LESSONS
IN
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
By AUNT  ALICE.
PUBLISHED BY THF   -
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.
98 CORNHILL, BOsTON,
FIRST 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by
JOHN P. JEWETT & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Masssachst'sett..
RIGOT OF PUBLISHING TRANSFERRED TO THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY. 
PREFACE.
THE first unfoldings of the infant mind are deeply interesting
to every careful observer. A career of being is started which
is to be commensurate with the eternity of God. Moreover,
this sublime future is now wrapped up in a little bud of being,
tiny as the few trickling drops gushing from the mountain side,
and which may be turned in their course by a chance foot astray,
or may else proceed mingling with others to form the mighty
Amazon.
Who shall guide the embryo immortal? It is a kind and
wise providence which commits the helpless, undeveloped one tQ
the arms and the hearts of loving parents.  It is a second prov   idcnce in favor of the infant, and in perfect adaptation to the
first, which provides that the moral affections shll be earliest
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PREFACE.
developed.  Ere a few months have passed, the child learns to
look up lovingly and trustingly, and the parents may begin to
lead its young affections whither they will.
Pleasant days, and weeks, and months go gliding by, and very
many parents are taken by surprise at the progress and hopeful
development of their little ones during the first five or six years;
thenceforward, in too many instances, there seems to come on
gradually, almost imperceptibly, a blight of the moral affections.
We are thankful that, in those families where there is conscientious care in training children, this is not decidedly the case;
yet how often, even in such families, is the time when the child
leaves the parental fireside for the school room marked as a time
of change, a time from whence there seems a manifest deterioration of principle!
Whence the cause, and how shall the evil be met? Doubtless there is more than a single cause; but these queries have
suggested the following pages, which, if prosperous, shall be but
as the foreshadowing of other efforts. The author would say, Let
the moral affections continue to be cultivated; let their constant
and perfect development be sought in the school room as well as
at home; let duty be daily and hourly inculcated by "line upon
line, and precept upon precept," with the same good judgment
which we manifest in caring for the intellect.
4 
PREFACE.
It has been a common practice, unhesitatingly adopted and
blindly followed, to cram infant heads and cloy infant minds
with thoughts of the abstruser sciences, to the neglect of the
proper aliment so well adapted to their tender years, and which
is to be found for them in the unfoldings of moral truths. In
the common pursuits of learning, beyond reading and spelling,
little real advantage is derived by children previous to the age
of nine or ten which might not be far better and more easily
attained at a later period; while, should only moral truths be
cared for in their culture during those previous years, the same
might prove rich in stores for future harvests.
Hoping that a new train of thought may possibly be elicited,
and that some corresponding effort may be put forth, this little
book takes its course "adown the stream of time;" while, successful or otherwise, its author is comforted with a consciousness
of a laudable aim and a pure motive.
5 
I 
CONTENTS.
LESSON I.
HONOR TO PARENTS.
PAGE
God made me. -He has given me useful Limbs.- Sources of Happiness.
- A Soul that will never die.- Kind Parents. - Their Care for me. First Memories. - Care in Sickness. - Honor to Parents.- The Way to
honor them......................                   13
LESSON II.
KINDNESS TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
My Brother and Sisters.- Must be kind to them.- What is very pleas ant. - Our Happiness, when spoiled. - We must be sorry for the Wrong.  "
- The Habit of being careful to do right. -Manner of speaking. - Self ishness.- Generous Feelings. - Must help each other in Trouble. -
Mary Green and her Sister. -Their Brother. -If my Brother should
die. - Painful Memories. - Pleasant Memories. - Pleasant in after
Years..................................!17
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CONTENTS.
LESSON III.
SHOW RESPECT TO THE AGED.
Grandfather's Visit.- Our Mother's Care to make him happy. - Her own
Memories.- What he was willing to do. -Her Return appropriate. Other old Persons of similar Experience. -Years have instructed them.
-Children will be long in learning as much.- Always show Respect to
the Aged, in the Street, at Church, and every where,.........    23
LESSON IV.
ON BEHAVIOR AT THE TABLE.
The Breakfast Room. - Aunt Susan's Plants. - The Canary. - Mother's
pet Flowers.- Opportunity to learn at the Table.- Social Feelings im proved. - Orderly Habits. - Promptness. - The Breakfast Bell. - Must
drop all to please my Parents.- Friends at the Table.- Children must
be quiet. - About interrupting others. - Must be helpful. - A quiet,
thankful Manner. - Little Laura. - About being difficult. - Right
Habits. - Fast eating. - Slow eating. - Leaving the Table,....      28
LESSON V.
HOW TO BEHAVE AT SCHOOL.
Miss Cooke's School. -My first School.- Entered the Class. - Liked
going to School. - Glad of Vacation. -More glad now. -A Privilege
to go to School. - The Expense of our Parents. - Must be willing to
study hard. - Must love my Teacher. - Careless Scholars. - Our own
Benefit. - Honor to the Teacher. - Must not be tardy. - Habit of being
punctual.-Play at Recess.- The kind little Girl. - Her good Exam ple. - Kind and pleasant Ways always an Advantage. - Playing Tru ant. -The End of the Truant. -Frankness. - The good Child.- The
bad Child.-Hard to say  I am sorry."-Peace of Mind,......      35
8 
CONTENTS.
LESSON VI.
ON PROMPTNESS, NEATNESS, AND ORDER.
Cousin Edwin. - His Work. - How he gets awake. - Bright and happy.
- His old Way. - A pleasant "Good Morning." - Kind as to Strangers.
- Edwin's Walk in Summer. - Brother Henry. - Healthy to be out
early.- Such will not likely be lazy.- My Work in Summer Mornings.
- Our speckled Hen. - Chickens early Risers. - Every one in the Fam ily must be prompt.- It will be a Means of Happiness.- The slack
Family.- My own Things in Order.- A Preparationl for the Future. Must finish what I begin................. 44
LESSON VII.
MORE ABOUT OUR HABITS.
I wake pretty early.- Early to Bed.- Regular Habits.- A light Supper.
- Good Health. - Disobeying out of Sight of Parents. - The good
Boy. - Must take Care of my Teeth. - Uncle Goodwin. - Bathing Day.
- Water  plenty. - Naughty  Habits. - Willy Benson. - Thinks it
manly to smoke.- Smoking Paper.- Using Tobacco very filthy.- It
injures the Health.- It often leads to Intemperance.- We should stop
at the Scraper and Mat. - Little Things, but of great Use. - It pro motes good Temper. - We must leave Things as we find them. - Must
be careful of our Clothes. - Must not walk on the wet Grass. - Must
keep out of muddy Places. - Must be careful in using Ink. - Must
never deceive..................... 50
LESSON VIII.
HABITS OF EXERCISE.
Come and see my Garden. - My latest Flowers.- Memory of Spring
Time. -Each a little Garden. -Must help our Sister.- Always right
9 
- CONTENTS.
to help the Younger.- Choosing of Seeds.- The scarlet Beans.- The
Rose Bushes and Roots. -Why our Father prepared the Gardens.Early at our Gardens.- Need of Patience.- The first green Leaves.The Martins and Robins. - Summer Mornings pleasant.- Morning
pleasant in cool Weather.- The Morning Fire.- Thoughts of Comfort.
- Must remember to be thankful.- Must take Exercise.- Reason
why.-Long Walks.- Hoop Driving. -A Ride into the Country.The Farm House. - Liberty to ramble.- The dog Rover.- The little
Cousins. - The Fruits we get.- A Privilege to notice and admire the
Works of God. - A beautiful Sunset. - The golden Clouds.- The Cup
of new Milk. - Retirement. - Winter. - Sliding on Sleds. - Helpful to
the little one. - Not far from Home. - Running on the Crust. - Gathering Sap.- Going to School in Winter Exercise.- Usually walk.Sometimes get a Ride. - Must never sing or halloo in the Street. - Of
what a sure Sign........................           58
LESSON IX.
I MUST BE INDUSTRIOUS AND USEFUL.
My Parents busy.- Happy in being so.- Our heavenly Father intends we
shall be busy.- Not happy without Employment.- The Soul designed
to be active. - When in the Way to be happy. - Why our Work is given
us to do. - Why I have Tasks in Sewing.- Sometimes tired of it. A mistaken Notion. - Should not get the Habit myself. -When I enjoy
Play the best. - The Walk in Spring.- The pleasant Sunshine.- The
Buds and the Birds.- The Sheep and Lambs.- All Creatures happy. We may be happier. - The true Secret of being happy. - Our own Expe rience.- Must be brave enough to do my Duty......... 67
LESSON X.
BE KIND AND GENTLE.
The pet Lamb. - The Children. - Their Father dead. - Their Mother
poor. - Her Struggle. -The Butcher and his Boy. -Willy tries to keep
10 
CONTENTS.
the Lamb. - The little Girls in Tears. - The  Butcher's Pity. - His
Present to them. - Our Pets. - I wish I had a Lamb. - We love to
have the Birds build around our House.- We love to watch them. -
We never frighten them. - The Robin's Nest.- The Goldfinch. -
Naughty Boys. - What they forget. - Pleasant Manners.- When we
go into the Parlor, must be quiet, and listen. - Must answer properly
when spoken to. - Are not required to sing or to repeat Verses. - Much
for which to be thankful,..................74
LESSON XI.
REMEMBER THE POOR.
A Winter Evening. - Snow and Hail. - Home the more pleasant.- Must
be thankful. - Pity the Poor. - The little Boy and Girl. - Fitted for
Sabbath School. - Hopeful. - Begging spoils them. - Why some are
poor. - The Bible.- All are not to blame.- Accident. -Misfortunes.
-Unfaithfulness of Others. - The Widow and Fatherless. - Aged Peo ple. - An old Lady. - Former Competence. - Present Contentment and
Thankfulness. - A Pleasure to assist such,............
LESSON XII.
I MUST BE CAREFUL OF MY WORDS.
Sad to hear the Boys in the Street. - They cannot know about God. Little Girls not much tempted to use wicked words. -Boys try to imi tate. - God always sees us. - He will punish those who take his Name
in vain. - The Commandments.- Where given.- The Appearance of
the Mountain. - God speaking from the Midst of the Fire. - Written
by his Finger. - We must remember them. - Little Willy. - A bad
Word. - His Excuse. - More punctual. - Calling Nicknames. - A bad
Habit. - Its Tendency. -We must not distress our Parents. - Must not
displease God..............................  91
11
81 
CONTENTS.
LESSON XIII.
I MUST BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL.
The Needle Book. - How Jane took it. - Her Thoughts. - What she for got. - Her Sister Eliza. - On their way Home. - Eliza's Advice. - Jane
not really sorry. - Eliza pitied her Sister. - The Teacher at their Home
before them.- Their Baskets searched.- No Needle Book there.- Pre viously hid by Jane among the Leaves. -Found out the next Morning.
-A sad Time for poor Jane. - Susan Brooks and Ellen Taylor. - The
blue Bag. - Susan picks up the Bag. - Thinks to keep it. - Her Sorrow
for her Fault. - Her Confession of it. - A clear Conscience. - Memory
of George Washington.- The early Foundation of his Character. Maria Green. - Our Mother can trust us. - She does not expect us to
deceive or to be dishonest. - We should not be happy in doing wrong.
A sad Mark..........................
12
98 
CHAPTER I.
HONOR TO PARENTS.
GOD made me. Hie gave me hands to use and feet to
walk with. He gave me eyes and ears, that I might look
abroad upon this beautiful world, and that I might hear
sweet sounds every day of my life.
Questio?zs. - Who made you? What useful limbs has he given you? For
what has he given you eyes and ears?  What has he given you besides:
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FIRS'r LESSONS IN
He gave me a soul, too, that I might think, and feel, and
love; and my soul will never die.
God gave me kind parents, who loved me very tenderly,
and who have taken care of me ever since I was born.
The first thing which I learned to notice was my mother's
sweet face, and her pleasant words were the first which I
remember. My father used to take me on his knee and
tell me pretty stories; and he used to teach me to sing,
and to repeat hymns and verses.
Sometimes I was sick; and then my parents used to be
very full of care for mne. Many watchful hours have they
sat beside my cot, or cradle. Ever since I can remember,
they have been trying to make me happy, and I know
that they love me.
God, who gave me kind parents, has said, "Honor thy
father and thy mother." I must remember this because
body? What can you do with your soul?  How long will your soul live?
Who gave you kind parents? How long have they taken care.of you? What
was the first thing you learned to notice? Who used to tell you stories and
try to amuse you in your infancy?  What did he try to teach you?  Who
used to care for you when you were sick? Did they spend time for you?
Have they tried to make you happy? Do they love you? What command
has God given you? What is the first reason for remembering it? Another
14 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
hlie has said it. I must remember it, too, because it is
right. If I forget it I shall not be thankful to God,
neither shall I be thankful to my parents.
If I honor my parents, I shall obey them.  When they
ask me to do a thing, I shall do it immediately. I shall
not be unwilling to obey, although the thing to be done
may be unpleasant. I shall love to do what will please
my parents. I shall do the same when they are away as
when they see me. I shall remember that God sees me;
and, unless I please him in what I do, I may be sure that I
do not honor my parents.
I must be careful to use kind and respectful words to
my parents. Naughty children speak in a cross way, and
very disrespectfully, to their parents, for their hearts are
full of unkindness; but I must show that I love my parents
by kind words and pleasant looks and actions.
reason? What if you forget it? If you honor your parents, what is the first
thing you wrill do? Must you obey willingly? How must you conduct when
they do not see you?  What must you remember?  How must you speak to
your parents?
15 
FIRST LESSONS IN
GOD, MY CREATOR.
My little body's made by God,
Of soft, warm flesh and crimson blood;
The slender bones are placed within,
And over all is laid the skin.
My little body's very weak;
A fall or blow my bones might break;
The water soon might stop my breath;
The fire might close my eyes in death.
