a^^ L^^^^ 
 
 
LADDER TO LEARNING 
 
 LITTLE CLIMBERS. 
 
 SHOWING HOW PLAY AND STUDY MAY BE 
 COMBINED. 
 
 a; M. H Y D i:. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 HENRY LONGSTRETH, 
 
 No. 1336 Chestnut Street. 
 18.j9. 
 
11)1311 
 
 Eutered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1S59, by 
 
 HENRY LONGSTRETH, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 / 
 
 't-ppil. ^ 
 
 .^/i^v> 
 
 HE.NTvY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 
 Sansom Street above Eleventh. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ■ Though it has been wisely declared that "of the 
 making of books there is no end/' yet it may still be 
 found that there is room for one, with some novel and 
 attractive features, prepared exclusively on the learn- 
 ing-made-easy plan, and intended to facilitate the 
 child's progress in those branches where the memory 
 is especially taxed. It must not be made an objection 
 to this effort, that " a little learning is a dangerous 
 thing," because all acquisitions of knowledge arc 
 necessarily small at the beginning. There is more 
 poetry than truth in the line; for learning of the 
 right kind, little though it be, if well fixed in the 
 memory, will be found not only convenient, but per- 
 manently useful. Not that the outlines of study 
 herein contained should be considered enough, but 
 that they may serve to interest the learner in what 
 is before him, as well as to sharpen his appetite for 
 more. As a child is taught the multiplication tabic. 
 
never afterwards forgetting it, so he may be taught 
 History or Geography, provided it be presented in a 
 condensed and attractive form. Memory is the bottom 
 round in the ladder of learning. Secure a foothold 
 there, and the ascent is comparatively easy. In after 
 life, when cares of active business have crowded from 
 his mind the more elaborate studies of the school and 
 college, the simple lessons of early childhood will be 
 found to have outlived them all. Such lessons it is 
 the object of this little book to teach. Some attractive 
 pieces, original and selected, suitable for children, 
 have been added at the conclusion. 
 
 A. M. U. 
 
C K T E N T S 
 
 PART I. 
 OUTLINES OF STUDY, IN PROSE AND VERSE. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Knowledge and its Uses , 11 
 
 History of America 13 
 
 Geography of the United States 23 
 
 History of England 33 
 
 The Succession of English Sovereigns 3i) 
 
 A Child's History of England, from the Norman 
 
 Conquest 37 
 
 Chart of Scripture History 45 
 
 The Books of the Bible 40 
 
 Arithmetic 54 
 
 Numbers 57 
 
 Grammar 59 
 
 Mrs. Grammar's Ball CO 
 
 Astronomy 03 
 
 The Solar System 08 
 
 The Moon 70 
 
 Months of the Year 75 
 
 The Seasons 77 
 
PART II. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES— ORIGINAL AND 
 SELECTED. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Why Children Come to School 
 
 The Three Kingdoms of Nature 83 
 
 Questions and Ans^Yers 8G 
 
 Time 87 
 
 The Seasons 88 
 
 The First Fruits are the Lord's 91 
 
 The Seed and the Prayer.. 93 
 
 Nearer 95 
 
 Consequences of Disobedience 9G 
 
 The Bird's Nest 97 
 
 The Way 98 
 
 The Mechanical Powers 100 
 
 Deeds of Kindness 101 
 
 The Golden Rule 102 
 
 Little Things 103 
 
 The Cow 104 
 
 The Choice lOG 
 
 The Meaning of the Word Creator 107 
 
 Love to the Saviour 108 
 
 Little Samuel 109 
 
 Waste Not— Want Not 112 
 
 Never Forget to Pray 113 
 
 Names of the Books of the Old Testament 114 
 
 The Commandments 115 
 
rage. 
 
 Thoughts before Retiring to Kest IIG 
 
 Sum of the Commandments IIG 
 
 The Ten Commandments 117 
 
 St. Matt, v., 34— 37 117 
 
 Child's Talent 118 
 
 Get up Early 119 
 
 A Penny 120 
 
 The Vowels 121 
 
 The Stars 122 
 
 The Atheist and the Acorn 123 
 
 The Holy Bible 124 
 
 Don't Kill the Birds 125 
 
 The Busy Bee 12G 
 
 A Good Name 127 
 
 The Shadow of the Cross 128 
 
 The Two Great Commandments 131 
 
 The Little Child's Pattern 132 
 
 Questions 133 
 
 Impromptu 134 
 
 The Lord's Prayer 135 
 
 A Little Child's Evening Prayer 136 
 
 A Little Child's Morning Prayer 137 
 
 Prayer for a Little Child 137 
 
PART FIRST. 
 
 OUTLINES OF STUDY, 
 
 IN PROSE AND VERSE. 
 
KNOWLEDGE AND ITS USES. 
 
 G-eography describes the earth — 
 
 Its surface, land or sea ; 
 Tells where its countries maj be found. 
 
 Or lakes and towns may be. 
 
 History tells of times gone by, 
 What kings have lived and died; 
 
 Recording all that has been done, 
 By nations great and wide. 
 
 Aritlimetic shows how to write 
 
 The figures on a slate. 
 And add, or calculate with ease, 
 
 All numbers, small or great. 
 
 Grammar will teach us how to speak 
 Our language plain and well ; 
 
 And how to read and write the same, 
 Its rules will also tell. 
 
12 
 
 Astronomy tells us of the stars 
 
 And planets in the sky ; 
 And will be found by those who learn, 
 
 A study grand and high. 
 
 Botany speaks to us of plants, 
 Describing how they grow ; 
 
 And classifies each tiny flower 
 That in the fields may blow. 
 
 Philosophy explains the laws 
 Of Nature's wondrous plan ; 
 
 And points us to the great First Cause, 
 Who made the earth, and man. 
 
 And onward as we travel, 
 In learning's pleasant way, 
 
 We see what endless treasures 
 Around our footsteps lay. 
 
 Child, if earthly knowledge charm thee, 
 And thou heed its winning call. 
 
 Seek, besides, that higher knowledge 
 Of the God who made us all ! 
 
HISTORY OF AMERICA. 
 
 America was discovered in the year 1492, 
 by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, 
 in Italy. He was a poor man, and was the 
 son of a wool-comber ; but being very fond of 
 navigation and astronomy, and having made 
 many successful voyages, he was seized with a 
 great desire to discover a westerly passage to 
 India, hoping also to find some new countries 
 in the way. 
 
 But he was a poor man, and for want of the 
 necessary means to fit out such an undertaking, 
 he was obliged to wait some years. Many ridi- 
 culed his plans, and some thought him crazy ; 
 but at length Queen Isabella, becoming inter- 
 ested in the scheme, sold some of her own 
 jewels, and with the proceeds procured three 
 small ships, named the Santa Maria, the Pinta, 
 and the Niila, with ninety men, and provisions 
 sufiicient to last them a whole year. 
 
 Thus equipped, Columbus set sail upon the 
 2* 
 
14 
 
 broad ocean, and proceeded west for many- 
 weeks, until the men that were with him be- 
 came discouraged, and begged him to return. 
 He at first spoke kindly to them, and per- 
 suaded them to continue ; but when he found 
 they were really determined to turn back, he 
 threatened them with severe punishment un- 
 less they yielded to his wishes. Finally, when 
 he had almost given up the hope of finding 
 what he so much desired, he made a promise 
 that if land was not discovered in three days, 
 they should at once return. 
 
 On the third night, as Columbus paced the 
 deck of the Santa Maria in sadness and de- 
 spair, there came a cry of "Land! Land!" 
 The people in the Pinta had just seen a light 
 at a distance, and when morning came, they 
 discovered a beautiful island, covered with 
 green trees and shrubs, and inhabited by a 
 copper-colored people, whom Columbus named 
 Indians, because he supposed they had sailed 
 around the world to India. 
 
 This island was one of the West Indies, and 
 was called by him San Salvador. 
 
 Five years afterwards, the continent of 
 
15 
 
 North America was discovered by Sebastian 
 Cabot, a native of Venice ; and the same year, 
 Americus Vespucius, a Florentine, discovered 
 South America. 
 
 The reports of the richness' of the country, 
 and the abundance of gold and silver, brought 
 many Europeans to settle ; and the first colony 
 was established in Mexico. 
 
 The first settlement in what are now the 
 United States, was made in Florida, by the 
 Spaniards, in 1524 ; and in 1821 it was bought 
 by the United States from Spain, for five 
 millions of dollars. 
 
 Virginia was settled in 1607, by English 
 people, who came with Captain John Smith, 
 and sailed up James River to Jamestown. 
 The river and town were both named in honor 
 of the king of England, James I. 
 
 New York was settled in 1614, by the Dutch, 
 and was made an English Colony in 1664. 
 
 Massachusetts was settled in 1620, by the 
 Puritans, a religious sect in England, who 
 came to America on account of their religious 
 scruples. 
 
 New Hampshire was settled in 1623, by 
 emigrants from Massachusetts. 
 
16 
 
 New Jersey was settled 1624, by the Swedes 
 and Dutch. The English obtained possession 
 during the reign of Charles II. 
 
 Delaware was settled in 1627, by the Swedes. 
 It was given up to the English government in 
 1664. 
 
 Maryland was settled in 1634, by Lord Bal- 
 timore and other Roman Catholics of England, 
 who left Virginia on account of religious per- 
 secution. 
 
 Connecticut was settled in 1635, by emi- 
 grants from Massachusetts. 
 
 Rhode Island was settled in 1636, by Roger 
 Williams, who was banished from Massachu- 
 setts because of his religious opinions. 
 
 North Carolina was settled by emigrants 
 from Virginia, about 1645. 
 
 South Carolina was settled in 1670, by Eng- 
 lish people. In 1685 many French Hugue- 
 nots, banished from France in the reign of 
 Louis XIV., took up their abode in the colony. 
 
 Pennsylvania was settled in 1682, by "Wil- 
 liam Penn, who obtained the land from the 
 king of England, in payment of a debt owed 
 to his father. He afterwards purchased it 
 from the Indians who lived upon the spot. 
 
17 
 
 Georgia was settled in 1733, by the Eng- 
 lish, and was named after the reigning king, 
 George II. 
 
 These were the thirteen original States, but 
 for many years they were called English colo- 
 nies, and were governed by England. But in 
 1776 they declared themselves independent; 
 and after a long and trying war, their indepen- 
 dence was acknowledged, and they became a 
 separate government. This was called the 
 American Revolution. 
 
 A republican form of government was then 
 chosen ; that is, one in which the people them- 
 selves choose the officers to rule over them. 
 A constitution and code of laws were framed, 
 and the two houses of Congress established. 
 
 The Senate, or upper house, represents the 
 States, each State sending two Senators tt) 
 Congress ; the House of Representatives, or 
 lower house, represents the people, as about 
 every ninety-four thousand people can send 
 one Representative. 
 
 There are at present thirty-three States, 
 including Oregon, which has just been ad- 
 mitted by the Congress of 1858-9. 
 
n 
 
 After the original thirteen, others were 
 settled in the following order : — 
 
 Vermont, admitted into the Union in 
 1791.* 
 
 Kentucky, settled in 1775, admitted in 
 1792.* 
 
 Tennessee, settled in 1765, admitted in 
 1796.* 
 
 Ohio, settled in 1788, admitted in 1802.* 
 
 Louisiana, settled by the French in 1699, 
 ceded by France to the United States for 
 fifteen millions of dollars in 1803, admitted 
 into the Union in 1816. 
 
 Indiana, settled by the French in 1730, 
 surrendered to the English in 1763, admitted 
 1816. 
 
 Mississippi, settled by the French, who 
 ceded it to England in 1763, admitted in 
 1817. 
 
 Illinois, settled by the French, became sub- 
 ject to England in 1762, admitted into the 
 Union 1818. 
 
 Alabama, admitted into the Union in 1819. 
 
 Maine, settled in 1628, admitted 1820. 
 
 * Settled by colonists from other States. 
 
19 
 
 Missouri, settled by the French in 1763, 
 admitted in 1821. 
 
 Michigan, settled by the French in 1670, 
 admitted in 1836. 
 
 Arkansas, settled by Spanish and French, 
 admitted in 1836. 
 
 Florida, Iowa and Texas, were admitted in 
 1845. 
 
 California was admitted into the Union in 
 1850. 
 
 The chief magistrate of this great Republic 
 is called the President, and is elected every 
 four years. Another officer, styled the Vice- 
 President, is elected at the same time, who is 
 entrusted witl) important duties; in case of 
 the death of the President during his term of 
 office, the Vice-President takes his place, and 
 becomes President of the United States for the 
 remainder of the term. 
 
