READING LESSONS. PART I. 1. SELECT SENTENCES FROM THE BIBLE. 1. THE Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 7. The Lord is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and plenteous1 in mercy. 8. He will not always chide :2 neither will He keep His anger forever. 9. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.3 10. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 11. For He knoweth our frame: He remembereth that we are dust. 12. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 13. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 14. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children; 15. To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments 4 to do them. 1 PLEN'TE-OUS. Abundant. 2 CHIDE. Reprove severely. 3 IN-ÏQ'UI-TIEŞ. Wicked acts. 4 COM-MAND'MENTS. Commands; pre cepts or laws. II. A PARABLE ON BROTHERLY LOVE. FRANKLIN. [Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, January 17, 1706, in a house on the site of which now stands the granite block, No. 17 Milk Street. He died April 17, 1790. He was apprenticed to one of his brothers, who was a printer, and worked for many years at this trade. In his interesting autobiography he relates in simple and beautiful language the great pains he took to educate himself. In 1729 he became proprietor and editor of a newspaper in Philadelphia, and in 1732 he began to publish an almanac, purporting to be by Richard Saunders, but commonly called Poor Richard's Almanac. In his newspaper and almanac he sought to convey useful knowledge to his countrymen, especially inculcating the virtues of temperance, industry, and frugality. His simple and graceful style was admirably suited for popular instruction, and he soon began to acquire fame and wealth. Long before the American Revolution he had risen to be one of the most eminent men in the country. Franklin was equally eminent as a philosopher and a statesman. In philosophy he is immortalized by the important and brilliant discovery of the identity of lightning with the electric fluid. He was a member of the Continental Congress which issued the Declaration of Independence, and one of the committee of five chosen to draft it. In 1776 he was sent as ambassador to the court of France, and he remained in that country till after peace was declared. His high scientific reputation and simple manners made him very popular in Paris, and enabled him to exert an important influence on behalf of his country. He was remarkable for simplicity of character, strong common sense, and practical philanthropy. The good of mankind was his great aim in life, and he took little interest in subjects which did not promise to yield useful results. He wrote on a variety of questions, and his writings, including his letters, are in a delightful style, instructive from their sound sense, and attractive from their playful humor and warm benevolence of feeling.] 1. IN those days there was no worker of iron in all the land. And the merchants of Midian passed by with their camels, bearing spices, and myrrh, and balm, and wares of iron. 2. And Reuben bought an axe of the Ishmaelite merchants which he prized highly, for there was none in his father's house. 3. And Simeon said unto Reuben, his brother, "Lend me, I pray thee, thine axe." But he refused, and would not. I 4. And Levi also said unto him, "My brother, lend me, pray thee, thine axe." And he refused him also. 5. Then came Judah unto Reuben, and entreated1 him, saying, "Lo, thou lovest me, and I have always loved thee; do not refuse me the use of thine axe." 6. But Reuben turned from him, and refused him likewise. 7. Now it came to pass that Reuben hewed timber on the bank of the river, and his axe fell therein, and he could by no means find it. 8. But Simeon, Levi, and Judah had sent a messenger after the Ishmaelites, with money, and had bought for themselves each an axe. 9. Then came Reuben unto Simeon, and said, "Lo, I have lost mine axe, and my work is unfinished: lend me thine, I pray thee." 10. And Simeon answered him, saying, "Thou wouldst not lend me thine axe; therefore will I not lend thee mine." My 11. Then went he unto Levi, and said unto him, brother, thou knowest my loss and my necessity; lend me, I pray thee, thine axe." 12. And Levi reproached him, saying, "Thou wouldst not lend me thine axe when I desired it; but I will be better than thou, and I will lend thee mine.” 13. And Reuben was grieved at the rebuke 2 of Levi, and, being ashamed, turned from him, and took not the axe, but sought his brother Judah. 14. And as he drew near, Judah beheld his countenance as it were covered with grief and shame; and he prevented him, saying, "My brother, I know thy loss, but why should it trouble thee? Lo, have I not an axe that will serve both thee and me? Take it, I pray thee, and use it as thine own." 15. And Reuben fell upon his neck, and kissed him, with tears, saying, "Thy kindness is great, but thy goodness in forgiving me is greater. Thou art indeed my brother, and whilst I live will I surely love thee." 16. And Judah said, "Let us also love our other brethren; behold, are we not all of one blood?" 17. And Joseph saw these things, and reported them to his father, Jacob. 18. And Jacob said, "Reuben did wrong, but he repented; Simeon also did wrong; and Levi was not altogether blameless. But the heart of Judah is princely. Judah has the soul of a king. His father's children shall bow down before him, and he shall rule over his brethren." 1 EN-TREATED. Besought; begged. 2 RE-BUKE. Reproof. 3 PRE-VENTED. Anticipated; hindered. 4 RE-PENT'ED. Was sorry. 1. A LITTLE word in kindness spoken, Has often healed the heart that's broken, 2. A word a look -- has crushed to earth Full many a budding flower, Which, had a smile but owned its birth, 3. Then deem2 it not an idle thing The face you wear, the thoughts you bring, 1 SIN-CERE'. Real 2 DEEM. Judge; think. IV. - PERSEVERANCE. 1. A SWALLOW in the spring Came to our granary,1 and 'neath the eaves 2. Day after day she toiled With patient art; but, ere her work was crowned, Some sad mishap the tiny fabric spoiled, And dashed it to the ground. 3. She found the ruin wrought;3 Yet not cast down, forth from her place she flew, And with her mate fresh earth and grasses brought, And built her nest anew. |