But God can keep me by his care;
To him I'll say this little prayer:
O God, from harm my body keep,
Both when I wake and when I sleep.
SCRIPTURE FACTS.
16 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
CHIAPTER II.
KINDNESS TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
I HAVE a brother and two sisters. If I love and honor
my parents, I shall be very kind also to my brother and
sisters.  I shall do so because my parents require it, and
because it is right.
It is very pleasant when we sit down at evening, and
Q,testions.- If you honor your parents, how will you treat your brothers and
2
17 
FIRST LESSONS IN
mother teaches us our little hymns and tells us stories;
but when any one of us has been naughty, all our happiness
is spoiled until that is settled.   Mother cannot tell us
stories or hear our verses until we are sorry for the wrong
we have done. When we do wrong, we know we have got
to be sorry for it; and if it is my brother, or I, or Hlannah,
we always have to ask forgiveness for the wrong. Mother
says we owe it to the one we have injured, and God will
not hear our prayers unless we are really sorry for the
wrong. When I remember this, it makes me more careful
to do right. Mother says, if I get the habit of being careful to do right while with my brother and sisters, I shall
be careful to do right every where.
I must always speak kind and pleasant words to my
brother and sisters.  I must not be selfish, but I must try
every day to do some kind things on purpose to make them
happy.
sisters? Why? What is very pleasant? When is the happiness spoiled?
How long is it spoiled? When you do wrong, what must you do? Why must
you be sorry and ask forgiveness? Will God hear your prayers if you are not
sorry for the wvrong? What makes you more careful to do right? Will it be
useful to you to get this habit? How must you speak to your brothers and
sisters? What must you try every day to do? If you should keep the best
18 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Sometimes I feel as though I would like to keep the best
things for myself- the best seat by the fire, the best apple,
or the finest orange; but this would be selfishness.  I find
when I give up the best apple to Henry, and my warm seat
by the fire to Hannah, there is a pleasant feeling springs
up which makes me happy; and mother says it is because
I have done right.
When my little brother or sisters are in any trouble, I
must try to help them out of it. - I must pity them when
they suffer any pain or sickness, and I must try to help
them bear their sufferings. I must always try to lead them
to do the things that are right, and I must help them to
remember what our parents say.
Mary Green and her sister Eliza had a little brother.
They loved him very much. They used to lead him out
into the garden and orchard; and many pleasant hours
they had together. They were kind to their brother, for
they loved him, and they loved and honored their parents.
things for yourself, what would it be?  When you give up the best, how do
you feel? Why? When your brothers or sisters are in trouble, what must you
do? What if they are sick, or suffering?  What must you try to lead them to
do?  To remember?  What do you know of Mary Green's brother?  If your
19 
FIRST LESSONS IN
But their brother did not live long. He was taken sick,
and his little face grew paler and paler; and one day he
died. I saw him when he lay in his coffin. His lips were
open a little, and his teeth looked like bits of china. I
thought it was very sad.
If my brother Henry should die, I should be very sad;
but if I had been unkind to him, it would make me feel
much more sad.  I should think of that the first thing;
and every time I thought of himn, I fear that unkindness
would keep in mny mind. But if I had been kind to him,
and had tried every day to make him happy, I should love
to think-of him, although it did make mne sad.
I should love to remember the pleasant plays we had
had, and the kind words he had spoken; and mother says
I should love to remember them when a great many years
had gone by. She says, too, that, if we all live to grow
up, we shall probably be separated from each other; and
if we get kind and pleasant ways to each other now, we
brother should die, hovw would you feel?  How if you had been unkind to him?
What would keep in your mind? If you had been kind to him, what would
you love to remember?  How long would you remember them? When the
children grow up, will they all live togetlier? If you get kind and pleasant
20 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
shall always love each other all the better, and nothing
will be so delightful as to remember these hours of our
childhood and our own early home.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
A little girl, with a happy look,
Sat slowly reading a ponderous book,
All bound with velvet and edged with gold,
And its weight was more than the child could hold;
Yet dearly she loved to ponder it o'er,
And every day she prized it more,
For it said, as she looked at her dear little brother,
It said,'" Little children must love one another."
She thought it was beautiful in that book,
And the lesson home to her heart she took;
She walked on her way with a trusting grace,
And a dove-like look on her meek young face,
Which just as plain as words could say,
The holy Bible I must obey;
So mamma, I'll be kind to my darling brother,
For "little children must love one another."
ways, how will you regard each other? What will be delightful to remember?
21 
FIRST LESSONS IN
I'm sorry he is naughty and will not pray;
But I'll love him still, for I think the way
To make him gentle and kind to me
Will be better shown if I let him see
I strive to do what I think is right;
And thus, when I kneel to pray at night,
I will clasp my arms around my brother,
And say, "Little children must love one another."
The little girl did as the Bible taught,
And pleasant indeed was the change it wrought;
For the boy looked up in glad surprise
To meet the light of her loving eyes:
His heart was full; he could not speak;
He pressed a kiss on his sister's cheek;
And God looked down on the happy mother
Whose little children loved each other.
FA.NY.
22 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
', 
CHAPTEIR III.
SHOW RESPECT TO THE AGED.
WHEN my grandfather comes to visit us, which he usu.
ally does at Christmas and in June, dear mother is always
glad to see him, and she provides him with the best seat,
in the old arm chair, by the fire in the winter, and by the
Questions.- When your grandfather visits you, what place does your mother
give him? What care does she take at the table?  What does she try to do?
23 
FIRST LESSONS IN
bay window in summer. She takes care that he is first
served at the table, and she tries all she can to make himn
happy.   She teaches us, the children, to do the same.
Sometimes she talks to 11s about it. She says,   "Many years ago I was a little child, and I remember
my father was full of care for me. When I awoke in the
morning he was always ready to meet me with a smile,
with kind words, and he was willing to take a great deal
of pains to make me happy. I can remember many a pleasant walk and ride that I have had with him when he was
young, and strong, and handsome.
"When I was sick he could not well sleep, but must be
near at hand, to go in the dark night, if necessary, to call
the physician, or to do what might be done for my relief.
Many years he has lived and much trial has he known;
and now, my children, should I not do all I can to comfort
your grandfather?"
What does she teach the children?  What does your mother remember?  How
did he meet her in the morning? What was he willing to do to make her
happy?  What can she remember of walks and rides?  How did he feel when
she was sick? What was he ready to do in the dark night?  How long has he
lived?  What has he known?  Is it right. to do all that can be done for his
24 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
We all say, "Yes, dear mother; and we will try to do
so, too."
But mother says it is not only our duty to honor and
try to comfort those old people which are our friends, but
that we should also, under all circumstances, show respect
to aged people. She teaches us that text from the Bible,
"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the
face of the old man."
She tells us that other old persons, besides those we
know and love, have probably suffered and enjoyed much
the same as they.  They probably have had young children
whom they have cared for and loved; and in their passing
life their trials have learned them a great deal, which it
will take us, little children, a great many years to learn.
I must remember what my mother has told me when I meet
an old person in the street, at church, or elsewhere, that I
may be respectful to them.
comfort?  IEs it a duty to show respect to aged people?  What verse from the
Bible teaches it?  What have other old persons probably suffered and enjoyed?
How much have they thus learned?  How long will it take the little children
to learn the same? How must you treat the aged, in the street, at church,
and every where?
2a 
FIRST LESSONS IN
GRANDMOTHER'S FARM.
My grandmother lives on a farm,
Just twenty miles from town;
She's sixty-five years old, she says;
Her name is grandma Brown.
Her farm is very large and fine;
There's meadow, wood, and field,
And orchards, which all kinds of fru ts
Most plentifully yield.
Butter she churns and makes nice cheese;
They are so busy there,
If mother would stay with me, too,
I'd like to do my share.
I go out with the haymakers,
And tumble on the hay;
They put me up upon the load,
And home we drive away.
I go into the pleasant fields
And gather berries bright;
They've many, many thousands there,
All fresh, and sweet, and ripe.
26 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
A pretty brook runs through the farm,
Singing so soft and sweet;
I sit upon the grassy bank
And bathe my little feet.
A farmer I would like to be,
They live so pleasantly;
They must be happy while they work,
Singing so cheerfully.
I think I'll save all that I get,
And earn all that I can,
And buy me such a pleasant farm
When I grow up a man.
27 
FIRST LESSONS IN
CHAPTER IV.
ON BEHAVIOR AT THE TABLE.
OUR breakfast room is the pleasantest room in the house.
The sun shines in very pleasantly upon aunt Susan's plants;
and Henry's canary bird seems always really to meet us
with a song, just as though he was glad it was  morning.
Questions. -How does the sun usually shine in the morning? How do birds
seem ready to meet you? For what do they seem to be glad? Who are your
28
I;}
1'S K
x;'/~ ~~        ~i/?!/1.....ill.;. 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
But mother says that we are her pet flowers, and nothing
makes her so happy as to see us all up in season, dressed,
washed, and cheerful.
My mother says she wishes to have us at the table with
the family, for she thinks it affords a fine opportunity to
teach us many things which we ought to know.   Besides,
she says it increases our kindly feelings. We are not allowed to come together like the pigs, and each get what
he can; but we must come together orderly, and we wait
till a blessing is asked very attentively; then we wait
patiently until it is our turn to be helped.
One morning last week I arose a little earlier thanl usual.
After I was washed and dressed, it was nrot quite time for
breakfast. My father and mother hlad not come down
stairs, and I thought I might read a little.  I took my last
new book, "Aunt Fanny's Story Book."  I was reading
one of the stories, and had nearly finished it, when the
mother's pet flowers? What makes her most happy? Does your mother like
to have you sit at the table with her? For what does it afford opportunity?
What effect does it have on your kindly feelings? How should you come together?  For what should you wait?  How long must you b)e patient?  If
you get up early, and are ready before breakfast, what may you do? If you
29 
FIRST LESSONS IN
breakfast bell rung. I had just one page and a half to
read, and I thought I might finish; but when I went to
the table and saw all the family waiting for me, I felt
sorry. I ought not to have delayed to finish the story.
My father looked displeased, for he knew I could have
beeii there in season; and he says, if I am prompt in taking
my place at the table, he hopes that I may learn to be
prompt in other things.   I think I shall remember it.
When the breakfast bell rings, it is the same as my parents'
call to me; and I must always be ready to drop whatever
pleases me for the sake of pleasing them.
My father and mother often have friends at the table
with them; and we, the children, are always glad when it
is so. My mother says we may learn a good deal from
their conversation, if we are attentive. She does not like
to have us speak much unless we are spoken to.
get interested in reading when the breakfast bell rings, may you stop to finish
your story? WVhom do you keep in waiting if you do? If you are prompt in
taking your place at the table, what may you learn? When the breakfast bell
rings, whose call is it?  For what should you be ready to drop all?  Whomdo
your parents often have with them at the table? How may you learn a good
deal? Does your mother like to have you talk much at the table? Should
you ever speak when another is talking'? How came little Hannah to speak
30 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Last winter uncle Edward was with us, and he had been
quite a traveller out in the backwoods in Maine, and he
told some stories about bears and wolves out there.
Just while he was speaking, my little sister Hannah, who
is younger than Henry, spoke up very earnestly, and said,
"Well, I should not like to live there."  I think she forgot
herself, for she hung her head in a moment, and looked so
frightened, and all at the table laughed a little. Mother
always tells us that we must not speak when another person is speaking; and I am sure Hannah would not, if she
had thought a moment.
My brother iHlenry has his place at the table pretty near
my father, and he can pass the bread very properly, and
very often he can hand a plate to him. He says he shall
be happy when hlie is a little older, that he may be able to
pour the water and pass the tumblers.
It does not often happen that I can help any at the table;
but I shall be glad to do so when I am older. Mother
says I can help her the most, now I am so young, by being
quiet, attentive, and thankful.
out so earnestly? What can a little boy or girl sometimes pass very properly?
Will you be happy to help others when you are older? How can children, when
31 
FIRST LESSONS IN
She told me a story of my little cousin Laura, who is a
very pleasant child. The little girl has lost her mother,
and she usually lives with her aunt. One night at tea the
table was quite fill, and it took Laura's aunt a good while
to wait upon the strangers, and she almost forgot Laura.
Presently she thought of her, and speaking kindly to her,
said, "Will you have a biscuit, Laura?"  "Yes, dear
aunty," was the little girl's sweet reply.  She did not
complain; she was not impatient, though she had waited so
long.. Mother says, when we are like little Laura, it helps
her a great deal; and I suppose it is by making her happy.
Our mother says we ought to show, by a pleasant, smiling countenance, that we are thankfill to those who help
us. We should never complain of our food, though we do
not relish some part of it. If we are asked what we will
have, we may choose according to our liking; but if any
thing is put upon our plates we should not appear to be
they are young, help their parents the most? What can you say of Laura?
Was she impatient?  When  do you help your mother a great deal?  How?
How can you show that you are thankful to those who help you? Should you
ever complain of your food? If you are asked what you will have, may you
choose? If what you cannot relish be put upon your plate, should you appear
displeased?  What habit should you get?  How will it be useful to you?
32 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
displeased, though we cannot relish it. We may leave it,
and eat cheerfully and pleasantly of other things to which
we may be helped.
Our mother tells us it is very important that we get the
habit of eating that which is provided without thinking
much about it, though it be not quite so good as we could
wish. She says it will make our way through life all the
more pleasan t, for many a time we shall be so situated that we
cannot have what we would choose; and if we are accustomed to make a great ado about it, it will, very likely,
sour our tempers, mnake us unhappy, and trouble our friends.
I think our mother is right; for I remember a young
lady visitor once at our table who gave manother a good
deal of trouble because there was hardly any thing upon
the table that she would eat. Yet, when we had strawberries and creamcakes, she could eat as well as any of us.
Our mother told us afterwards that she had been sickly
while a child; and I suppose that was the reason.
