A silk-worm in her hand she laid', Nor fear, nor yet disgust, was stirred'; But gaily with her charge she play'd', As 'twere a nestling bird. She raised it to her dimpled cheek, That worm-I should have shrunk, in truth', And, when with usefulness combined', There is no form upon our earth LESSON XL. THE SNOW-DROP. THE snow-drop! 'tis an English flower', Their sunny years', when forth they went The household voices kind and sweet, Unchanged, unchanged`;--the very flower' LESSON XLI. PRAYER. GLAD hearts to thee we bring'; Creation praises thee; O'er all around we see' Tokens of love. Thou who in heaven art', Aid us like him to live', To thee our young hearts give, Giver of all our powers', Pure, and from error free', Unite our souls in lovè; Then gather us to Thee', LESSON XLII. FAITH. THERE is a flower, a holy oné, It blooms as brightly on the storm', And rears unharmed its humble form', When others fade away. That plant is Faith'; its holy leaves' Reviving odors shed' Upon the lowly place of grief', Or mansions of the dead. God is its sun'; his living light' Plant of my soul', be fading things But through life's weary wanderings', And when the icy power shall chill' LESSON XLIII. SELECTIONS FROM THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON. My son', keep thy father's commandment', and forsake not the law of thy mother'; bind them continually on thy heart', and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest', it shall lead theè; when thou sleepest', it shall keep theè; and when thou wakest', it shall talk with thee. Give instruction to a wise man', and he will be yet wiser'; teach a just man', and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. If thou art wise', thou shalt be wise for thyself`; but if thou scornest', thou alone shalt bear it. A wise son maketh a glad father'; but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand'; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. The memory of the just is blessed'; but the name of the wicked shall rot. It is as a sport to a fool to do mischief'; but a man of understanding hath wisdom. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich', and he addeth no sorrow with it. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes', so is the sluggard to them who send him. When pride cometh, then cometh shamè; but with the lowly is wisdom. A tale-bearer revealeth secrets'; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no counsel is, the people fall'; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it'; and he that hateth suretiship is sure. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul'; but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished'; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion. The liberal soul shall be made fat'; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him`; but blessing shall be on the head of him that selleth it. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall`; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth'; much more the wicked and the sinner. LESSON XLIV. WINTER. WINTER hath blown upon the earth'; he hath breathed on the streams', and they are frozen. The rivers themselves, and the mighty lakes, are turned into stone. From his hand he hath scattered the hoar-frost', and hath spread the snow upon the ground. The murmur of the brooks, the melody of the birds, are heard no more. The verdure of the spring, the glory of the summer, and the golden fruits of autumn, where are they? And thou, O man', does not the time approach, when the voice of harmony', and the daughters of music', thou shalt hear no more'? When the beauty of thy youth, the strength of thy manhood', and the wisdom of thy hoary head shall be as though they were not'? For the icy hand of death shall arrest thee in thy course', and thou shalt lie cold and silent', neglected and forgotten', in the tomb. Turn again, O man', and look upon the goodness of the Lord. He it is that hath scattered the soft snow, to preserve the tender herb': he hath clothed the sheep with wool'. |