than they are paid for. Start in their minds a sense of shame at the idea of working for mere pay and nothing more. Point out to them that they degrade and hurt themselves much more than they hurt their employer when they take that standpoint. The disadvantageous side from a business standpoint could be put to them; since they are far more liable to get on in the world and be advanced to better positions by winning the respect of those who employ them. It is very important to arouse in the children's minds a sense of disgust for laziness, at the same time making them see that a man can be lazy, even when he works steadily, if he does all his work in a routine way. Read over the further lesson on "Habits of Service," however, so as not to anticipate that subject too much. But you have not told me yet where laziness really starts from;-in the body or in the mind, would you say? "Why," you answer, "probably in the body. Such people will not work. They like to sit around and do nothing." But, now, are you sure of that? Is it their bodies which are lazy? Do you suppose, for instance, that if a boy or girl had a lazy body which moved slowly, sleepily, he or she could help it, or could do anything about it to overcome it? "Yes," you insist, "there would be a way. They could determine to change. They could will to act differently." You are right. Laziness starts inside of ourselves, in the soul, and not in the body. It is a matter of will. When we speak of a lazy person, we mean a lazy soul, and not a lazy body. But do you think it comes natural for some persons to be rather lazy, and for other persons to be rather energetic? "Yes," you admit, "there is a great difference in persons from the time they are born.” I suspect that is true. It is a fact that it is easier for some persons to be energetic than for others. Some people are born with lazy minds. Does it ever happen that a boy or girl finds it very hard to get up in the mornings? And it is just as difficult for one person as another, is it not? "No," you assert, "some persons seem to find it easier than others." But what if it proved very hard? If it came natural to you to be a little lazy about getting up in the morning, or about going ahead to do anything, what would be the best way to conquer the habit, and overcome it? If, for instance, you hear the bell ring or the clock strike when you are to get up, is it a good plan to lie for a little while, trying to arouse yourself? Do you fancy you can work yourself up to a pitch of effort in that way? "You doubt that?" Why? What would happen? “Oh," you add, "one would go to sleep again." Then what is to be done? "Jump quick," you exclaim. Yes, that is the way. There are persons, for instance, who find it very hard to get up in the mornings, and so have an alarm clock right close to them, and they make a point of being out of bed before the alarm has stopped sounding. On the other hand if they wait two or three seconds too long, until the alarm has ended, they may turn over again and go to sleep for another hour. What, then, is the best way to conquer laziness? Suppose you write the words down: "Jump quick." The lazy man who stops to think is lost. I wonder if you have ever heard a short proverb about laziness, just six words; something about taking the most pains? Can you recall it? "Lazy people take the most pains?" Yes. And do you see any sense in that sort of a proverb? Did you not say that a lazy man likes, more than anything else, just doing nothing? Apply it to the person who wants to get up in the morning at a certain time. Which is easier, after all— to jump quickly or to lie thinking about it for half an hour trying to coax one's self to the point of getting up? Is it not true that in this latter way a person takes the most pains? Will you suggest other examples? Points of the Lesson. I. That the lazy person never does any more work than he has to do. II. That the lazy person is a loafer and does not try to improve himself. III. That the lazy person is lazy in his mind. He is a lazy soul. He is a IV. That the lazy person never acts promptly. shirker. V. That the lazy person is a selfish person and is of no service to the world. VI. That the lazy person never conquers his lazy habits; he never conquers anything. Poem. Sweet is the pleasure Is not true leisure One with true toil? Thou that wouldst taste it, Still do thy best; Use it, not waste it,- Wouldst behold beauty Near thee? all round? Only hath duty Such a sight found. Rest is not quitting The busy career; Rest is the fitting Of self to its sphere. 'Tis the brook's motion, Fleeing to ocean After its life. Deeper devotion Nowhere hath knelt; Fuller emotion Heart never felt. "Tis loving and serving The highest and best; 'Tis onwards! unswerving, And that is true rest. -JOHN SULLIVAN DWIGHT. FURTHER SUGGESTIONS TO THE Teacher.-All sorts of examples could be introduced in this lesson by way of illustration. It would be well, perhaps, to devote ten minutes to instances showing how a person by getting behind, really has to do more work than if he did it on the instant. Application can be made to school and home life. But it is very important also to point the subject with regard to those who are adults. It will be noticed in this lesson that the main points have been drawn more with regard to the life of boys and men. But the subject should be carried into the life of girls and women, and applied to all the work of the home. Dwell on the lazy way of doing work in the house, of setting a table, of dressing one's self. Point out what a lazy housewife would mean. Show how certain women who have a large household accomplish a great deal more and seem to have more time and leisure for other things than those who may have a small household and more assistance from others. Ask them to explain how it is that such persons have more time for self-improvement, or for doing work for others. A subject like this can be carried on indefinitely, and the children should be encouraged to give any number of illustrations or examples. CHAPTER VIII. DECEPTION. Proverbs or Verses. "Deception and treachery make no man rich." "It is an ill thing to be deceived, but worse to deceive." "O what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive." "Who has deceived thee as often as thyself?’’—Franklin. "He who whispers, lies." "The truth will out." .'"'—Pliny. "We live by reposing trust in each other.” "Men are never so easily deceived as when they are endeavoring to deceive others."-Rochefoucauld. Dialogue. Did you ever in your whole life by any chance know of a person who tried to deceive? You smile at my question, do you? But why? "Oh," you answer, "because there are many persons who are guilty in this way." Do you mean that an immense number of people are always deceiving somebody? "No," you add, "not always, of course; but they do it sometimes." Are they usually glad to have other people know of it and observe that they are doing this? Do they take pride in being able to deceive? "Usually not," you tell me. How, then, do they act? "Probably they try to hide it or not to have it discovered," you confess. You think it is a little as if they were ashamed of it? But is it always so with such people, would you assume? "Oh, they may not care, or sometimes they even boast of it," you reply. But what sort of persons would they be, who boasted of being clever at deceiving? "Why," you explain, "they would be individuals who were decidedly bad, or else persons who had fallen into the habit of it so |