Our mother tells us we must be careful to not eat too
Hiow may you sometimes be situated? How will it be if we are accustomed
to make a great ado about our food?  How was a young lady troublesome?
Ilow was it wben there were creamcakes and strawberries? How had she
3
33 
PIRST LESSONS IN
fast, neither must we be so slow as to make others wait for
us.  We try to keep our clothes clean, and we are careful
to not overturn our drink upon the table. Sometimes it is
necessary to leave the table before others rise; when it is,
we always ask, in a modest voice, if we may be excused.
It is very rude to get up and leave the table without speaking to any one.
probably got the habit of being difficult?  About what must you be careful at
the table?  What must you try to keep clean?  If you wish to leave the table
before others, what must you do?  What is very ride?
34 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
HOW TO BEHAVE AT SCHOOL.
CHAPTER V.
LAST summer Miss Cooke taught the school in the new
brick school house.  It is in a large and pleasant yard, andCL
in the summer the trees make it shady and very comfortable.  Our parents sent me and my brother Henry to attend
Questions.- Did you attend school last summer? Do you like to go to
school?  Were you glad when vacation came?  Are you more pleased wren
35 
FIRST LESSONS IN
her school.  My sister Hannah was not quite old enough
to go.
We had never been to school before; but we liked it
well.  Our mother had instructed us at home, and we were
able to go into one of the classes. The school continued
four months, and then there was a vacation. We were
glad wheii the vacation came, though we liked our school.
Now, there has been a long vacation, and this morning
her school commences again. I think we are more glad
than we were when the vacation commenced.
I like to go to school, and my father says I ought to
be thankful for the privilege. He says it costs a good
deal of money to build school houses, and then to pay the
teachers for spending their time and labor in instructing
the scholars.
Miss Cooke is very kind to us, and I am sure I love her.
She is very anxious to have us get our lessons perfectly;
and when it is the hour of study, she wishes us to study
school commences again? Is it a privilege to go to school? Should you be
thankful? What costs'a good deal of money? Should you love your teacher?  About what is she anxious?  How does she wish you to study in the
proper time? Would it make you unhappy to have a poor lesson? Are there
36 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTIIH.
hard. I intend to do so, for it would make me unhappy
to be obliged to go to recite with an imperfect lesson;
besides, I can see that it troubles the teacher when a
scholar has a poor lesson.
There are some pretty large girls in our school who do
not try to learn. They seem to think that, if they can
deceive the teacher, and get along without being punished,
it is all they care for; but our parents always tell us that,
if we learn well, it will be for our own benefit, and that,
if we do not try to learn, we shall one day be sorry. I
think our parents know better than we do, and we should
believe them.
It is pretty hard to keep from whispering; for sometimes
a thought pops into my head, and I am just ready to tell
it to Lucia Fisk or Anna Wilson, who sit near me, before I
think what I am about.   But I have learned to be pretty
careful, and I intend to get a mark for good conduct every
day of the present term.
I must try to remember what our mother told us just as
any scholars who do not care to get their lessons? For what do they care the
most?  Whose benefit is it if you study well?  If you do not, will you be
sorry? Can you keep from whispering? For what will you try? Is it your
37 
FIRST LESSONS IN
we were leaving her this morning.  She said, "Now, my
children, when you are at school, it is your duty to try
just as hard to please your teacher as you would try at
home to please your parents; and we expect you will obey
and honor your teacher."
I have been taught how I should honor my parents; and
our mother says we owe our teacher the same honor, so
long as we are under her care. My brother Henry says
he shall never love any teacher so much as he loves our
father and mother; and I do not suppose mother meant
that, but only that we should show the same kind of love.
There are a good many things which I am happy to do
for my parents, just because I love them; there are some
other things I must do because they require me to do them;
and mother says, when I do these things for their sakes, I
show my respect for them, and do really honor them more
than when I do the things which please me while I am
doing them. So I suppose it will be with regard to our
teacher.
duty to try to please your teacher? Have you been taught to honor your
parents? Do you owe your teacher the same honor, while at school? When
you do things because your parents require them to be done, do you honor
38 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
And now we will go directly to school, for I would not
be a tardy scholar.   I must try to be always in school as
soon as my teacher, and at mny desk, with my books all
neatly arranged, that I may be ready to listen to Miss
Cooke as she reads. She says it is a great disturbance
when scholars come in after the school has commenced,
and she marks those who do so as tardy.
She says, as my father does, it is very necessary to get
the habit, now we are young, of being punctual to a minute; and if we practise it twice a day, all through our
schooldays, we shall be likely to practise it about other
things and at other times.
We have a nice play in the pleasant yard during recess;
and I learn to love the little girls, and I am happy when
the recess is coming. Especially do I love Mary Lewis.
She is the oldest girl in the school; but she seems to take
real pleasure in making us, the little girls, happy. She
plans our amusements for us, and she always has a kind
them? Must you do the same for your teacher? Where should you be when
the teacher comes into the school?  What is a great disturbance?  What
habit should you get now you are young? If you are punctual all through
your schooldays, what then? What can you say of your recess? In what
39 
FIRST LESSONS IN
word for every one. If any one happens to get hurt, she
is the first to pity and to comfort; and if any of the girls
get into a dispute, she contrives to set them at peace
again. We always get along well if she is with us; and
she always appears to feel just as though it is her duty to
help the youngest ones when they are in any difficulty.
I told my mother what a good girl Mary Lewis is; and
she said she was thankful we have such an example among
our playmates. She says it is a great favor to a neighborhood or school to have one such little girl in it; and that
if we will try to follow her example, and get such pleasant
ways ourselves, it will help us now in our childhood, and
as we grow older; and all through life we shall have dear
friends whom we shall love, and who will love us.
Just as soon as the school closes, we must be on our
way home. It would be wrong to stop to play then, for
our mother would be very anxious about us if we should.
She always wants to know just where we are. When she
does Mary Lewis take pleasure?  How does she make them happy?  What is
a great favor to a school? If you get such pleasant ways, will it help you?
How? What must you do as soon as the school closes?  Would your mother
be anxious about you if you did not?  What does she always wish to knonw?
40 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
sends us to school, she expects that we will go directly
there, in order to be in season. If we should play truant
once, she could iOt trust us as she now does; but I do not
think Henry or I shall run away to play instead of going
to school.
Once last summer Lucy Jameson met us when we were
going to school, and tried to persuade us to go with her
for berries; but we did not go with her. I should be afraid
to do so, for I should feel guilty all the while. I cannot
think there would be mnuch pleasure in sports, or in rambles
after berries, if I were feeling all the while that I was
doing wrong.
Father told Henry a story the other day, about playing
truant, which I think he will not soon forget. It was
about a man who was hung for killing another man; and
he began his naughty actions when a boy, by  running
away from school. There was an exhibition of some sort
in a town near by, and he wished very much to go. He
thought his father would not be there, and therefore would
What does she expect when she sends you to school? If you should play
truant once, could she trust you? Should you be afraid to play truant?
WVhat can you say of the naughty boy?  Did he get found out?  Was he
41 
FIRST LESSONS IN
not find him out. But his father was there, and saw him.
The boy had to be punished; but I am sorry to say the
punishment did not cure him of his fault. I suppose the
boy was not really sorry for the wrong  he had done,
though he was sorry that his father found him out. Father
said, if he had been really sorry for the wrong he had
done, he would have been glad that his father had found
him out, and then he would have tried the harder, in
future, to please him; but instead of that, the boy went
on from one bad thing to another, and grew up a very
wicked man, and at last committed murder.
Our parents always tell us to open our hearts to them.
They say, "We  expect little children will do wrong
sometimes; but be sure that you are always frank and
open. - It would pain us far more to see you trying to
deceive us, and to hide from us what you had done wrong,
than the wrong action in the first place might do. The
great difference between a good and a bad child is this:
if the good child does a wrong thing, as sooln as he thinks
punished?  Did the punishment cure him of his fault?  What if he had been
truly sorry? To whom should children open their hearts? What would pain
your parents more than the first fault? What does a good child do when he
42 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
about it he is very sorry, and he kneels down alone before his heavenly Father, and tells him that lie is sorry;
then he goes to his parent, or teacher, or friend, and owns
his fault, and asks him to forgive him also. Then such a
child has a happy, peaceful mind. It is very hard to say,
I am sorry; but that sweet peace makes up for it all.
The bad child is one who watches to see if he cannot
do something that is forbidden and not get found out. If
he thinks he can, he does not hesitate a moment, but proceeds to gratify himself. Sometimes he does not get detected, and then he becomes very bold for another time.
But if he does get found out, he makes a great many excuses, and tries to form a story, so that his friends shall
not know all about it.  How bad his heart is!  He is
never sorry for the wrong, but only that he is found out
and must be punished.  My children, be frank, be sincere,
and when you do wrong be truly sorry for it, and try to
avoid it in future.
has done wrong? What is very hard to say?  What makes up for it all? For
what does the bad child watch?  What if he d6es not get found out?  What
if he does? What is the best way?
43 
FIRST LESSONS IN
/ ly 
CHAPTER VI.
ON PROMIPTNESS, NEATNESS, AND ORDER.
COUSIN EDWIN is a large boy. I-Ie is twelve years old.
Hiis father died before I was born, and my father took
him home as his own son.
Edwin has his own special work to do every morning,
and my father has learned him to be very prompt.  iHe
Questions. -What has Edwin to do every morning? What has he learned?
44
I v 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
was not old enough to do much besides preparing the
kindling wood fo)r the fires until last spring; but since
that time he has had the care of the horse and the cow.
He says, as soon as he hears the first bell in the morning, he jumps right out of bed, and dashes a plenty of cold
water upon his face and neck, and that wakes him up. It
does not take him long to wash him thoroughly and brush
his hair; and then he is down, as gay as a lark, and goes,
singing or whistling, out to feed the cow and pony.
He says he used to think he must lie a while, after the
bell roused him, to get his eyes open; but very often his
eyes did not open, and he would get sound asleep again.
It did not please my father to be obliged to call him the
second tinme; and he told Edwin to try the new way of
jumping out of bed half asleep, and wake himself by
washing.  Edwin says, now, he would not lie in bed if he
could, for he feels all the better for early rising.
My father teaches us all to bid each other a pleasant
"Good morning" when we first meet, each day, just as
How does he get awake in the morning?  Does he make himself tidy? What
did he use to think, when he heard the bell ring? Would he choose to lie in
bed if he could?  Why?  Is it proper to bid. each of your friends, as you meet
45 
FIRST LESSONS IN
though we were strangers visiting together.  He says it
is a great mistake if we are not civil and kind to each
other- we, who are really such good and dear friends. He
says it is a pity if we cannot show as much kindness to
those we love so well as we should be ready to show to
strangers. Besides, he tells us the only way to have our
good manners appear easy and graceful is to be in the constant use of them.
In the summer time cousin Edwin has a very pleasant
walk, every morning, in  driving the cow  to pasture.
Brother IIenry used to go with him sometimes, though not
very often, because Edwin had to hasten, in order to get
back by breakfast time. I think next summer Henry will
be able to walk as fast as Edwin. I know my father will
like to have Henry go, for he says it is very much for our
health to be out early in the sweet morning air, and those
children who get the habit of going out early will not be
likely to grow up to be lazy, useless people.
them, a pleasant "Good morning"?  Should you not be as kind to your friends
as to strangers? What will render your manners easy and graceful? What
is a pleasant exercise for Edwin in the summer?   Why does your father like
to have you be out early on summer mornings? Will early risers be likely to
46 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
In the summer, I, too, have a little work that I can do,
and that calls me out into the yard early. Last summer
our speckled hen had ten chickens, and our mother said
that Henry and I must feed them every morning.  I believe
chickens are early risers; for, though I used to jump out of
bed, just as Edwin said, as soon as the first bell rung, and
get ready to go down stairs very quickly, yet the chickens
were always out before me, and they seemed earnest for
their breakfast, as though they had waited for it a good
while. I love dearly to see the chickens pick up their
food; and after that we always give them a basin of fresh
water.
My father is a very prompt man. Hle says every one in
the family must know just what he has got to do, and must
do it. He says it saves a great deal of trouble and unkind feeling. He says, where there is no such order, the
father or the mother, when any little thing is necessary to
be done, calls first upon one, and then upon another, but
nobody is quite ready, and the children wait, one for the
other, hoping to get clear of doing it; and as often as
grow up lazy and useless? Is there any thing to call you out in the yard
early?  Are chickens early risers?  Do you love to feed them?  In a family
47 
FIRST LESSONS IN
any way the parent does it himself, to stop their bickerings about it. It is never so in our family. Father says
it needs but few words when we know beforehand what
we must do, and we go about our little duties pleasantly.
My father says, where there is promptness and order,
there is time to be neat. I do not know what would be
thought of us, if Henry, or I, or Hannah should go to the
table without being washed and having our hair brushed.
And yet I believe some children do so; for last summer,
when we were visiting at uncle Gray's, our cousins, and
one of them is as old as Edwin, came to thie table rubbing
their eyes as though they had just got out of bed.  Their
mother did indeed send them to wash before she would
allow them to eat; but they did not look as if they felt
pleasantly about it. They could not be ready to sit down
with us, and my uncle would not wait for them.  When
they did come, their heads were not combed or brushed;
and I am sure they did not look so happy as cousin Edwin
does when he sits down to the table.
where there is order and promptness, what does every one know? What does
it save?  When are but few words needed?  Where is there time to be neat?
Should you ever go to the table without being properly washed and your hair
48 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
My mother says it is very important that I learn to
keep my own things in perfect order.   I cannot make my
own bed yet, or sweep my chamber; but I hang up all my
clothes, and I take care of my doll's closet. My mother
says I must have a particular place for all dolly's things,
so that I may be able to go in the dark and put my hand
on just what I want.
