong than to do 'right : OWN SEOfr**). READER. G7 ( 11. Does God love us when wo sin and do what is wrong and wicked \ No. But if we stop and think about it, and are truly sorry for what we have done, and ask him in the name of Christ, he will forgive us. lie wants us to try and do right; and this is the only way to be happy. We cannot be happy when we feel wicked. LESSON XL IV. hoop mere false-hood de-ceiv-ing brought tu-lip cow-ard cer-tain-ly gross mis-chief de-ceive ibr-2:ot-ten speech griev-ed re-mcm-bcr hap-pen-ed break-fast o-ver-heard in-ten-tion AN' H AT IS F A L S E II O D ? 1. Henry was ia the garden one morning very early, playing with his hoop. He had been told not to roll his hoop in the garden, but perhaps he had forgotten that. 2. He had rolled his hoop round two or three Iks, and no harm had happened ; but at last the hoop went, on a llower-bed and broke a very fine tu- lip that Henry's father valued very much. 3. "Father will be very angry, I dare say," said Henry to himself; "but the mischief c had not brought my hoop into the den." 6S . DUB OWN SECOND UEADV.R. 4. Just then his mother came from the house. "Look!" said she; " the high wind lias broken this beautiful tulip." "It was not the wind, mother; it was I who did it," said Henry. 5. "You! Henry; how could you do it?" "I was driving my hoop, mother; and the hoop rolled against the flower." " But you have been told not to drive your hoop in the garden." " Yes, mother, and I am very sorry that I did not play at something else." 6. "And so am I, Henry; for your father will be much grieved at the loss of this flower, which ho prized so highly. He will certainly be very angry with you, and you deserve that he should be so." 1, Then Henry's mother went in to breakfast, and he was going to follow her, when John, the garden- er's son, came along, and, knowing what had hap- pened, said, "Why, Henry, if you had held your tongue, your father would have thought the wind broke the tulip 3 for I should never have said any- thing about it, I promise you." 8. "I never tell a falsehood, John," said Henry. " It would not have been telling one," replied John ; "you need not have spoken a word, when your mother said that the wind had broken the tulip. Would that have been telling a falsehood ?" 9. "It would have been just the same," said Hen- ry; " for it would have been trying to deceive. If I had let my mother think it was the wind that broke the tulip, it would have been deceiving her. We ovii OW] ;;»/;;: may sometimes tell as gross a falsehood by our si- lence as by our words.'' 10. " Right, quite right, my boy !" said Henry's father, who had overheard the boys talking. He had come to rebuke Henry. for breaking the flower, but he now said that he would rather Jose all the flowers in his garden than have cause to think that his son would try to deceive him. 11. "Falsehood," he said, " is the refuge of a cow- ard. To deceive, either by word or deed, by speech or silence, is to be guilty of falsehood. As for you, John, take this lesson to heart 5 remember that it is not a mere form of words, but the intention to de- ceive that makes the He." LESSON XLV. fowls queer re-sult ig no- rant fish-es kitch-en cap-tain gatb-er-ed worms heath-en an-i-mals con-vert-eth quite preach-ers earn-est-ly mul-ti-tude taught think-ing min-is-tcr con-ver-sion LITTLE HENRY AND "THE BIRDS. 1. "Ma, do birds have souls like us?" a;vked little Henry of his mother. " ISTo, my son," said Mrs. Lowe. " Why do you ask . 2. " Because yesterday a man came into the kitch- en for a drink, and he had a whole lot of poor little TO OUR OWN SECOND READER. ■ ; dead birdies, and when I asked him if they would go to heaven, he looked so queer at me, and said he didn't know." 3. Mrs. Lowe smiled. " No, no animals, nor fowls$ nor fishes, nor worms have souls : only men and wo- men, and boys and girls." 4. "Then ma. what did that man say he did not know for? Why didn't he tell me!" " Perhaps he did not mean what he said, or did not think," said Mrs. Lowe. " I hardly think he did not really know." 5. "Don't all people know they've got souls?" asked Henry. "No, the heathen do not know it, and it' they do, they do not know where the soul shall go after trie body dies, nor anything of God who lives in heaven." 6. "Why don't people tell them then?" said Hen- ry, earnestly. "Sometimes preachers do go out to tell them ; but many of the poor heathen live in very warm countries, where white men cannot go, and sometimes they are killed." - 7. Henry thought about what his mother had said, all that day, and after he had said his prayers that night, he went to her side and said, "Mother, when I grow up, may I be a minister, and go out to teach the poor heathen about Jesus Christ, and that they have got souls?" Mrs. Lowe said, "Yes, when you grow up." So Henry went to sleep quite happy. 8. Henry grew up to be a man after many years, and was able to leave his home, and go to India. He felt sorry to leave his aged mother, and all his OUR OWN SECOND READEB. 71 - friends, but lie was more sorry for the poor heathen who were so ignorant, so he was soon on the wide ocean, far away from land. \K The Captain of the vessel was a very good man, and the first Sabbath at sea, he wanted Henry to preach, so all the sailors gathered on the deck to hear him. While he was preaching he told them how he first thought of being a minister to the heathen, after he had asked the hunter whether birds had souls, and when he had finished telling them, the good old Captain came forward, and taking Henry by the hand, said : 10. "Sir, I am that man, and I never shall forget the lesson you taught me. After vou asked me that simple question I began to think, 'If these birds have not souls that can go to heaven or hell, I have; 1 so it me to thinking and thinking more than I ever did before, and the result is, that I now hope to go to heaven and see my Saviour there. God bless you, sir." 11. The tears came into Henry's eyes and into the es of all the sailors, and the Captain sobbed like a little child. Henry thanked God who had put that si ion into his mouth, and made it the mean 3 of the man's conversion ; and so his usefulness com- menced when he was a child, though ho did not in- tend it. 12. Cannot you, little ones, do something for Chiefs cause? The Bible says, "He that oonvert- eth a sinner from the error of his way, saveth a soul from death, and hideth a multitude of sir 73 OtJB OWi. DEE. LESSON XL VI. blue each glow-ed sac-ri-fice hours up- ward bear-ing ])eu-i-tence flight heav*en kneel-ing re-mem-ber smiles droop- eel glid-ed pur- pie plumes mis-spent gen-er-ous child-hood childhood's hours. 1 . Amid the blue and starry sky, A group of Hours, one even Met. as they took their upward flight Into the highest heaven. - 2. And they were going up to heaven, With all that had been done 15y little children, good or bad,* Since the last rising sun. o. And some had gold and purple wings, Some drooped like faded flowers, And sadly soared to tell the tale. That they were misspent Hours. 4. Some glowed with rosy hopes and smileSj And some had many a tear; Others had some kind words and actn To carry upward there. 6. A shining hour, with golden plumes, Was laden with a deed Of generous sacrifice, a child Had done for one in need. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 73 G. And one was bearing up a prayer A little child had .'aid, All full of penitence and love, While kneeling by his bed. 7- And thus they glided on, and gave Their records dark, and bright. To Him, who marks each passing hour Of childhood's day and night. 8. Remember, children of the earth, Each hour is on its way, Bearing its own report to heaven Of all you do and say. LESSON XL VII things verso con-cern con-cern-cd teach help Bi-ble an-oth-er show for-get rcad-ing to-geth-er meant com-mit writ-ten temp-ta-tion through tempt-ed Ben-tence com-mand-ment Tli : rs.. !. The things wl ■•! in the Bible has told m we must do, arc called Ilia commandments. Com- mandments are the things which we are told we must 2. ' : are ma ..... to rea< in the blessed Bi 74 OUR OWN D HEADER, This will help us to remember all through the day what will please God; and when we are tempt- ed to sin, it will help us to resist the temptation, and to do right, for his commandments will be fresh in our minds. •±. When we read the Bible, we must remember that every sentence in it was written for our good, and to teach us how to do right, 5. It' we cannot see at first how the verses we have read concerns us, or teach us anything, then we must stop and think more about them, and pray to God to show us what he meant we should learn from them, or else our reading will not do our hearts good. G. This simple rule will make God's word very pre- cious to us, and in this way a few verses will do us more good, than it would to read all the Bible through, without caring to find out how it concerned us. 7. A number of God's chief commandments are put together in one place, in the first part of the Bible. These are called the ten commandments. 8. In another part of this book, I will tell you these just as they are written in the Bible, and you must then commit them to memory. LKSSON XL VIII. ground Cold cli-mate melt-ed night * snow fg.ath-e.rs chirD-ine a 1- ways froz-en spar-row peo-ple OUR OWN SECOND READER. 75 once pick-ii snow-ed sntn-mer jgs hay-stacks dit-ring suow-birds THE SNOW BIRDS. George.. Oh, mother! the ground is all covered with snow ! Mother. Yes, my dear: it has snowed during the nigh', and covered the earth to the depth of several inches. ■rrje. Oh, look at the pretty snow-birds! See how close they come to the door. But are they not very cold, mother, their feet are so red \ Mother. No, George. The little Bnow-birds are not afraid of the cold. They are all covered with soft and warm feathers. . But are not their feet cold ? When my fe^Hrerc once almost frozen, they were red, just like the snow-birds' feet. Mother. Their feet are always red, in summer as well as in winter. Where do the Bnow-birds go in the bu Hi- ther? I never see them after the whi- ne. love the snow and the cold, and the ' to the north in the summer-time, where they lay' their" < ind hatch their young . Then, if they love tl well, why do they not stay then : 1 1 Id at the 76 OUR OWN SECOND READER. » ■ Mother. They come here for food. In our mild climate, very many plauts grow, the seeds of which are good food for them. George, But it snows here too, mother, and cov- ers up all the ground. Mother. But not often so deep as to cover up the tops of weeds and bushes in the woods and corners of the fields, from which they may still pick the seeds. See, there ! Do }-ou not see that little bird picking out the seeds from a stalk which still lifts it- self above the snow ? George. Oh, yes! Dear little bird ! See! Now it has come up to the door, and is picking up the crumbs from the step. Mother. After a deep snow, they' always come about the houses, and barns, and haystacks, to pick up crumbs and seeds. George. Where are they when it does not snow, or when all the snow is melted? Mother. They are in the woods and the fields, seeking their food from weeds and shrubs. George. They all turn to sparrows in the summer- time, do they not, mother? Mother. No, dear. Did I not tell you that they all leave us, and go away to the north, where the climate is colder. George. Oh, yes. But then I heard Mr. Murray say, that the little chirping sparrows, that live about the house in summer-time, are snow-birds, with new feathers on. