[Illustration:  Heavy girl eating two apples.  Plate on floor with food scraps.  Cat lying on footstool.]

5.  The squirrel eats a few nuts or acorns, and frisks about as gayly as if he had dined at the king’s table.

6.  Did you ever see a squirrel with a nut in his paws?  How bright and lively he looks as he eats it!

7.  If he lived in a house made of acorns, he would never need a doctor.  He would not eat an acorn too much.

8.  I do not love little girls who eat too much.  Do you, my little readers?

9.  I do not think they have such rosy cheeks, or such bright eyes, or such sweet, happy tempers as those who eat less.

LESSON LVIII.

lend Sa’rah com’fort a shamed’ your wil’ling

thim’ble else’where us’ing bor’row of fend’ed de pend’ed

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.

Mary.  I wish you would lend me your thimble,
       Sarah.  I can never find my own.

Sarah.  Why is it, Mary, you can never find it?

Mary.  How can I tell?  But if you will not lend me
       yours, I can borrow one elsewhere.

Sarah.  I am willing to lend mine to you, Mary. 
       But I would very much like to know why you come
       to me to borrow so often.

[Illustration:  Two girls seated, talking.]

Mary.  Because you never lose any of your things,
       and always know where to find them.

Sarah.  And why do I always know where to find my things?

Mary.  I do not know why, I am sure.  If I did
       know, I might sometimes find my own.

Sarah.  I will tell you the secret.  I have a place for
       everything, and I put everything in its place when I
       have done using it.

Mary.  O Sarah! who wants to run and put away a
       thing as soon as she has used it, as if her life
       depended upon it?

Sarah.  Our life does not depend upon it, but our
       comfort does, surely.  How much more time will it
       take to put a thing in its place, than to hunt for it or
       to borrow whenever you want to use it ?

Mary.  Well, Sarah, I will never borrow of you
       again, you may depend upon it.

Sarah.  You are not offended with me, I hope.

Mary.  No, but I am ashamed.  Before night, I will
       have a place for everything, and then I will keep
       everything in its place.  You have taught me a lesson
       that I shall remember.

LESSON LIX.

con’stant lead’ing ear lull didst meek

hark thee none mild thine nurse

ease thy re joice’ fret’ful