She says, if I keep my playthings in exact order, it will
be a pretty sure sign that, if I live to grow up and become a housekeeper, I shall. keep more important things
in order. She always makes me finish what I begin, for
she says it is a bad sign to be full of new plans; and if I
know I must finish whatever I begin, it will make me more
careful, and help me to have a better judgment.
brushed?  Do those who do so feel as well and look as happy?   What is very
important for you to learn?  What work can you not do? What care can you
take of your clothes? Is it important to keep your play closet in order? If
you do so, of what is it a sign? Should you begin things, and leave them unfinished?  What is a bad sign?
4
49 
FIRST LESSONS IN
CHAPTER VII.
MORE ABOUT OUR HABITS.
I USUALLY awake pretty early; for our mother sends us
early to bed. Little Hannah goes to bed at six o'clock;
but Henry and I sit up until seven.
Sometimes I think I would like to sit up longer; but
Questions. - Should you go to bed early?  Why will it be better for you?
WVhat benefit will it be if you are regular in your habits?  Should you e:t a
50
I  
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
mother says we shall grow faster and stronger, and be
more healthy and good tempered, if we retire early. Once
in a while we are sick, and every body is sick sometimes
but mother says, if we  are careful and  regular in our
habits, we shall not be half as likely to be sick.
Our mother allows iis ouly a light supper; but at other
meals she lets us eat as much as we wish for. She says
to        us,
"To be easy all night, let your supper be light,
Or else you'll complain of a stomach in pain."
Some children, if they are only out of sight of their
parents, eat what they know would not be allowed them;
but I hope I shall never dare to do so. I should not wish
to do wrong, even if my parents should not find it out. I
remember the story of the little boy who, when away from
his parents, was tempted by some friend to take some hot
bread, of which he was very fond; the little boy refused
it, because his parents had forbidden it, and nobly replied,
that though his parents were away, and might not know
very hearty supper? What is the rule in the rhyme? When away from your
parents, should you eat what they forbid? What can you say of the little boy
51 
FIRST LESSONS IN
of it, yet he himself should know it, and God would
know it.
Our parents teach us to take especial care of our teeth;
for they say, besides giving us a sweet and cleanly look, it
is very necessary to our health and our future comfort.
We brush our teeth in cold water every morning, and each
time after eating. I
When my uncle Goodwin visited us, I saw that he had
false teeth; and he used to take them out every morning,
and spend a good deal of time in washing and brushing
them; and he said to us, "Children, if you will spend half
as much time in washing and brushing your own teeth,
which are fast in your mouth, you will save yourselves
much trouble, and you will not need to have false teeth."
I am sure I will try.
When bathing day comes, we all have fine sport. We
get a thorough washing; and in warm weather, we wash
all over in cold water. Our mother says all these little
who was tempted?  Should you take care of your teeth?  Is it better for
health?  How will you take care of them?  Is it a good deal of trouble to
take care of false teeth?  Will you try to take care of your own?  Is it well
to wash the body thoroughly?  How in warm weather?  Is water che,'p or
52 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
things add to our health and comfort. She wonders why
some people seem to be so afraid of using a little water,
just as though it were an expensive article.
There are some very naughty habits, which I hope
neither my brother nor my cousin Edwin will get. I am
sure my parents would not allow such habits. There is
Willy Benson; he is about as old as Edwin. He goes
around the shop doors and looks for pieces of cigars; and
if he happens to find any, he lights one, and tries to smoke
it. He acts as though he thought it was manly; but I
think he looks very foolishly. His face is always dirty,
and I do not think he combs his hair very often. I have
seen some smaller boys smoke pieces of paper rolled up
like cigars. Perhaps they had no one to tell them better.
My father talks to my cousin and brother about these
things.  He tells them, the habit of using tobacco in any
way is very filthy, and no one who uses it can keep himself
neat and clean. He says it is very unhealthy. Tobacco
makes one very sick at first, and it is only after taking
expensive? Should you be afraid to use it? What naughty habit have such
boys as Willy Benson?  How did he get cigars? Can one who uses tobacco
keep limself very neat?  Is it healthy?' Do boys love tobacco at first?  To
53 
FIRST LESSONS IN
much pains to love it one can get to use it; but after one
learns to love it, it is almost impossible to break up the
habit; and it gradually weakens the body and destroys the
health.
Besides, what is worse than all, those who use tobacco
are very much tempted to use ardent spirits and become
drunkards. How sorry I should be if my dear brother
or my cousin Edwin should grow up to be a drunkard! I
am afraid of a drunkard, and I always run to get out of
the way if I see one in the street. I do not believe
Edwin or Henry will use tobacco or ardent spirits; then
I think they will never belong to the drunkards.
There are some habits of neatness which our mother
takes great pains to teach us.  She says to us, " Children,
always stop to scrape your feet before you open the door.
Thenl, when you come into the hall, be sure to wipe them
again on the mat." She tells us these may seem very little
things to us, but they will have great influence upon the
future. Even now it will make us feel more comfortable;
what other bad habit does it lead? Would you be sorry to have your brother
a drunkard? What habit of neatness should you practise before entering a
house?  Will such habits have influence upon your future? Will they make
54 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
we shall have a sense of cleanliness; it will make our feet
drier and warmer; we shall be received with a smile instead of a frown; our tempers will be better; and all this,
not for one time only, but for thousands of times, all our
lives after. But if we walk right into the house, not noticing scraper or mat, with wet, muddy feet, we shall be
complained of, and that will fret us; and from this one
act of carelessness continually repeated, we might get a
sourness of temper that it would be a pity to bear all our
lives.
We are taught to be very particular to leave things just
as we find them. If a door is open, then we are not to
shut it, but we must be careful that we do not leave a door
open which we find shut. If we take a book to read, we
are required to replace it, when we have done with it, just
in the manner we found it.  If we  get out our toys to
amuse us, we are allowed to take our comfort with them;
but when we have done playing with them, we are expect ed to carry them to their proper place.
you more happy now in your childhood? If you fail to get such habits of
neatness, will it be likely to sour your temper? How? About what should
you be particular? What about doors?' About books?  About toys?  In
55 
FIRST LESSONS IN
Our mother tells us we can help her vrery much by being
careful that we do not soil or tear our clothes. When we
walk out, if the dew is on, we are very careful to keep on
the gravel walks and to avoid the wet grass. If we are
obliged to come home in the rain, we use our best care to
get wet as little as possible, especially to keep out of
muddy, splashy places.
When we write at school, we take pains to set the ink
where it will not be likely to get spilled, and we are very
careful that we do not get it on our clothes. When we
play, we try to avoid tearing our clothes; though sometimes we do tear them, and then we are sorry; but mother
does not scold us when we tell her about it. She says it
is a pity, but it is an accident.
what way can you help your mother? What should you do if the dew is on the
grass when you are walking? What if you are obliged to come home in the
rain? About what should you be careful when you write?  What should you
avoid in your play? Will your mother be displeased with you if you are frank
and tell her the truth?
56 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
LITTLE THINGS.
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land.
Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.
Thus our little errors
Lead the soul away
From the path of virtue,
Off in sin to stray.
Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love.
Make our earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.
57 
FIRST LESSONS iNr
CHAPTER VIII.
HABITS OF EXERCISE.
COME and see my garden.  I love these bright cups of
gold, and these dear, sweet little violets, because they bear
the cold so well. There have been a good many frosty
nights, yet they look almost as bright as ever; while my
poor balsams and China asters are shrivelled and black.
Questions.- What are some of the flowers which bear the  cold the  best?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Hlow sweetly the sun shines this morning! it makes me
think of the spring tinie, when we made our gardens  We
were very happy when father told us we might each have
a little garden for ourselves, if we would try to take care
of it.  He told Henry and myself we must help little
Hannah, because she was so young.  We always -lo ihelp
her, and we love to do so, for we know it is proper for the
older children to help the younger. Besides, we very
often need help from cousin Edwin; and he, too, is kind
to us.
After our garden beds were prepared for us, father told
us we must each choose our own seeds. Brother Henry,
at first, thought he would choose some sweet corn and
squash seeds. He thought it would be very nice to have
somne green corn, all his own; but father told him that
would not be a good choice of seeds; for, if he should sow
only one or two squash seeds, the vines would run and
spread, not only over his own bed, but over mine and
Hannah's too; and the corn would grow so tall that it
What work in the spring is very pleasant?  Do you like to have a little garden.? Should you take good care of it? Should you be willing to help your
little brother or sister?  What is always the duty of the older children? Whi.t
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FIRST LESSONS IN
would shade all about it.  Well, then he said he would
have flowers, as we were going to have; only he thought
he would like to have two or three scarlet beans to run
up a pole.
I and Hannah chose flower seeds; and besides these,
father set for each of us, and for brother Henry, a nice
rosebush on the back side of our gardens, next the wall;
and he gave us some pinkroots and violets. Our father
said he was happy to give us these gardens, and to help
us to prepare them; for he liked to have us amuse ourselves out of doors, in the pleasant weather, as much as
possible, because it is more healthy to be in the open air
than to stay too much in the house.
Our father was not disappointed in thinking our gardens
would keep us out and employ us happily. Sometimes,
though, we were almost tired of waiting for our seeds to
come up; but our mother told us that every body had to
learn to wait in this world, and that waiting for seeds to
seeds would you choose for your garden? Where is it best for you to amuse
yourself in pleasant weather? Why? Would a little garden employ you
pleasantly? For what do children sometimes get tired of waiting? What
does every body have to learn? What is one way to learn to be patient? Who
60 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
come up was one way which our heavenly Father takes to
learn all men to be patient.
How beautiful the first green leaves looked as they
peeped up out of the beds! and every morning after they
looked fresher and prettier. There was a nice gravel
walk, so that we could go out, as soon as we were up and
dressed, and not get wet by the dew.
The little martin birds were always up before us, and it
seemed as if they tried to see which could talk the fastest;
and then the dear robin redbreast used to sing very
sweetly. Indeed, I think the summer mornings were very
pleasant. I almost wish it was summer now.
But it is pleasant in the morning in the cool weather
too. When we come down stairs the fire is burning and
crackling; and it seems so comfortable to have a nice, warm
house, and dear, good friends, and all we need. Our
mother says it will be very wrong iii us if we forget who
gives us these blessings, and if we are not thankful.
are always up before you? What birds may you hear in the morning? What
do you think of summergmornings? Is it pleasant on the cool mornings too?
What seems so comfortable as you come dclown stairs? What would it be
wvrong to forget?  Is it necessary to take exercise in both summer and winter?
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Our parents think it is very necessary for us to take a
good deal of exercise in the open air, both in summner and
winter, that we may grow strong and healthy. In the
summer, besides working in the garden, we take many
long walks. We drive hoop a good deal when it is not
too warm.
One thing which pleases us very much is a ride, which
we often get, of about four miles, out to uncle Henry's
farm. It is a nice place; and when once we get there,
our mother is not afraid to let us run at our pleasure.
Uncle Henry's house stands out in a pretty green field, a
little distance from the street, and we pass in from the
street by a large gate.
When we get almost to the house, the dog Rover gives
one or two barks; and then the little cousins look out and
see us coming, and they are always glad to see us.  We
get currants, and gooseberries, and cherries; and we run
down the hill behind the house, and there, in a very large
field, we find a plenty of strawberries. We are always very
happy to go to uncle Henry's for a ride and for a ramble.
Why? How do you take exercise in summer?  Is it pleasant to ride out into
the country? What can you often get-when you go to a farm house? What
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Our parents say they would be very sorry if they could
not take us out into the country sometimes, for they wish
to have us notice and admire the wonderful works of God.
Sometimes we pass the night at the farm; and I never
saw the sunset look so beautiful as it did one night we
were there. The sun seemed to be ever so far away, and
it sunk down so gently behind the distant western hills,
leaving long, slender clouds behind, which we used to fancy
like great golden fishes, all purple and shining; and we
used to stand and watch them till their brightness all
faded away; and then we would get our good cup of
sweet milk and retire to our rest.
In the winter we slide on our sleds. Henry and I can
slide alone, and we each have sleds; but little Hannah
has not. We very often give her a ride on one of our
sleds, but she is not old enough to slide alone.  She is
afraid to try. We do not have to go out into the street
to use our sleds, for there is a nice place just back of our
garden. It is a little hill, which leads down into Mr.
would your parents like to have you notice and admire?  Do you love to watch
the sunset clouds? What exercise can you take in wvinter? If your little
brother or sister cannot slide alone, what do' you do? Why might not your
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FIRST LESSONS IN
Parmelee's orchard, and he gives us the liberty to slide
there. Father keeps a road for us there unless the snow
gets too deep; if it does, we content ourselves near by
home. Our parents do not choose to have us go far away,
for fear we mnight get into danger.
Sometimes after a rain there is a grand crust on the
snow, and we love dearly to run upon that in the clear
frosty mornings, and our mother says it is very nice exercise. Our cousins at the farm sometimes tell us about
going on the crust to gather the sap for maple sugar.
They like the fun of it, and so should I. I wish I could
be there when they make the sugar.
When we go to school in the winter, that affords us a
good exercise; for we walk every day, unless the snow is
deep; but if it is, my cousin Edwin harnesses the pony,
and gives us a ride in the sleigh. My father says we must
never be afraid of the cold. He says, if we did not go to
school we should need to take a long walk every day;
but going to school is better, for we get the exercise, and
may also improve in our studies.
parents like to have you go far away to slide?  What affords good exercise
after a rain? Would you like to run on the crust to gather sap? What else
64 
GENTLENESS AND -TRUTH.
There is one thing which my father is very particular
to tell cousin Edwin and brother Henry; and that is, they
must never halloo or sing in the streets. HIe says he
should be quite mortified and displeased, too, if either of
his boys should go hallooing or singing through the street;
for it is a sure sign of a rude, ungoverned, unpleasant boy.
He does not say any thing to me about it; I suppose he
thinks little girls do inot wish to do so.
THE SNOW.
The clouds look sad,
And mother is glad;
For it is going to snow;
And her dear boy
Will dance with joy
When he on his sled can go.