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 77 Mother. Other people besides Mr. Murray have thought so. But a sparrow is a sparrow, and a snow- bird, a snow-bird. But come, it is breakfast-time, and you must make yourself ready for school. LESSON XLIX. ech-o heed-ed sup-pose prot-est-ant com-mon dread-ful leav-ing im-pu-dcnt moun-tain slaugh-tcr thank-fill de-rid-ing faint-er beg-ged mas-sa-cre e-vent-ful sol-dier mock-ing sur-pris-ed for-got-ten HJ«0. 0MgP B *'- 1. There is a pretty little saying, which, if not very common, is, I am sure, very true: it is this: " If we speak kind words, we will hear kind echoes !" 2. How is this, and what does it mean?" I fancy I hear a youthful voice exclaim, » well, now, I will show you. 3. If I could take you all at once to a deep valley between two high hills, or put you in some little nook between lofty mountains, or if I could place you in a boat on the lonely waters of a quiet lake, and then bid you to shout your name with ail your might, you might hear it repeated once, twice, yes several times, growing fainter and fainter each time, till it died quite away on your ear. 4. You might think that you had only spoken and TO i8 OUR OWN ::R. yet several secmcci calling. So is some one mocking; but nol \ly yourself, with your own little voice doing it all; so there is no need to be of- fended. You see»what a wonderful power you have of making yourself heard. This, then, is the echo. 5. If you were not to speak, you would hear no echo. God has kindly made all these wonders, and' they ought to teach us a lesson, if we would only think about every thing we see and hear. 6. Kindness is like a sweet, soft echo ; if little chil- dren speak loving words to each other, loving words come back again to them ; and if they do kind ac- tions, kind actions come back again. 7. There was once a little girl at school in France a great many years ago, and she was walking out one day with her companions in some beautiful, large public gardens. It happened that a poor soldier was there on duty, and not being able to leave his post he begged the young ladies to be so kind as to bring him a little water. 8. Her companions, however, heeded him not, ex- cept to say how exceeding impudent it was of a common soldier to speak to them. The little girl, however, had a kind and tender heart, and could not think of leaving a fellow creature in want, when she might assist him. 9. She therefore ran and procured some water, her companions, meantime, deriding her for doing so. When she brought it to the poor soldier, he could not utter half his gratitude, he was so surprised and OUR OWN BECOND KEADKi:. 79 thankful; but he asked her name and where she lived, anfl then she went away. 10. Not many days after, a dreadful massacre took place, in that city, of all tho Protestants, but that little girl was saved"; and how, do you think? The poor soldier had not forgotten his little friend ; the kind action had gone deep, even into the heart of one used to scenes of cruelty and bloodshed, and the little girl felt the glad echo amidst the slaughter and gloom of that very eventful day, 11. Now go and practice my story, dear children ; let your lips breathe forth only gentle tones and words, and be ready at all times to do an act of love and kindness towards any human being. Speak gently! 'tis a little word, Dropped in the heart's deep well; The love, the joy that it may bring, Eternity will tell. LESSON L. sneez-ed cel-hir p jr-haps break-fast mew-ed morn-ing ex-cept laugh- ed brought tow-el e-nough pleas-ant kit-ten play-ful Su-san mis-chiev-ous M A R Y S K I T T E X . 1. I once knew a little girl named Mary. She had a little kitten that had blue eyes, and was all white 60 OUR OWN SECOND READER. except the tip of its tail and one paw, which wore black. 2. The kitten loved Mary very much. Ejery morning she would Come to her door, and, when it pened, she would run in and jump on her hed, and pur, and rub her face against Mary's cheek, as if to say, "Good-morning!" 3. She was a playful little kitten, too. When Mary was dressing, she would run after her, and play with her shoe-strings, so that sometimes Mary was not dressed when the breakfast bell was rung. 4. One day, Mary went to see her aunt, and on her return home, she could not find her kitten. She called all over the house, but the kitten did not come. "Oh, mother!" said she, "I fear my kitten is lost." 5. Her mother opened the cellar-door, and called "Kitty, kitty !" In a moment, a little kitten came running up the stairs. As soon as Mary saw her, she began to cry, and said, "This is not my kitten : my kitten is all white, and this one is all black." 6. And, sure enough, the little mischievous crea- ture had been among the coal, and was so full of the black coal-dust, that you would have thought she had never been white. Mary's mother laughed, and she said, "Kitty is something like my little girl. AVhen she is cross, I say, 'That is not my little Mary, for my little girl is pleasant, and this little girl'js cross.' Let Susan wash kitty, and perhaps she will be white again." 7. Susan brought a pail of water and some soap, OUR OWN SECOND READER. 81 and held the kitten fast in the pail while she rubbed her well. Kitty did not like it much, and tried to get away. $he sneezed and mowed, as the water gd$ into her mouth. But pretty soon she was all white again, and, Susan rubbed her as dry as sho could with a towel) and put her into Mary's apron. •8. Mary ran smiling into her mother's room. " Oh ! here is my white kitten come back again, 5 ' she said. And, sure enough, the kitten was as pretty as ever. 9. "Now the kitten is like my little Mary, when. she is good," said her mother. " I then say,' I am so glad to have my pleasant little girl back again, in- stead of the cross child who was here a short time asro." LESSON LI a-round belongs sweet-est AVil-kins lift ed reach-ed far mer be-long-ed al-read-y gainst car-ri-ed ten-der-ly THE LAMB. 1. AS Clara Wood was on her way to school one Oay, she found a little lamb lying in the soft, greea grass. She looked all around, but its dam was not k> be seen. She lifted it tenderly in her arms, and carried it back to her home. 2. As sho walked along, the lamb laid its head ' i face with 82 OUR OWN SECOND READER its mild eyes. Already she loved it ; and when she reached home, she said : o. "Dear mother! Look here, I have the sweet- est little lamb ! It. wart all alone in the Held, and I have brought it home. May it be mine, mother? I will give it some of my bread and milk, and oh ! I will love it very much." 4., But Clara's mother said that the lamb, no'crgjnbt, belonged to farmer Wilkins. and- that it would not bo right for her to keep it. 5. Then Mrs. Wood, seeing how sad Clara looked, said : " It would be wrong, my love, for you to keep what belongs to farmer Wilkins. If you had a lamb, and it were lost, would you think it right for the per- son who found it to keep it as his own ?" 6. Clara Wood, though a little girl, saw in a mo- ment that she had no right to keep the lamb. She then said, with tears in her eyes: "I must carry it over to farmer Wilkins?" 7. " Yes, dear. It may be his : but, if not, he can tell you to whom it belongs." 8. Clara took the lamb in her arms again, and car- ried it over to farmer Wilkins, LESSON LII, fields ground , stoop-ing skip-ping brought 'flocks fcnow-ii look-ing found vthou^h bringing re pli-ed OuR OWN SECOND EEADEK 8! the lamb— {Concluded.) 1. "1 found this dear little lamb all alone in the fields, as I went to school," said Clara, when she saw the farmer, "Mother said it must be yours; and I have brought it over to you." 2. « Yes, it is my lamb," said' farmer Wilkins, as ho took the little animal from her arms; "and you are a good girl for bringing it home to me. If the dogs had found it, they would have torn it all to pieces." 3. As the farmer said this, he put the lamb upon the ground, but, as Clara thought, not very gently Stooping down, she put her arms around its neck and kissed it. Then looking into the farmer's face, she said: "Yon will not hurt the poor lamb, sir, Will yon *" 4. "Oh, no, child, I will not hurt it." As the farmer said this, he saw that there were tears in the eyes of the little girl, and knowing that she loved the lamb, and would like to keep it, he said: "If that lamb were yours, what would you do with it?" 5. "Oh ["replied she, "I would feed it with new milk from our cow every day ; and I would make it a nice soft bed to sleep on, where no cold nor rain can touch it. And I would love it so much 6. "Take it, then, m I littl* sa id tfi* farmer. "I have a great many Iambs in i and shall not miss this one. r i 7. Oh, I am so glad !» said cni ] d Then lifting the lamb once more into her arms she ranhci ^ sha could. She nnr.ed Da Ouii OWN SECOND El the lamb with so much care, that it scarcely missed the mother from which it had been taken. It soon learned Clara's voice, and would follow her about, and sport with her as playfully as a kitten. 8. Every day, when she went to school. 'Jier mother had to shut the lamb up in the house to keep it from following her ; but when she came home, it would see her a good way off, and run, skipping along, to meet her. 9. Though the lamb could not tell, in words, how much it loved its dear young friend, yet Clara could read love in its e} r es ; and she knew all it would have saidj if it had been gifted with speech. LESSON LIU. heav-en hum-ble mark-ed ear-li-est pas-tor beneath gen-tlo lan-guish-in,?; pleas-ant rio-ble cre-ate pa-tient-ly do-light carn-est meek-ncss re-new -ed "how far is heaven?" 