McGuffey's Third Eclectic Reader Part 12

8. For 't was a friendly guidepost stood, His wandering steps to guide; And thus he found that to the good, No evil could betide.

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9. Ah well, thought he, one thing I've learned, Nor shall I soon forget; Whatever frightens me again, I'll march straight up to it.

10. And when I hear an idle tale, Of monster or of ghost, I'll tell of this, my lonely walk, And one tall, white guidepost.

LESSON XLVII.

THE MONEY AMY DID N'T EARN.

1. Amy was a dear little girl, but she was too apt to waste time in getting ready to do her tasks, instead of doing them at once as she ought.

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2. In the village in which she lived, Mr. Thornton kept a store where he sold fruit of all kinds, including berries in their season. One day he said to Amy, whose parents were quite poor, "Would you like to earn some money? "

3. "Oh, yes," replied she, "for I want some new shoes, and papa has no money to buy them with."

4. "Well, Amy," said Mr. Thorhton, "I noticed some fine, ripe blackberries in Mr. Green's pasture to-day, and he said that anybody was welcome to them. I will pay you thirteen cents a quart for all you will pick for me."

5. Amy was delighted at the thought of earning some money; so she ran home to get a basket, intending to go immediately to pick the berries.

6. Then she thought she would like to know how much money she would get if she picked five quarts. With the help of her slate and pencil, she found out that she would get sixty-five cents.

7. "But supposing I should pick a dozen quarts," thought she, "how much should I earn then?" "Dear me," she said, after

THIRD READER. 125 figuring a while, "I should earn a dollar and fifty-six cents."

8. Amy then found out what Mr. Thornton would pay her for fifty, a hundred, and two hundred quarts. It took her some time to

do this, and then it was so near dinner time that she had to stay at home until afternoon.

9. As soon as dinner was over, she took

126 ECLECTIC SERIES, her basket and hurried to the pasture. Some boys had been there before dinner, and all the ripe berries were picked. She could not find enough to fill a quart measure.

10. As Amy went home, she thought of what her teacher had often told her--"Do your task at once; then think about it," for "one doer is worth a hundred dreamers."

LESSON XLVIII.

WHO MADE THE STARS?

1. "Mother, who made the stars, which light The beautiful blue sky?

Who made the moon, so clear and bright, That rises up so high?"

2. "'T was G.o.d, my child, the Glorious One, He formed them by his power; He made alike the brilliant sun, And every leaf and flower.

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3. "He made your little feet to walk; Your sparkling eyes to see; Your busy, prattling tongue to talk, And limbs so light and free.

4. "He paints each fragrant flower that blows, With loveliness and bloom; He gives the violet and the rose Their beauty and perfume.

5. "Our various wants his hands supply; He guides us every hour; We're kept beneath his watchful eye, And guarded by his power.

6. "Then let your little heart, my love, Its grateful homage pay To that kind Friend, who, from above, Thus guides you every day.

7. "In all the changing scenes of time, On Him our hopes depend; In every age, in every clime, Our Father and our Friend."

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LESSON XLIX.

DEEDS OF KINDNESS.

1. One day, as two little boys were walking along the road, they overtook a woman carrying a large basket of apples.

2. The boys thought the woman looked very pale and tired; so they said, "Are you going to town? If you are, we will carry your basket."

3. "Thank you," replied the woman, "you are very kind: you see I am weak and ill." Then she told them that she was a widow, and had a lame son to support.

4. She lived in a cottage three miles away, and was now going to market to sell the apples which grew on the only tree in her little garden. She wanted the money to pay her rent.

5. "We are going the same way you are," said the boys.

"Let us have the basket;" and they took hold of it, one on each side, and trudged along with merry hearts.

6. The poor widow looked glad, and said that she hoped their mother would not be angry with them. "Oh, no," they replied;

THIRD READER. 129 "our mother has taught us to be kind to everybody, and to be useful in any way that we can."

7. She then offered to give them a few of the ripest apples for their trouble. "No,

thank you," said they; "we do not want any pay for what we have done."

8. When the widow got home, she told her lame son what had happened on the road, 3. 9.

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and they were both made happier that day by the kindness of the two boys.

9. The other day, I saw a little girl stop and pick up a piece of orange peel, which she threw into the gutter. "I wish the boys would not throw orange peel on the sidewalk," said she.

"Some one may tread upon it, and fall."

10. "That is right, my dear," I said. "It is a little thing for you to do what you have done, but it shows that you have a thoughtful mind and a feeling heart."

11. Perhaps some may say that these are little things. So they are; but we must not wait for occasions to do great things. We must begin with little labors of love.

LESSON L.

THE ALARM CLOCK.

1. A lady, who found it not easy to wake in the morning as early as she wished,

THIRD READER. 131 bought an alarm clock. These clocks are so made as to strike with a loud whirring noise at any hour the owner pleases to set them.

2. The lady placed her clock at the head of the bed, and at the right time she found herself roused by the long, rattling sound.

3. She arose at once, and felt better all day for her early rising. This lasted for some weeks. The alarm clock faithfully did its duty, and was plainly heard so long as it was obeyed.

4. But, after a time, the lady grew tired of early rising.

When she was waked by the noise, she merely turned over in bed, and slept again.

5. In a few days, the clock ceased to rouse her from her sleep. It spoke just as loudly as ever; but she did not hear it, because she had been in the habit of not obeying it.

6. Finding that she might as well be without it, she resolved that when she heard the sound she would jump up.

7. Just so it is with conscience. If we will obey its voice, even in the most trifling things, we can always hear it, clear and strong.

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