 The first President was General George 
 Washington, commander-in-chief of the Ame- 
 rican army during the war of independence. 
 He was a native of Virginia, and was inaugu- 
 
20 
 
 rated in 1789. He served eight years, being 
 re-elected. 
 
 2d. John Adams, a native of Massachusetts, 
 was inaugurated in 1797. Served four years. 
 
 3d. Thomas Jefferson, a native of Virginia, 
 was inaugurated in 1801. Served eight years. 
 
 4th. James Madison, a native of Virginia, 
 was inaugurated in 1809. Served eight years. 
 
 5th. James Monroe, a native of Virginia, 
 was inaugurated in 1817. Served eight years. 
 
 6th. John Quincy Adams, a native of Massa- 
 chusetts, was inaugurated in 1825. Served 
 four years. 
 
 7th. Andrew Jackson, a native of South 
 Carolina, was inaugurated in 1829. Served 
 eight years. 
 
 8th. Martin Van Buren, a native of New 
 York, was inaugurated in 1837. Served four 
 years. 
 
 9th. William H. Harrison, a native of Ohio, 
 was inaugurated in 1841. Died one month 
 afterward. 
 
 10th. John Tyler, a native of Virginia, was 
 inaugurated in 1841. Served three years and 
 eleven months. 
 
21 
 
 llth. James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was 
 inaugurated in 1845. Served four years. 
 
 12th. Zacharj Taylor, a native of Louisiana, 
 was inaugurated in 1849. Died one year and 
 four months afterward. 
 
 13th. Millard Fillmore, a native of New 
 York, was inaugurated in 1850. Served two 
 years and eight months. 
 
 14th. Franklin Pierce, a native of New 
 Hampshire, was inaugurated in 1853. Served 
 four years. 
 
 15th. James Buchanan, a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, was inaugurated in 1857. Term will 
 expire in 1861. 
 
 By the blessing of Divine Providence, our 
 country has gone on increasing in wealth and 
 prosperity, until it is now one of the most 
 powerful nations in the world. One hundred 
 years ago there were only one million inhabi- 
 tants in our entire territory; now there are 
 nearly thirty millions. We have public schools, 
 in which the children of the poor may be edu- 
 cated without cost ; while liberty of con- 
 3 
 
22 
 
 science, and the freedom of the press are 
 granted to all. May we not fitly conclude by 
 quoting here the Psalmist's words : 
 
 Happy is that people that is in such a case ; 
 yea, happy is that people whose God is the 
 Lord. Ps. xliy. 
 
A GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED 
 STATES. 
 
 Thirty-three States we now can boast 
 
 In this confederation ; 
 And now, among the powers that be, 
 
 We are a mighty nation ; 
 Our lands, outstretching far and wide, 
 
 Are bounded by the oceans ; 
 And commerce takes to all the world, 
 
 Our well known "Yankee Notions." 
 
 Upon our northern boundary 
 
 Are seen the mighty lakes ; 
 And through our midst, its rushing course 
 
 The Mississippi takes ; — 
 Connecting Minnesota 
 
 With the Gulf of Mexico— 
 The climes of endless summer 
 
 With those of ice and snow. 
 
24 
 
 Hence, all the varied products 
 
 Of many a foreign land, 
 Within our own wide borders, 
 
 Are ever at command. 
 The cotton and the sugar-cane ; 
 
 The orange-tree and rice ; 
 And from the north come costly furs, 
 
 To keep us warm and nice. 
 
 Then from the hills, and by the streams. 
 
 Is dug and washed the gold ; 
 While iron, copper, lead abound, » 
 
 In quantities untold. 
 Thus, children, we may well be proud 
 
 Of this our favored land ; 
 And serve her, too, with all the zeal 
 
 A patriot can command ; 
 Remembering how our fathers bought 
 
 Its freedom with their blood. 
 We'll prove ourselves the worthy sons 
 
 Of sires so great and good. 
 
 The six north-eastern States, we call 
 New England — "Yankee Land!" 
 
29 
 
 Has Jackson for its capitol, 
 
 And from cotton draws its fame. 
 
 Louisiana raises sugar-cane, 
 New Orleans is its pride ; 
 
 The greatest seaport of the south, 
 With commerce vast and wide. 
 
 Texas is far the largest State, 
 With climate mild and warm ; 
 
 The rich luxuriant pasturage 
 Is its peculiar charm. 
 
 f6 
 
 Tweire Western States, that year by year 
 Increase in wealth and strength ; 
 
 With many a railroad and canal 
 
 Throughout their breadth and length. 
 
 In labors agricultural, 
 
 Arkansas doth excel ; 
 With Little Bock, the capitol, 
 
 And other towns as well. 
 
 Kentucky has the Mammoth Cave — 
 Produces hemp and maize. 
 
30 
 
 Louisville does a thriving trade, 
 Exporting what they raise. 
 
 Tennessee is crossed by mountains, 
 
 With rivers in between ; 
 Nashville is the capitol. 
 
 Where a State House fine is seen. 
 
 Ohio, 'mid the Western States, 
 Shows greatest enterprise ; 
 
 Cincinnati, a grooving city. 
 
 Stands the third in point of size. 
 
 Indiana chiefly draws its wealth 
 From cattle, pork and wheat ; 
 
 Indianapolis^ the capitol, 
 Has public buildings neat. 
 
 Illinois has risen rapidly 
 In wealth and population. 
 
 Chicago 's on Lake Michigan, 
 At the head of navigation. 
 
 Michigan lies among the lakes ; 
 
 Rich copper mines abound. 
 Detroit is still the capitol. 
 
 On the lake St. Clair 'tis found. 
 
31 
 
 Wisconsin, rich in minerals, 
 Has wealthy mines of lead ; 
 
 Madison, the capitol, 
 
 Is a pretty town, 'tis said. 
 
 Iowa gives luxuriant crops, 
 Raised on its prairie soil ; 
 
 And many a valued metal 
 Repays the miner's toil. 
 
 Missouri's lead and iron ore, 
 Have made her rich and great. 
 
 St. Louis is a splendid town, 
 The finest in the State. 
 
 California is the '' Golden State," 
 
 On the Pacific shore. 
 San Francisco is a thriving place, 
 
 Besides a number more. 
 
 Minnesota, far toward the north. 
 Still holds its Indian name ; 
 
 Her many scattered tribes subsist 
 By selling furs and game. 
 
 Oregon, farthest north and west, 
 Has just been made a State ; 
 
32 
 
 It borders on the ocean. 
 With territory great. 
 
 Besides the States that have been named 
 
 We 've territories eight ; 
 And each of them in course of time, 
 
 Will, doubtless, form a State. 
 There 's Kansas and Nebraska, 
 
 Utah, Ontonagon, 
 Arizona and New Mexico, 
 
 Dacota — Washington. 
 
 But various subdivisions 
 
 Will doubtless be, before 
 They knock to be admitted, 
 
 At our governmental door. 
 Meanwhile, one common freedom, 
 
 Descended from above. 
 Scatters to all the blessings 
 
 Of brotherhood and love. 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 
 
 The first inhabitants of England were called 
 Britons, of whom little is known, except that 
 they were a barbarous people, and their re- 
 ligion Paganism. 
 
 Their priests were called Druids, and they 
 worshipped in groves of oak. About the year 
 54 before Christ, Julius Caesar invaded the 
 island ; but, though he invaded, he did no* 
 conquer it, as they became rather the allies of 
 Rome than its captive subjects. 
 
 In the reign of Domitian it was finally 
 subdued, and became a province of Rome, 
 A. D. 78. 
 
 In A. D. 410, the Romans abandoned Briton, 
 and the Saxons came from the north of Europe, 
 invaded and conquered it; Egbert becoming 
 the first king of England in 827. The Danish 
 king, Sweyn, overcame England in 1017 ; the 
 Saxons were restored 1041, and the country 
 finally conquered by the Normans in 1066. 
 4 
 
34 
 
 SAXON KINGS. 
 
 827. Egbert, Edmund, 
 
 Ethelwolf, Edred, 
 
 Ethelbert, Edwy, 
 
 Ethelbald, Edgar, 
 
 Ethelred, Edward the Martyr, 
 
 TAlfred the Great, Ethelred II., 
 
 Edward, Edmnnd Ironsides. 
 Athelstane. 
 
 DANISH KINGS. 
 
 Sweyn, Harold I., 
 
 Canute the Great, Hardicanute. 
 
 SAXON LINE KESTORED. 
 
 Edward the Confessor, Harold II, 
 
 NORMAN KINGS. 
 
 William the Conqueror, Henry I. 
 
 William Rufus, Stephen, Earl of Blois. 
 
 LINE OF PLANTAGENET. 
 
 Henry II., Edward I., 
 
 Richard I., Edward II., 
 
 John, Edward III., 
 
 Henry III., Richard II. 
 
35 
 
 LINE OF LANCASTER. 
 
 (Badge — a Red Rose.) 
 
 Henry IV., Henry V., 
 
 Henry VI. 
 
 LINE OP YORK. 
 (Badge — a White Rose.) 
 
 Edward IV., Edward V., 
 
 Richard III. 
 
 Union of the Houses of York and Lan- 
 caster. (Red and White Rose.) 
 
 LINE OF TUDOR. 
 
 Henry VII., Edward VI., 
 
 Henry VIII., Mary. 
 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Union of the Scotch and English Crowns. 
 (Thistle and the Rose.) 
 
 LINE OF STUART. 
 
 James I., Charles I; 
 
36 
 
 INTERREGNUM. 
 
 The Long Parliament, 
 
 iromwell, 
 Cromwell. 
 
 Protectors. I 2"7'" f ™>""'«"' 
 ) Kichard Cromwel 
 
 RESTORATION OF THE STUARTS. 
 
 Charles II., William and Mary, 
 
 James IL, Anne. 
 
 LINE OF BRUNSWICK. 
 
 George I., George IV., 
 
 George IL, William IV., 
 
 George III., Victoria. 
 
 THE SUCCESSION OF ENGLISH SOVEREIGNS — 
 IN VERSE. 
 
 First William, the Norman, then William, his 
 
 son; 
 Henry, Stephen and Henry, then Richard and 
 
 John. 
 Next, Henry the Third; Edwards — one — tAYO — 
 
 and three ; 
 And again,' after Kichard, three Henrys we see. 
 
37 
 
 Two Edwards, then Richard, if rightly I guess ; 
 Two Henrys, Sixth Edward, Queen Mary, 
 
 Queen Bess. 
 Then Jamie the Scotchman; then Charles, 
 
 whom they slew; 
 Yet received, after Cromwell, another Charles, 
 
 too. 
 And next, James the Second ascended the 
 
 throne ; 
 Then good William and Mary together came on. 
 Till Anne, Georges four, and Fourth William, 
 
 all past, 
 God sent us Victoria — may she long be the 
 
 last! 
 
 Anonymous, 
 
 A CHILD S HISTORY OF ENGLAND — FROM THE 
 
 NORMAN CONQUEST. 
 A. D. 
 
 1066. 'Twas William the Conqueror, histories 
 
 tell, 
 
 Who appointed the use of the " Curfew 
 
 Bell." 
 
 4* 
 
38 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1087. William Rufus, liis son, while hunting, 
 
 ■was shot, 
 By him the crusades were first set on 
 
 foot. 
 
 1100. Henry First was a scholar, and Stephen 
 
 of Blois, 
 1135. Held the throne as usurper, the heir to 
 
 annoy. 
 
 1154. Henry Second, Plantagenet's line began, 
 And was, for those times, a great, wise 
 man. 
 
 1189. Eichard First (Coeur de Lion) led forth 
 a crusade, 
 While at home, bold intruders his king- 
 dom invade. 
 
 1199. The Magna Charta was given by John, 
 Yet Pope Innocent forced him to yield 
 his crown. 
 
 1216. His son, Henry Third, though a weak- 
 minded man, 
 Concluded the treaties his father began. 
 
39 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1272. :N'ext Edward the First, "Long-Shanks" 
 was named. 
 The House of Commons by him was 
 framed. 
 
 1307. Second Edward was weak; in his life- 
 time we learn, 
 The Scotch beat the British at famed 
 Bannockburn. 
 
 1328. Edward Third shone at Cressy, with 
 his son, the Black Prince, 
 Gave the badge of the "Garter" to 
 knights ever since. 
 
 1377. Richard Second, succeeding, was killed 
 by his foes. 
 Then started the wars of the Red and 
 White Rose. 
 
 1399. Henry Fourth, Duke of Lancaster, next 
 filled the throne. 
 Usurping a kingdom, of right not his 
 own. 
 
40 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1413. Henry Fifth, brave and warlike, at 
 Agincourt fought, 
 And to England's proud banner new 
 laurels he brought. 
 