1. " How far is heaven from me, mother ?" Asked little Jane one i » i Our ] that some ai And others far away. \n-l when my I David died, and dea You told me he had gone to heaven, That he had long been near. 3. Please tell me what you mean, mother, Wdo not' understand, How one can live and walk on earth And yet be near that land." My little Jane," the mother said, " When you were with Aunt dare, Did not your thoughts oft turn to home, And to the Loved ones there V i>. " Yes, mother, though my frienda were kind, •jtf^nd 'twas a pleasant place, ^Rhouglit of home each day and night, And longed to sec your face/' 6. " And thus it is, my little Jane, *8 With all God's children here; - They think of heaven, their Father's house, And hold it" very di 7. The law of God is their delight, Sweet peace to them is given, And though they live and walk on earth, Yet they arc near to heav- S. Of such your brother David w: mild : I I years, OUR OWN SECOND EEADEE. 9. The days of languishing and pain patiently he bore. And gentle words he spoke to all, — How oft I think them o'er !" 10. ; ' Yes, mother, onee he said Jo me, (His voice was very low.) Janie my Father calls me home, And I am glad to go. 11. It is a solemn thing to die, But I have not a fear ; Jesus walks with me through the vale, And heaven ! it is so near." 12. While Janie spoke the mother wept For him beneath the sod, The gentle, noble, loving boy, So early gone to God. 13. That night when Janie knelt to pray, 'Twas with more earnest tone, ,. That God would new create her heart, And make her all His own. 14. And from this time the mother marked, That she in meekness grew, And daily sought for strength divine, Her Father's will to do. 15. And now to Jane, renewed in heart, By-God himself twas given, To know how one can live on earth, And vet be near to heaven. OUR OWN ■r-Tdylu RFADFR. 87 LESSON LIV. loaves si i eaves strip-pod rab-bits float flow-ers COV-01'3 snm-mer scents mead-owa yelp-in g win-ter stream pros-pee t squir-rels an -tu mn T II F F O i: R B E A SON 1. How mild and fine is Spring! The rose puts forth its leaves. The fruit-trees are in full bloom. The snow-drop grows up at our feet. Sweet scents float on the soft gale. 2. Come, Charles and Ann, and let us walk upon the green grass. Hark! what hum do we hear? It is a hive of bees; how busy they are! The bees sip Atheir sweets from the flowers ; they form small cells with wax ; they toil all the days that are fair; when cold, they keep close to their hives. 8. The vine climbs up the high wall; the hop clings around the tall poles; the rose, though so sweet, has a thorn; the .bee, with its sweets, ha9 a sting. Summer has now come, and the cool dews have left the earth. Now the hi^h sun darts his beams. The Hocks and herds seek the cool shade. The fruits are now red on the trees. The meadows are thick with high grass. 5. The sweet hay scents the vale. The men and spread the h. - help to toss tho new 88 OUR OWN SECONT' REAPER. mown grass. Let vis sit down on the new made hay. 6. The cool stream winds through the vale ; the little boat skims down the stream ; soft sounds float on the still air. Let us sit down in the cool shade. Then we will go home through the grove. 7. See, the trees bend with the ripe fruit of Au- tumn. The wheat looks bright like gold. The ears are now ripe on the stem ; they bend down the stalk. The ears are full of ripe wheat. 8. The men now reap the high grain ; then they tie it up in large heaps. See the sheaves ; how thick they stand ; the team goes home with the load. 0. See the stacks in the farm-yard. The large barns are full of grain. Let us sit down near the stacks. The woods ring with the voice of joy. The # glad farmer, in near prospect, views his spacious barns filled with various grain. 10. Stern Winter has now come, and the frost is hard on the ground. Charles, call James and- Ann to me. Where are your hats and coats? Let us walk round the fields. 11. The trees are now stripped of their leaves. The birds sit still on the boughs. The ice hangs from the high roof; the snow and ice shine in the sun. See, the boys and men slide and skate upon the ice which covers the pond. 12. Hark! do you hear the sound of the horn, the yelping of the hounds, and the gun ? Now I feel for the poor birds, the squirrels, and the rabbits. OCR OWN SECOND READER. 80 LESSON LV, pass-ing jump-ed en-vi-ous of-fer-cd gar- den at-tempt . schol-ai* hap-pert-ed clus-ter luck-y want-ed ob-tain-ed trol-iis noth-ing some-times un-der-^tand SOUR GRATES. (A Fat 1. A fox, passing by a garden, one day, saw some very sweet and ripe grapes, hanging in clusters from the vines. But the vines had been trained, as tines should be, on a high wall or on a tall trellis, and ho could not reach them. 2. He jumped up and ran round the vines, and tried'every way in his power to get grapes. But all was in vain, lie could not reach one of them. 3. At last, tired in the vain attempt to reach them, he went off, saying to himself, "They are nothing but sour grap p all. I would not pick them up if they were lying at my feet." 4-. Sometimes, little boys and girls act just as the fox did. If they want something which they have tried to get, and fincl^hat some one else has been so lucky as to obtain it, they r nothing, and they would not take it if they could get it. 5. John Carney an en. had his the oi' his 6. ft so happened that James Read obtained the 90 OUR OWN SECOND READER. prize,. and John Carney, who wanted it very much, having failed, said to James, "You feel very proud because you have the prize. I would not take it, if the master would give it to me." 7. In saying and doing so, John acted just as the fox did, when he could not reach the grapes. 8. !N"ow, if. you hear any one say, "Sour grapes," I hope you will understand what it means. LESSON LVI. les-son ap-pear dis-grace pa-tience suc-ceed con-quer re-ward on-ly cour-age pre-vail a-gain per-se-vere TRY, TRY A a A I N . 1. 'Tis a lesson you should heed — Try— try again ; If at first you don't succeed, Try — try again. Then your courage should appear, For if you will persevere, You will conquer — never fear — Try — try again. 2. Once or twice though you should fail, Try — try again j If you would at last prevail, Try — try again; If we strive, 'tis no d*sgra< OUR OWN SECOND READER. 91 Though wo may not win the race ; What should you do in that case ? Try — try again. 3. If you find your task is hard, Try — try again; Time will bring you your reward ; Try — try again. All that other folks can do, Why with patience should not you? Only keep this rule in view ; Try— try again. LESSON LVII. bo-hold * hush-ed wis-dom pleasant do-light for-BOok re-ward lul-la-by gen-tle roek-ed pret-ty at-lcc-tion-aio MY MOTHER. 1. When first my eyes beheld the light: AVho said those little eyes were bright, And that I was her heart's delight ? My Mother. 2. AVho fed mo from her gentle brc;. And hushed me in her arms to rest, And on my check -d? My mother. :;. When sleep forsook my open eye, Who n ullaby, 92 OUP. OWN SECOND READER. And rocked me, that I should not cry? My mother. 4. Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty .story tell. Or kies the place to make it well ? My mother. 5. Who taught my infant lips to pray, And love God's holy book and day, And walk in wisdom's pleasant way ? My mother. . 6. And can I ever cease to be Affectionate and kind to thee, Who wast so very kind to me. My mother? V. no; the thought I could not bear; And if God please my life to spare. I hope I shall reward thy care, Mv mother. LESSON LVIII. read-iDg Eng-land cap-tain fast-on-ed drift-ing look-ed drown-ed swal-low-ed roll-ed pray-ed New- York sup-pos-ed hun-dred toss-ed sur-pris-ed prov-i-denco thous-and hun-ger AMnn-tic Ncw-Jer n fffUl C II I L T> R E N I N A 71 1. I have just been reading about two little boys, who lived at a place called Egg-Harbor, upon the coast of New-Jersey. 2. One day, when one of them was about nine' years old, and the other seven, these children saw a boat fastened to the shore, and cot into it to play ;' but somehow the boat got loose with the little boys in it, and they soon found that they were drifting out upon the sea. 3. They lost sight of their father's house ; they be- gan to see less -and less of the town, and at length they got so far that they could not see the land. The waves rolled one after another, and drovo their boat far out into the Atlantic Ocean. 4. The Atlantic Ocean is the great wide sea be- tween this country and England. It is about three thousand five hundred miles wide. If you have a ma}) of the world you may find it, and think how much these little bo} r s must have been fright when they looked round and saw nothing but water. When the dark night came on, and they were tossing about on tho wide sea, Far from their home, their warm bod, and their mother's care, they lay down and wept. 6. Perhaps, they thought of thoir Father in heaven, and pi . care of them. Even li children may pi I. It V e who could keep them from being swallowed up by the dying and hunger. 91 OUR OWN SECOND READER. 7. Two days and two nights were they tossed about in the boat, and could see nothing but water all around them. 8. At length, in this time of great distress, their boat was seen by some people in a ship going to Eng- land. The sailors were surprised at the sight of the children, and took them up, when they must have been almost dead with cold, hunger and grief. 9. The ship went on its way, and came near to England. Here they met another ship going to New- York, and the Captain of the ship, who had taken them out of the boat, gave them to the other Captain to take care of them and bring them home, 10. He brought them to their parents, who sup- posed that their dear boys had been drowned, and had mourned for them as dead. But now their sor- row was turned into jo} r , and the parents and chil- dren rejoiced together at meeting once more. 11. These children never forgot the kind Provi- dence that watched over and preserved them when ex- posed to such dangers. They lived to be good, pious men. and with gratitude to God, often spoke of His goodness in restoring them to their home and friends. LESSON LIX. tongues knowl-edge se-lec-tions un-seem-ly faith moun-tains char-i-ty pro-vok-ed hope cym-bal suf-fer-eth re-joic-eth brass bear-eth mys-ter-ies in-i-qui-ty OUR OWN SECOND READER. 95 » — BIBLE SELECTIONS. 1 Cor. 13. 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, (that is, love,) I am bo- come as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove moun- tains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind ; Charity envieth not ; Charity vaunteth not itself, Is not puffed up ; Doth not behave itself unseemly; Seeketh not her own. 5. Is not easily provoked, Thinketh no evil, llejoiceth not in iniquity, But rejoiceth in the truth ; Beareth all things, Believeth all things, Hopeth all things, Endureth all things. Charity never iaileth. 6. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity. 96 oi oond hi:a. LESSON LI. shep-herd coin-fort mer-cy re-stor-eth mak-eth wa-ters pres-ence right-eoiis-ness pastures run-neth val-ley pre-par-est lead-eth sure-ly simner a-noint-est be-side good-ness pro-tects en-e-mies psalm 23. 