PRESIDENT WHITE LIBRARY, 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY. 
 
 ^■3^^7S 
 
 2> ^H/^2'. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this bool< is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029473711 
 
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 mk^ ^^#0l %nkt 
 
 Sbcond Book 
 
 FOR OUR 
 
 Little Friends. 
 
 '■f A'^ 
 
 '■€^' ■■:..: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 DESERET SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 
 
 GEORGE Q. CANNON & SONS CO., 
 
 printers. 
 
 Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
 1892. 
 

 fuNIVLf 
 
PREFACE. • 
 
 The Publication Committee of the 
 Deseret Sunday School Union, take pleas- 
 ure in presenting this second book for 
 OUR LITTLE FRiEUDS, composed entirely of 
 original articles written by members of 
 the Church of Jesus Christ, and expressly 
 adapted for the use and benefit of the 
 children of the Latter-day Saints. 
 
 The generous patronage and warm ap- 
 proval bestowed upon the " First Book for 
 our Little Friends," published less than a 
 year ago, have greatly encouraged the 
 Union to continue their efforts towards 
 supplying suitable and interesting works 
 for the education of the youth of Zion. 
 As one more step in this desirable direc- 
 tion, this second reader is now offered, 
 with the hope that, under the blessing of 
 our Heavenly Father, it will accomplish 
 the good for which it is designed. 
 
 Salt Lake City, 
 
 April 30, 1880. 
 
LESSON ONE. 
 
 TWO WISHES. 
 
 Shall I tell you a true story about two 
 young friends of mine ? 
 
 Parley and Willie were loving little 
 playmates, and very fond of being to- 
 gether. They lived next door to each 
 other; so that when Parley wanted to see 
 Willie, he had only to step out of the back 
 door, run down the grassy path between 
 currant 'and gooseberry bushes, and pass 
 through the gate, which opened into 
 Willie's play-ground. One day as they 
 walked in the garden, they found a dou- 
 ble, or twin cherry; and Parley said, "Let 
 us each eat half, and then wish for some- 
 thing." They did so, and Parley wished 
 that his father would not forget the pony 
 he had promised him for his birthday. 
 Willie looked sad for a moment, and then 
 
^ SECOITD BOOK 
 
 said, "I wish for some new clothes; but I 
 don't expect to get them very soon, be- 
 cause my pa is on a mission, and we are 
 not very rich. Ma said that she could not 
 get any for me yet awhile." 
 
 At last the welcome day came round — 
 and Parley was ten years old. But he did 
 not seem to be in any hurry for his pony. 
 
 PARLEY AND HIS PONY. 
 
 When his father asked him if he was 
 ready to go with him and buy it, he 
 answered, "Yes;" but when they got out 
 on the street, he said, "Pa, I don't want a 
 pony. Won't you take the money and 
 buy Willie a suit of clothes ? His father 
 is away on a mission, and his mother can't 
 
FOR OtTB LITTLE FBIENDS. 3 
 
 afford to do it." Don't you suppose the 
 little boy's father was very much pleased? 
 He said, "My dear son, if you will be 
 made happier by my spending this money 
 for Willie's clothes instead of your pony 
 I will do so." So Parley had the pleasure 
 of making his friend the present he had 
 wished for; but he did not know that his 
 own wish would be granted. The next 
 morning, however, he found a little black 
 pony tied to a post in the back yard, and 
 his father said to him, "Parley, since you 
 were kind enough to give up your hap- 
 piness for the sake of your playmate, you 
 shall not lose anything by being so un- 
 selfish." 
 
 So both the wishes were fulfilled. 
 
 LESSON TWO. 
 
 LOOK AT YOUR OWN FAULTS. 
 
 Some little boys and girls are apt to 
 find fault with others, for doing the very 
 things they do themselves. They put us 
 
4 SECOND BOOK 
 
 in mind of an old story, which tells of a 
 wolf who peeped into a hut, where two 
 herd boys were eating a joint of mutton. 
 
 "Ah!" said the wolf, in his way of 
 talking, "what a noise they would have 
 made, if they had found me with such a 
 dinner!" 
 
 So it is with some of the small folks. 
 They will tattle and talk of this one and 
 that one; how John was rude, and James 
 was rough; how Mary "got mad" with her 
 little brother Joe, and broke a dish in her 
 pet; and how Jane talked in school, and 
 laughed at the boys, and told tales, and so on. 
 
 Now, Tom and Fred, and Rose and May, 
 who tell these tales of their friends, are 
 now and then just as bad as those of 
 whom they talk; but they do not find 
 fault with themselves. They forget when 
 they were rude, or rough, or angry or 
 talked in school, or said bad words, or did 
 not do what their parents told them. Oh, 
 no ! they do not think of these things ; or 
 if they do, they seldom talk of them in 
 the same way that they do of their play- 
 mates, when they do wrong. 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FEIENDS. 5 
 
 It is one of the best things in the world 
 to act upon the advice given in the Golden 
 Rule. 
 
