prevent both them and himself from doing the business they have to do. When the scholars in his class are spelling or reading, or reciting their lessons, he is very attentive; and learns a great deal by hearing them, and what they are taught. He is always ready to answer any question that his teacher asks him; and when he reads, or speaks, pronounces his word so distinctly, that he can easily be heard, and understood. When he does not understand any thing that he has to learn, or that is said to him, he asks his teacher in a very respectful manner to explain it to him; but he never interrupts his teacher when he is speaking or is very busy. The diligent scholar is desirous to learn something useful every day, and remember what he has learned ; and he is scarcely satisfied with himself if he does not find that he improves every day he lives. He honours and respects his teacher, and pays great attention to all he says, not giving him the trouble to repeat the same thing over and over again. When he has any thing to learn or to do at school that is very difficult, he often thinks within himself; "my parents will be very glad when they hear that I have learned or done this hard task; and my teacher too will be pleased with me; and I shall feel very happy and comfortable when it is over. The sooner I go about it, the sooner it will be done." Amongst his schoolmates he chooses none for his friends but the good and sensible; and loves to be with them and to keep them company. But he is civil to all, and does what he can, that is proper and right, to oblige and assist them when they are in trouble or difficulty. Especially, he is kind to the younger scholars, almost as if they were his own little brothers. He tells them what to do, and how to behave; and takes pains to teach them, and make them comfortable. When he sees any of his schoolmates steal or fight, or hears then tell iies, and use bad words, he is very sorry for them, and often requests them not to do so wickedly. When school is over, he goes away without making any noise or disturbance. He does not play or loiter in the streets or on the road. He goes home as quickly as he can. "My parents," says he, " are very good to let me go to school, that I may learn many useful things. They say they have not time to teach me all they could wish me to learn. Before I went to school they taught me to spell and read, and almost every thing I knew; and now, whenever I am at home, they are almost always teaching me something about my duty; and I think I could not take so much pains at school as I do, if it were not to please them. I am sure I ought to do all I can to oblige, obey, and serve them. * He does not envy the scholars who are richer, or wiser than he is; nor does he despise those who are poor, or deformed. He knows that they were all made by the same great Being that made him; and that we ought to behave as kindly to all persons as we wish that they should behave to us. He is very kind and good to his brothers and sisters. He likes to teach them all he can, and to set them all a good example. His parents, brothers, sisters, and all his friends, love him. His teacher, too loves him, and commends him very much to all who make inquiries about him, and often speaks of him, and his good conduct, to the other scholars, and wishes them to take pattern by him, and to behave as he does. When he leaves school, he will often, I dare say, think of what he learned there, and try to remember it, and to improve himself in it. He will be thankful to his parents and to his teacher who were so good to him, and took so much pains to teach him ; and especially he will be thankful to God who gave him so good parents, and so good teachers. THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOUR. The christian neighbour earnestly endeavours to do to others whatever he would wish they should do to him. He renders to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute; custom, to whom custom; honour, to whom honour. He deals not falsely, nor defrauds his neighbour in any thing. He would rather suffer himself to be defrauded than to defraud others. He restores that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost which he found. If he sees his neighbour's cattle or his sheep go astray, he brings them again to his neighbour; in like manner he does with all lost things which he has found. He is kind and affectionate. He loves all about him. He always keeps and fulfils his engagements, and speaks the truth. He is pitiful and tender-hearted; courteous, gentle, and easy to be entreated; full of mercy, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. He suffers long, and is kind. He envies not; he boasts not of himself; he is not puffed up; does not behave himself unseemly; secks only his own; is not easily provoked; thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in truth and in doing justice to every one. He comforts the afflicted; supports the weak, and is patient towards all men. He visits the fatherless and widows in their afflictions. "He is eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame." He rejoices with them that do rejoice, and weeps with them that weep. He is not weary in well doing. He never judges hastily, nor rejoices when hrs enemy is in adversity. If his enemy is hungry, he feeds him; if he thirsts, he gives him drink. He does good to them that hate him; he blesses them that curse him; and prays for them that despitefully use and persecute hin. He neither slanders nor backbites his neighbour, nor magines evil against his brother in his heart. He raises not a false report, nor goes up and down as a tale bearer. He bears not false witness against him. He deceives not, but speaks the truth. No corrupt communication proceeds from his mouth. He walks circumspectly and honestly; he is not slothful in business. He does all things properly and in order. He abstains from every appearance of evil. His mo deration is known to all men. He follows not the mul titude to do evil. He withdraws himself from every one that walks disorderly. He is a companion of them that fear the Lord, and of them that keep his precepts. His light so shines before men, that they see his good works, and thereby glorify their father who is in Heaven. . The Danger of Pleasure. BEHOLD the boy, forbidden sweets to prove, Moral. Learn hence, ye heedless train, who gayly glide, The thoughtless child overturns the hive, in order t get at the honey; he knows the bees have sweets, but he forgets that they also have stings. When he has done the mischief, he perceives it too late; for the industrious people show him that they will not be disturbed with impunity; and he finds it impossible to get the P 1 |