1. The Lord is toy shepherd, I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the stilt waters. 3. He restoreth my sonl ; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the -shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me, In the presence of mine enemies : Thou annointest my head with oil ; My cup. runneth over. 0. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the day: y life: And I- veil In the house of the Lord fo OITK OWN READER. TI Y ~K N . 1. God is my friend : I need not fear, For he is good and always near; And he will keep me by his power, From day to day, from hour to hour, 2. I am a sinner: but I know — For God's own word lias told me so — • That Jesus Christ came down from heaven To die, that T might be forgiven. >ne thing there is that I must dread, And that is sin ; for Cod has said, That those whom he protects from ill, Must love his ways, and do his will. LESSON LXI. sword sprang a-fraid mos-qui-to snake walk-ed laugh-ed mor-ti-lied cried coun-try rat-tic -snake re-mem-ber THE II O Y W H B O A 8 T E D . 1. Charles is a boy whom wc all like, but he has one bad habit: he is too apt to boast, lie will tell yon what great things he would do if he had a gun and a sword, and were in battle. __ 2. He will toll yon that he has the. best hat in school, and the best po ; that his father is C$ country, and his dog tho 1 I'hai'h's.and hi 98 our ow t r> reader. ter as they wore going to scliool. We walked along together. It was a warm day, and we thought we would go through the woods. 4. Charles's sister said that she was afraid of snakes. " ! you needn't be afraid of snakes," said Charles; "if I were to see one, I would just take up a big stone, and let him have it. Who's afraid of a snake \ I could manage a whole nest of snakes." 5. "But," saicLI, " aro you not afraid of a rai tie- snake? There was one killed near this place last June.'*— r u Afraid of a rattle-snake!" cried Charles; " why I would kill Rattlesnake as easily as I would a mosquito." 6. Xo sooner had he said this, than his sister cried out, " O ! Charles, look, there in the road ! Take re!" Charles looked, and saw what he supposed was a snake, In a moment all his boasted courage vanished; and, with a cry of terror, he sprang away from the object in the road, his hat failing off as he ran. 7. His sister laughed, and I laughed; for it was nothing but a whip-lash which lay in the road, and which looked a little like a snake. Charles ran some distance, as if chased by a de£en rattle-snakes; but, on learning < back. 8. He was a good deal mortified by this show of alarm. Boyw who 1- ; are almost always cow- ards. Whenever G ' hears him boasting loudly no a friendly way, in his ear, " Be member tin He does not boasl as much :•■ id, OUR OWN SECOND READER. 09 LESSON LXII. neigh-bor break-fast learn-ed what-ev-or be-long bas-kets faitb-ful in-quir-ed hon-est hold-ing guard-ing de-term-in-ed pum-mer slip-ped step-ped at-tempt-ed land-lord largest op-po-site bon-est-y HONESTY R E W A R D E D . 1. Charles was an honest bo} r , but his neighbor, Jack Pilfer, was a thief. Charles would never take any thing for his own which did not belong to him ; but Jack would take whatever he could get, and when he found any tiling that was lost, he would never restore it to the owner. 2. Early one summer's morning, as Charles 'was going to school, ho met a man opposite the public house, who had oranges to sell. The man wished to stop and get his breakfast, and asked Charles if he would hold his horse while he went into the house. 3. But he first inquired of the landlord, if he knew Charles to be an honest boy, as he would not like to trust his oranges with him, if he was not. 4. "Yes," said the landlord; "I have known Charles all his life, and have never known him to lie or steal; all the neighbors know him to be an honest boy, and I will engage your oranges will be as safe with him as with yourself." 5. The orange man then put the bridle into LOT) Charles's hand, and wont into the Louse to eat his breakfast. C>. Very soon Jack Pilfer came along the road, and seeing Charles holding the horse, he asked him whose horse he had there, and what was in the bas- kets on the horse? Charles told him that the owner of the horse was in the h< .ml that there were oranges in the baskets. 7. As soon as Jack found there were oranges in the baskets, he determined to have one, and going up to the basket, he slipped in his hand and took out one of the largest, and was mailing off with it. 8. But Charles said, u Jack, you shall not steal these oranges while I have the care of them, and so you ma}fc just put that one back into the basket." 9. " Not I," said Jack, " as lam the largest, I shall do as I please;" but Charles was not afraid of him, and taking the orange out of his hand, he threw it back in the basket. 10. Jack then attempted to go round to the other side, and take one from the other basket; but as lie stepped too near the. horse's heels, he received a violent kicljg^Tiich sent him sprawling to the ground. 11. His cries soon brought out the people from the house, and when they learned what had happened, ^Wf said that Jack was rightly served ; and the orange man, taking Charles's 1 ed it with oranges, as ho said he had been so faithful in guarding them, he should have all f otttfc cm ■:. 10i LESSON LXIII. Bwell-ing foar-fnl wheel-ed should-er-ed ban-ners play-ed ram-rod bayo-net mns-kets charff-ed be-hind com-mis-sion nt-ed cx-cept luul-lcn car-ri-cd r j YOUNG SOLDIERS* ' . Oh ! wore you ne'er a school-boy, And did you never train, id feel that swelling of the heart Yuii ne'er can feci again? j (ids: never meet, far down the street) With plumes and banners gay, While the kettle, for the kettle-drum, Played your march, march away ? ■'. It seems to me but yesterday, Nor scarce* so km Since all our school their muskets U»:>L, To charge the fearful foe. Our mi; ir wood, With ramrod bright and new; With bi An ted baric 1. I And | all to night; ■ 102 OtJR OWN SECOND READER. "We routed him, we Bcouled him, Nor lost a single man ! 4. Our captain was as brave a lad As e'er commission bore; All brightly shown his now tin sword, A paper cap he wore : He led us up the steep hill-Hide, Against the western wind, While the cockerel plume that decked hia head Stream' d bravely out behind. 5. We shouldered arms, we carried arms, We charged the bayonet; And woe unto the mullen stalk That in our course we met. At two o'clock the roll we called. And till the close of day, With fearless hearts, though tired limbs, We fought the mimic fray, Till the supper bellf from out the dell, Bade us march, march away. LESSON LXIV. crea-ture com-eth treas-ure em-ploy-ed les-son pleas-nre hon-ey gath-er-ing in-sect por-tion . per-plex ben-c-fit im-proves mis-chief proru-ise in-struc-tioa e-nough child-hccd ia-dua -tri-ons mem-ory OCR OWN SECOND HEWER. 103 T U K B E E . 1. What an industrious little creature the bee is; and what a lesson docs she teach little boys and girls ; nay, all of us; for we may all learn from her what a happy. thing it is to be well employed. 2. This little insect improves every hour while the sun is shining, and it is dry enough for her to be out, »She works while it is day, for dit cometh when she cannot work. 3. But the bee is not employed in gathering food for herself only ; nor ir>ereh lor her own pleasure, She employs her little portion of time for the benefit of others also, — for you and me. And what pleasant food she makes ! 4. And now, my dear young readers, try how hap- py you can be ; and how much good you can do. Instead of hanging about, as some idle children do, or perhaps gettingjnto mischief, do you try and im- prove each hour of your childhood. 5. This is the time f afa rou to lay up a store of knowledge, which, ^ha£»ii grow up to be men and women, will be like a^wtune, to be used not only for your own benefit and comfort, but also that of others. This will pi tor than h 6. Man many an of those we love : so be e to look back on th< ind from them. 7. I 104 on; own second reader. Will perplex you ; business will press upon you ; and even sorrow and poverty may overtake you. Then you will find how useful is the store laid up in your minds ; and the vast benefit of having been busily and well employed in youth. 3, But above all, lay up in your memories, and in your hearts, the word of God. Then when old age conies upon you, and the night when you cannot work, you will find a treasure indeed laid up within. Many are the promises to which you will turn with delight : and find them sweeter, yes, far sweeter, than honey and the honey comb. h J£ S S O N L X V wear tail-or ma-chino im-ag-ine wool wa-ter con-elude * ^rec-ol-lect grew hu-man ilee-ees lib-er-ty shears bo-soni worst pit-e-ous-ly threads wo~ven ; low ; jour-ney-men lion-or mead-ow sbep-lu ' ter-rupt-ed B T O It r O F t HE COAT, 1. "I think it would be very funny to hear my coat speak/' said Edward one day, after he had been reading a fable about birds and beasts that spoke to one another. A few moments after, a voice came from the bosom of the coat, and spoke as follows : 1 1 recollect once \ g on the back of a R OWN SECOND READER. 105 sheep." Edward could not help starting back with surprise; however, he interrupted the voice, saying, "I am afraid, Mr. Coat, you do not know what you are talking about, for coats do not grow, nor do sheep wear coats." 3. "Ah!" replied the voice, "I was only wool when I grew on the back of the she^p, and a very pleasant life we led together, spending all the day in the green fields, and resting at night on the grass. We long led this quiet life, till one day the shepherd and his dog drove all the sheep into a stream of water, which ran close by. 4. " The sheep on which I grew was sadly fright- ened; and, for my part,-I could not imagine what they were going to do with me, they rubbed and scoured me so much. But when it,was over, I looked so clean and white, that I was quite vain of my beauty, and I thought we were now to return and frisk in the meadow, as we had done before. But, alas! instead of setting the sheep at liberty, the shep- herd took out a large pair of shears. f>. " Only imagine our fright! The poor sheep, a* I believe, thought his head was going to be cut oft', and began to bleat most piteonslv ; but the shepherd hold him down, and began cutting me off close to the skin. Although the shears did not hurt me, be- cause I could not feeJ, yet I was much frightened. I could not bear the thought of being parted from my dear friend, the -r we had L r r"\vn up to- gether, ever since he | lamb. L 106 OUE o\;:, SECOND ULAvLl;. 