 And what is that? 
 
 It is this: "Always do to others as you 
 would wish others to do to you." 
 
 Children, if yqji mind this rule, you will 
 be happy. 
 
 LESSON THREE. 
 
 RUNNING FROM TEMPTATION. 
 
 A VERY little girl was once tempted to 
 do a very bad thing. To be tempted is to 
 want to do something that you know and 
 feel is not right. 
 
 This little girl was playing in a yard, 
 not far from her own home. She saw, 
 lying upon the ground, a pink calico doll 
 bonnet. It seemed to her the neatest and 
 prettiest thing she had ever seen ; and 
 just large enough to fit the nice doll her 
 mother had made for her, only a few 
 days before. How pretty it was ! and how 
 she wanted it for her doll ! She was all 
 
b SECOND BOOK 
 
 alone; no one saw her; she could pick it 
 up and carry it home. How sweet her 
 doll would look with the little bonnet on! 
 
 But then, if she took it, it would not be 
 hers. It belonged to the little girl who lived 
 in the house near which she was playing. 
 No, it would not be hers if she took 
 it. And when she thought of this, to keep 
 herself from wanting to take it any longer, 
 she ran home as fast as she could go. This 
 was the very best thing that she could do. 
 
 It would always be well with boys and 
 girls, if they would turn away from temp- 
 tation ; for no one is likely to do anything 
 that is very wrong, without knowing or 
 feeling that it is not right. 
 
 The little girl did not tell anyone about 
 the doll's bonnet. She thought she had 
 been wicked for wanting to take it; but 
 in thinking this she made a mistake. 
 There is no sin in being tempted. It is 
 giving way to temptation that is wrong. 
 
 Little friends, if you will remember and 
 always turn and run from temptation, as 
 the little girl did, of whom I have been 
 telling you, you will be good and happy. 
 
FOB OUB LITTLE FEIENDS. 
 
 LESSON FOUR. 
 
 "GO TO THE ANT, THOU SLUGGARD; CONSIDER 
 HER WAYS AND BE VflSE." —Solomon. 
 
 Go to the ant, thou sluggard,"go, 
 Go scan her ways— be wise ; 
 
 Bright lessoQS she can plainly show 
 Which no one should despise — 
 
 ANT HILLS IN AfRlCA. 
 
 In wisdom, diligence and zeal, 
 Which all should highly prize ; 
 
 Then go to the ant for wisdom, go, 
 If you would shine and rise. 
 
SECOND BOOK 
 
 Mid sunshine's bright and pleasant ray, 
 
 Learn forethought, and prepare 
 For ev'ry dark and rainy day. 
 
 And yield not to despair : 
 For you will surely wisdom need. 
 
 To guide you day by day. 
 This plan will help you to succeed — 
 
 You'll find that it will pay. 
 
 Upon the list place business first, 
 
 And then let pleasure in ; 
 For knowledge ever have a thirst, 
 And ne'er give way to sin ; 
 If thus you'll do, with work and play, 
 
 From error you'll be free. 
 And you will find that wisdom's way 
 
 Will ever pleasant be. 
 
 LESSON FIVE. 
 
 DISOBEDIENCE. 
 
 When I was a little boy, I used to go to 
 the pasture after the cows. A deep, broad 
 river ran by the pasture in which I was 
 fond of swimming. One afternoon when 
 I was starting to bring the cows home. 
 
FOB OUE LITTLE FEIEND8. 9 
 
 my mother called me back. "Remember," 
 she said, "today is Sunday. You must 
 not go in the river." 
 
 When I got to the pasture I met some 
 boys. They were going to have a swim. 
 They wished me to join them. It was 
 fine fun, they said,. to ride on the backs of 
 cows in the water. They had some stray 
 cows in the pasture, and were going to try it. 
 
 I thought of my mother's words. 
 But how could she know anything about 
 it? The boys promised they would not 
 tell, and I consented. Each boy caught a 
 stray cow by the tail, and ran her into the 
 river. When the cows commenced swim- 
 ming the boys climbed upon their backs. 
 
 The cow I ran after was wild. I did not 
 catch her tail till she was entering the 
 stream. I was out of breath with run- 
 ning, and could not climb upon her back, 
 she plunged and jerked me under the 
 water several times, but I clung to her 
 tail. 
 
 When the cow got almost across the 
 stream, she turned back, I let her go, 
 and tried to swim to the shore. I was 
 
10 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 ■ ■■ ^s-'m*-^<i -3,-- 
 
 
 RESCUED FROM DROWNING. 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FBIEND8. 11 
 
 weak, and the current was swift. It carried 
 me down the stream into an eddy. I called 
 for help but no help came. I sank in 
 the water, and felt that I was drowning. 
 I thought of every act of my life. The 
 petty lies I had told, the promises I had 
 broken, my disobedience to my parents, 
 my mother's warning, my breaking the 
 Sabbath, were all brought to my mind. I 
 fancied how my parents would feel, when 
 the boys would take the news of my death 
 home. I fancied them searching for me in 
 the river. I thought of them dragging 
 out my dead body with hooks. 
 