 1422. Henry Sixth was deposed, and then 
 slain in the Tower, 
 When the wronged house of York came 
 at last into power. 
 
 1461. Edward Fourth won his crown by the 
 shedding of blood. 
 And his life seems devoid of one trait 
 that is good. 
 
 1483. Edward Fifth, a mere child, in the Tower 
 was destroyed. 
 By ruffians his uncle and guardian em- 
 ployed. 
 
 1483. Third Richard, the murderer, was hated 
 by all ; 
 At the battle of Bosworth he met with 
 his fall. 
 
41 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1485. Henry Seventh, line of Tudor, was 
 peaceful and kind, 
 In his reign, great Columbus a new 
 world did find. 
 
 1509. Henry Eighth, though so vile, Refor- 
 mation begun, 
 And published the Word in the plain 
 English tongue. 
 
 1547. Edward Sixth, dying young, walked in 
 wisdom's bright way ; 
 
 Left his throne to his cousin, poor Lady 
 Jane Grey. 
 
 But she was beheaded at once in the 
 Tower. 
 1553. After which, "Bloody Mary" asserted 
 her power ; 
 
 Then England was deluged with Pro- 
 testant blood, 
 
 And her bigotry hid every glimmer of 
 good. 
 
 1558. Her sister, Elizabeth, was the next queen. 
 The Spanish Armada was spoiled in her 
 reign. 
 
42 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1603, James First, son of Mary, the Queen 
 of the Scot ; 
 In his reign was discovered the " Gun- 
 powder Plot." 
 
 1625. Charles First, styled the Martyr, a civil 
 war led, 
 And closed his career by losing his head. 
 
 1649. Here a long interregnum the factions 
 divide. 
 
 And Cromwell is chosen Protector and 
 guide. 
 
 For eleven long years, he, and Richard, 
 his son. 
 
 Strove to make of the realm a Repub- 
 lican one; 
 1660. But at last, having failed, the king's 
 power was restored, 
 
 And banished Charles Second made 
 sovereign lord. 
 
 In his reign came the Plague into Lon- 
 don's great town. 
 
 And afterward fire burned a fifth of 
 it down. 
 
43 
 
 A. D. 
 
 1685. James Second was a bigot, to weakness 
 inclined ; 
 By flying to France^ he his kingdom 
 resigned. 
 
 1689. Next William of Orange, with Mary, 
 the queen, 
 Filled the throne that her father had 
 left in chagrin. 
 
 1702. Queen Anne, Mary's sister, stands next 
 in the line. 
 Galled the " Good," from her character 
 truly benign. 
 
 1714. George First, (line of Brunswick,) of 
 memory dear. 
 Died, lamented by all, in his sixty-ninth 
 year: 
 
 1727. George Second was brave ; governed 
 wisely and well; 
 Closed his war by the treaty of Aix-la- 
 Chapclle. 
 
44 
 
 1760. The reign of George Third stands on 
 
 history's page 
 As the longest, most prosperous, and 
 
 best of the age. 
 We Yankees won bravely our liberties 
 
 true, 
 While Bonaparte lost the renowned 
 
 Waterloo. 
 
 1820. George Fourth was unworthy so honest 
 a sire ; 
 In his character little is found to admire. 
 
 1830. William Fourth, Duke of Clarence, was 
 mild and serene; 
 Died well stricken in years — more than 
 three score and ten. 
 
 1837. Victoria, beloved, who now governs the 
 
 realm, 
 Has proved herself worthy to stand at 
 
 its helm. 
 Long, long may she live, and her virtues 
 
 increase. 
 While her wisdom and prudence bring 
 
 blessings and peace. 
 
CHART OF SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 
 
 NAMES OF THE PATRIARCHS. 
 
 Adam, 
 
 Lamech, 
 
 Reu, 
 
 Seth, 
 
 Noah, 
 
 Serug, 
 
 Enos, 
 
 Shem, 
 
 Nahor, 
 
 Cainan, 
 
 Arphaxad, 
 
 Terah, 
 
 Mahalaleel, 
 
 Sal ah, 
 
 Abraham, 
 
 Jared, 
 
 Heber, 
 
 Isaac, 
 
 Methuselah, 
 
 Peleg, 
 
 SONS OF JACOB. 
 
 Jacob. 
 
 Reuben, 
 
 Gad, 
 
 Joseph, 
 
 Simeon, 
 
 Asher, 
 
 Benjamin, 
 
 Levi, 
 
 Issachar, 
 
 Dan, 
 
 Judah, 
 
 Zebulon, 
 
 Naphtali. 
 
 JUDGES OF ISRAEL. 
 
 Moses, Jair, 
 
 Joshua, Jephtha, 
 
 Othniel, Ibzan, 
 
 Deborah and Barak, Elon, 
 
 Gideon, Abdon, 
 
 Abimelech, Samson, 
 
 Tolah, Eli, 
 Samuel. 
 
46 
 
 Saul, 
 
 KINGS OF ALL ISRAEL. 
 
 David, Solomon. 
 
 Kings of Judah. 
 
 Rehoboam, 
 
 Abijah, 
 
 Asa, 
 
 Jehoshaphat, 
 
 Jehoram, 
 
 Abaziah, 
 
 Athaliab, 
 
 Joasb, 
 
 Amaziah, 
 
 Uzziah, or Azariah, 
 
 Jotham, 
 
 Ahaz, 
 
 Hezekiab, 
 
 Manasseh, 
 
 Amon, 
 
 Josiab, 
 
 Jehoiachim, 
 
 Jehoiacbin, 
 
 Zedekiah. 
 
 Kings of Israel. 
 Jeroboam, 
 Nadad, 
 Baasha, 
 Elah, 
 
 Zimri, Omri, Tibni, 
 Omri (reigned alone, 
 Abab, 
 Abaziah, 
 Jeboram, 
 Jebii, 
 Jeboabaz, 
 Jeboasb, 
 Jeroboam II., 
 Zccbariab, 
 Shallum, 
 Menabem, 
 Pekahiab, 
 Pekab, 
 Hosbea. 
 
4T 
 
 KINGS OF ASSYRIA. 
 
 (Mentioned in 
 
 the Scripture.) 
 
 So, 
 
 Tihakah, 
 
 Tiglath-pileser, 
 
 Arphaxad, 
 
 Baladan, 
 
 Pharaoh-Necho, 
 
 Shalmaneser, 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar, 
 
 Merodach Baladan, 
 
 Pharaoh-Hophrah, 
 
 Sennacherib, 
 
 Darius the Mede, 
 
 Esarhaddon, 
 
 Belshazzar, 
 
 Sargon, 
 
 Cyrus, 
 
 Sardanapdlus, 
 
 Ahasuerus. 
 
 NAMES OF THE PROPHETS. 
 
 Ezra, 
 
 Obadiah, 
 
 iN'eliemiah, 
 
 Jonah, 
 
 Isaiah, 
 
 Micah, 
 
 Jeremiah, 
 
 Nahum, 
 
 Ezekiel, 
 
 Habakkuk, 
 
 Daniel, 
 
 Zephaniah, 
 
 Hosea, 
 
 Haggai, 
 
 Joel, 
 
 Zechariah, 
 
 Amos, 
 
 Malachi. 
 
48 
 
 THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 
 
 Simon Peter,- 
 
 James, the son of 
 
 
 Andrew, 
 
 James and John, the 
 
 Alpheus, 
 Lebbeus, surnamed 
 
 
 sons of Zebedee, 
 Philip, 
 Bartholomew, 
 
 Thaddeus, 
 Simon, the Canaanite 
 Judas Iscariot, 
 
 
 Thomas, 
 
 Matthias, chosen in 
 
 
 Matthew, 
 
 place of Judas. 
 
 
THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. 
 
 OLD TESTAMENT. 
 
 In G-enesis, the world was made by God's 
 
 creative hand ; 
 In Exodus^ the Hebrews marched to gain the 
 
 promised land. 
 Leviticus contains the Law — the holy, just, 
 
 and good ; 
 Numbers records the tribes enrolled — all sons 
 
 of Abraham's blood. 
 Moses, in Deuteronomy^ records God's mighty 
 
 deeds. 
 Brave Joshua^ into Canaan's land, the host of 
 
 Israel leads. 
 In Judges, their rebellion oft provokes the 
 
 Lord to smite ; 
 But MutJi records the faith of one, well pleas- 
 ing in His sight. 
 In First and Second Samuel, of Jesse's son 
 
 we read ; 
 
 5* 
 
50 
 
 Ten tribes in First and Second Kinijs raYoUedi 
 
 from his seed. 
 The First and Second Ohronicles, see Judah 
 
 captive made ; 
 But Fzra leads a remnant back, by princely 
 
 Cyrus' aid. 
 The city walls of Zion, Nehemiah builds 
 
 again ; 
 Whilst FstJier saved her people from plots of 
 
 wicked men. 
 In Job we read how faith will live beneath 
 
 affliction's rod ; 
 And David's Psalms are precious songs to 
 
 every child of God. 
 The Proverbs, like a goodly string of choicest 
 
 pearls appear; 
 Ecclesiastes teaches man how vain are all 
 
 things here. 
 The mystic Song of Solomon exalts sweet 
 
 Sharon's Rose ; 
 Whilst Christ, the Saviour and the King, the 
 
 "rapt Isaiali' shows. 
 The warning Jeremiah, apostate Israel scorns ; 
 His plaintive Lamentations, their awful down- 
 fall mourns. 
 
51 
 
 Ezehiel tells, in Avondrous words, of dazzling 
 mysteries ; 
 
 Whilst kings and empires yet to come, Daniel 
 in vision sees. 
 
 Of judgment and of mercy, Hosea loves to tell ; 
 
 Joel describes the blessed days when God with 
 man shall dwell. 
 
 Among Tekoa's herdsmen, Amos received his 
 call ; 
 
 Whilst Ohadiah prophesies of Edom's final* 
 fall. 
 
 Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, 
 our risen Lord. 
 
 Micali pronounces Judah lost — lost, but again 
 restored. 
 
 Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment 
 shall be poured. 
 
 A view of Chaldea's coming doom, Hahakkuk's 
 visions give ; 
 
 Next Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, re- 
 pent and live. 
 
 Haggai wrote to those who saw the temple 
 built again ; 
 
 And Zechariah prophesied of Christ's triumph- 
 ant reign. 
 
52 
 
 31alaclii was the last who touched the high 
 
 prophetic chord ; 
 Its final notes sublimely show the coming of 
 
 the Lord. 
 
 NEW TESTAMENT. 
 
 Matthetv and 3Iark, and Luke and John, the 
 
 Holy Gospel wrote ; 
 Describing how the Saviour lived — His death — 
 
 and all He taught. 
 Acts prove how God the Apostles owned with 
 
 signs in every place ; 
 St. Paul, in Romans, teaches us how man is 
 
 saved by grace. 
 The Apostle, in Corinthians, instructs, exhorts, 
 
 reproves : 
 Crolatians shows that faith in Christ alone the 
 
 Father loves. 
 E'phesians and FMUppians tell what Christians 
 
 ought to he ; 
 Colossians bids us live to God, and for eternity. 
 In Thessalonians we are taught, the Lord will 
 
 come from heaven ; 
 
53 
 
 In Timothy and Titus, a Bishop's rule is given. 
 Philemon marks a Christian's love, which only 
 
 Christians know ; 
 Hebrews reveals the Gospel, prefigured by the 
 
 Law. 
 James teaches, without holiness, faith is but 
 
 vain and dead ; 
 St. Peter points the narrow way in which the 
 
 Saints are led. 
 John, in his three Epistles, on love delights 
 
 to dwell ; 
 St. Jude gives awful warning of judgment, 
 
 wrath and hell. 
 The Revelation prophesies of that tremendous 
 
 day, 
 When Christ, and Christ alone, shall be the 
 
 trembling sinner's stay. 
 
 M. R. 
 
ARITHMETIC. 
 
 Arithmetic teaches us children to count ; 
 To understand numbers, and tell their amount ; 
 Four rules are the bases that govern the science, 
 On knowing these truly, must be our reliance. 
 
 Addition, the first, teaches how to unite 
 Two numbers or more, and their value to write. 
 First placing them plainly on paper or slate. 
 With units, tens, hundreds — in sums small or 
 
 great. 
 Then add up the column upon your right hand. 
 And set down the amount in the order they 
 
 stand ; 
 Not forgetting to carry, if tens there should be, 
 Adding with the next column in just the same 
 
 way; 
 Until, having counted the lines, one by one, 
 Setting down tens and units, your labor is done. 
 
