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But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise;

Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.

Let love through all your actions run,
And all your words be mild;
Live like the blessed virgin's Son,

That sweet and lovely Child.

His soul was gentle as a Lamb;
And as his stature grew,

He grew in favour both with man
And God, his Father, too.

Now, Lord of all, he reigns above,

And from his heavenly throne

He sees what children dwell in love,

And marks them for his own.

WATTS.

This is a piece which should be applied to every little boy and girl,-in order that they may learn how wicked it is to quarrel and fight.

Those whom we quarrelled with yesterday may to-morrow, or next day be taken from us altogether, and how fearful then would be the recollection that that brother or sister is dead, whom the last time we saw on earth, we quarrelled with. Let it not be so with you.

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Not more than others I deserve,
Yet God hath given me more :
For I have food while others starve,
Or beg from door to door.

How

many children in the street

Half naked I behold!

While I am cloth'd from head to feet,
And cover'd from the cold.

While some poor wretches scarce can tell
Where they may lay their head;
I have a home wherein to dwell,
And rest upon my bed.

While others early learn to swear,
And curse, and lie, and steal;
Lord, I am taught thy name to fear,

And do thy holy will.

Are these thy favours, day by day,

To me above the rest?

Then let me love thee more than they,

And try to serve thee best.

How thankful should those be who have food to eat, and comfortable clothing, and a pleasant home, and kind parents. Not only should they be grateful to God for his goodness to them, but they should seek at all times to do his will,-by serving him faithfully, and keeping his commandments. They should endeavour to assist those who are poorer than themselves, and should prefer giving a penny to a poor hungry child, than spending it upon sweetmeats or toys.

THE DAISY.

There is a flower, a little flower,
With silver crest (1) and golden eye,
That welcomes every changing hour,
And weathers every sky.

The prouder beauties of the field,
In gay but quick succession shine,
Race after race their honours yield,
They flourish and decline.

But this small flower, to nature dear,

While moon and stars their courses run,
Wreathes (2) the whole circle of the year,
Companion of the sun.

It smiles upon the lap of May,

To sultry August spreads its charms;
Lights pale October on his way,

And twines December's arms.

(1) Crest-plume, head, or top. | (2) Wreathes-adorns. All poets have sung the praises of this small but beautiful flower. In the north it is called Bairnwort, because it is loved by children. The Daisy is not relished by cattle, and is disliked even by geese. Its leaves were in former times considered a valuable application to wounds. Its Latin name is Bellis perennis;-the French term it La petite Marguerite.

THE FIRST GRIEF.

Oh! call my brother back to me,

I cannot play alone:

The summer comes with flower and bee

Where is my brother gone?

The butterfly is glancing bright
Across the sunbeam's track;

I care not now to chase its flight,
Oh! call my brother back.

The flowers run wild-the flowers we sow'd

Around our garden tree;

Our vine is drooping with its load

Oh! call him back to me.

"He would not hear my voice, fair child—
He may not come to thee;

The face that once like spring-time smiled,
On earth no more thou'lt see!

"A rose's brief bright life of joy,
Such unto him was given;

Go, thou must play alone, my boy-
Thy brother is in heaven!"

And has he left the birds and flowers,

And must I call in vain;

And through the long, long summer hours,
Will he not come again?

And by the brook, and in the glade,

Are all our wand'rings o'er ?

Oh! while my brother with me play'd,
Would I had loved him more !-

MRS. HEMANS.

A little girl is supposed to have lost her brother, but she does not at first understand that he is dead-that he will never come back to her again. The last verse is singularly beautiful. How often can we apply the last lines of the closing verse to many a dear relative and friend, now gone to their last home, who when with us we did not sufficiently love, and of whom we have afterwards bitterly said, Oh! that we had loved them more.

Let then these few verses teach you to love more devotedly your parents, relatives and friends, so that this bitter regret may not pain you when they are gone.

B

AN EVENING HYMN.

And now another day is gone,
I'll sing my Maker's praise;
My comforts every hour make known
His providence and grace.

But how my childhood runs to waste,
My sins how great their sum!
Lord, give me pardon for the past,
And strength for days to come.

I lay my body down to sleep,
Let angels guard my head;

And thro' the hours of darkness keep
Their watch around my bed.

With cheerful heart I close my eyes,
Since thou wilt not remove;
And in the morning let me rise

Rejoicing in thy love.

This Evening hymn might be learnt by every little boy, and girl, and repeated in the evening of each day. Let them not only remember it in their minds, and say it by their lips, but keep it in their hearts, and apply it to their lives. After praying to our Heavenly Father, our hearts will be lighter, and depend upon it our sleep will be more refreshing to the body.

IT IS A PLEASANT DAY.

Come, my children, come away,
For the sun shines bright to-day:

Little children, come with me,

Birds, and brooks, and posies (1) see;

Get your hats, and come away,

For it is a pleasant day.

(1) Posies-nosegays.

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