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Ettic. Yes, and black ones when the horses are black. Alice. O, I don't care. I heard Amelia Gibbs say that it's very handy to tell a white lie sometimes-it gets you out of a lot of trouble.

Lizzie. And don't it get you into a lot of trouble sometimes? Alice. Yes, when you're found out.

Lizzie. And people that tell untruths are sure to get found

out.

Ettie. Yes, that they are, or else teacher wouldn't have known when I said I learnt my lesson last night that I didn't learn it.

Lizzie. Yes, and when people once find you out they don't believe you again very soon. There's a gentleman that father knows who lives in a large house and has lots of money, but he's so fond of telling untruths that father says he cannot believe one word he speaks, and I shouldn't like to be like that.

Ettie. No more should I.

Lizzie (turning towards her sister). Then, Ettie dear, don't you ever tell teacher a story again

Ettie. No, that I won't.

Lizzie. Because, don't you see, nobody will ever trust you if it gets known that you tell lies, and God is displeased with liars. The Bible says a great many things about the wicked practice of lying, and that God is angry with those who tell lies, and sometimes they are punished for doing this.

Alice. O yes, I know; I read in my Bible lesson that Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for telling lies.

Lizzie. And I heard of a woman who was selling some things once in a market, and a gentleman gave her half-a-crown, and she took out the change and counted it, but she didn't give it to the gentleman, because he was looking at something else; and presently, when the gentleman wanted his change, she said that she had given it to him, and just then she fell off her seat dead, and the change of the half-crown rolled out of her hand, Ettie. O, isn't that shocking! Suppose I'd fallen down dead when I told teacher that story.

Alice. I'm very glad you didn't.

Lizzie. People don't always die directly they tell stories, but we may be sure it must be wicked to do so, and it makes other people not believe us, and it displeases God, and I always try to think of the prayer that mother taught me "Keep the door of my lips, that I offend not with my tongue."

Alice. Well, Lizzie, I think I understand more about fibs and white lies than I did, and I shall try and do as you say—always have the courage to tell the truth. I remember hearing old Mrs. Coates say one day, "Well, the truth may be blamed, but it can't be shamed."

Ettie. And I am sure I shall never tell teacher again that I've learnt my words over night when I haven't learnt them, for I shouldn't like to be like the gentleman that father can't believe, nor yet to die like that naughty woman that took the gentleman's change.

Alice. No, I shouldn't think you would,

Ettie. We shouldn't either of us; should we, Lizzie ?

Lizzie. No, I'm sure we should not. Good-bye (looking to wards Alice).

Alice. Good-bye.

TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

BY MCLEOD.

[Earnest and bold.]

COURAGE, brother! do not stumble
Though thy path is dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble-
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.
Let the road be long and dreary,
And its ending out of sight;
FOOT IT BRAVELY-strong or weary—
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

Perish POLICY and CUNNING,

PERISH all that fears the light;

Whether losing, whether winning,

TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

Trust no party, church, or faction,
Trust no leader in the fight;
But in EVERY word and action

TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

TRUST NO FORMS of guilty passion-
Fiends can look like angels bright;
TRUST NO CUSTOM, SCHOOL, or FASHION-
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man and look above thee-
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

FIRMEST RULE, and SAFEST GUIDING,
Inward peace and inward light;
Star upon our path abiding-

TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.

21

DANGER.

LITTLE NIBBLE AND THE TRAP.

[Cheerful and vigorous.]

A dear little mouse

Was once looking around,
And thought that a house-

Just the thing-she had found;

So airy and gay

With its framework of wire;

In it she could stay

And no others desire.

To Nibble she ran,

Out of breath with the news"Come quick as you can!

For your chance you may lose!" "What ails you, my dear?"

The wise mother said; "A house for us both,

Full of cheese and of bread !"

So Nibble went out

Where her little one flew,

But cautious about

Many glances she threw

;

"See! here's the dear house!

Shall we hurry right in?"
"Stop! stop! silly mouse,
For your death you may win?"

""Tis ready for use,

With a door in the side-
Bread and cheese lying loose,

We want nothing beside !"
And little Nib went

Runing up to the door,

So much was she bent

On possessing the store.

But Old Nibble cried,

With a squeak loud and clear, "Come back to my side,

Little Nibble, my dear!

B

If you should go in

You can never come out,

Till Puss shall begin

To run hungry about.

A fine-looking trap

To catch such as you,
But you never could nap

If you went the door through;
You could not lie down

'Mid the food scattered there,
For your prison would frown
On the richest of fare."

Young Nibble looked sad

When her mother thus spoké,
But soon she was glad,

And the silence she broke ;
And she said, "Now will I
Learn a lesson to-day;

Everywhere I will try

OUT OF DANGER TO STAY."

BUBBLE-BLOWING.

[Cheerful and vigorous.]

"Come, Lillie," said Allan to his sister; "be quick : We will blow such fine bubbles to-day! The basin is ready, and so is the pipe;

And mamma has just said that we may.

So lay down your doll, for I long to begin;

And whoe'er blows the largest and brightest shall win.

You may blow the first bubbles; so take up the pipe,
Whilst I blow them up high in the air.

O! how pretty they look as they float in the sun,
With their colours so lovely and rare!

I wish they would last for an hour or more;
But they burst in the air, or soon sink on the floor.

O, look! Lillie, look! what a bubble you've blown !
Such a beautiful yellow and pink!

'Tis the largest and brightest that I have seen yet,
And the highest, I really do think.

Now, Lillie, 'tis my turn, and I'll have a try;
And you shall blow, sister, again, by-and-by."

So each blew their bubbles, and both did their best;
Till at length their mamma came to say

It was time to attend to their studies again,

And to put pipe and basin away.

"But first," said mamma, "I've a few words for each;
Let us see if the bubbles some lessons can teach.

There are bubbles of gold, of pleasure, and fame,
And their colours are gaudy and bright;
And many there are who the shadows behold,
That are dazzled and charmed by the sight;
But again and again they lead people astray;
They are bubbles that burst, or soon vanish away.
When temptation shall urge you, my children, to do
What you know to be wicked and wrong,

Though the sin may seem pleasant and pretty to view
As it floats very gaily along,

Go not after the phantom, but earnestly say,
'It is but a bubble that passes away.'

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.

[Cheerful, vigorous, and with care in the dialogue.]

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly; "'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to show you when you are

there."

"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly; "to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.

"

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high, Will you rest upon my little bed," said the Spider to the Fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you want to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"

"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly; "for I've often heard it said, They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!" Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can

I do

To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh, no, no," said the little Fly, "kind sir, that cannot be ;
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see !"

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