"0 mother, say,
Will it snow to-day? "
Has frequently been his cry.
affords exercise in winter? Should boys ever halloo or sing in the streets?
Of what is it a sure sign?
5
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FIRST LESSONS IN
I cannot say,
But I think it may,"
Has been the quick reply.
But look, now look,0, quick, drop your book,  The snow has now come at last;
Sosoft and white,
So pretty and light;
It is falling thick and fast.
Now Charlie boy
Is filled with joy;
He runs for his boots and sled;
Now get his coat,
And tie up his throat,
And put a cap on his head.
Then o'er the snow
How fast he'll go,
Giving his sisters a ride!
They'll run about,
And caper and shout,
And down the hill they'll slide.
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
CHAPTER IX.
I MUST BE INDUSTRIOUS AND USEFUL.
MY father and mother are busy from morning till night.
Father is occupied at the store, and we see him but very
little after breakfast till evening; and then it is but a
little while, we go to bed so early. Dear mother, too, has
Questions. - Do you observe that your parents are usually busy? Is there
a pleasure in being busy? What does our heavenly Father intend? Can one
67 
FIRST LESSONS IN
many cares; and though we see much more of her, yet she
always keeps her hands busy, even while she talks with us.
But they are happy; and they often tell us that they
find a pleasure in being busy; that our hcivenly Father
intends we shall be busy; and that we cannot be happy
unless we have some regular employment. They tell us,
the soul which God has given us is designed to be active,
and that when we are doing useful work, with a pleasant
and right disposition, we are in the way to be happy;
while, if we neglect to do our proper duties, we shall be
sure to get a peevish disposition, and shall therefore be
unhappy.
Mly father says it is because he wishes us to be industrious and useful that we have each our little work given
us to do; and that, if we are prompt and faithful in doing
that little, it will be a preparation for more important
things when we are older.
I suppose it is because my mother wishes me to be industrious and useful that she gives me a task in sewing
be happy without employment? When are we in the right way to be happy?
If you neglect your proper duties, what will be the consequence? If you are
prompt and faithful in little things, for what will it be a preparation? Why
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
every day when I am not attending school. Sometimes
I get very tired of it, and almost wish there were no such
thing as work, and then I could have my whole time to
play; but mother says it is a wrong and mistaken feeling,
and that children who have finished their appointed tasks
enjoy their play a hundred times more than those children
who have not careful parents to set them tasks, or those
children who neglect and slight their work.
Sometimes I wish I could get somebody a little older to
do my tasks for me, and then I could carry them to my
mother all finished; but mother says that would be nearly
as bad for myself as slighting my work or leaving it undone; for it is the habit of doing it which will be of use
to me.
I think my parents are right in trying to teach us to be
industrious, for I do not think we should get the habit
ourselves; and I have found, as they say, that I enjoy my
play better when I can feel that my task is all nicely done.
does your mother give you tasks in sewing? Do children who are left to play
all the time so much enjoy their play? If somebody should do your tasks for
you, would it be as well?  Why not?  Would you be likely to get the habit
of being industrious yourself?  When do you enjoy your play best?  If you
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FIRST LESSONS IN
Besides, I can usually perform the work given me in a
little while, and then I have a long time to amuse myself.
But sometimes I get discontented, and do not work so well,
and then it takes me as long again to do my work, anid I
am very unhappy; but mother says it is my own fault,
and I know it is so.
Once mother took my brother Henry and myself out for
a walk in the early spring. It was on one of the first
warm days, and it was very pleasant; the trees were just
opening their little buds, and the dandelions and violets
were peeping up by the wayside.  The robins sung fast
and strong, just as though they, too, were full of joy that
the warm weather had come. We went by a pasture where
there is a pretty high hill; and there, on that hill, were
some sheep feeding, and their lambs were by their side, as
white as snow; and they frisked, and jumped, and played;
and I know they were happy.
Our mother said, "My dear children, how kind our
heavenly Father is to make a world so beautiful; to send
are discontented and slow, whose fault is it? Is it pleasant walking on spring
mornings? What may you sometimes see and hear? Do the birds seem glad
when the warm weather returns? What shows the kindness of our heavenly
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
back the warm, smiling sun to light it up with new joy
every spring; and to make so many creatures all to be so
happy I It shows the goodness of his character." But
she told us, though the birds and the lambs are very happy, yet we may be happier than they if we do our duty;
for we can feel all the pleasant influences of the light, the
warmth, and the glad, returning spring, while we can have
many thoughts beside which make us happy; and we have
the power of looking forward to a great many happy days
in the future, which power the animals have not.
Our mother said that while life is a source of happiness
to us, as well as to all creatures, yet it is given to us
for a higher purpose than to them. By us it should be
improved; and the great secret of being happy is found in
doing every duty as it comes along. "My dear children,"
said our'mother, very earnestly, "I will repeat this, for
it is a rule you will need to remember as long as you live:
If you would be happy, perform every duty as it comes along."
She asked us if we were ever really and truly unhappy
Father? May you be happier than birds and animals? What more than they
have you to make you happy?  What is the secret of being happy? What
rule should you remember? Are you likely to be unhappy if you faithfully
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FIRST LESSONS IN
at school when we had learned our lessons perfectly; had
tried to please our teacher, and to be kind and helpful to
our schoolfellows. She said we might indeed sometimes
see things to lead us to pity others and to sympathize
with them; but that would not be real unhappiness; and
if at any time others should wrong us, it would not pain
us any thing like the feeling that we ourselves had done
wrong.
She said, if we would thus try to do all our little duties
at home, it would light up a sunshine there, and we would
all be very happy. I will try to remember it; and if I
have any thing especially unpleasant to perform, I will try
to not shrink from it. I will not be afraid of a little
hardship, but will endeavor to be brave enough always,
under all circumstances, to do my duty.
perform your duties at school?  What if others wrong you?  If you do your
duties at home, what will be the effect?  Will you try to remember it?  Of
what should you not be afraid? For what will you be brave enough?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
ANNA'S RESOLUTION.
Well, now I'll sit down, and I'll work very fast,
And try if I can't be a good girl at last;
'Tis better than being so sulky and haughty;
I'm really quite tired of being so naughty.
For, as mamma says, when my business is done,
There's plenty of time left to play and to run;
But when'tis my work time I ought to sit still;
And I know that I ought; so I certainly will.
But for fear, after all, I should get at my play,
I will put little doll in the closet away;
And I'll not look to see what the kitten is doing,
Nor yet think of any thing else but my sewing.
I'm sorry I've idled so often before;
But I hope I shall never do so any more;
Mamma will be pleased when she sees how I mend,
Anrd have done this long seam from beginning to end.
SONGS FOR THE LITTLE ONES AT HOME.
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FIRST LESSONS IN
CHIAPTER X.
BE KIND AND GENTLE.
I REMEMBER a very pretty story about a pet lamb. It
belongo,d to some little children whose father was dead.
These orphan children loved the lamb very tenderly. It
made one in all their sports, and seemed to enjoy them as
Questions.- Whose was the pet lamb    V What can you say of it? Why did
their mother think to sell it? Why did she not tell the children?  Iow di,
74'4 
GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
well as the children. I think they used to share their
bread and milk with it.
But the mother of these little children was poor. She
found it very hard to get food and clothes for them; and
she had to sell one thing after another, to get money to
buy with. At last she thought she should be obliged to
sell the pet lamb. She did not dare to mention this to
her children, for she knew it would grieve them. She had
spoken privately to a butcher about it, and he had made a
bargain for it.
One day the children saw the butcher and his boy coming towards the house. They did not think, at first, what
his business might be; but when he ordered his boy to put
a rope around their dear little lamb, all at once the truth
flashed upon them that it was going to be led away to be
killed. How it made their hearts ache! One little boy
stoutly resisted, and put himself right before the lamb, to
keep himn; but the butcher's boy was stronger than Willy,
and he forced him away.  The little children hung around
their mother, and begged her niiot to let it go. Her own
the children learn that it was to be killed?  What did Willy do?  What did
the little girls do?  What kind act did the butcher do?  Do you love pets?
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FIRST LESSONS IN
heart was so full she could hardly speak; but she asked
the butcher to leave the lamb, and call another time.
The man who had bought the lamb said, "Though I am
a butcher, my heart is no harder than other men's."  He
was quite melted in pity for the poor orphans; and he said,
"I have bought the lamb and paid for it; now I make a
present of it to the children."
You may be sure the children were very thankful; and
they told the whole story to their little pet, and tried to
make him understand what a narrow escape he had had
from being butchered. The poor little lamb could not
understand that; but he was happy with the children.
Henry has his dog Fido, and I have some chickens and
a kitten. I wish we had a lamb; I am sure we would love
it and be very kind to it. I would put a pink ribbon
round its neck, and it should play with us out in the yard,
and no butcher should come after it.
Our father says, if we lived on a farm we should have a
lamb; but it is not convenient here; our yard is not large
enough, and it would not do to let it run in the garden.
If you had a lamb, how would you treat it? Should you be kind and gentle to
all creatures? Do you love to have the birds build about your house?  Do
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
He says he wishes to have us exercise love and kindness
towards every living creature.
We are very much pleased when the birds build their
nests in our trees, or in the shrubbery in the yard or
garden.  Last summer, some robins built their nest in the
cherry tree. We used to watch the old birds, day after
day, bringing bits of straw and hay to make the nest; and
then, after it was done, one day, our father helped us to
climb up the steps and to look into the nest, for it was not
very high, and there were two beautiful sky-blue eggs in
it. They were very delicate, but we did not touch them;
and our father took pains to show the nest to us when the
old birds were gone, so that it need not trouble them.
We are always very careful that we do not frighten the
birds which come around the house and yard. A beautiful
goldfinch built its nest very high up in the elm tree, and
we could not get up to look into its nest, but we could
hear it sing very sweetly in the early morning.
Mother says, if our kitty was older, there would be dan
you love to watch the birds as they are building their nests? Would you take
away their eggs? What time would you choose to look at their nests? Why?
Would you be gentle to the birds which come around your house? Who
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FIRST LESSONS IN
ger of her finding the way to the robin's nest in the cherry
tree. If they build there next year, I shall have to watch
my kitty, or else keep her a prisoner till the young birds
are grown.
But sometimes naughty boys rob the birds' nests. Such
boys must have very hard hearts. If they had taken
pleasure, as we have, in watching the birds build their
nests, and had seen how happy they were, how much pains
they took, and how it troubled them when any one came
near their nest after it was finished, I am sure they could
not be so hardhearted. It must be that such boys have
not been taught to think and to feel kindly; and I believe,
too, they forget that the same God who made them also
made the little birds, and intended they should be happy.
Ourparents are very desirous that we should grow up
kind and gentle, and have pleasant manners. They say,
if we do so, it will be worth more to us than gold; for
money alone can never make us happy; but amiable people,
with pleasant ways, spread a sunshine every where they go.
sometimes rob birds' nests? What can you say of such boys? Can those
who rob the birds be thoughtful and kind? What do they forget? Ought
you to grow up kind and gentle? -What can you say of amiable people?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Our parents often let us go into the parlor when there
is company, so that we may learn how to behave. We are
expected to be very quiet and to listen to the conversation. If any one speaks to us we know that we must an-swer properly, though we might be a little afraid. We
should expect our parents would be displeased with us if
we should hang our heads and remain silent when a person
speaks to us.
Our parents do not call upon us to sing or to repeat
verses before company. They say those things belong to
the nursery, and it would be putting us out of our place
to call upon us before visitors in the parlor; and perhaps
it would make us vain and proud.  I am sure we have a
great many things to be thankful for, more than I can
count; but especially should we be grateful for kind and
loving parents.
Why do your parents sometimes take you into the parlor?  How should you
behave while there? How should you answer if you are spoken to? If you
did not, would your parents be displeased? Why do they not call upon you
to sing or to repeat verses? Have you much to be thankful for? For what
should you be grateful?
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FIRST LESSONS IN
A CHILD'S MORNING THOUGHTS.
Happy birds are on the wing;
Hark! how loud and sweet they sing!
See that speck upon the sky;
'Tis a lark- I saw her fly.
Happy birds! I'm happy, too;
I will skip and sing with you.
But, before I run to play,
Let me not forget to pray
To Him who kept me through the night;
Woke me with the morning light;
Gives me life, and health, and food;
Fills my soul with every good.
Lord, may every morning sun
See a better life begun;
May I love and serve thee more
Than I ever did before:
In my work and in my play,
Be thou with me, Lord, to-day.
SONGs FOR THE LITTLE ONES AT HOIIoL
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
x                                                ){''{'\\\%'
CHAPTER XI.
REMEMIBER  THE POOR.
IT is winter now. The wind howls about our house in
the eveniirg, and it sounds very dreary. But it only makes
our good, warm, cheerful home seem the more pleasant.
On such a night as this, I love to lie in my nice comfortable bed anid listen to the snow and hail beating against
Questions. - Should you be thankful for a home in the cold winter?  Are
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FIRST LESSONS IN
the window. It makes me thankful for such shelter from
the bitter weather; and I do not fail to remember those
little children who have no such good home and kind
friends. Poor children! I how I pity them! I wish I could
give them all a home.
One day a little boy and girl, thinly dressed and looking quite sad, came to our door to beg for cold victuals.
Our mother took them in and fed them, hoping to learn
more about them, and, if possible, to put them in a better
way. She asked them to go to Sabbath school. They
were pleased with the idea; and our mother, with several
others, provided them with suitable clothes, and they entered the school. They were very punctual for more than
a year; but their parents would send them from door to
door, begging, because it was easier for them to do so
than to work themselves; and it spoiled the children.
They mixed with those continually who would steal and
lie, and they became as bad as any of them.
Our mother says the reason why some persons in the
there any children without a good home?  Should you pity them?  Is there
a better way for the poor than to beg from door to door? Why do some parents thus send their children? What do such children usually become? Why
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G.ENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
country are poor is, because they are not willing to work.