6. " After I was taken off, I was packed in a bag with a great many other fleeces, and sent to some mills in a place called Lowell, where there were many strange little things that were forever twisting and turning round. These seized hold of us, and pulled us, and twisted us about in such a wonderful manner, that we were all drawn out into worsted threads, so unlike wool, that I hardly knew myself again. 7. "But it was still worse, when, sometime after- ward, they plunged me into a large kettle of dirty- looking water. When 1 was taken out, instead of being white, I was of a bright blue color, and looked very beautiful. After this I was sent to the cloth mills, where my threads were stretched in a machine called a loom, and I was woven into a piece of cloth. I was then folded up, and lay quiet for some time." " Indeed," said Edward, "I think yon needed a little rest after going through so many changes." 8. "Some time after," resumed the voice, "I was bought by a tailor, and placed on a shelf in his shop, when one day you and your father came in, and ask- ed to see some cloth to make you a coat. I was taken down and unfolded on the counter with several other pieces, and if you remember, you chose me on account of my beautiful color.'' 9. "So 1 did,"' said Ldward, il but you arc hot blight a blue as you were then." 10. " Something the worse for wear," replied, the coat ; "if you stain jse, and cover me with dust, that is your fault, not'miiifc. But to conclude i OL R J Q i m the tailor took out his large shears, which reminded me of those that had cut me from the sheep, and cut me into the shape of a coat, I was then spwed up by some journeymen, who sat cross-legged on a table. When I w*5 finished, I was sent to yon, and ever since I have had the honor of covering the back of a human being, instead of that of a sheep." LESSON LXVI. neigh-bors list-en earn-c reda-tione anx-ious ven-ture de-pend • olv-ed mor-row ab-eence de-#ign-ed them-selves THE'lARK AND II E R Y U j& 1, A lark once built a nest in a fit Id of wheat, which grew ripe before her young They were just getting their feathers, and tl nga were only half y whom are all our blessings given. And who so gently leads him Far from the fowler's snare ? And who so kindly feeds him And shows such-render care? Our Father, God, who stoops to show II is grace to creatures here below. \nd who a dress provides him fill and warm ? Who in tin: hides him, Amid the raging storm? Our Father. God} extends ilis care Through heaven, and earth, and sea and air IVj our own second reader. 4. Does God full many a favor, To little sparrows give? And shall we not endeavor, By faith on Him to live ? Our Father, God, who reigns above. Is worthy of our highest love. LESSON LXXL Scot-land* break-fast learn-ed o-blig-ed searee«ly pro-cure kind-ness at-ten-tion sup-port schol-ar com-fort-a-ble ac-cmavnt-anee HUGH MILLER. 1. There was a poor little boy in Scotland* Hot many years ago, who had very little to eat or drink r and scarcely any comfortable clothing. 2. His parents were very poor. He' bad to stay away from school, most of the time, and work hard tc support himself and his father's family, 3. When old enough to work all day, he bad id make fences and walls of great heavy stones. Some- times he had to sleep out, where the rain fell upon him during the night. He had nothing to eat but a little oat-meal, which he was obliged himself to cook, when he wanted his breakfast, his dinner, or his supper. 4. When he had done a hard day's work, instead of playing with other boys and men with whom he worked, he used to take such books aa he could find, and go into his tent by himself to read them, R OWN SECOND READER. 117 5. Ho found it not easy to procure books ; but, when he could get one, he would read it through, and study it well, until he knew all that was in it. G. In this way, he worked and studied for a num- ber of years, until ho became quite a wise man. lie was a mere stone mason, but he became so good a scholar, that many great men said they wished they could talk and write as well as he. did. 7. Now, this man, who was the poor boy you have just read about, became one of the most, learned men in the world. Every one who knew him, looked up to him with MJ&peet, Wherever he went, he was treated with great kindness and attention. The rich and the learned were proud of his acquaintance. His name was Hugh Miller, and he lived in Scotland. LESSON LXXII. nail cof-Iin lone-ly thou-sand ayes in-vito- prat-tle trans-ports dread ly-ing . con-ceal he-ro-ic truth au-thor * brave-ly qual-i-ty pains pleas-ed ro-ceive fa-vor-ite ycuth hatch-et qnes-tion gen-er-al jt praise a-void chop-ping ac-ci- dent; vis-it es-teem eon-scious re-la-ti G r J AND THE HATCHET. 1. Never, perhaps did a parent take more pains, than did t!*e father of General Washington to inspire OUR OVv T N SECOND READER. his son George with an early love of truth. " Truth, George," said he, u is the most lovely quality of youth. I would ride fifty miles, my son, to see the boj T whose heart is so honest, and whose lips so pure, that wo may depend on every word he says. 2. " How lovely does such a child appear in the eyes of every body ! His parents dote on "him. His relations glory in him. They praise him before their children, and wish them to follow his example. They often invite him to visit them, and when he comes, they receive him with joy, and treat him as one whose \isits the} r esteem- the greatest favor. 3. " But oh ! George, how far from this is the case with the boy who is given to lying! Good people avoid him wherever he goes; and parents dread to see him in compan} T with their children. 4. " Oh, George, my son, rather than see you come to this pass, dear as you are to me, gladly would I as- sist to nail you up in your little coffin, and follow you to your grave. 5. " Hard, indeed, it would be to me to give up my son, whose feet are always so ready to run about with me, and whose smiling face and sweet prattle make so large a part of my happiness. But still I would give him up, rather than see him' a common liar." 0. " Father," said George, with tears in his QjWf ^ol ever tell lies?" 7. " ISTo, George ; I thank God you do not, my son ; the hope you never will. \Yhen- £&r ; by Occident, you do any thing wrong, which OUR OWN SECOND READER. 1VJ must often be the case, as you are but a little boy yet, you must, never say what is not true, to conceal it, but come bravely up, my son, like a little man, and tell me of it." 3. .When George was about six years old, lie was made the owner of a little hatchet, with which he was much pleased, and went about chopping every thing that came in his way. One day, when in the garden, he unluckily tried the edge of his hatchet on* the body of a line 3 T oung English cherry-tree, which. he barked so badly as to destroy it. 9. The next morning, the old gentleman, finding out what had befallen his favorite tree, came into the house, and with much warmth, asked who was- the author of the mischief. Nobody could tell him: any thing about it. At this moment, in came George with his hatchet. 10. "George," said his father, "do you know who killed that fine cherry-tree yonder, in the garde: This was a hard question ; George was silent for a moment; and then, looking at his father, his young face bright with conscious love of truth, ho bravely cried out, " I can't tell a lie, father ; you know I can't tell a lie. I cut it with my hatchet." 11. "Come to my arms, my dearest boy!" cried Biis father, in transports; "come to' my arms! you killed my cherry-tree, George, but you have now paid me for it a thousand fold. Such proof of heroic truth in my son, is of more value than a thousand trees, though the; j all of the purest gold." 120 'OT'R OWN D READER LESSON LXXIII. noth-ing eol-dier gray-beard cliris-tian maid-en herds-man mi-ser au-thor seam-stress sail-or states-man school-boy elng-gard sex-ton mon-arch to-mor-row WHAT IS EARTH? 1. What do you ask 1 What is the earth on which we live"? It is just what we make it. Some use it for one thing, and some for another. 2. If the "school-boy thinks of nothing, and cares for nothing but play, then the earth is to him merely •■ a place for play. 3. If a man places all his thoughts upon getting riches, and cares for nothing else, then the earth is to him merely a place for making money. 4. What is earth, school-boy? — A plate for my play What is earth, maiden ? — A place to be gay. What is earth, seamstress ? — A place where I weep. What is earth, sluggard ? — : A good place to sleep. What is earth, soldier ? — A place for a battle. What is earth, herdsman ? — A place to raise cattle. 5. What is earth, widow? — A place for true sorrow. ^ What is earth, tradesman ? — I'll tell you to-morrow. ^^ man ?•—- 'Tis nothing to n What is < •;';.. s: ilor? — My home is the si What is earth, sexton ? — A place to dig graves. What is -earth, rich man ? — A place to work slaves. DUE OiVX SECOND READER. 121 _ . 6. What is earth, graybeard ? — A place to grow old. What is earth, miser? — A place to dig gold. What is earth, statesman I — A place to win fame. "What is earth, author? — I'll write there my name. What i;> earth, monarch? — For my realm veil. What is earth.. Christian ? — The gateway to heaven. LESSON LXXIV. plat-lng tor-toise sup-port con-tra-ry bark-iug eagle al- though sat-is-fied mew-i; iind-ing at-ternpt un-a-ble well-bred de-sir-ed com-pa-ny na-ture TnE EAGLE AND THE TORTOIS E— (^.1 Fable.) 1. Little boys are often fond of playing horse, and pretending that they are dogs or cats. Sometimes tliey make a noise like a dog barking or a cat mew- ing. 2. This is all very well, when they are at play among themselves, to amuse each other. But when they are in the company of their parents and friends, they should make no such noises, but conduct them- selves like good and well-bred boys. 3. No one should pretend to be what he is not, and no one should try to be what he never can be. 4. A story is told of a. tortoise who wished very much to be a bird. The story is a fable, and a fable is a story which is not true; but, although it is not ] 22 OtfB OM N SECOJN1 true, it is so much like a true story, that it always teaches a useful lesson. The tortoise is a creature that can swim very fast in the water. When out of the water, it can walk only slowly, and with great labor, it has a hard and thick shell on its hack, from which combs and other useful things are made. G. An eagle is a very large bird, and it flies very high and fast in the air. The tortoise wished very much to be a bird, and to fly in the air. He thought that he could be a bird, if any one would teach him how to fly. 7. Seeing the eagle, one day, the tortoise bo; that lie would teach him to fly. But the eagle told the silly tortoise that flying was a tiling he could not do, because it was contrary to his nature. 8. But the tortoise was not satisfied. lie begged the eagle to take him up into the air, and then let ■ fly down to the earth. 