The Commandments.[6]

One God I must worship supreme, And ne'er before images bow, I must not speak light of his name, But pay to him every vow.

I'm bound to remember with care, The Sabbath, so hallow'd and pure; To honor my parents so dear, That my life may the longer endure.

I never must steal, or consent To what is impure or untrue; I must not indulge discontent, Or covet my neighbor his due.

Now help me, O Father in heav'n, To keep these commandments with zeal; In the strength that through Jesus is giv'n To those who are doing thy will.

In connexion with this song, the ten commandments may be recited, in such a manner as to show their meaning, and illustrate the thoughts contained in the hymn.

GOOD LITTLE GIRLS.

Two good little girls, Marianne and Maria, As happily liv'd as good girls could desire; And though they were neither grave, sullen, nor mute, They seldom or never were heard to dispute.

If one wants a thing that the other could get, They never are scratching or scrambling for it, But each one is willing to give up her right, They'd rather have nothing than quarrel and fight.

If one of them happens to have something nice, Directly she offers her sister a slice; And not like to some greedy children I've known, Who would go in a corner and eat it alone.

When papa or mamma had a job to be done, These good little girls would immediately run, And not stand disputing to which it belong'd, And grumble and fret and declare they were wrong'd.

Whatever occur'd in their work or their play, They were willing to yield, and give up their own way; Then let us all try their example to mind, And always like them, be obliging and kind.

JANE TAYLOR.

HOW I LOVE MY TENDER MOTHER.

How I love my tender mother, How I love my father dear; How I love my little brother, And my sister so sincere: They are all both kind and true, And they love me dearly too.

Be my neighbor proud or lowly, He shall my affection share; Be he sinful, be he holy, He may claim my earnest prayer: Let me not unfeeling prove, Nor myself too dearly love.

But of all affection giv'n, God on high demands the most; God the Father in the heav'n, God the Son and Holy Ghost: Three in One and One in Three; Be thou all in all to me.

The child may be taught, in connexion with this song, how that "love is the fulfilling of the law"--love that includes all the characteristics mentioned in the gospel. The last stanza introduces also the subject of the blessed Trinity, in such a manner as to invite explanation.

THE BEES.

THE BEES.

O, mother dear, pray tell me where The bees in winter stay? The flow'rs are gone they fed upon, So sweet in summer's day.

My child, they live within the hive, And have enough to eat: Amid the storm they're clean and warm, Their food is honey sweet.

Say, mother dear, how came it there? Did father feed them so? I see no way in winter's day That honey has to grow.

No, no, my child, in summer mild, The bees laid up their store Of honey drops in little cups, 'Til they would want no more.

In cups you said--how are they made? Are they as large as ours? O no, they're all made nice and small Of wax, found in the flow'rs.

Our summer's day to work and play, Is now in mercy giv'n, And we must strive long as we live To lay up stores in HEAV'N.

I SAW AN OLD COTTAGE.

I saw an old cottage of clay, And only of mud was the floor; 'Twas all falling into decay, And snow drifted in at the door.

Yet there a poor family dwelt, In a cottage so dismal and rude; And though keenest hunger they felt, They'd scarcely a morsel of food.

The children were crying for bread, And to their poor mother would run-- "O, give us some breakfast," they said, Alas! their poor mother had none.

O then let the wealthy and gay But see such a hovel as this; And in a poor cottage of clay, Learn what real misery is.

The little that I have to spare, I never will squander away; While thousands of people there are As poor and as wretched as they.

JANE TAYLOR.