They waste their time, in the summer, in idleness, instead
of providing for the coming winter; and when the winter
does come, they are miserable enough. She tells us, such
are not so wise and provident as the ant and the bee; for
they work diligently all the pleasant weather, and get a
store for winter. She teaches us these verses in the Bible,
so that we may learn to be diligent: -
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and
be wise. Which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in
the harvest."
But she says we should do very wrong if we  should
allow ourselves to feel that all who are poor are so because they do not try to do their duty. Though a great
mar.y families are miserable, because the parents dislike
work or have wicked habits of drinking ardent spirits,
there are other cases when persons meet with accidents, or
are some persons in the country poor?  How do they spend their time in the
summer?  How is it with them  - winter? What insects are more wise than
they?  What verses can you repeat?  Are all who are poor so beeause they
are not diligent?  What are causes of poverty sometimes where there is no
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FIRST LESSONS IN
perhaps lose their money by the unfaithfulness of others,
and it is no fault of theirs that they are poor.
Very often, too, the father dies; and then, in many cases,
a whole family of little ones must be cared for by the
mother. That mother may try to do her utmost to keep
from poverty, and yet not be able. She tells us that
every body is liable to meet a similar lot. She says, if
God did not keep our blessings for us, we migliht lose all
we have in many ways. The fire might burn up our house;
our parents might die; our friends might disappoint us;
and we, little children, be as poor and helpless as any.
She says we should never, for a single day, forget this,
and that we should be always very thankful to our heavenly Father.
It would be very wrong, then, for me to feel unkindly
towards any persons who are poor. I cannot know all
about their case, and it may be they are not at all to
blame; and if they are to blame, they are so much the
blame? Are all persons liable to suffer thus? Who keeps your blessings for
you? How might they be taken from you?  What must you never forget?
To whom should you be thankful? Are the poor always to blame? If they
are to blame, are they to be pitied? Why?  What is the case of some old
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
more to be pitied; for, besides having misery all about
them, they have what is far worse within them- a guilty,
painful heart.
My mother tells us there are a good many cases of
elderly persons who, while they were younger and stronger,
were well able to take care of themselves, and who, now
that they have grown feeble by age, cannot well provide
for all their own wants. Such persons who have been
thus diligent formerly are generally disposed to get along
without complaining to others, though they may have but
a bare morsel for themselves.
Once we were taken to visit an interesting old lady of
this sort. That woman, through all her lifetime, had possessed enough to make her comfortable. She had brought
up a family of children. Some of the children did not
prove to be very good; for their father was not a good
man; and the boys, especially, were tempted to follow his
example, though their mother tried hard to keep them
right. Now, the father and several of the children were
dead. The other children who remained were not rich,
persons? Will such usually be disposed to complain? Was the old lady
mentioned discontented, or happy? What tan you say of her boys?  Did her
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and they had to struggle to maintain themselves and families; yet they helped their mother as much as they could.
The poor old lady lived on, never complaining, always
thankful to her heavenly Father, and waiting to go to the
"mansions" of heaven.  Some Christian ladies, before this,
had found her out; and they were very happy to look after
her, and to bestow upon her many little things for her
comfort. Our mother said there was real happiness in
helping such persons; arld we thought so, too.
Mother told us another story, very sad indeed. She often
tells us these stories on such a night as this; because she says
she wishes very much that we may be pitiful to the poor,
and that we may be ready, all our life long, to help thenm.
Several miles from our house, in one of the distant districts of the town, there is a poor woman who is very
nearly blind. Her husband is not a drunkard; he is kind
enough, but he does not like to work very well, and he
has the bad habit of putting off things. He is never
ready to do his work when it ought to be done; and a
children try to help her? What was the disposition of the old lady? Is it a
pleasure to help such persons? Should you grow up kind and pitiful to the
poor? What was the case of another poor woman? What is the fault of
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
great deal which he might do, if he were prompt, he never
does at all.
There is a large family of little children; and the poor,
blind mother, with their help, does all that is done in the
house. She is obliged to try to sew, though she cannot
see; and one of the little girls stands by her to thread her
needle. These children were found, on one of the coldest
days last winter, without shoes and stockings, and with
but a few flimsy rags of clothes. The ladies who visited
them said they wondered what kept them from freezing.
Those ladies went to work to make up frocks and pants,
and to gather together shoes and stockings; and before
five days the children were warmly clothed and encouraged to go to school; for, before this, they could not
attend school for want of clothes.
I hope, as the little girls get older, they may go into
well-trained families, where they may learn to be prompt;
for my father always says, if you will learn to be prompt
in every thing, you will not be very likely to be poor.
her husband?  What bad habit has he?  How were the children found, one
cold winter day? Were they provided for? What were they encouraged to
do? What may you hope, if you will learn'to be prompt?
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REMEMBER THE POOR.
I knew a widow, very poor,
Who four small children had;
The eldest was but six years old
A gentle, modest lad.
And very hard this widow toiled
To feed her children four;
A noble heart the mother had,
Though she was very poor.
To labor she would leave her home;
For children must be fed;
And glad was she when she could buy
A shilling's worth of bread.
And this was all the children had
On any day to eat;
They drank their water, ate their bread,
But never tasted meat.
One day, when snow was falling fast,
And piercing was the air,
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
I thought that I would go and see
How these poor children were.
Ere long I reached their cheerless home,'Twas searched by every breeze, -
When, going in, the eldest child
I saw upon his knees.
I paused to listen to the boy;
He never raised his head,
But still went on, and said, " Give us
This day our daily bread."
I waited till the child was done,
Still listening as he prayed;
And when he rose, I asked him why
That prayer he then had said.
C  Why,  sir," said he, " this morning, when
My mother went away,
She wept because she said she had
No bread for us to day.
"She said we children, now, must starve,
Our father being dead;
And then I told her not to cry,
For I could get some bread.
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FIRST LESSONS IN
"  Our Father,' sir, the prayer begins;
Which made me think that he,
As we have no kind father here,
Would our kind Father be.
"1 And then you know, sir, that the prayer
Asks God for bread each day;
So in the corner, sir I went;
And that's what made me pray."
I quickly left that wretched room,
And went with fleeting feet,
And very soon was back again
With food enough to eat.
I thought God heard me," said the boy;
I answered with a nod;
I could not speak, but much I thought
Of that boy's faith in God.
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
CIIAPTER XII.
I MUST BE CAREFUL OF MY WORDS.
How very sad it is to hear some very small boys use
wicked words ill their play!  They speak the name of
God very often; they "take his name in vain."  Our
mother often tells us that God hears all we say; that he
Questions.- Do any children ever use wicked words in their play? Does
God hear all you say? What is written in his book? Do wicked children
91
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I I,...
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FIRST LESSONS IN
keeps a book in which all our words are written down.
Do such children know this? Do their parents talk with
them about it? I should think, if they believed that God
heard all they said, that he noticed. it and wrote it down
against them, they would not dare to do so.
Our father often talks with us about keeping our language pure.  He says to us, "Little girls, I do not think
you will be tempted to use wicked words, for you will not
see any whom you might suppose to be young ladies doing
thus; but the boys, Edwin and Henry, may sometimes hear
those who may pretend to be young gentlemen using language which, at the first, might make them shudder; yet,
by hearing them often, they may be tempted to try to be
like them.
"Always remember," says our father, "that the eye of
God is upon you. The darkest night cannot hide you from
his sight; and he has said he will surely punish those who
take his name in vLwin."
When we repeat the commandments on Sabbath even
think of this? If they did, would they dare to take God's name in vain? Are
little girls as much tempted as boys?  What should you always remember?
Will he punish those who take his name' in vain? On what mountain were the
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GENTLBESS AND TRUTH.
ings, our father takes a good deal of pains to try to have
ius understand them, that we may put them in practice.
He sometimes tells us how splendid and awful was the
sight when God came down upon the top of Mlount Sinai
to give the commandments; how the whole mountain trembled and was burning with fire. He tells us these very
commandments which we repeat were first heard from the
voice of God, out of the midst of the fire; and they were
afterwards written "by the finger of God," on two tables
of stone, which Moses had carried up into the mountain,
by God's express command.
Our father says to us, "Children, should you not be
careful to keep these commandments as God requires,
since he has taken such pains to make them known to us?"
We always answer, "Yes, father;" and we think, when he
talks with us in this way, we shall never forget what he
says.
Once our mother told us a story of a lady who had one
little boy named Willy, whom she loved very much. That
commandments given? How did the mountain appear? How were they
given? By whom were they afterwards written? Upon what? Should you
not keep them?  Do you think you will try'to remember?  What did Willy
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FIRST LESSONS IN
mother took a great deal of pains to teach her little boy,
so that he might know his duty; and she prayed for him
every day, that he might have a heart to do his duty as
well as know it. She used to hear him repeat the commandments every Sabbath evening. But at one time I
believe there was sickness in the family, and Willy's mother was very much occupied; and for two or three Sabbaths
Willy's lessons were omitted.
O1e day Willy was playing in the next yard with another little boy about his own age, and his mother, who
was but a little way off from them, heard her own dear
boy use a bad word. 0, how it went to her heart I She
did not once think that Willy would do so. The word he
used was not the name of God, nor was it really swearing;
but it was one of those words like' I swan," which father
says boys begin with when they are afraid to swear; yet
it made Willy's mother feel almost as bad as if the word
was ever so wicked, for she knew that using such words
is the beginning of swearing.
Willy's mother called him in, and she sat down and had
do which pained his mother?  Was it the name of God?  What was it like?
Is that the way boys begin to learn to. swear? If Willy had heard the name
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
a very serious talk with him. She did not treat him
harshly, for he was a very little boy, and did not know at
all the meaning of such words; but he had said it in imitation of some other little boys. If Willy had heard the
name of God spoken in play, he would have known it
was wrong; but his mother had not talked with him about
these other words. Now his mother talked about these.
Poor little Willy felt very sad. It grieved him to think
that he had pained his mother, for he loved her very much.
Just then it came to his mind that he had not recently recited his Sabbath lessons as usual; and he said, partly in
excuse for himself, but evidently with much tenderness,
"Well, you ought to teach me the commandments." Willy's mother felt the rebuke, and after that she was more
punctual than ever in teaching her dear little boy the Ten
Commandments.
Sometimes at school we hear the children call each
other by nicknames.   This is not swearing, but it is very
improper and unkind; and our mother tells us that those
of God used in play, would he have known it to be wrong?  What did his
mother now teach him?  What did Willy say in excuse?  Do you ever hear
children call others by nicknames?  Is it a wrong habit?  If you do so, what
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FIRST LESSONS IN
who allow themselves to do so will be growing more and
more unkind in their feelings, and unamiable. She says it
is a very bad habit. None but rude and boisterous children
get the habit; and such are generally marked, not among
the best scholars in school, but among the worst. I hope
we may not distress our parents by getting any such
habits; for it would be very ungrateful to them, as well
as displeasing to God.
THE HONEST BOY.
Once there was a little boy
With curly hair and pleasant eye -
A boy who always told the truth,
And never, never told a lie.
And when he trotted off to school,
The children all about would cry,
"There goes the curly-headed boy,
The boy that never tells a lie."
effect will it have upon you? What sort of children are they who do so? If
you do so, to whom will you be ungrateful?  Who will you displease?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
And every body loved him so,
Because he always told the truth,
That every day, as he grew up,
'Twas said, "There goes the honest youth."
And when the people that stood near
Would turn to ask the reason why,
The answer would be always this:
"Because he never tells a lie."
7
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FIRST LESSONS IN
CHAPTER XIII.
I MU-ST BE HONEST AND NEYER TELL A LIE.
I READ a sad story, not long since, of a little girl who
took her teacher's needle book. It was a bright-red silk
one, and little Jane wanted it very much.
The teacher had several other needle books; so Jane
tlought she might take that one, and it would not be much
missed, or at least the teacher would not say much about
(a,stiois. - WVhat did the little girl take which was not her own? Why
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
it. Jane was standing by the teacher's desk where the
needle book lay, while the teacher was busy with some
other scholars in another part of the room. Jane thought
nobody saw her when she took it; but she forgot the
great God who always sees us.
After a while the school was dismissed; and Jane, with
her sister Eliza, started for home. There was a way to
go home besides the main travelled road, which the little
girls sometimes took; and they did so that night. When
they had got about half way home they sat down to rest
them, as they frequently had done before. Jane took out
the needle book and showed it to Eliza. Eliza was a
better girl than Jane, and she felt very sorry when she
learned what her sister had done. She told her how
wicked it was, and she begged her to go back and own
her fault. She told her that she would go back with her
if she would.
Jane began to feel badly, for she saw that she had got
into trouble; but she was not really sorry for the sin, for
did she think it would not be missed? Where was the teacher when Jane
took it?  What did she think about being seen?  What did she forget?
Which way did the little girls take to go home? What did they do when
balf way home? What did Jane show to Eliza?  How did Eliza feel?  What
*.e *..eee  *...
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FIRST LESSONS IN
she would not consent to go back and own it. Eliza did
not know what to do; but she determined she would not
tell a lie, though she dreaded to say any thing against her
sister.
When they reached home they found their teacher there
before them. She had come by the direct road. Both
she and their parents had a painful look, and the little
girls knew in a moment what it was about. There were
no questions asked, but both the little girls' baskets were
emptied and searched; but there was no needle book there,
for Jane had slipped it under some leaves back of the
house before she came in. When the needle book was
not found the parents began to take courage. It pained
them sadly to think that either of their little girls could
be so wicked as to steal, and now they hoped it was not so.
The teacher, too, said she was thankful that it was not
proved against them; and she went away to look elsewhere
for her needle book.
The next morning Jane's father was out in the back
did she say? What did she offer to do? Was Jane really sorry yet? Why
not?  What did Eliza determine?  When they reached home, whom did they
find?  How had she come?  How did she and their parents look?  What
was done?  Was the needle book found?  Why  not?  How did the parents
!:.......
