44 GRADED SELECTIONS FOR MEMORIZING. "Dear little blossoms down under the snow, "Little white snow-drop! I pray you arise; GRADED SELECTIONS. THIRD YEAR. I. A GOOD NAME. CHILDREN, choose it, 'Tis a precious diadem; Highly prize it, Don't despise it; You will need it when you're men. Love and cherish, Keep and nourish; 'Tis more precious far than gold; Watch and guard it, Don't discard it; You will need it when you're old. II. THE fisher who draws in his net too soon, Won't have any fish to sell; The child who shuts up his book too soon, Won't learn any lessons well. If you would have your learning stay, III. MERRY little sunbeams Flitting here and there, Joyous little sunbeams Dancing everywhere! Come they with the morning light, Kind words are little sunbeams, In sorrow's eye they dry the tear, And bring the fainting heart good cheer. IV. IF you tried and have not won, Never stop for crying; All that's great and good is done Though young birds in flying, fall, Though the sturdy oak has known If by easy work you beat, Who the more will prize you? -Phebe Cary. V. WE should make the same use of books that the bee does of a flower: he gathers sweets from it, but does not injure it. VI. LITTLE children, you must seek If you think that you can be You are quite mistaken there. Go and stand before the glass, What you have, and what you lack, So, my little folks, take care! And not only in the glass Will your secrets come to view; All beholders, as they pass, Will perceive and know them, too. Cherish what is good, and drive -Alice Cary. |