65 
 
 Subtraction is taking one sum from another ; 
 And, if understood rightly, will give you no 
 
 bother. 
 Thus : — take one from a dozen will leave you 
 
 eleven ; 
 Take three marbles from ten^ and 't will leave 
 
 you but seven ; 
 While the sum that is left, a remainder w^e 
 
 call. 
 Yet if figures were equal, there 's none left 
 
 at all. 
 
 Next, Multiplication our study invites ; 
 But, before on the slate one figure he writes. 
 Let the learner fix firm in his memory, if able. 
 The thing most important — a key, called " the 
 
 table." 
 Thus having assistance forever at hand, 
 No matter how great be the multiplicand, 
 Or how large is the number you multiply by, 
 Take each figure in turn — soon the product 
 
 you '11 spy. 
 Then placing the numbers below, side by side, 
 You may prove them correct when you 've 
 
 learned to divide. 
 
56 \ 
 
 Bj rule fourth, we Divide into fractions, or i 
 parts, 
 
 Any number of units — pies, candies, or tarts. 
 
 Thus : — dividing six pennies between you and 
 me. 
 
 It is plainly perceived that we each will have 
 
 three. j 
 
 So, getting the rule clearly fixed in our pates, ' 
 
 We can cipher large numbers the best on our 
 slates ; 
 
 An.d with a kind teacher our studies to guide, j 
 
 We'll find it grow easy when longer we've 
 tried; , 
 
 Till passing along from one rule to another, ] 
 
 A great and broad science we soon will dis- 
 cover, j 
 
NUMBERS. 
 
 Roman Numbers. 
 
 I stands for 
 
 - one 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - two 
 
 2 
 
 III 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - three 
 
 3 
 
 lY 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - four , 
 
 4 
 
 V 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - five 
 
 5 
 
 VI 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - six 
 
 6 
 
 YII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - seven 
 
 7 
 
 VIII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - eight 
 
 8 
 
 IX 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - nine 
 
 9 
 
 X 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - ten 
 
 - 10 
 
 XI 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - eleven 
 
 - 11 
 
 XII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - twelve 
 
 - 12 
 
 XIII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - thirteen 
 
 - 13 
 
 XIV 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - fourteen 
 
 - 14 
 
 XV 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - fifteen 
 
 - 15 
 
 XVI 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - sixteen 
 
 - 16 
 
 XVII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - seventeen 
 
 - 17 
 
 XVIII 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - eighteen 
 
 - 18 
 
 XIX 
 
 6 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - nineteen 
 
 - 19 
 
Koman Numbers. 
 
 XX 
 
 - 
 
 XX J 
 
 md I 
 
 XX 
 
 II 
 
 XX 
 
 III 
 
 XX 
 
 IV 
 
 XX 
 
 V 
 
 XXX 
 
 I 
 
 58 
 
 - twenty - 20 
 are twenty-one - 21 
 
 - twenty-two - 22 
 
 - twenty-three - 23 
 
 - twenty-four - 24 
 
 - twenty-five - 25 
 
 - thirty-one - 31 
 X before L (XL) is forty - 40 
 L - . -fifty - 50 
 
 after L (LX) - sixty - 60 
 
 XX L (LXX) - seventy - 70 
 
 XXX L (XXX) eighty - 80 
 
 X before C (XC) ninety - 90 
 
 C - - - one hundred - 100 
 
 C and I (CI) - one hundred & one 101 
 
 CC - - - two hundred - 200 
 
 CCC - - - three hundred - 300 
 
 CCCC - - -four hundred - 400 
 
 D - - - five hundred - 500 
 
 D and C (DC) - six hundred - 600 
 
 M - - - one thousand - 1000 
 
GRAMMAR 
 
 Three little -sYords "we often see, 
 Are Articles — a, an, and the. 
 
 A JSfoim 's the name of any thing — 
 As house or garden, hoop or swing. 
 
 Instead of nouns, the Pronouns stand , 
 /, thou, she, it, my house, thy hand. 
 
 Adjectives tell the kind of noun ; 
 
 As great, small, 'pretty, ivhite or brown 
 
 Conjunctions join the nouns together ; 
 As men and children, wind or weather. 
 
 A Preposition stands before 
 
 A noun ; as in, or through a door. 
 
 Verbs tell of something being done ; 
 To read, write, cipher, jump or run. 
 
 Hoiv things are done, the Adverbs tell ; 
 As slowly, quicMy, ill or well. 
 
60 
 
 An Interjection shows surprise ; 
 
 As — ah ! how witty ! — Oh ! how wise I 
 
 The whole we call nine parts of speech, 
 Which reading, writing, speaking teach. 
 
 MRS. grammar's ball. 
 
 Mrs. Grammar she gave a ball, 
 To the nine different parts of our speech ; 
 
 To the big and the small, 
 
 To the short and the tall, 
 There were pies, plums, and puddings for each. 
 
 And first little Articles came. 
 In a hurry to make themselves known — 
 
 Fat A, an, and the ; 
 
 But none of the three 
 Could stand for a minute alone. 
 
 Then Adjectives came to announce 
 That their dear friends, the Nouns, were at 
 hand — 
 Hough, Rougher, and Roughest, 
 Tough, Tougher, and Toughest, 
 Fat, merry, Crood-natured, and Grand. 
 
61 
 
 The Nouns were indeed on their way — 
 Tens of thousands, and more, I should think : 
 
 For each name that we utter — 
 
 Shop^ Shoulder, or Shutter — 
 Is a Noun ; Lady^ Lion, and Link. 
 
 The Pronouns were following fast 
 To push the Nouns out of their places : — 
 
 I, Thou, You, and Me, 
 
 We, They, He, and She, 
 With their merry, good-humored old faces ! 
 
 Some cried out, "Make way for the 
 A^erbs !" 
 A great crowd is coming in view — 
 
 To hite and to smite. 
 
 And to light, and to fight, 
 To he, and to have, and to do. 
 
 The adverbs attend on the Verbs, 
 Behind them as footmen they run ; 
 
 As thus, " To fight hadly. 
 
 Then run away gladly,'' 
 Shows how fighting and running were done. 
 6* 
 
Prepositions came — In^ By, and Near, 
 With Conjunctions, a poor little band, 
 
 As '' either you or me, 
 
 But neither them nor he" — 
 They held their great friends by the hand. 
 
 Then with a Hip, hip, hurrah ! 
 Rushed in Interjections uproarious — 
 
 ''Odear! Well-a-daij T' 
 
 When they saw the display, 
 ''Ha! ha!'' they all shouted out ''glorious!' 
 
 But, alas, what misfortunes were nigh ! 
 While the fun and the feasting pleased each. 
 
 There pounced in at once 
 
 A monster — a Dunce, 
 And confounded the nine parts of speech ! 
 
 Help, friends ! to the rescue ! on you 
 For aid Noun and Article call; — 
 
 give your protection 
 
 To poor Interjection, 
 Verb, Adverb, Conjunction, and all ! 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
ASTRONOMY 
 
 Science means knowledge ; and Astronomy 
 is the science of the heavenly bodies — that is, 
 the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The word Astro- 
 nomy is derived from two Greek words, Astron^ 
 a star, and nomos, a law — and teaches the laws 
 of the stars. 
 
 The Solar System is named from the Latin 
 word Sol, the Sun, and includes the Sun, and 
 all the planets and comets that revolve around 
 him. 
 
 The planets are those stars, or worlds, that 
 are known to revolve around their centre — 
 the Sun — and receive their light and heat 
 from him. 
 
 The principal planets are called primary, 
 and their moons, or satellites, secondary. 
 These last are constantly revolving round 
 their primary planets, and with them make 
 their revolutions around the Sun. 
 
64 
 
 The orbit of a planet is its path around the 
 Sun. 
 
 The Comets are a strange class of objects, 
 about which little is known. Instead of keep- 
 ing at a regular distance from the Sun, as the 
 planets do, they sometimes approach very near 
 him, and then retreat to an immense distance — 
 their orbits being very eccentric, or in the 
 shape of an egg. They have long, flaming 
 trains of light, and move with great rapidity. 
 Every child may remember the Comet of 1858, 
 which disappeared, after shining brightly for 
 a few weeks, and is now many millions of miles 
 from us, perhaps visible to the inhabitants of 
 the most remote planets. 
 
 The Sun is 1,400,000 times larger than our 
 'earth, and five hundred times as large as all 
 the other planets put together. 
 
 *The planet Mercury is thirty-seven mil- 
 lions of miles from the Sun, and takes about 
 three of our months to go around the Sun. 
 Its diameter, or distance through the centre, 
 is about three thousand miles. 
 
 * In these distances and dimensions, round numbers 
 are given instead of fractions. 
 
65 
 
 Venus is sixty-nine millions of miles from 
 the Sun, and takes about seven of our months 
 to go round the Sun. Its diameter is about 
 eight thousand miles. 
 
 The Earth is ninety-five millions of miles 
 from the Sun, and takes one year to go round 
 the Sun. Its fliameter is about eight thou- 
 sand miles. One moon. 
 
 Mars is one hundred and forty-five millions 
 of miles from the Sun, and takes nearly two 
 of our years to go round the Sun. Its dia- 
 meter is four thousand five hundred miles. 
 
 The ten smallest planets are called Asteroids, 
 or little stars. There names are, Flora, Clio, 
 Vesta, Iris, Metis, Hebe, Parthenope, Egeria, 
 Astrgea, Irene, Eunomia, Juno, Ceres, Pallas 
 and Hygeia. They are named in the order 
 of their distances from the Sun — the most dis- 
 tant is the last mentioned ; they vary between 
 two hundred and ten, and three hundred mil- 
 lions of miles from the Sun; and take about 
 four and a half years to go round the Sun. 
 Their average diameter is about five hundred 
 miles. 
 
 Jupiter is four hundred and ninety-six mil- 
 
66 
 
 lions of miles from the Sun, and takes about 
 twelve years to go round him. Its diameter 
 is about eighty-nine thousands of miles. It 
 has four moons. 
 
 Saturn is nine hundred millions of miles 
 from the Sun, and takes about thirty years to 
 go round him. Its diameter is about seventy- 
 nine thousands of miles. It has eight moons, 
 and two bright rings round it. 
 
 Ilerschel, or Uranus, is eighteen hundred 
 millions of miles from the Sun, and takes 
 eighty-four of our years to go round him. Its 
 diameter is thirty-five thousands of miles. It 
 has six moons. 
 
 Neptune is twenty-nine hundred millions of 
 miles from the Sun, and takes about one hun- 
 dred and sixty-five years to go round him. 
 Its diameter is thirty-one thousands of miles. 
 It is supposed to have several moons, although 
 but one has been distinctly seen. 
 
 It is almost impossible for a child to under- 
 stand how vast these distances are ; to assist 
 his ideas, we will therefore suppose a railroad 
 laid from the Sun to the planet Neptune, the 
 most distant in the solar system. If a train 
 
67 
 
 could run at a rate of thirty miles an hour 
 without stopping, it would reach Mercury, the 
 nearest planet, in one hundred and fifty-two 
 years, the Earth in three hundred and sixty- 
 one years, Jupiter in nineteen hundred years, 
 and Neptune in nearly eleven thousand years. 
 
 Think how far every ray of sunshine must 
 travel to lighten and warm those distant 
 worlds ! Truly is it declared that with God, 
 a single day is as a thousand years, and a 
 thousand years as one day ! 
 
 There is no study that gives us grander, or 
 more sublime ideas of God than that of Astro- 
 nomy. David says, " When I consider thy 
 heavens, the work of thy fingers ; the moon 
 and the stars which thou hast ordained ; what 
 is man that thou art mindful of him, and the 
 son of man, that thou visitest him." (Ps. viii.) 
 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and 
 the firmament showeth his handy work." 
 (Ps. xix.) 
 
 And yet even this great solar system, im- 
 mense as it is to us, is, perhaps, but one among 
 many more ; for the fixed stars are supposed 
 to be other suns like ours, although their dis- 
 
68 
 
 tance is so inconceivable as to place them be- 
 yond the reach of our observation. 
 
 Think, dear children, of the condescension 
 of this great God, who gave His only Son to 
 redeem a single one of these countless worlds, 
 and who will even hear and answer the prayers 
 of sinners who call upon Him ; who has said 
 that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground 
 without His notice. 
 
 THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 
 
 The stars that twinkle overhead. 
 
 Like diamonds in the sky. 
 And shine when we have gone to bed. 
 