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
yard pretty early, and he accidentally came across the
needle book. Then there was no escape for Jane. Eliza
told the whole truth, and her sad little sister had to be
punished, and then go before the whole school and own
her fault.
I read another little story, not so sad, because it was of
a good child, though at that time she did wrong. Susan
Brooks was playing with her little friend Ellen Taylor
and admiring her toys; for Ellen's mother was wealthy,
and had purchased her a great many very pretty ones.
Among other thiings was a beautiful little blue bag, which
Susan admired very much, and she kept thinking she
wished she had it.  She did not ask for it; perhaps if she
had Ellen would have given it to her, for Ellen was a kind
little girl.
After Susan went home she kept thinking of that bag.
After a few days Susan went to Ellen's house again. Just
as she came up to the door she saw that very same blue
bag lying under the window, where it had fallen out. She
now feel? What did the teacher say?  What happened the next morning?
What did Jane now have to do?  Why is not the next story so sad?  What
did Susan wish for so much? What did she think about it after she went
home?  What did she see when she went again?  What did she do?  What
* *. * a.:- A-.@
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FIRST LESSONS IN
caught it up and put it in her bosom, and thought she
would keep it; for she said to herself, "I have found it,
and it is mine."
After she went home she could not be happy. She did
not dare to use the bag at all, for fear her mother should
see it and question her. She began to think she had done
wrong; and the more she thought of it the more unhappy
she was, until she became so miserable that she resolved
to tell the whole story to her mother. Then she went to
Ellen's mother and told it to her, and asked forgiveness;
and once more she was happy, though she felt very sorry
when she remembered the wrong she hlad done.
Our mother says, the only way to be happy is to keep a
clear conscience - that is, always try to do our duty; and
if at any time we do a wrong thing, never to rest until
we are really sorry and have asked forgiveness.
A good while ago our parents told us the story of the
noble George Washington; how, when a very little boy,
he learned to speak the truth. Father says he began to
did she think?  Was she happy after she went home?  Could she play with
the bag. Why not? What did she begin to think?  What made her more
unhappy?  What did she then do? Was she happy again?  What is the only
way to be happy? What must we do when we have done wrong? How did
!.. @. @..
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
show his courage and bravery in that way; if he had not
resolved to do right, even then, let what would come, he
never would have been the brave, good, faithful man he
was. When he had used his little hatchet against the
bark of his father's favorite cherry tree, and when he saw
that his father was very much displeased, then he summoned up all his courage, and said,' I can't tell a lie, pa;
you know I can't tell a lie; I did cut it with my hatchet."
A few days ago Maria Green was at our house, when
my mother sent mne into the store room for some raisins.
Maria seemed much surprised because the box was on the
lower shelf and because the door was not locked.   I
asked her why. She said her mother always kept all such
things entirely out of the way of the children, for fear
they might get them.
I told her that our mother always trusted us, and that
we never thought of taking things without permission.
We could not be happy in doing that; we knew what our
parents liked to have us do, and it would not be honoring
George Washington begin to show his courage? What did he say when he
had injured his father's cherry tree?  What surprised Maria?  What did she
say about her mother?  Can your mother trust you?  Should you take things
from the store room without permission? Would you be honoring or obeying
.'" i' i
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FIRST LESSONS IN
or obeying them if we did not try to please them. Our
mother says it would be a sad mark against us if locks
and keys were necessary to keep us from wrong, and our
home could not thus be a very happy one.
HYMN FOR TWO CHILDREN.
(Each to say one line by turns.)
"Who came from heaven to ransom me?"
"Jesus, who died upon the tree."
"Why did he come from heaven above?"
"He came because his name was Love."
"And did he die - the Son of God?"
"Yes, on the cross he shed his blood."
"Why did my Lord and Savior bleed?"
"That we from evil might be freed."
"When he had died, what happened then?"
" On the third day he rose again."
"Where did he go when he had risen?"
" He went to God's right hand in heaven."
"Where is he now?  Is he still there?"
"Yes, and he pleads with God in prayer."
"What does he pray for, and for whom?"
"He prays that we to him might come."
"Should we not come?  Should we not come?"
" O yes, Christ is the sinner's home;
Christ is the weary sinner's home;
On let us come! O, let us come!  "- ScRIPTURE FACTS.
your parents if you did not try to please' them? What would be a sad mark 
If it were so, could your home be very happy?
ac.:     e ~  ee
!'- "..
ee  ee 1 
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
CHAPTER XIV.
OUR KEEPSAKES.- THE SABBATH.
CIIRISTMIAS will soon be here again, and New Year's day.
I am very happy in thinking of it; for thlien our friends
visit us, especially grandfather and uncle Jamles.  They
usually bring us some nice little present for a keepsake;
and we are always wondering beforehand what it will be.
Question. - Do you like to think of Christmas and New Year's day? Why?
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FIRST LESSONS IN
Last year uncle James gave brother Henry and me,
each of us, a little white lamb, with soft wool on their
backs just like a live lamb's wool; and we put them up
very carefully upon the mantle shelf in the parlor, and
our mother let them be there for a long time.
When  it came  summer we used  to play that they
wanted some sweet, fresh grass to eat; and then we
would take them out upon the grass plat under the cherry
trees and play that they werefeeding. Sometimes we used
to make a pasture for them by parting off a square field
with Hannah's blocks.  Then, when we had got tired of
playing it, we would carry them into the house and put
them upon a high shelf in our play closet, so that they
need not get broken or soiled.
We think a great deal more of them because they are
our keepsakes.  They make us think how very kind our
friends are to us. I remember, when I was not more than
four years old, uncle James used to board with us, and he
would very often take me out for a little walk before
breakfast. He used to gather the first dandelions for
Are you careful of your keepsakes? Do you think more of them because they
are keepsakes? Of what do they make you think? What are some of the
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
me and the white clover and violets; and now they often
make me think of him and of the pleasant morning walks.
Then, when he went to the city, which he usually did
once in two weeks, he would always buy us somethingsome nice fruit or nuts; and mother said it was because
he was so kindhearted and loved to see us children enjoying ourselves. And, now that he is away from us, I am
sure he does not forget us; and we think of him very
often.
Our mother says that this is one great benefit of keepsakes - they help us to cherish kind memories and dear
attachments, and our friends seem thus to be ever about
us. I remember one pleasant afternoon last summer:
it was Saturday, and we had all our last year's keepsakes
displayed upon the settee, beneath the shady trees. Our
mother came out; and she looked very much pleased to see
us so happy with them. She said to us, "My dear children,
you seem to think a great deal of your keepsakes. I am
thinking just ilow of a keepsake- another kind of keep sake.  Should you like to hear?"
earliest flowers? Is it pleasant to walk out ini early morning? Why do your
friends take so much pains to make you happy? Do your friends forget you
when away?  What do your keepsakes help you to cherish?  Whom  do they
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FIRST LESSONS IN
" 0, yes, indeed we should, dear mother," we all said in a
breath.
"Well, then, if you will all take seats by mne, I will tell
~ou a story about it."
\Ve were lnot long in flocking about our mother and
getting seats by her side, when she told us the story as
she promised.
"Lucy D. had her earliest home in a small brown cottage. There was nothing very remarkable about that
home or the scenery around. Yet Lucy dearly loved it;
and the simple grass plat before the door, where her baby
feet first pressed the earth, and where, with sparkling
eyes, she first plucked the red and white clover, was as
much to her as all thle world.
"On the west side of the house was a small, very green
lot, which by the family was called the'Old Garden,'
from the fact that some years before it was the garden,
but which, from motives of convenience, had been given
up, and was removed to the east side of the dwelling.
That'Old Garden' was a famous place, in Lucy's estimation, both for wonder and for beauty.   The object of
seem to bring about you? Of whom is the story? What can you say of
Lucy's home?  Of the "Old Garden"? When might she go there?  What
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
wonder was, what appeared to the little child to be a very
large and high rock, which nobody had thought of
attempting to remove. To climb up to thlle top of that
rock was for Lucy a remarkable feat, and the elevation
made her proud of sitting there. These little pranks
were never allowed to Lucy until after the grass was
mowed.
"But that which was esteemed beautiful, and which
often on the bright summer mornings caused Lucy to bound
out of bed and hasten to peep through the fence with
eager eyes, was some shrubbery of roses which had been
left there; and I believe they were the only onies on the
premises. Lucy had been promised the first fullblown
rose. A bud had shown its rich crimson leaves for
several mornings, and not one had passed but Lucy had
paid it a visit -not touching it, or even getting over the
fence, but only looking at it through the fence. The permission was given to pluck it when it was blossomed -not
before; and Lucy would as soon have thought of cutting
off her right hand as of disobeying in the case.
led her to go there on the mornings? What had been promised? When might
she pluck it. Was she obedient?  When do you have the same joy?  Had
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FIRST LESSONS IN
"One morning Lucy went out about ten o'clock. I
think she had been out once before quite early, and it
could be called blossomed then, though it looked very
tempting; but now, at ten o'clock, there it was - a beautiful, deep-red rose, just opened. Lucy bounded over the
fence in a moment; and there was joy in the possession
of that fragrant cup of a rose greater than I can describe to you, but just such joy as our heavenly Father
gives to you, my children, when you are gentle, obedient,
and true.
"As Lucy grew older, there were many pleasant things
to interest her. She had little sisters near her own age,
and brothers younger. The old cottage where she was born
was taken away, and a nice commodious house was built in
its stead. The new house had pleasant yards and flower
gardens; for Lucy's father had special reference to making
his little daughters happy.
"Those flower gardens were at first laid out on each
side of the walk in the front yard; but after a while, as
they did not flourish well there, on account of the dryness
Lucy pleasant things? What were some of them? Where were their gardlens? What did they learn to notice? Did they rise early? Where did
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
of the soil, they were removed to the common garden.
Here the plats were arranged just by a bank wall, which
shielded them in winter and gave them an early start in
the spring.
"Alongside those gardens the children spent many
pleasant and healthful hours, and there they learned to notice and to think about the goodness of the great God,
who paints the little flowers with all their delicate tints of
beauty. Thither they hasted in the early morning to
watch the opening blossoms; and there often did the
setting sun bid them each good night, leaving them to
haste away for their own quiet rest in sleep.
"Lucy had a cousin, whose name was Anna Browne,
and who was their next-door neighbor. Many were the
pleasant rambles which those two cousins had in the
fields and woodlands after berries and flowers, and many
the happy scenes which pictured themselves in Lucy's
memory, and which made her happy long years after.
There was the'acorn tree' behind the mill, whiere the
children gathered cups and saucers as soon as the snow
Lucy and her cousin use to ramble? Did she remember those rambles with
pleasure?  What had they in Lucy's family?  How long had they had it?
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FIRST LESSONS IN
was off the ground; the'island,' where they found the
earliest May flowers and checkerberries and green gooseberries; and the apple tree which Lucy called hers, where,
as she grew older, she used to delight to go quite alone,
with book in hand, to spend her hours of leisure.  Some
other things I could tell you about Lucy; but I shall lnot
now, excepting one thing; and the wish to tell you this
one thing has made all these other things comne back to
memory.
"It was in Lucy's family that they had the keepsake of
which I was thinking.  It was a very old keepsake.  The
parents of Lucy had had it ever since they could remember, and they had received it from Lucy's grandparents.
Yet it was all the mnore precious for being so old, and it
was preserved by them with the utmost care; and, just as
soon as any of their children came to be old enough to
know any thing at all what it meant, they took special
pains to mnake them understand that they, too, had a share
in it.  So they taught Lucy.  The little girl did not at
first much understand about it: she really believed it was
From whom did they receive it? What did they teach their children? Did
Lucy value it?  Why?  What was it?  Does the Bible tell when the Sab
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
valuable, because she saw her parents placing suc(h a high
estimate upon it. As the years went by she herself began to think much of it and to love the dear Friend who
had given it to her parents.
"Dear children," our mother asked us, "what do you
think this keepsake was? It was the holy Sabbath.
Now, to-night it is Saturday, and to-morrow comes the
Sabbath again.  Will you not all remember thbat it is our
keepsake from our heavenly Father?"
We did not quite understand our mother, and I believe
she thought we did not; so she began again by asking us
some questions. Though first she said, " Henry, dear, run
in and get your small Bible."
When Henry was back again she told him to turn to
the second chapter of Genesis; and then she asked, "When
did God make the Sabbath?"  We read in the third verse
what it says about it -
"And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which
God created and made."
bath was made? Where?  How long ago was that? Is it an old keepsake?
8
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"This," said our mother, "was almost six thousand
years ago; and this is our keepsake. Is it not an old one?
And then it is the gift of the great God, our heavenly
Father. Is it not a valuable one? Why do you think so
much of these pretty toys, my children? 0, I know it is
not only because you think them nice, but you are frequently saying, These dear keepsakes, - how much they make
me think of uncle James, and grandfather, and aunt Herbert!
Just so, my children, the holy Sabbath makes me think of
my kind, heavenly Father, and of our Redeemer, and of
all the great and wonderful things which God has done,
and which the Bible tells us about.
"Children, if you had broken and quite destroyed all
these pretty toys of yours in two weeks after they had
been given you, would you expect that your friends would
be as ready to give to you in future?  I am sure you would
not. When they gave them to you, you supposedthough they did not say it- that they expected you to keep
them carefully and remember their kindness; whilst by so
Whose gift is it? Of what should the Sabbath make us think? If you
destroy your keepsakes, can you expect your friends will give you more?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
doing you might also expect in future that they would
continue to remember you kindly.
"Just so, only more, by plain words, our heavenly Father says,'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy;' and
if we regard what he says, we may well expect that from
time to time, in all the future, God will give us precious
gifts which will fill our hearts with joy and gladness.
Dear children, will you think of this to-morrow?"
"Indeed we will, dear mother," said Henry; "though I
never thought before that the Sabbath was a keepsake;
but now I see that it says,'Remember and keep.'  I am
sure there are a great many who do not think it so pre
cious."