9. The eagle, finding that nothing else would sat- isfy the tortoise, did as he was desired. He took the tortoise up very high into the air, and then .let him drop. The poor foolish tortoise, being unable to sup- port himself in the air, fell down upon a rock and was dashed to pieces. lu. Y\ r e may learn from this fable, that if we try to be, or to do, what, from our nature, we cannot be, or do, we may fail in our attempt, and be brought to a sad end. lilly tortoit I LESSON I, XXV. pre-cious cheer-tul sea sons min.d-fitl shi-ning ble an-ni-ver-sa-ry naught y com-mand kin-V birth-day mween TO. LITTLE HENRY ON HI 8 LIRTII-DAY, 1. Above thy head, ray gentle 1 Another ycai' hath rolled, Days, \ and months have flitted by, — Four seasons have been told. 2. A God of love with hand unseen Ilatji kept all harm away, And brought, thee to behold in peace This anniVers'ry day, 8. Still may that love watch over the Thy little feet att< And as another year i Still may that hand defend. 4. Long be the precious 1 thine, Now in thy path-way strown, — A mother's love, a father's care, Health. 5. Thank God, my brother, Tie doth Bend These precious gift Of all Ilir 0, ever mindful • G. Fear God. m I , I 1 U.I ■ 121 OUR OWN SECOND READER. Before Him holy angels bow And fold their shining wings. 7. Love God, my brother, He is kind, And He hath loved us well, — So well, He sent His Son to die, To save our souls from hell. 8. Serve God, my brother, ever} T day, For it is His command, That we should do His holy will, With cheerful heart and hand. 9. Now dost thou ask, " what can I do, A little boy like me f ' very much to please the God That rules o'er earth and sea. 10. Be kind, and pleasant, meek and mild, Avoid all naughty ways, — But, in a word, the whole is plain, Mind all that mother says. 11. So shall thy life pass happily, As birth-days come and go; And angels will attend thy steps, Long as thou dwell 'st below. 12. The blessing of our father's God To thee, dear boy, be given, And when thy time on earth is spent, A home with Christ in heaven. OtR OWN SECOND HEADER. 125 LESSON LXXVI. false-hood a-sleep mis-take sor-row-ful talk-ed mind-ed re-solve un-hap-py sigh-ed for-give cous-in con-qner-or mis-tress play-ing be-hav-ed Al-might-y THE FALSEHOOD. 1. A little boy, about six years old, was in general a very good child, and behaved well. He dearly loved his mother, and minded every thing she said to him. But even good children, and good people, will sometimes do wrong; and this little boy did so too. 2. One afternoon, after he had been at play, he looked very pale and sorrowful. He was asked if he was sick; he said he was not. But he talked very little ; and he often sighed. His mother thought something was the matter with him, but she did not say much to him about it. 3. At night, he took leave of his mother, and went to bed. About an hour after he had been in bed, the servant went to her mistress, and told her she was very uneasy about the little boy, for he was very restless. She had heard him often sob, and he de- Birod his mothor to come to him, as he could not go to sleep, till he had told her something that made him very unhappy. 4:. The good mother went to him ; and when she came to his bed-side, he put his little arms around 126 OUR OWN SECOND KEADEK. her neck, and burst into tears, and said to her : " Dear mamma, forgive me! I have been a naughty boy to- day. I have told a lie ; and I have hid it from you." 5. " I was playing at marbles with my cousins ; I won the game, through a mistake which they did not find out; and I was so much pleased at being con- queror, that I did not tell them of the mistake. 6. I have been very unhappy ever since ; and I am afraid to go to sleep, lest that heavenly Father, of whom you so often tell me, should be angry with me. You say He knows and sees every thing. What shall I do that He may forgive me! 1 ' 7. "My child," said the mother, "God is ever ready to forgive those who believe in Christ, are truly sorrv for their faults, and resolve to amend. We '•annot hide any thing from Him. He knows when we do wrong, and when we desire to do right. He hears our prayers ; and He will teach us what we should clo. Pray to Him to forgive your fault; and try never to commit the like again, lest you should ofTend Him more by the second than by the first of- fence." 8. The little boy thought seriously on the advice which his mother gave him ; and prayed in the best nner he was able to ity God to forgive him, and to grant him- L ;ce to do better in future. He then fell asleep ; and arose next morning cheer- ful and happy. <» 0. I suppose, when he saw his cousins, he told them that he had deceived thousand that he wis R OWS SECOND KEADEK. How sorry for what be had done ; and I dare say ho was very careful after that time never to tell an un- truth, or to deceive any body. LESSON L XX VII. Sav-iour in-deed preach-ed con-deinn-ed in-stead bless-ed dark-ness prom-is-ed gen-tle treat-ed rca-son aUow-ed pa-tient list-en per-fectdy suf-ibr-ings JESUS C H 14 IS 1 1. Ask mamma to tell you about Jesus Christ, the Saviour. She will tell you where he was born, and who was his mother, and how he chose to be poor, and how he spent all his life in doing good to others, instead of pleasing himself! How he made all the tick people well who were brought to him; for ho was able, because he was God, and could do all things. i Flow he loved little children, and held them in his arms, and blessed them ; and how kind and gen- tient-aud 1 be was towards every one, trying all the time to do them good in some way or d tries to persuade them to do better. 5. He does not speak rudely to any body. If he sees any persons who are lame, or crooked, or very old, he does not laugh at them, or mock them ; but is glad when he can do them any service. 6. He is kind even to the dumb creatures, for he knows that though they cannot speak, they can feel as well as we. Even those animals which he does not think pretty, he takes care not to hurt. 7. He likes very much to see the birds pick up bits of hay, and moss, and wool, to build their nests with ; and he likes to see the hen sitting on her nest, or feeding hor young ones ; and to see the little birds in their nests, and to hear them chirp. 8. Sometimes he looks about in the bushes, and in the trees, and amongst the strawberry plants, to find nests; but when he has found them, he only just peeps at them; he would rather not see the little birds, than frighten them, or do them any harm. OUK OWN SECOND READER. HI 9. He never takes any thing that does not belong to him, without leave. When he walks in the gar* den he does not pull the flowers, or gather fruit, un- less he is told he may do so. 10. He never tells a lie. If he has done any mis- chief he confesses it, and says he is sorry, and will try and do so no more ; and nobody cau be angry with him. 11. When he lies down at night he tries to remem- ber all that he has been doing and learning during the da}'. If he has done wrong, he is sorry for it, and hopes he will do so no more ; and that God, who is so good, will love and bless him. He loves to pray to God, and to hear and read about him ; and go with his parents and friends to worship God. 12. Every one that knows this good boy loves him, and speaks well of him, and he is very happy. LESSON LXXXV re-vile false-ly in-her-it re-joice re-ward chil-dren heav-en ser-mon mer-ci-ful bless-ed king-dora dis-ci-ples o-pen-ed proph-eta moun-tain ex-ceed-ing com-fort-ed mul-ti-tudes per-se-cut-od right-eous-ness SEEMON ON THE MOUNT. 1. And seeing the multitudes, hejtvent .up into a mountain ; and when he was set, his disciples came unto him, 142 OUR OWN SECOND READER. 2. And lie opened Lis month, and taught them, saying : S. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed are they that mourn ; for they shall be comforted. 5. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness ; for they shall be tilled. 7. Blessed are the merciful ; for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart ; for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peace-makers ; for they shall be called the children of God. 10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake ; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely for my sake. 12. Rejoice and be exceeding glad ; for great is your reward in heaven ; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. OUR OWN SECOND HEADER 143 LESSON LXXXVI. beau-ty bright-ness rOar-ing beau-ti-ful moss-y ex-cel-lent ter-ri-ble per-fec-tion daz-zling coun-te-nance glo-ri-ous them-selves GOD MORE EXCELLENT THAN HIS WORKS. 1. Come, I will show you what is beautiful. It is the rose fully blown. See how she sits upon her mossy stem, like the queen of all the flowers! Her leaves glow like fire ; the air is tilled with her sweet odor. She is the delight of every eye. 2. She is beautiful, but there is a fairer than she. He that made the rose is more beautiful than the rose ; lie is all lovely. He should be the delight of every heart. 3. 1 will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raises himself from his lair, when he shakes his mane, when the voice of his roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the for- ests hide themselves, for he is terrible. 4. The lion is strong but He that made the lion is stronger than he ; His anger is terrible: He could destroy us in a moment, and no one could save us from His hand. 5. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he shines in the clear sky, and is seen all over the earth, he is the most glorious object the eye can behold. 6. The sun is glorious, but He that made the sun 144 OUR OWN SECOND READER. is more glorious than he. The eye beholds Him not, for His brightness is more dazzling than we could bear. He sees in all dark places, by night as well as by day ; and the light of His countenance is over all his works. 7. Who is this great Being, and what is He called, that my lips may praise Him. 8. This great Being is God. He made all things, but He is Himself more excellent than they. They are beautiful, but He is beauty ; They are strong, but He is strength ; they are perfect, but He is per- fection. LESSON LXXXVII. in-jus-tice Gen-o-a Oc-to-ber A-mer-i-ca de-priv-ed Eu-rope Is-a-bel-la A-raer-i-go per-se-vere un-just-ly de-scrib-ed dis-cov-er-ed Co-lum-bus im-ag-ine ex-pec-ta-tion Chris-to-pher CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 1. The man who first discovered this fair and beau- tiful land, in which we live, was Christopher Colum- bus. He was born in the city of Genoa, in Italy, about the year 1446. 2. Less than four hundred years ago, the land of America was not known to the white people of this world. There were Indians who dwelt in it, but they were few in number, and lived in a wild state. OUR OWN SECOND READER. 