 Up in their home so high ; 
 
 Are wondrous planets like our own. 
 Revolving round the S^m ; 
 
 Receiving thence their light and heat, 
 As all their courses run. 
 
 Mercury, nearest to the Sun, 
 
 We seldom can descry ; 
 His lesser ray is lost beside 
 
 The dazzling king of day. 
 
69 
 
 Venus, our mora or evening star, 
 More plainly may be known ; 
 
 Brightest of all tlie starry hosts, 
 In beauty reigns alone. 
 
 Next moves the Earth, with her one moon, 
 
 Among her sister spheres, 
 And as the others shine to us, 
 
 To them our star appears. 
 
 Mars, by its hue of rosy red, 
 
 We plainly may discern ; 
 And Jupiter, with four large moons, 
 
 We find the fifth in turn. 
 
 Saturn has two bright rings or belts. 
 
 Encircling it around ; 
 Eight moons to shine — its wintry night 
 
 Most brilliant must be found. 
 
 Herscliel comes next, with his six moons, 
 The long, cold night to cheer; 
 
 And Nejptune, farther distant yet, 
 Must have a wintry year. 
 
 Ten smaller planets yet we find. 
 Among the larger spheres, 
 
 7 
 
70 
 
 But seldom to the naked eye 
 An Asteroid appears. 
 
 These all, at various distances, 
 
 Revolve around the Sun, 
 Kept in their orbits since the day 
 
 Creation's work was done ; 
 
 By the great God, who hung them there, 
 
 In that unmeasured space ; 
 And who in matchless wisdom gave 
 
 To each its time and place. 
 
 And all these myriad shining stars. 
 
 That twinkle up on high. 
 Are, doubtless, other suns and worlds, 
 
 Revolving in the sky. 
 
 How vast, how infinite must be 
 The God who placed them there ; 
 
 Yet hears each word when children pray. 
 And numbers every hair. 
 
 THE MOON. 
 
 As the Moon is, to our evening observation, 
 the most conspicuous object in the heavens. 
 
71 
 
 and is very important in its influences upon 
 the Earth, we have thought it quite worthy of 
 a short chapter, in order that we might explain 
 to our little readers as clearly, but briefly, as 
 possible, some of these various influences and 
 appearances. 
 
 It is one of the class of planets called secon- 
 dary, because it accompanies the Earth, which 
 is a primary, or principal planet, and revolves 
 around it. 
 
 The Moon may be said to have three mo- 
 tions ; first, turning upon its own axis ; secondly, 
 revolving round the Earth ; thirdly, its annual 
 revolution, in company with the earth, around 
 the Sun. 
 
 The Moon's year is 29J of our days — that 
 being the time required for one of its revolu- 
 tions around the Earth. During that time it 
 turns but once on its axis — so that it can have 
 but one day and night in its year. 
 
 This period is what we term a lunar month, 
 being rather less than a calendar month; thir- 
 teen of these lunar months, or twelve calendar 
 ones, make one of our years. 
 
 The light of the Moon does not proceed from 
 
72 
 
 itself, but is reflected from the Sun, just as a 
 mirror will give back the brightness that shines 
 upon it from a lamp placed before it ; thus 
 when it is night on this side of the Earth, the 
 Moon shines upon us with this reflected light, 
 although we cannot see the Sun itself, from 
 whom the light is borrowed. 
 
 To our eyes the Moon appears to be larger 
 than any other planet — but it is really the 
 smallest; it seems so, only because it is so 
 much nearer than any other. Its distance 
 from us is about 240,000 miles, and its di- 
 ameter, or measurement through the centre, a 
 little more than 2,000 miles. 
 
 If we look at the Moon through a telescope, 
 we may see what seem to be its mountains, 
 valleys, seas, and rivers ; and Astronomers 
 feel pretty sure that these do exist, as the 
 surface is very uneven ; and the shadows of 
 the mountains can be plainly seen when the 
 Sun's light falls upon their sides ; but as the 
 distance is very great between our two planets, 
 we can never arrive at any very correct know- 
 led oje of these things; the most we can do is 
 to Study its movements and general properties. 
 
73 
 
 An Eclipse is the darkening of the whole or 
 a part of either the Sun or Moon, and may 
 hence be termed either a total or a partial 
 eclipse. An eclipse of the Sun is called a 
 solar eclipse, and that of the Moon a lunar 
 eclipse ; and as one or more occur almost every 
 year, we will often have an opportunity of see- 
 ing them for ourselves; if, however, we are 
 informed of their cause, we shall find an in- 
 creased interest and pleasure in observing 
 them. 
 
 An eclipse of the Sun is caused by the 
 Moo7i passing between the Earth and the 
 Sun, and casting its shadow upon the Earth. 
 
 Eclipses of the Moon take place whenever 
 the Earth comes between the Sun and Moon, 
 thus making its own shadow to be seen on the 
 bright surface of the Moon. It never happens 
 except at full Moon. 
 
 The changes, or phases, of the Moon are 
 caused by its revolution around the Earth. 
 When it is in such a position that the whole of 
 the bright side is towards us, we call it full 
 Moon; but as it passes onward in its path 
 
74 
 
 around the Earth, this bright surface is gradu- 
 ally turned away from us, and appears less and 
 less every evening until it quite disappears ; 
 and then, having completed its circuit, it re- 
 appears in the west, just after sunset, as new 
 Moon. 
 
 Another remarkable phenomenon produced 
 by the Moon, is seen in the tides. By these 
 we mean the alternate rising and falling of 
 the waters of the ocean and rivers, c^Wq^, flow- 
 ing or ehhing of the tide ; and it is caused 
 entirely by the attraction of the Moon, or of 
 the Sun and Moon combined. 
 
 But in this short lesson it would be impos- 
 sible to give more than a faint outline of the 
 subject ; our chief intention is to interest chil- 
 dren in this great science of Astronomy, and 
 by explaining a few of the main points, lead 
 them to study it more thoroughly from larger 
 works. 
 
75 
 
 MONTHS or THE YEAR. 
 
 Of these there are twelve. 
 The first month is called January and has 
 
 31 days. 
 
 Second, 
 
 Third, 
 
 Fourth, 
 
 Fifth, 
 
 Sixth, 
 
 Seventh, 
 
 Eighth, 
 
 Ninth, 
 
 Tenth, 
 
 Eleventh, 
 
 Twelfth, 
 
 28 
 81 
 
 February 
 
 March, 
 
 April, 
 
 May, 
 
 June, 
 
 July, 
 
 August, 
 
 September, 30 
 
 October, 31 
 
 November, 
 
 December, 
 
 6^ 
 31 
 30 
 31 
 31 
 
 30 
 
 Thirty days has September, 
 
 April, June and November, 
 
 All the rest have thirty-one, 
 
 Excepting February alone. 
 
 To which we twenty-eight assign. 
 
 Till Leap-Year gives it twenty-nine. 
 
 Leap- Year happens every fourth year, and 
 has one day more than other years— three hun- 
 
76 
 
 dred and sixty-six instead of three hundred and 
 sixty-five, which is the usual number of days 
 in the year. We may always know which is 
 Leap-Year by dividing its figures by 4 ; if this 
 can be done without a remainder, it is Leap- 
 Year. Thus, the year 1860 will be Leap-Year, 
 and its figures, if divided by 4, will leave no 
 remainder. 
 
THE SEASONS. 
 
 December 
 
 A 
 
 
 January 
 
 } 
 
 Are called Winter. 
 
 February 
 
 J 
 
 
 March 
 
 
 Are called Spring, because 
 
 April 
 
 the grass and flowers then 
 
 May 
 
 J 
 
 spring up. 
 
 June 
 
 1 
 
 
 July 
 
 i 
 
 Are called Summer. 
 
 August 
 
 1 
 J 
 
 
 September 
 
 1 
 ! 
 
 Are called Autumn, or Fall, 
 
 October 
 
 
 because the leaves then 
 
 November 
 
 
 fall. 
 
 J 
 
 Spring is the time to sow the grain ; 
 In su7nmer, fruits and flowers grow ; 
 The harvest, we in autumn gain. 
 Before the storms of luinter blow. 
 
PART SECOND. 
 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES, 
 
 ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 
 
oil, say not, dream not, heavenly notes, 
 
 To childish ears are vain ; 
 That the young mind at random floats, 
 
 And cannot reach the strain. 
 
 Dim, or unheard, the words may fall. 
 
 And yet the heaven-taught mind, 
 May learn the sacred air, and all 
 
 The harmony unwind. 
 
 Keble. 
 
WHY CHILDREN COME TO SCHOOL. 
 
 We little children come to school, 
 
 A part of every day ; 
 Because we think it would not do 
 
 To spend it all in play. 
 
 'Tis true we love to be at home, 
 With father and with mother ; 
 
 But yet to school we like to come- 
 Sisters and little brother. 
 
 We all delight to count in turn. 
 And know each figure well ; 
 
 And then we also want to learn 
 To read, and write, and spell. 
 
 And whilst upon the map we view 
 Each country, far and wide ; 
 
 With oceans, lakes, and rivers, too, 
 And many isles beside ; 
 8 
 
82 
 
 We learn that Europe is a land 
 Renowned in wealth and name, 
 
 From which, so many years ago. 
 Our worthy fathers came ; 
 
 That Asia is the ancient clime 
 Where Adam lived and died ; 
 
 And where the blessed Saviour, too, 
 Was scourged and crucified ; 
 
 That o'er the sands of Africa 
 
 The negro races roam; 
 'Twas cruel white men, years ago. 
 
 That brought them from their home. 
 
 But yet, from Europe's northern clime 
 
 To Africs burning sand. 
 No place is like America — 
 
 Our own, our native land. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
THE THREE KINGDOMS OF NATURE. 
 
 ANIMAL, VEGETABLE AND MINERAL. 
 
 To form my mother's glossy gown 
 The Silkworm spins its thread ; 
 
 Whilst to the Beaver, father owes 
 The hat upon his head. 
 
 The gentle Lamb must yield its coat, 
 
 To give us clothing fine ; 
 And e'en the little Calf must bleed, 
 
 To make these shoes of mine. 
 
 The milk which children ought to love. 
 
 Because it suits them well, 
 Provided by a hand above. 
 
 His power and goodness tell. 
 
 The vegetable kingdom, too. 
 Doth varied comforts yield ; 
 
 Our handkerchiefs and aprons, once 
 Were growing in the field. 
 
84 
 
 The very bread we daily eat, 
 
 The clothing that we wear ; 
 The cattle which supply our meat, 
 
 Are proofs of bounteous care. 
 
 The mineral kingdom gives us coal, 
 
 To burn upon the grate ; 
 Our iron, copper, lead, and tin, 
 
 Our coins and silver plate. 
 
 How grateful, then, we all should be. 
 
 For comforts these produce; 
 God saw that we had need of them. 
 
 And gave them for our use. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 THE HUMAN FRAME. 
 
 Two hundred and forty-five bones, 'tis said. 
 
 Compose the human frame ; 
 Just sixty-one within the head. 
 
 Three more the trunk can claim. 
 
85 
 
 Sixty, the hands and arms complete, 
 And make them fit for work or play ; 
 
 Whilst sixty in the legs and feet, 
 Support this tenement of clay. 
 
 Wondrous machine ! Avith muscles, nerves. 
 And flesh and blood made strong ; 
 
 How strange, how marvelous it seems 
 That it should last so long. 
 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
 
 ^'Floivers, wherefore do ye bloom?" 
 "We strew thy pathway to the tomb." 
 
 ''Stars, wherefore do ye rise?" 
 " To light thy spirit to the skies." 
 
 "Fair Moon, why dost thou wane ?" 
 " That I may wax again." 
 
 " Oh, Sun ! what makes thy beam so bright ?" 
 "The Word that said, 'Let there be light.' " 
 
 " Time, whither dost thou flee?" 
 "I travel to eternity." 
 
 " Eternity ! what art thou? Say ?" 
 
 "I am — was — will be evermore — to-day." 
 
 "Nature, whence sj^rang thy glorious frame?" 
 "My Maker called me, and I came." 
 
 " Winds, whence and whither do you blow ?" 
 " 'Thou must be born again' to know." 
 
 " Ocean, what rules thy swell and fall?" 
 " The mifijht of Him that ruleth all." 
 
87 
 
 '''Planets, what guides you in your course?" 
 "Unseen, unfelt, unfailing force." 
 
 " Oh, Life, what is thy breath ?" 
 "A vapor, vanishing in death." 
 
 " Oh, Death, where ends thy strife?" 
 " In everlasting life." 
 
