LESSON XII. IN' FLU ENCE, moral power. TIM' ID, fearful; timorous. DE BAS' ED, degraded. DE' VI ATE, wander; stray. LE' NI ENT, mild; merciful. KINDNESS. KATE CLAREnce. 1. NOT man alone, but every thing in nature, owns its influence. I knew a little flower that sprang up amidst the weeds and brambles of a long-neglected garden; but soon drooped its slender stem, and its leaves grew tinged from the waste around. 2. I took it to my home, supported its drooping stem, and placed it where the warm sunshine and refreshing showers cheered its little life. Again it raised its beautiful head, and its delicate buds burst forth in gladness; and when the winds of autumn came, the dying flower gave up to me its golden seeds-a thankful tribute for my love. "Twas a little thing, but kindness did the deed. 3. There came to my casement, one winter's morning, a shivering, starving bird, and perched itself there, striving to tell its tale of suffering; but feeble were its plaintive notes, and its glossy breast was ruffled in the blast. I raised the window. Affrighted, the little wanderer spread its wings, as if to soar away; but, weak and faint, it sank fluttering in my outstretched hands. I drew it in. Alarmed, it darted round and round the room, and beat against the frosted pane. O Cruelty! thou hast taught even the little birds to doubt! 4. When the little stranger grew less timid, I gave it clear water, and tempting food, and so, for many weeks, we dwelt together; but when came the first warm, sunny day, I opened my doors, and it flew away,-away up, up into the dark-blue heavens, till it was lost to my eager gaze. 5. But not an hour had passed, ere I heard the flutter of its tiny wings, and saw, without, its little breast glittering in the golden sunbeams. It had a joyous life. No wired cage restrained its restless wing; but, free as the summer cloud, would it come each day, and gladly would my delighted soul drink in the silvery notes of its gladdening melody. 6. And it is not birds and flowers alone, that, treated with kindness, flourish so brightly 'neath its heaven-born rays. Individuals, families, nations, attest its truth. Legal suasion may frighten to compliance, but moral suasion rules the will. 7. To the erring wanderer, in the by and forbidden paths of sin, with a heart paled in darkness, and lost to every better feeling of his nature, one little word, one little act of kindness, however slight, will find a sunny resting-place in that sinful shade, and prove a light to guide the wayward one to holier and better deeds. The lion licked the hand that drew the thorn from his wounded foot; and Powhatan stayed the descending club, when the burning lips of the Indian girl pressed the prisoner's* pallid brow. 8. And it is ever thus. There beats not a heart, however debased by sin, or darkened by sorrow, that has not its *Captain Smith. noblest impulses aroused, in view of a generous and kindly action. The Holy Father implanted His own pure principles in the breast of every one, and widely do we deviate from their just dictates, when an unkind word, or an unkind act, wounds a broken heart, or crushes a loving, gentle nature. 9. "Speak not harshly,-much of care Every human heart must bear; 10. "Speak not harshly,-much of sin By the wrongs thou didst not shun, The weakness of thy brother man." QUESTIONS.-1. On what has kindness an influence? 2. What influence had it upon the little flower? 3. What, upon the little bird? 4. What is said of cruelty? 5. What is said of legai and moral suasion? 6. What is said of the lion? 7. Of Powhatan ? 8. Why ought we not to speak harshly? LESSON XIII. SHAFT, arrow; here, careless word. AG' O NY, extreme suffering. WRING, writhe. UN A WÂRE$, unconsciously. EN DEAR' ING, kind; affectionate. EN SHRINED, sacredly preserved. CARELESS WORDS. 1. Он, never say a careless Word The shaft may ope some hidden wound, Weigh well those light-winged messengers; The heart-pang that it stirred. 2. Words! what are Words? A simple Word That long have lain a sealed fount, A Word hath summoned forth 3. Words! heed them well; some whispered one A shadow on the brow, the soul A name, forbidden, or forgot, That sometimes, unawares, 4. Oh, Words! sweet Words! A blessing comes The Spirit's drear eclipse. Oh! are there not some cherished tones Uttered but once-they passed--and left QUESTIONS.-1. What is said of careless words? 2. What, of sweet words? 3. What is the use of the apostrophe in wak'ning, third verse? 4. What is the meaning of the suffix less, in the words careless, heedless? See SANDERS' NEW SPELLER, DEFINER, AND ANALYZER, page 143, Ex. 369. LESSON XIV. VEĠ' E TA BLE$, plants. DEP RE DA'TION, robbery; plunder. PRAC' TI CAL, pertaining to practice. AF FECT'ED, moved; impressed. VI' O LA TED, broken; transgressed. DE PRIVE', rob; hinder. AL LUD' ED, referred; adverted. |