145 3. Columbus thought there must be another great land far to the west of Europe. Most people who lived in his clay did not believe that this earth was round ; but he believed that it was round. 4. He thought that by sailing west he should dis- cover some new land. But he was a poor man, and did not himself have the moneylo tit out a ship, in which to sail and find out if he was right in his be- lief, 5. lie then tried to persuade the people in his na- tive city to fit out a ship for him ; but they thought his scheme was a foolish one, and they said they could not waste their money on it. G. Columbus went to Spain, and tried to make the king and queen of that land give him the aid he wanted. But for a long while they put him off; no one would believe that he was right in his expecta- tion of finding a new lawd. 7. lie was a brave and sincere man, and though laughed at and badly treated, still lie persevered. At length Queen Isabella consented to fit out a ship for him ; and in the year 1492, on Friday, the third of August, he set sail. 8. He had great trouble in making his crew con- sent to persevere. They had not been at sea many days, when they grew alarmed, and wished to put back to Spain. But Columbus begged them to keep on. 9. At length, when they had been at sea sixty- nine days, the land, afterwards called America, was 1 10 OI7R OWN RECORD READER. I discovered. On the twelfth of October, 1492, Co- lumbus landed on one of the West India Islands, and kissed the earth. 10. You may imagine what were the wonder and joy of the people of Europe when they heard of this discovery. Nothing like it in the world's liistory had been known. 11. But Columbus was unjustly deprived of the honor of giving his name to the land he had found. It was called America, from a man named Amerigo, who visited the country seven years after Columbus had discovered it. 12. Amerigo wrote a book about the country; and then some one made a map, and wrote the name "America," on the land described by Amerigo. And in this way people fell into the habit of calling the new land America, instead of Columbia. 13. It is now too late to redress the injustice. But the fame of Columbus is not lessened by it. His name will be one of the first with which the children of our land will be made familiar. His story will be one of the first which they will wish to read. LESSON LXXXVIII. gras-sy tim-id marsh-y In-di-an to- wards seiz-ing Buf-fa-lo fol-low-ing lead-er rush-in g mead-ows bel-low-ing pro-vides roam-ing thous-ands im-pet-u-ous OT7R OWN second beadeb. 147 THE BUFFALO. 1. Far towards the setting sun, Where the Indian hunters roam, Where the timid wild deer run, Where the heaver builds his home, "Where the wild swan makes her nest, In the marshy meadows low, Through the prairies of the west, Ranges free, the Buffalo. 2. Listen to their thund'ring tread, As from place to place they rove; With a leader at their head, Many thousands in a drove. Hear the roaring noise they keep, Ever bellowing as they go; Boys and girls, you could not sleep, Near a herd of Buffalo. 3. There the wolves, a hungry pack, Close upon their heels you find, Following hard upon their track, Seizing all that lag behind. Far across the plains they lead, O'er the rushing streams they go ; Think not you could stop the speed Of the impetuous Buffalo. 4. Ask yon leader of the herd, With his big and heavy head, If he'll stop to hear a word, How such numbers can be fed ? 148 OUR OWN SECOND- READER. He who gives us every good — He who makes our limbs to grow- He provides the grassy food, For the hump-bataked Buffalo. LESSON LXXXIX. de-siro o-blige self-ish-ness re-mem-ber doc-tor our-selves un-pop-u-lar as so-ci-ates re-plied evidence dis-po-si-tion ne-ces-sa-ry daugh-ter for-giv-ing com-pan-ions tm-a-mi-a-ble HOW TO BE LOVED. 1. When the good Doctor Doddridge asked his daughter, then about six years old, what made every- body love her, she replied,-" I do not know, indeed, father, unless it is because I love everybody." That was, in truth, the secret; and I hope my young friends will remember it. 2. They must try to love and do good to one anoth- er. They must be kind, forgiving, and free from envy ; ready to oblige, generous, and polite. Be sure that the best way of making ourselves happy is to try to make others happy. The best way to gain love is to give love. 3. I have sometimes heard a girl say, " I know that I am very unpopular at school." Now this is a plain confession, that she is very disobliging and unamia- ble in her disposition. OtJK OWN SECOND READEE. i iO 4. If your companions do not love you, it is your own fault. They cannot help loving yon, if you will- be kind and friendly. If you are not loved, it is a good evidence that you do not deserve to be loved. It is true, that a sense of duty may, at times, render it necessary for yon to do that which will be displeas- ing to your companions. 5. But if it is seen that you have a noble spirit ; that you are above selfishness ; that you are willing to make sacrifices ot your own personal conveni- ence, to promote the happiness of your associates : von will never be in want of friends. LESSON XC. f laugh-ed e-nongh smil-ed long-ing el-e-phant clap-ped grat-i-fy monk-eys fright-en-ed a-iiius-ed list-en-ed yes-ter-day THE SHOW OF WILD BEASTS. 1. There was a show of elephants and wild beasts in our town the last Fourth of July. A big tent was set up, and a band of music played tunes all day. 2. Do you know Grace Brown? She lives the next door to my mother's. She is a girl whom you would love. I will tell you a story about her. 3. Her father took her to see the animals in the tent. Grace was much pleased, She looked with wonder on the big elephant, and fed him with ap- ples, which he seemed to like. 150 OL'U OWN SECOND READER. 4. He put out his big trunk and took them from her hand. She patted him on the trunk, and all at once he took hold of her with his trunk and lifted her upon his back. 5. She was a little frightened, but the keeper told her not to be afraid. He said the elephant liked her, and that was the reason he put her on his back. 6. He said there was once an elephant who be- came so fond of a little baby, that he used to rock its cradle, and would not take his meals till the baby was brought to him* 7. The keeper told the elephant to put Grace down on the ground, which he did so gently, that Grace laughed and clapped her hands. 8. She then looked at the lion, the tiger, and the monkeys. She was much amused. At length her father said it was time to go, and they went. 9. Outside of the tent they found a number of poor boys and girls, who listened to the music, and wished they only had money enough to see the show. 10. Grace stopped and began to count. "What are you doing Grace 3" asked her father. " Thirty- nine, forty," said Grace. " What do you mean by that?" 11. "I mean, dear father," said Grace, " that there are forty poor children, longing to see what I have been seeing. I wish I had money enough to gratify them." 12. Her father smiled, took out his pocket-book, and handed three dollars to Grace, and said, "That Oti'R OWN SECOND KEADEft. 151 money is yours to do what you please with. It will buy you that beautiful picture which you saw yester- day, and wished you might have, to hang in your little room." LESSON XCI. ju-ly af-ford mar-gin an-i-mals pic-ture de-light writ-ten ad-mis-sion bar-gain en-trance at-ten-tion hand-ker-chiefa the snow of wild beasts — {Continued.) 1. "Do you think," asked Grace, "that the man who shows the animals would let in all these poor children for three dollars?" "Perhaps he would," said her father. 2* "I wish," said Grace, "you would go and ask him." " O, no ! you must make your own bargain," said her father ; " } t ou can speak plainly, then why should you not tell the man what you want?" 3. "I will do it," said Grace; "I would rather give these children a happy Fourth of July than have the beautiful picture." " Then let me see that you mean what you say," said her father. 4. Grace let go her hold of her father's hand, and went to the man who kept the entrance of the tent, and asked him if, for three dollars, he would admit all the poor children who were near. 5. The man replied that ho could aliord to do it. OtR OWN SBCOUi) REAbEK. Grace eagerly said, " Then do it. 5 ' She gave him the three dollars. lie smiled, and said, " Come with me, little girl." 6. He led her by the hand to where the poor children stood ; and he spoke to them thus : " Girls and boys, attention ! This little girl has paid three dollars for the admission of all of you into the tent. What h$ve you to say to her?" 7. " We thank her ! we thank her !" cried forty glad voices. — "What is your name?" asked a. little boy. — " My name is Grace Brown," replied Grace. — "Three cheers for Grace Brown!" cried the little boy. 8. Three loud and hearty cheers were given. "Now three more cheers for Grace Brown's father!" said the little boy. Again the children cheered. "Now three more for Grace Brown's mother!" said the little boy ; and once more their young voices sent forth a grateful sound. 9. Then the man said: "Now, children, form in a line — the girls first." The children formed in a line, and marched into the tent, the little girls waving their handkerchiefs at Grace, and the boys their hats, as they, passed. .10. Grace had never been quite so happy. "I lave given pleasure to forty children all at once!" e said to herself. She ran to her father. Tears of elight were in his eyes. 11. He kissed her. They walked home together. I heard Mr. Brown tell his wife all that had hap- ©CR OWN SECOND READEB. 153 ponocl. Tho next day I went into Grace's room, and there, on the wall, hung the beautiful picture she had wished to have. 12. It had a handsome frame, and on the margin were written those words: "Those who try to make others happy, shall be made happy themselves." LESSON XCII. flapped hnm-nking be-lieve speck-led be-cause an-swer-ed Gen-e-va them-selves wheth-er watch-mak-er hund-red Switz-er-land THERE IS A GOD. 1. I believe there is a God, but I do not believe so because I ever saw Him. «Xo man hath seen God at any tune." God says, "No man shall see me alive." But we may all believe in some things which we never saw. We never saw tho wind, and yet we know it blows. 2. Like the wind, God may exist, though not seen by us. We all believe that many men are now alive whom we never saw, but whose works we have seen or of whose fame we have heard. 