 " Oh, Gf-rave, where is thy victory?" 
 "Ask Him who rose again for me." 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 TIME. 
 
 Just sixty seconds in a minute ; 
 One liour has sixty minutes in it ; 
 And, be your hours dull or bright. 
 You 've twenty-four in day and night ; 
 And if more knowledge you would seek, 
 You 've just seven days in every week. 
 Four iveehs are in a month, 'tis clear ; 
 And full twelve months make up one year, 
 
 God grant that acts of good the year may fill, 
 And not one second spent in doing ill. 
 
THE SEASONS. 
 
 SPRING. 
 
 Four Seasons in the year ; the first is Spring, 
 "When birds do build their nests, and sweetly 
 
 sing; 
 When yellow crocus, and the snow-drop fair, 
 Peep from their beds to taste the vernal air. 
 If birds chant forth their thanks of praise to 
 
 Heaven, 
 Should I not praise, to whom so much is given ? 
 Sweet birds, delicious flowers, are all for me ; 
 AVhat grateful thanks, Lord ! I owe to Thee ! 
 
 SUMMER. 
 
 The heart is glad, the garden gay ; 
 Blithe Summer comes, led in by May. 
 The butterfly — that beauteous thing — 
 Flutters around on painted wing ; 
 The humming bee — that merry wag — 
 Flies, sips, and fills his honey-bag. 
 
89 
 
 The sun his beams with lustre shoots, 
 To ripen corn, and plants, and fruits ; 
 Fainting beneath his burning ray, 
 The juicy fruits our thirst allay. 
 God's smallest work a purpose shows ; 
 Through all His works His bounty flows. 
 
 AUTUMN. 
 
 Autumn supplies our craving wants ; 
 Rich fruits are ripe, and corn, and plants. 
 The yellow field of corn is reaped ; 
 At harvest-home the barn is heaped. 
 I '11 never hoard, to raise the price ; 
 Keep me, Lord, from such a vice. 
 
 WINTER. 
 
 Winter, come ! in drifting snow, 
 Near the fire I scorn to go. 
 Winter, come ! in frost and hail, 
 Never shall my courage fail. 
 Winter, come ! and blow a storm ; 
 My good coat shall keep me warm. 
 Winter, come ! in drizzling sleet. 
 Dry I keep my head and feet. 
 
90 
 
 Pleasure ne'er my feet entice, 
 Sliding on the treacherous ice. 
 Yet, when cruel tempests howl, 
 Scaring man, and beast, and fowl ; 
 Let me pity, then, the poor. 
 Who can find no open door; 
 Who have neither clothes nor food ; 
 Let me try to do them good. 
 Pity is a fleeting shade, 
 If we do not give our aid ; 
 Something every one can spare ; 
 I 've enough, and they shall share. 
 
THE FIRST FRUITS ARE THE LORD'S, 
 
 BY RT. REV. G. W. DOANE. 
 
 Young and happy while thou art, 
 
 Not a furrow on thy brow ; 
 Not a sorrow in thy heart. 
 
 Seek the Lord, thy Saviour — now ! 
 In its freshness bring the flower, 
 
 While the dew upon it lies ; 
 In the cool and cloudless hour, 
 
 Of the morning sacrifice. 
 
 Life will have its evil years, 
 
 When the skies are overcast ; 
 All the present thronged with fears. 
 
 And with vain regrets, the past. 
 Let him tremble, who, his heart. 
 
 In an hour like this* would bring. 
 Lest Jehovah say, " Depart ! 
 
 'Tis a worn and worthless thing !" 
 
 * An occasion of Confirmation. 
 
92 
 
 But the first-fruits of the year, 
 
 Have been chosen by the Lord; 
 And the first-fruits of the heart, 
 
 On His altar should be poured. 
 Thus the blessing from above, 
 
 On life's harvest shall be given ; 
 Sown in tears, perhaps, on earth; 
 
 Reaped "with joyfulness in heaven ! 
 
THE SEED AND THE PRAYER. 
 
 Mamma, I've often heard you say, 
 That God is listening when we pray ; 
 And, if I do indeed believe. 
 That what I ask I shall receive. 
 
 Why will he not, then, take away 
 My naughty, sinful heart to-day, 
 And make me humble, meek and mild, 
 A quiet and obedient child ? 
 
 I ask him every day and night, 
 Eor a new heart that's clean and white ; 
 You know I have not got it yet — 
 He hears my prayer — can he forget ? 
 
 No, darling, God does not forget, 
 Although he has not answered yet ; 
 And if you '11 listen, I will try 
 And give you now a reason why. 
 
 I once pulled up a garden weed, 
 And in its place I dropped a seed ; 
 Because they told me God's great power 
 Could change that seed into a flower, 
 9 
 
94 
 
 I was a little child, you know, 
 And thought the seed would quickly grow ; 
 But days and weeks went slowly round, 
 And still it lay deep in the ground. 
 
 At length there came some gentle rain, 
 And when the sun shone forth again, 
 I hastened to the spot alone, 
 Wherein my little seed was sown. 
 
 And there I saw the softened ground 
 Raised in a gently heaving mound, 
 And in the middle there was seen 
 Two little leaves of brightest green. 
 
 And day by day, and hour by hour, 
 I watched until their came a flower ; 
 And thought how good that God must be, 
 That gave such pretty flowers to me. 
 
 And now, my dear, your little prayer 
 Is like the seed I dropped in there ; 
 God gives it in your hand to sow. 
 And promises the seed shall grow. 
 
95 
 
 And if you wait, and watch and pray, 
 The seed will spring up day by day, 
 And God will bless it like my flower. 
 Both with the sunshine and the shower. 
 
 Until at length one morning bright. 
 You '11 find a heart both clean and wdiite ; 
 And evermore your song will be, 
 How very good God is to me. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 NEARER. 
 
 One sweetly solemn thought 
 
 Comes to me o'er and o'er; 
 I 'm nearer my home to-day 
 
 Than I 've ever been before ; 
 Nearer my Father's house. 
 
 Where the many mansions be ; 
 Nearer the great white throne — 
 
 Nearer the jasper sea ; 
 Nearer that bound of life 
 
 Where we lay our burdens down ; 
 Nearer leaving my cross. 
 
 Nearer wearing my crown. 
 
 Anonymoiis. 
 
CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE. 
 
 "Dear mother," said a little fish, 
 
 " Pray is not that a fly ? 
 I 'm very hungry, and I wish 
 
 You 'd let me go and try. 
 
 "Sweet innocent," the mother cried, 
 And started from her nook, 
 
 " That horrid fly is meant to hide 
 The sharpness of the hook." 
 
 Now, as I 've heard, this little trout 
 
 Was young and silly too ; 
 And so he thought he 'd venture out. 
 
 To see what he could do. 
 
 And round about the fly he played, 
 With many a longing look ; 
 
 And often to himself he said, 
 " I 'm sure that 's not a hook. 
 
9T 
 
 " I can but give one little pluck 
 
 To try, and so I will." 
 So on he "went, and lo, it stuck 
 
 Quite through his little gill. 
 
 And as he faint and fainter grew, 
 With hollow voice he cried, 
 
 " Dear mother, if I 'd minded you, 
 I should not thus have died." 
 
 Jane Taylor, 
 
 THE BIRD'S NEST. 
 
 Behold a bird's nest ! 
 
 Mark it well, within, without ; 
 
 No tool had he that wrought ; no knife to cut. 
 
 No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert. 
 
 No glue to join ; his little beak was all ; 
 
 And yet, how neatly finished ! What nice hand 
 
 With all the implements of art. 
 
 Could make me such another ? 
 
 Anonymous, 
 9* 
 
THE WAY. 
 
 " Mother, had I the lightning's wing, 
 
 To the throne of God, in Heaven, I'd spring." 
 
 " My child, the lightning's gleaming sheet 
 Glances not near His holy seat. 
 He dwells in the Heaven of Heavens, afar 
 From the rage of the elemental war." 
 
 ^* But, mother, the thunder roars around, 
 I would float to God on its wave of sound." 
 
 " My child, the thunder is loud and deep, 
 Startling the babe from its quiet sleep. 
 The wild beast cowers to its rocky den, 
 And the woodbird seeks her nest again ; 
 E'en man, tho' armed with pomp and power, 
 Shrinks, trembling in that awful hour. 
 But the voice of the thunder around God's 
 
 throne, 
 Is low as a lover's whispered tone. 
 Some other way thou must seek, my boy. 
 To find that region of peace and joy." 
 
99 
 
 "The rainbow, mother, the rainbow bright, 
 I will climb to God on its arch of light." 
 
 " Alas ! my boy, that bow so fair — 
 
 God's holy promise in the air — 
 
 A pledge that hereafter no tears of woe. 
 
 O'er human hearts should overflow ; 
 
 But when storms come, there should light be 
 
 given. 
 To gild our woes with a smile from Heaven. 
 That bow, like the dreams of thine early years, 
 Ere thou couldst reach it, would melt in tears." 
 
 " How, then, mother, can I seek that home, 
 To which my wayward fancies roam?" 
 
 " The way, my child, is dark and drear ; 
 No rainbow sheds its glories here ; 
 Not here is heard the thunder's roar, 
 And the lightning's flash is seen no more. 
 It is clad in terrors all its own, 
 And man must tread that path alo7ie.'' 
 
 " Alone ! oh, mother, thy gentle arm 
 Has shielded me here from every harm ; 
 
100 
 
 In the world's rough path it has been my stay, 
 And in that dark and dreadful way, 
 It shall be my hope, my trust, my guide ; 
 Oh, mother ! do not leave my side." 
 
 " A better Guide awaits thee, boy, 
 
 To lead to that region of peace and joy ; 
 
 Safely may mortals venture o'er 
 
 The path which He has trod before. 
 
 Then fear thou not to leave my side — 
 
 Death is the path — but Christ thy guide." 
 
 THE MECHANICAL POWERS. 
 
 Of different powers mechanics have six ; 
 Heavy weights to lift up, and great timbers to 
 
 fix; 
 So listen awhile to my short explanation 
 
 Of mechanical powers, so just and so true ; 
 There's the Lever, the Pully, the Wheel on its 
 Axle, 
 The Inclined Plane, the Wedge, and the 
 Screw. 
 
 Anonymous, 
 
DEEDS OF KINDNESS. 
 
 Suppose the little cowslip 
 
 Should hang its golden cup, 
 And say, "I 'm such a tiny flower, 
 
 I 'd better not grow up. 
 How many a weary traveler 
 
 Would miss its fragrant smell ; 
 How many a little child would grieve 
 
 To lose it from the dell. 
 
 Suppose the glistening dew-drop 
 
 Upon the grass, should say, 
 " What can a little dew-drop do ? 
 
 I 'd better roll away." 
 The blade on which it rested, 
 
 Before the day was done. 
 Without a drop to moisten it, 
 
 Would wither in the sun. 
 
 Suppose the little breezes 
 Upon a summer day, 
 
102 
 
 Should think themselves too small to cool 
 
 The traveler on his way ; 
 Who would not miss the smallest 
 
 And softest ones that blow, 
 And think they made a great mistake 
 
 If they were talking so. 
 
 How many deeds of kindness, 
 
 A little child may do. 
 Although it has so little strength, 
 
 And little wisdom, too. 
 It wants a loving spirit. 
 
 Much more than strength, to prove 
 How many things a child may do 
 
 For others, by his love. 
 
 THE GOLDEN RULE. 
 
 To do to others as I would 
 That they should do to me, 
 
 Will make me honest, kind, and good, 
 As children ought to be. 
 
LITTLE THINGS. 
 
 Little drops of water. 
 Little grains of sand, 
 
 Make the mighty ocean, 
 And the beauteous land. 
 
 And the little moments, 
 Humble though they be. 
 
 Make the mighty ages 
 Of eternity. 
 
 So our little errors, 
 Lead the soul away, 
 
 From the path of virtue. 
 Oft in sin to stray. 
 
 Little deeds of kindness, 
 Little words of love, 
 
 Make our earth an Eden, 
 Like the Heaven above. 
 
THE COW 
 
 Come, children, listen to me now, 
 And you shall hear about the cow. 
 We '11 find her useful, live or dead, 
 Whether she 's black, or white, or red. 
 
 When milkmaids milk her, morn and night. 
 She gives them milk, so fresh and white ; 
 And this we little children think, 
 Is very nice for us to drink. 
 
 The curdled milk they press and squeeze. 
 And thus they make it into cheese ; 
 The cream, skimmed off, they shake in churns, 
 Which very soon to butter turns. 
 
