those who came together. They were still boasting and quarreling, and they did not help each other lift the net. So the hunter lifted the net himself and crammed them into his basket. But the wise quail gathered his friends together and flew far away, for he knew that quarrels are the root of misfortune.

Learn: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." (Psalm cxxxiii.) Tell the story of "The Gold in the Orchard," in Stories to Tell to Children, by Sara Cone Bryant.

DECEMBER: SELF-CONTROL

Tell the story of Adam and Eve, Genesis, Chap. ii, verses 8 and 9, and Chap. iii, verses 1 to 14, and verses 23 and 24.

Questions: Where did Adam and Eve live? Were they happy? Did they have everything they wanted? Did they have plenty to eat? What was forbidden? Why ought they to have obeyed the Lord? What did the serpent say to Eve? Ought Eve to have listened? Why not? Did she have any reason to think the serpent was good? Did she have any reason to think the Lord was good? Which should she trust? What did Eve do? What ought Adam to have said? Which was more to blame, Adam or Eve? If you had a box of candy right in front of you, and your mother had forbidden you to eat any, what should you do? Why were Adam and Eve afraid when the Lord called them? Did they tell the truth? Why was that the best thing to do? Why did they have to leave the garden?

Learn: "What Means this Glory?" by James Russell Lowell.

Learn: "A Child's Prayer," by Martin Luther, and "God Make My Life a Little Light," in Poems by Grades, (Primary), Harris & Gilbert (Scribner).

Read the account of the boy Jesus in the Temple, Luke, Chap. ii, verses 41 to 52.

THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM 1

BY JANE TAYLOR

An old clock, that had stood for fifty years in a farmer's kitchen, without giving its owner any cause of complaint, early one summer's morning, before the family was stirring, suddenly stopped. Upon this the Dial-plate (if we may credit the fable) changed countenance with alarm; the Hands made an ineffectual effort to continue their course; the Wheels remained motionless with surprise; the Weights hung speechless. Each member felt disposed to lay the blame on the others.

At length the Dial instituted a formal inquiry into the cause of the stop, when Hands, Wheels, Weights with one voice protested their innocence. But now a faint tick was heard from the Pendulum, who thus spoke:

"I confess myself to be the sole cause of the present stoppage, and am willing, for the general satisfaction, to assign my reasons. The truth is, that I am tired of ticking." Upon hearing this, the old clock became so enraged that it was on the point of striking.

"Lazy Wire!" exclaimed the Dial-plate. "As to that," replied the Pendulum, "it is vastly easy for you, Mistress Dial, who have always, as everybody knows, set yourself up above me - it is vastly easy for you, I say, to accuse other people of laziness -you who have nothing to do all your life but to stare people in the face, and to amuse yourself with watching all that goes on in the kitchen. Think, I beseech you, how you would like to be shut up for life in this dark closet, and wag backward and forward year after year, as I do." "As to that," said the Dial, “is there not a 1 From Folk Stories and Fables: vol. i, The Children's Hour. Selected and arranged by Eva March Tappan (Houghton Mifflin Co.).

window in your house on purpose for you to look through?"

"But what of that?" resumed the Pendulum. "Although there is a window, I dare not stop, even for an instant, to look out. Besides, I am really weary of my way of life; and, if you please, I'll tell you how I took this disgust at my employment.

"This morning I happened to be calculating how many times I should have to tick in the course only of the next twenty-four hours perhaps some of you above there can tell me the exact sum?" The Minutehand, being quick at figures, instantly replied, “Eightysix thousand four hundred times."

"Exactly so," replied the Pendulum.

"Well, I appeal to you all if the thought of this was not enough to fatigue one. And when I began to multiply the strokes of one day by those of months and years, really it is no wonder if I felt discouraged at the prospect; so, after a great deal of reasoning and hesitation, thought I to myself, 'I'll stop!'"

The Dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue; but, resuming its gravity, thus replied: "Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself should have been overcome by this suggestion. It is true, you have done a great deal of work in your time; so have we all, and are likely to do; and though this may fatigue us to think of, the question is, Will it fatigue us to do? Would you now do me the favor to give about half a dozen strokes, to illustrate my argument?" The Pendulum complied, and ticked six times at its usual pace.

"Now," resumed the Dial, "was that exertion fatiguing to you?" "Not in the least," replied the Pendulum; "it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."

"Very good," replied the Dial; "but recollect that,

although you may think of a million strokes in an instant, you are required to execute but one; and that, however often you may hereafter have to swing, a moment will always be given you to swing in.”

"That consideration staggers me, I confess," said the Pendulum. "Then I hope," added the Dial-plate, "we shall all immediately return to our duty, for the people will lie in bed till noon if we stand idling thus.'

Upon this, the Weights, who had never been accused of light conduct, used all their influence in urging him to proceed; when, as with one consent, the Wheels began to turn, the Hands began to move, the Pendulum began to swing, and, to its credit, ticked as loud as ever; while a beam of the rising sun, that streamed through a hole in the kitchen shutter, shining full upon the Dialplate, made it brighten up as if nothing had been the matter.

When the farmer came down to breakfast, he declared, upon looking at the clock, that his watch had gained half an hour in the night.

JANUARY: COURAGE

Read the following selections: "Are You There, My Lad?" and "Grace Darling," in Baldwin's Fifty Famous Stories; "The Dynamite Hero," "Peter Woodland," and "The School Children's Friend," in Baldwin's American Book of Golden Deeds.

Questions: Which was the bravest of these deeds? Why? What is the bravest thing you have ever heard of? Does it take more courage to keep your temper if you are laughed at, or not to cry when hurt?

Learn: "Keep a Stiff Upper Lip!" by Phoebe Cary.