3. Therefore, it is as foolish as it is wicked to doubt whether there is a God, simplv because wo never saw Him. But I will tell you why I believe there is' a God. | 4. Not long ago, I went with four little children into n watch-maker's shop, and there a man brought 154 OUR OWN SECOND READER. out a little box, and put a key into a small hole in the side of it, and wound it np. lie then set down the box, and touched a spring, and the box flew open, and a little bird, not as large as a humming bird, hop- ped out, and flapped its wings, and sang, or seemed to sing, a pretty tune. 5. "When the little bird had sung its tune, it hop- ped down into the box and we saw it no more. Jt 'was made of brass, and. silver, and gold. It was small, and very beautiful. 6. The little boys and girls that were with me were much pleased. Charles said, "how pretty it is." James says, "how it sings." Mary said, "1 wish I had it. I would give a dollar for it.' 7 She was told the price of it was six hundred dollars. Jane asked, "who made it?" Mr. Smith, the watchmaker, told her it was made by a man in Geneva, in Switzerland. 7. We all left the store in good spirits, and went out to a grove. Here were many living birds. Some were black, some were blue, some were red, some were yellow, some were green, and many were speckled. One was black all over except the wings, which were of the color of gold. 8. Every one of them could hop from branch to branch, and from tree to tree. They could build nests, and find food for themselves and for their young ones. They could all make some noise. The notes of most of them were very sweet. 0. One of them could mock all the rest. He had the notes of the quail, the jay, the blue-bird, the OUR OWN SECOND READER. 155 robin, the cat-bird, and a dozen others. lie is called the mocking-bird, 10. The sun shone clearly, and a little rain the night before had made the air cool and pleasant. So we all walked through the grove, and found some prett} T flowers. We then came to a cool spring, and took a drink of water. Near that spring was a rock, and on it we sat down to rest. 11. ":S r ow is not this fine?" said I. " Yes. y es, yes, yes," was heard from all. Just then two or three birds near us sang sweetly, as if to please us. I thought it was a good time to talk. So I said, "If a man in Geneva made the bird in the box, how came all the living birds here? Did they make themselves?" Charles said, "how could they make themselves?- I saw in a book the other day, that 'nothing can make nothing.'" 13. " Well" said I, "did the man in Geneva make them?" Jane answered, "No] he never saw them. lie could not make such birds as these. The bird in the box is the best he could make, and it cannot lav egg*, and hatch young ones, and fly about, and build nests, and eat cherries." 14. I then said, "Did they just grow without anv one making them?" Charles replied "how could they?" Mary said, "I can tell you how they came here. God made them, no man could make them. None could make them, but God himself. 1 know there is a God, because there are so many pretty birds." love and serve Him. 2. Now when you think of thrs, and feel your need of God's help because of your own weakness and sinfulness, you must believe that all the precious promises which He has given us in His holy word are t rue — and that He will fulfill them all to you, if you believe Him and trust in Him with all your heart. 3. This He will do, not because you are worthy, or ever can be worthy of His mercy and forgiveness, but because Jesus Christ died that sinners, and you among them, might be pardoned on account of all that he suffered and did for our sakes. 4. The Saviour suffered and obeyed in heart and life all the holy law of God for us; and now, be- cause of what he has done and suffered, he can claim pardon for all those who believe in him, and trust in his beinc: both able and willing to save their souls. 5. To those who thus receive him, and. trust to his righteousness alone, as the only reason why God should pardon them, and who give themselves away, humbly, sincerely, and wholly, to the Lord Jesus Christ, to be his forever, to them he gives grace to believe on his name to salvation. O how simple, how glorious, how free, is this offer of eternal life to poor sinners ! OUR OWN SECOND READER. 1 63 G. Without any merit in us, who deserve -God's anger on account of our sins, yot has God provided for us, in our guilt and helplessness, a Saviour. And this blessed Jesus has laid down his life that we might be forgiven, and now offers us pardon and holiness and heaven as^i free gift; and requires us to believe this with all our hearts, and lovingly to trust him to do all for us that lie has promised. 7. Shall we not believe and trust him, my dear child ? Shall we not love and obey him fur his ten- der love to us? Shall we refuse to believe what he has said and promised ? Oh, how wicked it would be, thus to rebel against him. Surely this would be the greatest and the worst sin of all ! To disbelieve what God has said, as if we thought that God could put a falsehood in the Holy Bible ! Oh no" ; He could not. 8. All that he has said, he will do. He will love us and pardon us, and w T ash away, our sins, and give ns, day by day, through prayer, strength to overcome them, and to do right and to please him — he will be our God, and Jesus will be our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit will bo our comforter and sanctifier, and at last heaven will be our home: all, all the free gift of God, for the sake ol the worthiness of Jesus Christ. LESSON XCVIII. wound-ed e-ter-nal pre-par-ed ev-er-last-ing for-giv-en rc-ccives be-liev-eth un-speak-a-ble be-got-ten trou-bled who-so-ov-er com-maud-ments 164: OUR 'OWN second reader, fait ii — {Continued.) 1. Hear child, will yon believe God? Will you give yourself away to Him, to serve Him as long as you live? Will yon love and pray t6 Him? Then He receives you ; your sins are all forgiven, you are His dear child, and He will guide 7014 by His Spirit. 2. And when you have done all His holy will, and glorified Him here on earth, He will take you to that- bright and blessed home which lie has prepared for you in glory, and there you shall be forever with the Lord. "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift." 3. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should uot perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. 4. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way; and the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 11 : 6. • 5. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. John 6 : 37. 6. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31. . 7. He that liclieveth not God, hath made Him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God hath given of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in His Son. 1st John 5:10, 11. 8. If ye love me keep my commandments. John 14: 15." ©UR OWN SECOND RSADKS. 105 9. I love thera that love me; and those that seek me early, shall find me. Prow 8 : 17. 10. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear, It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear. 11. It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast, 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest. LESSON XCIX. he-neath t.hous-and jeal-ous neigh-bor like-ness in-i-qni-ty wit-ness hal-low-ed Sab-bath a-dul-te-ry scv-enth gen-c-ra-tion T II E T EN CO M M A X DM E N T S .* JEirst Command. — Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Second. — Thou shalt not make unto thee any grav- en image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heav- en above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water Under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity * X. B. This lessen and the ono following it should bo cora- laitted to memory by tbo pupil. 1 66 >,OUR OWN SECOND READER. of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show- ing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Third. — Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. ■ Tourth. — Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt. thou labor, and do all thy work ; but the seventh day- is the Sabbath of the Lord thv God ; in it thou shalt not do any/ftjork^jjiou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy mai/se7 . __ f LESSON C. ALPHABETICAL SELECTIONS. A. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up auger. B. Be uot hasty in thy spirit to be '' angry, for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. < . Choosing rather to suffer afiifction with the peo- ple of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. D. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. E. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 1". For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. G. G've me neither poverty nor riches; feed mo with food convenient for me. jX He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto - ■the Lord ; and that which he hath given will he pay htm again. I. If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap. coals of fire on his 'head. J. Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no man comet}} unto the Father but by me. Jv. Keep thyjieart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. >ve your enemies, bless them that curse vou, do I L, I x : 163 OUR OWN SECOND READER. jrnod to them that hate von, and pray for them that despjteful.lv use you, and persecute you. M. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord .deliveretli him out of them all. N. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of sal- vation. Q. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold won- drous things out of thy law. : F. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Q* Quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. E. "Remove from me tlie way of lying-; and grant me thy law graciously. S. So teach us to number our days, that we may ap- ply our hearts unto wisdom. T. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God. XT. Understandest thou what thou read est ? V. Vengeance is mine : I will repay saith the Lord. W. When thy father and thy mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take thee up. X. Examine me, O Lord, 'and prove me. Y. Yield yonrseU'es unto God. Z. Zion shall be'edeemed with judgment, and her 'converts with righteousness. f Date Due i H A» ; ^2W9 1 M s > , Library Bureau Cat. no. 1137 / 428.6 S838R 3d. 33040? Sterling 0ur_Q wn Second Beads^ ISSUED TO 4 2£ S838R 2d. 23C407 i I • w o N Bi'.f'U? IOC III. Ov-itt T * fixers, PIIKPAUKD B. RICHARD STERLING, A. M. t . f £ C\1«F1IELL«. A. Mt t , •* > T I X G V RIMER '.Vi the use of cbudren pp. 56, 12m(v r >r Schools .e ?i v in a few months, o follow the iVimer i read, with spelling ns in this book have <1 th iihcult what ffVe written on i spell and and inter* f-ptlH ii federate t'iv- of hLibuJH of other The This bo >k will >r it, by men of Oufi, V» r tf rUA lMIyIA.HS, by c. >v. ftjn'r'i-ii :, a. m. OUR ■RTMARY « >p. D^'i/jrecffor tbjr mple facts lAii. T> esi'rne