 And when she 's dead, her flesh is good ; 
 For beef is very wholesome food ; 
 And though in health it makes us strong, 
 To eat too much is very wrong. 
 
105 
 
 Then lime and bark the tanner takes, 
 And of her skin he leather makes ; 
 And this, we know, thej mostly use. 
 To make nice soles for boots and shoes. 
 
 The hair that grows upon her back. 
 Is taken, whether white or black, 
 And mixed with mortar, short and long, 
 To make it very firm and strong. 
 
 Her gall is used for washing clean. 
 Cloth that is blue, or black, or green ; 
 Her feet they wash, and scrape, and boil, 
 From which they skim off neat's foot oil. 
 
 Her hoofs, with care, make glue, so good 
 For carpenters to join their wood ; 
 Her fat, with cotton used aright. 
 Make candles, which we burn at night. 
 
 And last of all, when cut with care. 
 Her horns make combs, to comb our hair ; 
 And so we learn, thanks to our teachers. 
 That cows are very useful creatures. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 10 
 
THE CHOICE. 
 
 " Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." 
 
 Children, and have you never known 
 
 The message from above ? 
 " Give me," says Christ, '' thy heart, my son. 
 
 Give me thine earliest love." 
 
 True, there 's another seeks your hearts, 
 
 Another asks your love ; 
 The flattering world tries all her arts, 
 
 Your infant minds to move. 
 
 "Choose ye;" to-day He calls— to-day; 
 
 Oh ! listen to His voice j 
 And make the Lord, without delay. 
 
 Your early, only choice. 
 
THE MEANING OF THE WORD 
 CREATOR. 
 
 Creator means that mighty power 
 Which brought the worlds to light ; 
 
 Who made the man, the beast, the flower, 
 All perfect in his sight. 
 
 Creator means that word of grace 
 Which forms the heart anew ; 
 
 That o'er the martyr Stephen's face 
 A smile angelic threw. 
 
 Creator means the Lord of all ! 
 
 Of man, of child, of beast ; 
 He made all creatures, great and small — 
 
 Shall man adore Him least ? 
 
 Doth not the little warbling bird 
 Sing in soft notes His praise ? 
 
 And cannot little children, too, 
 A grateful tribute raise ? 
 
LOVE TO THE SAVIOUR. 
 
 When Jesus Christ was here below, 
 And spread His works of love abroad ; 
 
 If I had lived so long ago, 
 
 I think I should have loved the Lord. 
 
 Jesus, who was so very kind. 
 
 Who came to pardon sinful men ; 
 
 Who healed the sick, and cured the blind — 
 Oh must I not have loved Him then. 
 
 But Avhere is Jesus ? Is he dead ? 
 
 Oh no. He lives in Heaven above ; 
 And " blest are they," the Saviour said, 
 
 Who, though they have not seen me, love." 
 
 He sees us from his throne on high, 
 As well as when on earth He dwelt; 
 
 And when to Him poor children cry, 
 He feels such love as then he felt. 
 
 And if the Lord will grant me grace. 
 Much will I love Him and adore ; 
 
 But when in Heaven I see His face, 
 'Twill be my joy to love Him more. 
 
LITTLE SAMUEL. 
 
 Hush, my darling, night is falling, 
 Children now should be at rest ; 
 
 Place one little arm around me, 
 Lay thy cheek against my breast. 
 
 I will tell thee, little Mary, 
 Some sweet tale of olden time ; 
 
 And the story for my darling. 
 Shall be woven into rhyme. 
 
 Hast thou heard of little Samuel ? 
 
 Like thyself a first-born child ; 
 God did form him, like my darling. 
 
 Of a nature good and mild. 
 
 We are told his grateful mother, 
 Vowed him early to the Lord ; 
 
 And he grew up in the temple. 
 
 Where was taught God's holy word. 
 
 There he dwelt with aged Eli, 
 
 Whose two sons were wicked men. 
 
 Quite unlike their good old father — 
 Ah! 'tis oft-times now as then. 
 
 ***** Hs : 
 
 10* 
 
110 
 
 But one night, aroused from slumber, 
 All was dim and still around ; 
 
 Calling twice his name distinctly, 
 Samuel heard a voice resound. 
 
 Up he sprang, and ran to Eli, 
 Saying quickly, "Here am I!" 
 
 "Nay, my child, I did not call thee," 
 Was the aged priest's reply. 
 
 Samuel slept, as Eli bade him — 
 When again that voice was heard ; 
 
 Solemn as a strain of music, 
 Sweet as carol of a bird. 
 
 And again the dim old temple. 
 
 Echoed Avith his light foot-fall. 
 As he sought the couch of Eli — 
 
 "Here am I — for thou didst call." 
 
 "Nay, my son, I did not call thee ;" 
 Then he turned once more to rest. 
 
 Whence the voice that thus aroused him, 
 Pondering within his breast. 
 
 "Samuel! Samuel!" breathed those accents. 
 Seldom ear of man they greet ; 
 
Ill 
 
 And again was heard the patter 
 Of those little naked feet. 
 
 " Here am I," he said to Eli; 
 
 " Here am I — for thou didst call." 
 Then did God enlighten Eli, 
 
 And he saw the Lord through all. 
 
 " Go, lie down, and I will tell thee, 
 If he call, what thou shalt say; 
 
 Speak, Lord ! for thy servant heareth, 
 And will thy command obey." 
 
 Then did God tell all to Samuel ; 
 
 Those who did His power defy, 
 He who tried not to restrain them, 
 
 Eli and his sons should die ! 
 
 This, my story, little daughter, 
 
 Shall a lesson good impart. 
 May the Lord thus early call thee, 
 
 By a voice within thy heart. 
 
 Wait at morning, wait at even. 
 Sometime, happily, wilt thou say, 
 
 " Speak, Lord ! for thy servant heareth. 
 And will thy command obey." 
 
 Anonymous, 
 
WASTE NOT— WANT NOT. 
 
 I must not throw upon the floor, 
 
 The crust I cannot eat ; 
 There 's many a hungry little one, 
 
 Would think it quite a treat. 
 
 My parents take the kindest care, 
 To get me wholesome food ; 
 
 And so I must not waste a bit. 
 That may do others good. 
 
 The corn from which my bread is made, 
 
 God causes it to grow ; 
 How sad to waste what He has given — 
 
 For He would see and know. 
 
 'Tis wilful waste brings woful want ; 
 
 And I may live to say : 
 Oh, how I wish I had the crust 
 
 Which once I threw away. 
 
NEVER FORGET TO PRAY. 
 
 Never, my child, forget to pray, 
 Whate'er the business of the day ; 
 If happy dreams have blessed thy sleep ; 
 If startling fears have made thee weep ; 
 With holy thoughts begin the day. 
 And ne'er, my child, forget to pray. 
 
 Pray Him, by whom the birds are fed. 
 To give to thee thy daily bread ; 
 If wealth his bounty should bestow. 
 Praise Him, from whom all blessings flow : 
 If he who gave should take away, 
 ne'er, my child, forget to pray. 
 
 The time will come when thou wilt miss 
 
 A father's and a mother's kiss; 
 
 And then, my child, perchance you '11 see. 
 
 Some who in prayer ne'er bend the knee ; 
 
 From such examples turn away, 
 
 And ne'er, my child, forget to pray. 
 
 OhihVs Book of Poetry, 
 
NAMES AND ORDER OF THE BOOKS 
 OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 
 
 The great Jehovah speaks to us, 
 
 In Genesis and Exodus ; 
 
 Leviticus and Numbers see, 
 
 Followed by Deuteronomy. 
 
 Joshua and Judges sway the land ; 
 
 Ruth gleans a sheaf with trembling hand ; 
 
 Samuel, and numerous Kings appear, 
 
 Whose Chronicles we wondering hear ; 
 
 Ezra and Nehemiah now; 
 
 Esther, the beauteous mourner show. 
 
 Job speaks in sighs, David in Psalms, 
 
 The Proverbs teach to scatter alms. 
 
 Ecclesiastes then comes on, 
 
 And the sweet Song of Solomon. 
 
 Isaiah ; Jeremiah, then. 
 
 With Lamentations takes his pen. 
 
 Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea's lyres, 
 
 Swell Joel, Amos, Obadiah's. 
 
115 
 
 Next Jonah, Micah, Nahum come. 
 And lofty Habakkuk finds room. 
 While Zephaniah, Haggai calls, 
 Rapt Zechariah builds his walls ; 
 And Malachi, with garments rent, 
 Concludes the ancient Testament. 
 
 Songs for the Little Ones, 
 
 THE COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 One God I must worship supreme. 
 And ne'er before images bow ; 
 
 I must not speak light of his name, 
 But pay to him every vow. 
 
 I 'm bound to remember with care, 
 The Sabbath, so hallowed and pure; 
 
 To honor my parents so dear. 
 
 That my life may the longer endure. 
 
 I never must steal, or consent 
 
 To what is impure, or untrue ; 
 I must not indulge discontent, 
 
 Or covet my neighbor his due. 
 
 Hastings "Nursery Sungs.^' 
 
THOUGHTS BEFORE RETIRINa TO REST. 
 
 Ne'er let soft slumber close my eyes, 
 Before I've recollected thrice, 
 The train of actions through the day. 
 Where have my feet chose out the way ? 
 "What I have learned, where'er I 've been, 
 From all I 've heard, from all I 've seen ? 
 What know I more, that 's worth the knowing? 
 What have I done that 's worth the doing ? 
 What have I sought that I should shun ? 
 What duty have I left undone. 
 Or into what new follies run ? 
 These self-inquiries are the road, 
 That leads to virtue and to God. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 SUM OF THE COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 With all thy soul love God above, 
 And as thyself thy neighbor love. 
 
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 Exodus, Chap. xx. 
 
 1. Thou shalt have no more gods but me. 
 
 2. Before no idol bow thy knee. 
 
 3. Take not the name of God in vain, 
 
 4. Nor dare the Sabbath day profane. 
 
 5. Give both thy parents honor due ; 
 G. Take heed that thou no murder do. 
 
 7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean, 
 
 8. Nor steal, though thou art poor and mean 
 
 9. Nor make a wilful lie, nor love it. 
 
 10. What is thy neighbor's, dare not covet. 
 Songs for the Little Ones at Home 
 
 ST. MATT, v., 34—37. 
 
 I must not use God's name in vain, 
 
 Or ever speak a word profane ; 
 
 For those who learn to curse and swear, 
 
 The children of the devil are. 
 
 My little lips, oh, may they be 
 
 Attuned, Lord, to honor thee. 
 
 Songs for the Little One 
 11 
 
CHILD'S TALENT. 
 
 God entrusts to all — 
 Talents, few or many ; 
 
 None so young or small, 
 That they have not any. 
 
 Though the great and wise 
 Have a greater number ; 
 
 Yet my one I prize. 
 
 And it must not slumber. 
 
 God will surely ask. 
 
 Ere I enter heaven ; 
 Have I done the task. 
 
 Which to me was given ? 
 
 Little drops of rain, 
 
 Bring the springing flowers; 
 And I may attain 
 
 Much, by little powers. 
 
119 
 
 Every little mite, 
 
 Every little measure, 
 Helps to spread the light — 
 
 Helps to swell the treasure. 
 
 Songs for the Little One: 
 
 GET UP EARLY. 
 
 Get up early ! time is precious ; 
 
 Waste it not in bed. 
 Get up early ! while the dew-drops, 
 
 O'er the fields are spread. 
 Get up early ! when the red sun 
 
 First begins to rise ; 
 Get up early ! when the darkness 
 
 Fades from earth and skies. 
 
 Get up early ! It is sinful 
 
 To be wasting time ; 
 Get up early ! while the sweet birds 
 
 Sing their morning chime. 
 Get up early ! while the flowers, 
 
 Blush upon the sod ; 
 Get up early ! while all nature 
 
 Blesses nature's God. 
 
A PENNY. 
 
 " A penny I have — 
 
 'Tis all my own !" 
 Little Charlotte exclaimed, 
 
 In a lively tone. 
 ''I cannot do much 
 
 With a penny, I fear ; 
 But I '11 buy myself something 
 
 To eat, or to wear." 
 
 "A penny I have," 
 
 Little Mary said; 
 And she thoughtfully raised 
 
 Her hand to her head. 
 *' Both missions and schools 
 
 Want money, I know ; 
 But I fear that 'tis little 
 
 A penny can do." 
 
 So Charlotte ran off, 
 
 And some apples she bought ; 
 While Mary, her mite 
 
 To the mission-box brought. 
 
121 
 
 And which of them, think you, 
 
 More cheerfully smiled; 
 And which of the two 
 
 Was the happier child ? 
 
