And so wonderful did it seem to the wise man, that
he took the fern leaf home with him and placed it
in his cabinet where all could admire it; and where,
if they were thoughtful and clever enough, they could
think out the story for themselves and find the lesson
which was hidden away with the fern in the bit of
rock.
Lesson! did I say? Well, let’s not call
it a lesson, but only a truth which it will do every
one of us good to remember; and that is, that none
of the beauty in this fair world around us, nor anything
that is sweet and lovely in our own hearts, and lives,
will ever be useless and lost. For, as the little
fern leaf lay hidden away for years and years, and
yet finally was found by the wise man and given a place
with his other rare and precious possessions where
it could still, though silently, aid those who looked
upon it; so we, as boys and girls, men and women who
are to be, can now, day by day, cultivate all lovely
traits of character, making ourselves ready to take
our place in the world’s work. And when
that time comes we shall not only be able to aid others
silently, as did the little fern, but may also, by
word and deed, lend a hand to each and every one around
us.
Mara L. Pratt.
From “Fairyland of Flowers.” The
Educational Publishing Co.
* * * *
*
Break up the following words into their syllables,
and place the accent mark where it belongs in each:
outline, tracery, cabinet, delicate, finally, character,
hundreds, centuries, remember, beautiful, possessions.
Show the correct use of the words in original sentences.
The dictionary will help you in the work.
Name some of the traits of character that will help
a boy or a girl to be truly successful in life.
* * * *
*
Memory Gems:
The child
is father of the man;
And I could
wish my days to be
Bound each
to each by natural piety.
Wordsworth.
Truth alone makes life rich and great.
Emerson.
There is a tongue in every leaf—
A voice in every rill—
A voice that speaketh everywhere—
In flood and fire, through earth and air,
A tongue that’s never still.
Anon.
* * * *
*
10
blithe whistler mellow replied cheery skylark
HELPING MOTHER.
As I went down the street to-day,
I saw a little lad
Whose face was just the kind of face
To make a person glad.
It was so plump and rosy-cheeked,
So cheerful and so bright,
It made me think of apple-time.
And filled me with delight.
I saw him busy at his work,
While blithe as skylark’s song
His merry, mellow whistle rang
The pleasant street along.
“Oh, that’s the kind of lad I like!”
I thought as I passed by;
“These busy, cheery, whistling boys
Make grand men by and by.”