"That is true, my boy," said our mother; "but they are
not a rule for us.  Some of the most pleasant memories
which Lucy brought up from her childhood were with the
holy Sabbath. How it was on other mornings I cannot
say; but on the beautiful Sabbath mornings the rising
sun sent a flood of golden light into the chamber where
the little girls were sleeping, and then their mother would
What if you keep them carefully? What has our heavenly Father said?
What if we regard it? Does every body think the Sabbath so precious?
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come up, with a cheery, silvery voice, and say,' Come, my children; it is time to get up.' As they were waking, their father's earnest, solemn tones could be heard reading from the
Bible; not for family worship, for that was not yet, but for
his own enjoyment. Every thing was sacred- never sad.
"Lucy's father lived at quite a distance from the place
of worship; and their rides to church on the pleasant
Sabbath mornings were more delightful than other rides
ever enjoyed. Every tree and shrub, each singing bird
and fragrant flower, seemed to join in the chorus of praise
to God.
"The little children never thought it a task to go to
church; no; but rather, those whose turn it was to go on
the approaching Sabbath had thought of it all the week;
for sometimes one or more had to stay at home to let
others ride. When they were at church they were attentive and quiet, and their Sabbath school books or papers
were never opened; for they knew it would be very wrong
to read them then. It would be showing disrespect both
to God and to their minister."
What can you say of Lucy's Sabbath mornings? Of their rides to church?
Did they like to go? How did they behave? Did they read their books or
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
If there are any families, our mother says, who do not
value the Sabbath, then we should be sorry, but never
despise them.  She says perhaps their father and grandfather had not the keepsake in their houses, and perhaps
nobody has taken pains to show them how kind our
heavenly Father is in giving us such a keepsake. She
says we children can do something for the poor little ones
whom we sometimes see at play in the streets on the holy
Sabbath.  She tells us that we must not despise them,
though they be sometimes dirty and ragged; but we must
speak kind words to them, and try to get them to go to
Sabbath school, where they will learn what is good and
right; and she tells us, if one such child should come to
know about God and the: holy Sabbath, and the bright,
glorious heaven in keeping for God's children, there
would be joy forever and ever.
I have thought many times about what dear mother said
then; and I hope I shall never forget that the Sabbath is
given us by our kind, heavenly Father for a keepsake.
I have noticed, very often, how pleasant and happy our
papers in time of service?  Why is it wrong to do so?  What can you do for
those children who do not keep the Sabbath? Will you try to remember the
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parents seem on the Sabbath mornings; and though the
day is rather long to me sometimes, yet I like to have the
Sabbath come; for then dear father has more time with
us, and he takes so much pleasure in hearing us read and
repeat lessons; and then we usually have a nice time for
singing in the evening.
Aunt Susan sits at the piano and plays and sings; and
we all sing together, we little ones and all. Each of us
has a hymn learned; and those are sung, the one after the
other; and father says that such family gatherings are
something like heaven. I wish every body knew what it
means to have the Sabbath for a keepsake from our
heavenly Father, for it would make them so happy; and
our parents often tell us that it is the best help to getting
on well all the other days.
Sabbath? Do your parents have more time with you on the Sabbath? Is it
pleasant to sit down together? What is a happy family on the Sabbath like?
Will keeping the Sabbath be useful to you?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
IN THE MEADOWS.
I LIE in the summer meadows,
In the meadows all alone,
With the infinite sky above me,
And the sun on his midday throne.
The smell of the flowering grasses
Is sweeter than any rose;
And a million of happy insects
Sing in the warm repose.
The mother lark that is brooding
Feels the sunshine on her wings;
And the deeps of the noonday glitter
With the swarms of fairy things.
From the billowy green beneath me
To the fathomless blue above
The creatures of God are happy
In the warmth of their summer love.
BAYARD TAYLOR
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CHAPTER XV.
IN THE COUNTRY.
COUSIN WILLY is a young man now. When he was
about ten years old his father thought it would be a nice
thing to send him into the country for the summer, that he
might grow strong and healthy, and also learn about
many things that he could not know in the city.
Willy says he is very glad his father thought of it; for
it has afforded him many pleasant memories ever since.
The long, green lane through which he was accustomed to
drive the cows to pasture, the steep hillsides where the
sheeqp and lambs used to feed, and the pleasant river
which ran along through the meadows as far as the eye
could see, - all keep in his mind now; and mother says
such pictures never fade out. There were beautiful birds
Questions.- Why did Willy's father send his son into the country? What
has it since afforded to Willy?  What does he remember?  What did Willy's
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
too; and he says nothing could be sweeter than to hear
their clear, ringing notes a little distance out among the
tall pines, just as the sun was peeping up behind the distant hills and sending his flood of light all over the
broad country; while grass, trees, and flowers were sparkling with dew.
Willy's father thought most of giving his son good
habits for health and usefulness; but he also thought it
would be well for him, and give him more self-respect, if
he could teach him to pay his own way by his work.
Willy was a little boy, to be sure; but on the Brooks
Farm they needed just such a little boy; and if he would
try to be tuseful, they, too, were happy to provide for his
wants. Willy thought this very nice. Hle was quite ambitious, and he soon began to feel an interest in every
thing about the farm; and when he came to go home in
the fall he had a great deal to tell about "our oxen" and
"our last load of hay."  He had grown stout and healthy,
and could do a great many more things for himself than
before he went away.
father think might be well for his son? Are little boys needed on the farm?
For what must they try?  Did Willy like it?  Did he become interested?
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Our parents tell us it is very important that we learn
to help ourselves in all proper ways, that we may not be
troublesome to others. I can very nearly dress myself
alone; and so can Henry. Then I can take care of my
clothes by hanging them up; and I can do a great deal
in keeping my room in order. When I am a little older, I
hope I shall be able to take the whole care of it. Our mother says it is a pity, nlow, if we cannot avoid giving Betsey
trouble, since so much must needs be done by her besides,
and that, if we keep up our little habits of neatness,
promptness, and order, it will make a great difference
with the kitchen work.
Last summer we were all going into the country to spend
a few weeks. Before we went our mother called us
around-her and said to us, "Now, children, when we get
to the farm house you will find many things different
from our customs here. Do not be troublesome by getting
in the way or by asking too many questions.  There are
a great many things to be done; and you will see no idle
hands there. There may be some little things which you
Did he grow stout and healthy? What had he learned to do? Why is it important to learn to help yourselves? How will it be of use to keep up habits
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
can do; and, if so, I hope you will be watchful and try to
be helpful."
" 0, yes, mother; indeed we will," we all said at a time;
and we were half crazy with joy. We hardly knew what
she said or we either; but when we got there and saw
the long row of tin milkpans on the piazza, and then when
we went into the kitchen and found a roaring fire with a
big kettle of milk over it, and a woman at work beside a
very large tub filled with something white which they call
curd, we remembered what mother had said, and we
thought it was very different from our home.
We never saw so much milk before, and we shall always
think of it when we see cheese; for we did not know till
then that this is the way cheese is made. But we remembered what our mother had said- that we should be careful, and not be troublesome; so we did not stay in the
kitchen but a few minutes.
Pretty soon grandfather came in and said, "I am going
to pick some peas from the vines. Will you go, children?"
How glad we were!  We went out with him just a little
of neatness, promptness, and order? What'are some ways of being troublesome away from home?  For what should you be watchful?  What may be
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FIRST LESSONS IN
way back of the orchard; and there were long rows of
pea vines, looking so fresh and green, and the pods hung
in clusters.
We picked a large basket full very soon and went
back with them to the piazza; and there we sat down and
shelled them out. Henry and I thought it was delightful.
We said, "This is what mother meant when she said perhaps we could be helpful." Hienry said he liked it a great
deal better than play; and so did I.
Once while we were in the country, quite a party of us
from grandfather's, with some of the neighbors, had a nice
time going for berries.  The berries grew upon the mountain, about four miles from our grandfather's; so we had
horses and carriages. We rode till we came to the foot
of the - mountain; and then we all got out. The horses
were loosed from the wagons; and we all started, a merry
company of us, to climb the hillsides.
Two of the ladies had large covered baskets, which they
were taking along with them, besides the baskets to gather
berries in. Uncle James and father carried those for
seen at a farm house? What do they make of the milk?  When you are away
from home, what should you remember? What can you say of picking peas?
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
them. We had to stop several times to rest and to get
breath; and then it was very delightful to look back
upon the broad country beneath us. We could see a great
many beautiful lakes sparkling in the sun; and very green
were the trees on the distant hills, rising one row above
another: it almost seemed as if they knew it was pleasant and were glad of the sunshine. And I know the
little birds were glad; for they poured forth their sweet
songs, and were not at all afraid of us.
I wished we could have a great many of those dear little
birds at home with us; but our mother said they liked
the free, wild woods best, and their songs were never so
sweet any where else.
By  and by we  reached  the  top of the mountain;
and then there were no large trees, but only shrubs, and
high and low whortleberry bushes, all bending with
beautiful fruit. How pleasant it seemed to us children to
see the fruit on all sides of us as far as we could look
and to know that it was all free to us!
Do you like to be helpful to others? What can you say of the tour for berries? For what did they stop in ascending the mountain? What might be
seen in the country below? What can you say of the birds? Where do birds
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FIRST LESSONS IN
We were not long in getting out our tin cups to pick
in; and our father set a large basket on a big flat rock,
which we could see from quite a distance, that we might
go to it and empty our cups as we filled them. I filled
mine five times; and so did brother Henry.
After a while we began to think what might be in the
covered baskets; for, although we might eat as many berries as we chose from the bushes, we began to think we
should like some cakes too. We did not say any thing about
it, though; for our mother had told us before we went into
the country that sometimes, if we were out on tours for
berries or for a ride, we might be hungry, or perhaps very
thirsty; that sometimes it might-be very warm; but that,
if we were good children, we should not be troublesome.
She said some children are quite an annoyance to a party
by their impatience. They are constantly saying," 0, how
thirsty I am! 7" or, "I How hot it is!" "I shall burn up - I
shall melt," or the like. Such things, our mother says,
show a want of good breeding, as well as a lack of kind,
patient feeling.
like best to be?  What is pleasant to children?  What is a good way of
gathering berries? If you grow hungry or thirsty, should you begin to talk
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
All this we remembered; and it was not so very hard to
be cheerful and to bear with little things. It was not
long, however, before the whole party of us were invited
to gather ourselves upon the shady side of a knoll which
looked far off upon the surrounding country; and there the
big baskets were opened, and there were plenty of thick
slices of whortleberry pies, and white biscuits, with rich,
sweet butter; and I amn sure nothing ever tasted so good
to us.
The gentleman took one of our tin cups and a larger tin
pail and went down a little way on the hillside and got
.ome water.  It was very cold and fresh; and our mother
said it came right out of the mountain. We gathered
berries a while longer; and then we children picked some
beautiful mosses and a few flowers such as do not grow
in the valleys.  In one place we found the ground all covered with bunches of red plums. They looked very pretty; but they were not so good to eat as the whortleberries.   We found some red plums, different from those,
about it? How are some children an annoyance? What does it show? If
you remember this, will it be very hard to be cheerful?  What can you say of
the refreshments? How did they get drink?  What besides whortleberries
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which grew on low, running vines. We gathered some of
these and strung them on long straws of grass.
Our ride home was pleasant too, it was so calm and
still; and the hay from the fields, as it lay in cocks and
winrows, sent sweet perfumes all around. We saw the
cows as they were driven up from pasture; and the little
children about the farm houses all looked bright and happy.
We did not see a dirty, ragged, mean-looking child any
where; and father said it is better to be in the country
if one can; there is more health and happiness.
I shall not soon forget our ride up the mountain.
When we got home, grandfather was waiting to meet us
with a smile; and Henry and I sat down and told him
all about our tour. We remained in the country some
days after that; and we saw how a good many things are
made which we did not know about before. It pleased
us to go into the cheese room, and to see the men turn
over the big yellow cheeses, and to know  that those
cheeses were made of the white curd which we saw when
we first came to the farm house. We did not know before
might be found on the mountain?  What can you say of the ride home?  Is
it better to be in the country if one can? Why? What articles of daily food
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
that cheeses must be made with so much care, and then be
watched and attended to for weeks and weeks.
It pleased us, too, to see them make the balls of butter
and then to stamp them for the market. Hienry said he
should not think they would like to take so much pains to
prepare butter and cheese to sell; but our mother told
him that people in cities would come off rather poorly if
somebody did not take the pains. Besides, she told him
the farming people want some things that they must get
from cities. Still Henry thought the farmers ought to
have the first and the best; and I think so too.
They gathered the hay in the meadows while we were
in the country; and'we had some nice rides down in the
hay carts and back upon the top of the loads of hay. 0,
I shall never forget how smooth and beautiful the green
meadows looked after the hay was all raked up, nor how
neatly the border of shrubbery and trees had grown of itself all along the brook and edges of the meadow. Our
mother says God's world is very beautiful.
are prepared with care?  For what do farmers make a part of what they
make? Do they need some things from cities? What can you say of haying
in the meadows? What is beautiful.
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Id 
FIRST LESSONS Il
LITTLE NELLY.
LITTLE Nelly, happy Nelly,
Thou art now among the blest;
On the gentle Shepherd's bosom
You, his little lamb, shall restHis before the hosts of heaven
And the sons of earth confessed.
Lord, who aided little Nelly
Thus to love and honor thee,
May we follow here her footsteps,
And, from every sin set free,
Rise to glory, -bright, bright gli
There forevermore to be.
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GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
THOU shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve
them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting
the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and
showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and
keep my commandments.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh
his name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Six days
shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day
is the Sabbath' of the Lord thy God-. In it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the
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132    FIRST LESSONS IN GENTLENESS AND TRUTH.
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in
them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may
be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man servant,nor his
maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is
thy neighbor's.