 M. A, Stoddard. 
 
 THE VOWELS. 
 
 We are little airy creatures, 
 All of different form and features. 
 One of us in glass is set ; 
 One of us you '11 find in jet; 
 Another you may see in tm, 
 And the fourth a box within ; 
 If the fifth you should pitrswe, 
 It can never fly from jou. 
 
 11* 
 
THE STARS. 
 
 See ! the stars are coming 
 
 In the far blue skies ; 
 Mother, look! thej brighten — 
 
 Are they angels' eyes? 
 
 No, my child, the lustre 
 
 Of the stars is given, 
 Like th§ hues of flowers, 
 
 By the God of Heaven. 
 
 Mother, if I study, 
 
 Sure, He '11 make me know 
 Why the stars He kindled, 
 
 O'er our earth to glow. 
 
 Child, what God created 
 
 Has a glorious aim ; 
 Thine it is to worship, 
 
 Thine to love His name. 
 
 Songs for the Little Onei 
 
THE ATHEIST AND THE ACORN. 
 
 "Methinks the world is oddly made, 
 
 And everything amiss ;" 
 A dull, presuming Atheist said. 
 As stretched he lay, beneath a shade. 
 
 And instanced it in this : 
 
 "Behold," quoth he, ''that mighty thing, 
 
 A pumpkin, large and round, 
 Is held but by a little string, 
 Which upwards cannot make it spring. 
 
 Or bear it from the ground. 
 
 While on this oak, an acorn small, 
 
 So disproportioned grows ; 
 That who with sense surveys this all, 
 This universal, casual ball. 
 
 Its ill contrivance knows. 
 
 My better judgment would have hung 
 
 The pumpkin on the tree, 
 And left the acorn, lightly strung, 
 'Mongst things which on the surface sprung, 
 
 And small and feeble be." 
 
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 No more the caviller could say, 
 
 Nor farther faults descry, 
 For as he upward gazing lay, 
 An acorn, loosened from its stay, 
 
 Fell down upon his eye. 
 
 The wounded part with tears ran o'er, 
 
 As punished for the sin : 
 Fool ! had that bough a pumpkin bore, 
 Thy whimsies would have worked no more, 
 
 Nor skull have kept them in. 
 
 Countess of WincJielsea, 1720. 
 
 THE HOLY BIBLE. 
 The Holy Bible, precious, true, 
 Has Testaments, called " Old" and "New ;" 
 Of books, the Old has thirty-nine ; 
 Twenty-seven in the New, we find ; 
 Eleven hundred forty-nine, 
 Count chapters of the two combined. 
 The middle chapter, 't will be seen. 
 Is Psalm one hundred seventeen ; 
 The foil owning Psalm, and its verse the eighth, 
 Is the middle verse, as counters state. 
 
DON'T KILL THE BIRDS. 
 
 Don't kill the birds — the little birds, 
 
 That sing about your door, 
 Soon as the joyous spring has come, 
 
 And chilling storms are o'er. 
 
 The little birds — how sweet they sing ; 
 
 let them joyous live ; 
 And do not seek to take their life, 
 
 Which you can never give. 
 
 Don't kill the birds — the pretty birds, 
 
 That play among the trees ; 
 'Twould make the earth a cheerless place, 
 
 To see no more of these- 
 
 The little birds — how fond they play ; 
 
 Do not disturb their sport. 
 But let them warble forth their songs. 
 
 Till winter cuts them short. 
 
 Don't kill the birds — the happy birds, 
 That cheer the field and grove ; 
 
 Such harmless things to look upon, 
 They claim our warmest love. 
 
THE BUSY BEE. 
 
 Pretty bee, pray tell me why 
 Thus from flower to flower you fly ; 
 Culling sweets the livelong day, 
 Never leaving off to play. 
 
 Little child, I '11 tell you why, 
 Thus from flower to flower I fly ; 
 Let the truth thy thoughts engage, 
 From thy youth to riper age. 
 
 Summer flowers will soon be o'er ; 
 Winter comes — they bloom no more ; 
 Fairest days will soon be past ; 
 Brightest suns will set at last. 
 
 Little child, now learn of me ; 
 Let thy youth thy seed-time be ; 
 Then, when wintry age has come, 
 Richly bear thy harvest home. 
 
A GOOD NAME 
 
 A- good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. 
 
 K'mg Solomon. 
 
 Children, choose it, 
 
 Don't refuse it, 
 'Tis a priceless diadem ; 
 
 Highly prize it, 
 
 Not despise it. 
 You will need it when you 're men. 
 
 Love and cherish, 
 
 Keep and nourish, 
 'Tis more precious far than gold ; 
 
 Watch and guard it. 
 
 Don't discard it; 
 You will need it when you 're old. 
 
 Then endeavor. 
 
 Now and ever, 
 Keep this blessed treasure nigh ; 
 
 Never loan it. 
 
 Always own it, 
 Tou will need it when you die. 
 
THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS. 
 
 Far from the busy haunts of life, 
 
 Among the quiet dead, 
 There is a spot to which my steps 
 
 In love are often led. 
 Upon the grass-grown little mound 
 
 Full many a blossom springs ; 
 They seem a lesson from the ground, 
 
 Of great and holy things. 
 
 How well I mind me of the day, 
 
 We made that little grave ; 
 How bitterly we turned away, 
 
 And mourned the fair and brave ; 
 Brave, tho' no laurels of the great 
 
 Are wreathed about her name : 
 Her's were no honors of the state, 
 
 Nor dreams of earthly fame. 
 
 A higher guerdon claimed her zeal, 
 A loftier prize she sought ; 
 
 That guerdon — her eternal weal 
 The prize — her Saviour bought. 
 
 Oh, say, can earthly joys allure, 
 Or earthly chains enthral 
 
129 
 
 The soul, whose hopes are anchored sure, 
 Where Christ is all in all ? 
 
 It might be, for a little vdiile, 
 
 Her new-born faith was weak, 
 It may be, that her faltering hope. 
 
 Forbade her Heaven to seek ; 
 But love, all-powerful to control, 
 
 Descended from above, 
 And God himself possessed her soul — 
 
 For God himself is love. 
 
 And ever-more, all earthly things 
 
 Kept fading from her sight. 
 The peace religion ever brings, 
 
 Came with its softer light. 
 God still was gracious, for His rod 
 
 In love, not wrath, was given ; 
 Earth but the path toward purer bliss — 
 
 The stepping-stone to Heaven. 
 
 One parting wish she softly breathed ; 
 
 "When I have passed away, 
 To be forever with my God, 
 
 Oh, lay my mould'ring clay 
 12 
 
130 
 
 Within the shadow of the church, 
 
 I, living, loved to tread ; 
 And plant new violets in the turf, 
 
 Above my quiet bed." 
 
 I 've often grieved, because the spot 
 
 They've chosen for her grave. 
 Seemed not in keeping with the wish, 
 
 So lovingly she gave. 
 But, yesterday I came again. 
 
 The sun was shining bright, 
 And upward rose the taporing spire. 
 
 To intercept the light. 
 
 Its graceful outline, tall and high, 
 
 I 've seen it o'er and o'er, 
 And marked it on the clear, blue sky, 
 
 A thousand times before. 
 But now, the symbol of our faith. 
 
 Uprising in the air. 
 Was marked in shadow on her grave, 
 
 And lingered calmly there. 
 
 How well, I thought, that she, whose life 
 
 Was spent at Jesus' feet, 
 Should sleep, at last, beneath His Cross, 
 
 The true disciple's seat. 
 
131 
 
 Yet, in her present happy home, 
 'Mid perfect bliss above, 
 
 Not e'en the shadow of His Cross, 
 Can intercept His love. 
 
 Falling so richly on the soul, 
 
 Whom Israel's God doth keep ; 
 When safely folded in His arms, 
 
 She gently sinks to sleep. 
 Far brighter than the glare of sin, 
 
 And truer than its gloss. 
 Are the pure joys that dwell within 
 
 The Shadow of the Cross. 
 
 THE TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS. 
 
 This is ihe first and great command — 
 
 To love thy God above ; 
 And this the second — as thyself 
 
 Thy neighbor thou shalt love. 
 
 Who is my neighbor ? He who wants 
 The help which thou canst give ; 
 
 And both the law and prophets say. 
 This do, and thou shalt live. 
 
 Roscoe. 
 
THE LITTLE CHILD'S PATTERN. 
 
 Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, 
 Once became a child like me ; 
 
 Oh, that in my whole behavior, 
 He my pattern still may be. 
 
 All my nature is unholy ; 
 
 Pride and passion dwell within; 
 But the Lord was meek and lowly, 
 
 And was never known to sin. 
 
 I am often vainly trying 
 
 Some new pleasure to possess ; 
 
 He was always self-denying, 
 Patient in His worst distress. 
 
 Lord, assist a feeble creature. 
 Guide me by thy word of truth ; 
 
 Condescend to be my teacher, 
 
 Through my childhood and my youth, 
 
QUESTIONS. 
 
 Who showed the little ant the way 
 
 Her narrow hole to bore ; 
 And spend the pleasant summer day 
 
 In laying up her store ? 
 
 The sparrow builds her skillful nest, 
 
 Of wool, and hay, and moss ; 
 Who told her how to weave it best, 
 
 And lay the twigs across ? 
 
 Who taught the busy bee to fly 
 
 Among the sweetest flowers, 
 And lay his store of honey by, 
 
 To eat in winter hours ? 
 
 'Twas God who showed them all the way. 
 
 And gave their little skill. 
 And teaches children, if they pray, 
 
 To do His holy will. 
 12* 
 
IMPROMPTU, 
 
 On seeing cliildren making mud pies by the roadside. 
 
 Oh, happy faces ! rosy cheeks ! 
 Besprinkled o'er with muddy streaks ; 
 Oh, busy fingers ! dirty nails ! 
 While gazing on ye, '' Memory's sails, 
 Far up the tide of time are turned," 
 And take me to where first I learned, 
 Like you, to rear, with skill and mirth. 
 This pastry of our mother earth. 
 Since then, how many a fabric bright. 
 Earth-born like these, have seen the light ; 
 On these, as then, when storms befell, 
 They left me but an empty shell. 
 Yes, little workers in the sand. 
 So pure of heart, so foul of hand. 
 The noblest work man can devise. 
 Boast little more than your dirt pies. 
 We sow, we reap, we toil, we trust — 
 All for a little heap of dust ; 
 
135 
 
 And when at length life's setting sun 
 Scarce finds our little work begun, 
 'Twere well, could we, like you, depart, 
 With world-stain on the hands — not heart. 
 
 A. w. a. 
 
 ' THE LORD'S PRAYER, 
 
 Our Father, our Father in Heaven, 
 ' Be hallowed thy glorious name; 
 To thee let the kingdom be given. 
 Thy will we acknowledge supreme. 
 
 We would by thy bounty be fed, 
 
 By infinite mercy forgiven; 
 Nor into temptation be led, 
 
 Nor into sad evils be driven. 
 
 For thine is the kingdom, Lord, 
 The power and glory are thine ; 
 
 Be forever and ever adored. 
 On earth as in heaven divine. 
 
 Hastings Nursery Songs. 
 
A LITTLE CHILD'S EVENING PEAYER. 
 
 Lord, I have passed another day. 
 
 And come to thank thee for thy care ; 
 
 Forgive my faults in work and play, 
 And listen to my evening prayer. 
 
 Thy favor gives me daily bread, 
 
 And friends, who all my wants siipplyi; 
 
 And safely now I rest my head. 
 
 Preserved and guarded by Thine eye. 
 
 Look down in pity, and forgive 
 Whate'er I 've said or done amiss ; 
 
 And help me every day I live. 
 
 To serve Thee better than in this. 
 
 Now, while I speak, be pleased to take 
 A helpless child beneath thy care ; 
 
 And condescend, for Jesus' sake. 
 To listen to my evening prayer. 
 
A LITTLE CHILD'S MORNINCx PRAYER. 
 
 I thank my God, wlio thro' the night, 
 Has kept me till the morning light : 
 Lord, on my knees I humbly pray, 
 For grace and mercy thro' the day ; 
 Keep me this day from every sin, 
 And every wicked thought within ; 
 Under thy care my childhood take, 
 And hear my prayer for Jesus' sake. 
 
 PRAYER— FOR A LITTLE CHILD. 
 
 Thou who never slumberest, see 
 My little couch ; — beside it be ; 
 May there thy guardian angels keep 
 Their vigils round me whilst I sleep ; 
 And then, if midnight dreams be given, 
 May they be holy dreams of Heaven,