And shouted but once more aloud, "My father, must I stay?" While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, They wrapped the ship in splendour wild, They caught the flag on high, And streamed above the gallant child, Then came a burst of thunder-sound- With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, LESSON LIV. DON'T KILL THE BIRDS. DON'T kill the birds—the little birds That sing about your door, Soon as the joyous spring has come, And chilling storms are o'er. And never seek to take the life Which you can never give. Don't kill the birds-the pretty birds "Twould make the earth a cheerless place, Do not disturb their sport; But let them warble forth their songs Don't kill the birds-the happy birds LESSON LV. THE BLIND BOY. T was a blessed summer's day, IT The flowers bloomed, the air was mild, The birds poured forth their gentle lay, And everything in nature smiled. In pleasant thought I wandered on, Beneath the deep wood's ample shade, Till suddenly I came upon Two children who had hither strayed. Just at an aged birch tree's foot, And then I saw the boy was blind. The children knew not I was near; "Dear Mary," said the poor blind boy, "Yes, Edward, yes,"-replied the maid, "Yet I the fragrant flower can smell, And I can feel the green leaf's shade, And I can hear the notes that swell From these dear birds that God has made. "So, sister, God to me is kind, Though sight, alas! He has not given; • But, tell me, are there any blind Among the children up in heaven?" "Dear Edward, no; there all can see; But, why ask me a thing so odd?" "Oh, Mary, He's so good to me, I thought I'd like to look at God." Ere long disease his hand had laid He felt her warm tears on his face, "And you'll come there, dear Mary, too; He spake no more, but sweetly smiled, When God took up that poor blind child, THE LOST CHILD AND THE LAMB. A LITTLE child wandered from its mother's cottage to the green meadows in search of flowers. Pleased with the pursuit, and finding new pleasures the more she sought, it was nearly night before she thought of returning. But in vain she turned her steps. She had lost her way. The thick clumps of trees that she had passed were no guide, and she could not tell whether home was between her and the setting sun or not. She sat down and wept. She looked in all directions, in hope of seeing some one to lead her homeward, but no one appeared. She strained her eyes, now dim with tears, to catch a sight of the smoke curling from the cot she had left. It was like looking out on the ocean with no sail in view. She was alone in, as it were, a wilderness. Hours had passed |