THE ANTS AND THE

A

HONEY.

LADY once had a pot of honey, which she found often visited by ants. She tried various ways to keep them from getting at it, but all in vain. At last she fastened a cord round the vessel which held it, and let it hang down from a hook in the ceiling.

Now it happened that there was just one single ant left upon that vessel. The lady thought she had swept them all off before she hung it up; but this little fellow had escaped her notice. When he found himself alone with that ocean of sweetmeats, he ate much as he wanted. Then he mounted the rope; climbed up it to the ceiling; crossed the ceiling; marched down the wall, and made straight for

home.

as

As soon as he arrived, he told his friends he knew how to find the honey, and was willing to show them the way. Directly a great company of them were ready to follow him. They formed in a line of march. He headed the line, and led them down that cord into the "happy valley" at the foot of it. At once they

attacked the treasure. Each one took a load and started for home. Soon there were two lines of ants to be seen along that cord; one was going up full-the other was coming down empty. They never stopped till they had left the vessel perfectly clean of honey; and when the good lady came to take down her jar-—behold, it was empty!

Of course ants never heard the eighth commandment. They knew nothing about stealing: it is perfectly right for them to lay their hands on everything they find that suits them. And these things that I have mentioned show that they are real noble little fellows: they are always ready to help one another, and to share with others all the good things they get. Let us learn from the ants a lesson of kindness.

SHORT SENTENCES FOR YOUNG THINKERS.

CXXXIII. Proud men have no res. friends. CXXXIV. Resist a temptation t you conquer it. cxxxv. Rejoice not when you enemy stumbles.

cheerfulness.

CXXXVII. Rule the appetite, and

temper the tongue.

CXXXVIII. Some are very busy, and do nothing.

CXXXIX. The covetous man is his own tormentor. CXL. Undutiful children make wretched parents.

CXLI. When one will not, two cannot quarrel.

CXLII. Life and death are in the power of the tongue.

CXLIII. To him that wills, the way is seldom want

ing.

CXLIV. Forewarned is forearmed.

Answers to Scripture Questions

in Rhyme.-NO. LXI.

JEREMIAH XXxvi. 4-32.

A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS

EVE.

sing,

Christians! See ye let each

door

Stand wider than ever it stood before,

On Christmas-Day in the morning.

Rise, and open wide the door; Christians, rise! the world is wide,

And many there be that stand outside,

Yet Christmas comes in the morning.

If ye would hear the Angels sing,

Rise and spread your Christmas fare;

'Tis merrier still the more that share,

On Christmas-Day in the morning.

Rise, and bake your Christmas bread.

Christians, rise! the world is bare,

And bleak, and dark with want

and care,

Yet Christmas comes in the morning.

Eastern method of measuring time, 204

Enemies made friends, 188
Equal friendships best, 145

False guides, 238

Beorge III., anecdote of, 151

igantic trees in Van Diemen's Land, 33
iving the heart to Jesus, 142

Haughtiness goeth before a fall, 91
Helen's fault, and her confession, 81
Telping the minister, 63

Tonesty, a short story about, 60

Honour thy father and thy mother," 153
How a Professor earned a shilling, 141
How to escape the trap, 189
How to gain knowledge, 162

How to live in peace, 143

How to make work easy, 233

LLUSTRATED ARTICLES:

A carol for Christmas-eve, 241

Anglo-Saxons, the manners and customs