THE ROBIN. There is a pretty robin flying about the room. We must give him something to eat. Fetch some bread for him. Throw the crumbs on the floor. Eat, pretty robin, afraid of us. He He is very eat. He will not eat; I believe he is looks about, and wonders where he is! O, he begins to eat! He is not afraid now. hungry. How pretty it is to see him pick up the crumbs, and hop upon the floor, the table, and the chairs! Perhaps, when he has done eating, he will sing us a song. But we must not keep him always. Birds do not like to be shut up in a room, or in a cage. They like to fly about in the air, and to pick up seeds, and to hop about on the grass, and to sing, while perched upon the branches of high trees. And in spring, how busy they are building their nests, and taking care of their young ones. Robin has flown against the window; he wants to get out. Well, we will open the window, and, if he choose, he may fly away. There, now he is gone. When he is hungry, he may come again. We will give him some crumbs. your FAMILY FRIENDSHIP. Love brothers and sisters. Do not tease nor vex them, nor call them names; and never let your hands be raised to strike them. If they have any thing, which you would like to have, do not be angry with them, or want to get it from them. If you have any thing they like, share it with them. Your parents grieve when they see you quarrel; they love you all, and they wish you to love one another, and to live in peace and friendship. People will not speak, or think well of you, if you do not behave kindly to your parents, and to your brothers and sisters. "Whom," say they, "will persons love or be kind to, if they do not love their own father and mother, who have done so much for them; and their own brothers and sisters, who have the same parents, and the same homes as they have, and who are brought up with them." Love your father and mother; they love you, and have taken care of you ever since you were born: they loved you, and took care of you, even when you could not help yourselves, or when you could not talk, nor walk about, nor do scarcely any thing but cry, and give a great deal of trouble. Who is so kind to you as your parents are? Who takes so much pains to instruct you? Who taught you almost every thing you know? Who provides food for you, and clothes, and warm beds to sleep on atnight? Who is so glad when you are pleased, and so sorry when you are troubled? When you are sick, and in pain, who pities you, and tenderly waits upon you? Who prays to God to give you health, and strength, and every good thing? It is your parents. You should therefore do all in your power to make them happy. |