There's but a half inch of my leaves to be seen,
And two-thirds of that is more yellow than green.

"I can't do much yet; but I'll do what I can;
It's well I began!

For unless I can manage to lift up my head,

The people will think that the Spring herself 's dead."

So little by little she brought her leaves out,

All clustered about;

And then her bright flowers began to unfold,
Till Daffy stood robed in her spring green and gold.

O Daffy-down-dilly, so brave and so true!

I wish all were like you!

So ready for duty in all sorts of weather,
And loyal to courage and duty together!

Tell Æsop's fable of "The Lion and the Mouse." Questions: How many times bigger than a mouse is a lion? Could a lion kill a mouse? Could a mouse kill a lion? Why did the lion let the mouse go? Did the mouse forget the kindness of the lion? How did he have a chance to help? How can little people help big people? How can you help your father? How can you help at school?

MAY: COURTESY

Read the following story:

A FOUR-FOOTED GENTLEMAN1

"Open the door quick, Sybil. Don't you see my hands are full? What a stupid you are! Yes, that'll do. Now you can shut it after me." And Archie came for1 From Five Minute Stories, by Mrs. Molesworth (abridged).

ward to the table where his aunt was sitting, with specimens of seaweed that he had been drying and arranging, in his hands.

"Since when have 'if you please' and 'thank you' gone out of fashion, Archie?" said his aunt.

The boy grew very red, but he laughed good-humoredly. "I did n't mean to be rude," he said. “But Sybil does n't mind. Do you, Sybil?"

"No," replied the little girl. "Still I think it is nice when people thank you and speak politely to each other."

"I know I should," replied Archie, "but you see, Auntie, I forget, or else it does n't seem worth while.'

“That reminds me of a little adventure of mine,' said his aunt. "I was going to a friend's the other day when my attention was caught by a little dog wandering along in an uneasy, aimless manner. He was very pretty and well cared for, but just now he was evidently in trouble. He trotted up to me, gave a little friendly bark, and then wagging his tail looked up at me appealingly, ran on a few steps, then ran back to see if I were following him. It was as plain as any spoken words: he was asking me to do him a service. And thus he led me down the street, round a corner, and finally stopped in front of a door, looking and wagging his tail. Nobody could have failed to understand him.

"Here is my home, kind lady. I have got shut out; please to ring the bell for me.' I rang, of course, and quickly the door was opened and in he rushed, and I was turning away, when this is the point of my story -I heard a bustle just inside the closing door, my friend's bark, a voice in remonstrance, 'What can he want?' Then the door opened and out he sprang again. As soon as he saw me he gave a quick, cheerful little bark, wagging his tail with the greatest energy, and with still another 'bow-wow' turned round and ran in

quietly. It was the plainest 'Thank you for being so kind' that was ever spoken in dog or any language. Now don't you call that behaving like a gentleman?' "Yes indeed," said the children, and Archie turned to Sybil with deference.

"Please Sybil, will you kindly open the door?" She did so, and he disappeared, but in a moment his voice was again heard.

"I beg your pardon," he said, "I have come back again to say 'thank you.' If I had a tail to wag I would do so."

Learn:

Politeness is to do and say

The kindest thing in the kindest way.

Tell the fable of "The Sun and the Wind,” in The First Book of Stories for the Story-Teller, by Fanny E. Coe.

Would you rather do an errand for some one who spoke pleasantly or for some one who spoke roughly? Discuss the subject of teasing.

Tell the story of "The Great Feast," in The Pig Brother, by Laura E. Richards.

SECOND YEAR

ETHICAL CENTRE: HOME LIFE

INTRODUCTION

In these lessons with little children, it is essential to remember that thoughtlessness and unkindness come largely from lack of imagination. Light the spark of sympathetic imagination, and cruelty vanishes. Thus, if a boy throws stones at frogs and toads, let him study the nature and the usefulness of frogs and toads. As is suggested in the lessons for October, lack of courtesy, impatience, quarreling, and ungenerous acts are also due to absence of imagination. Such stories as those of "The Honest Farmer," of "The Little Loaf,” and of "The Awakening" (reproduced in this section) will arouse reverence for a finer attitude.

SEPTEMBER: KINDNESS TO LITTLE CHILDREN

THE STORY OF THE FINDING OF MOSES

Long ago a mother of the Hebrews was living in Egypt. And the rulers of Egypt made the Hebrews work too hard. They were cruel to the Hebrews and sometimes they even killed the little boy babies.

So when Moses was three months old, his mother knew that the Egyptians might kill her little son. Then she made for him an ark out of bulrushes and daubed it on the outside with slime and with pitch to keep it

dry, and she put the child therein and she laid it in the reeds by the river's brink. And Moses' sister stood afar off to see what would be done to him.

And the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, came down to wash herself at the river, and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the bulrushes, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it she saw the child; and behold the babe wept. And she had compassion on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children." Then said Moses' sister to Pharaoh's daughter: "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee?" And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." And the maid went and called the child's mother.

And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her: "Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages." And the woman took the child and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became like her own son. And she called his name Moses (which means in Hebrew “drawn out") and she said: "Because I drew him out of the water."

Questions: Why did Moses' mother have to hide her little baby? Were all the Egyptians cruel? Was the princess kind? Where did she find Moses? What did he do when she opened the basket? Was the daughter of Pharaoh sorry for him? Who was watching afar off? What did the sister of Moses say to the princess? Was the mother glad to get her little baby back again? Was the baby safe now? Who made him safe? If you saw a baby crying, what would you do? Did you ever see a baby who did not know where to find his mother? Did you help to find her? What kind things can you do for your baby at home?

This story can be very simply acted by four children.