 All these thoughts passed through my 
 mind in a few seconds. I sank twice, 
 and came up again. I tried hard to get 
 my breath. I was just sinking the third 
 time, when a boy caught me by the hair. 
 In a few minutes I was upon the bank. 
 I lay sometime with the water running 
 out of my mouth, nose and ears. I final- 
 ly gained strength enough to walk home. 
 
 I was ashamed to let my mother know 
 I had disobeyed her, but she found it out. 
 She did not punish me for it; she thought 
 
12 SECOND BOOK 
 
 I had been punished enough. It was a 
 lesson I shall never forget. I have 
 learned since that the disobedient are 
 never safe. 
 
 LESSON SIX. 
 
 HEAVEN S WORDS OF LOVE. 
 
 Gently now, 
 
 Angry brow 
 We should never, never see ; 
 
 Hold most dear 
 
 Brother here, 
 Let no anger be. 
 
 Gentle tones of loving hearts, 
 
 Sorrow heals and joy imparts ; 
 
 Love and live 
 
 To forgive 
 Ev'ry one most free. 
 
 Friendship keep, 
 
 Harvest reap 
 Of the sweeter joys above, 
 
 We shall find. 
 
 If we mind 
 Heaven's words of love. 
 
FOB OUK LITTLE FRIENDS. 13 
 
 Let no evil thought accrue, 
 See what gentle words will do, 
 Love and live 
 To forgive, 
 Gentle as the dove. 
 
 LESSON SEVEN. 
 
 TELI- THE TRUTH. 
 
 He is a brave little fellow who can al- 
 ways tell the truth. Satan tempts chil- 
 dren to tell lies, as he did our Savior to 
 bow down and worship him. He tries to 
 show that there is something to be gained 
 by it. The Savior knew that He would 
 gain all the evil one offered, if He did not 
 worship him. Children should know, also, 
 that they will gain more and fare better 
 if they tell the truth, than they will by 
 lying. 
 
 When I was a little boy, my father 
 asked me to gather up some grain he had 
 spilled. I got my brother to help me, 
 
14 SECOND BOOK 
 
 and we soon scraped it up. When my 
 father came home, he saw it was done, and 
 asked me who did it. Fearing he would 
 find fault with me for not doing it well, I 
 was tempted to tell a lie. To save myself, 
 I was willing to put the blame on some one 
 else. So I replied that my brother had. 
 
 "I have some candy here for him then," 
 he said; "he has done it very well." 
 
 I was sorry then I had told a lie. I 
 saw I had lost, and not gained by it. So 
 I cried out, "But I helped him!" 
 
 My father saw that I was a coward, 
 and gave me the scolding I had told the 
 lie to escape. 
 
 I have thought of that many times 
 since, when I have been tempted to tell 
 a lie to escape censure. 
 
 Most boys like carrots. I did when I 
 was a boy. I was once looking at some 
 very nice ones in a garden, and wishing I 
 had one. 
 
 The old Scotch lady who owned them 
 was very stingy. She saw me looking in, 
 and asked me what I wanted. I replied 
 that I would like a carrot. 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FBIENDg. 15 
 
 "Did yer mither send ye? she asked. 
 
 I thought if I told a lie, I would be 
 sure to get a carrot. So I replied "Yes!" 
 
 "Wait here, and I'll gang awa' over 
 and ask yer mither," said the old lady. 
 
 I did not wait. I feared a whipping. 
 I ran away and* dared not go home till 
 dark. 
 
 It is always best to tell the truth. 
 Your parents will punish you less if you 
 do. 
 
 And the Lord will think more of you. 
 A liar is always a coward. 
 
 LESSON EIGHT. 
 
 JOHN S PRAYER. 
 
 Perhaps some little boys and girls won- 
 der if the Lord hears them, they are so 
 small. I am sure He does. He loves 
 little children. I'he Lord Jesus, when He 
 was here on earth, loved and blessed them. 
 He has gone to heaven; but He does not 
 forget little ones who are here. Little 
 
16 SECOND BOOK 
 
 children should pray. They should thank 
 the Lord for His goodness to them, and 
 ask Him for what they want. When your 
 mother gives you something that you need, 
 you thank her for it, do you not? The 
 Lord gives you life and . health, and many 
 other things, and you should thank Him. 
 John was a little boy who had been 
 taught to pray. His parents told him 
 that the Lord would listen to him when 
 he prayed. He knew they always told 
 the truth. He prayed often to the Lord. 
 One day his father gave him a nice pres- 
 ent. John was glad to get it. He thought 
 he would keep it forever. But he lost it; 
 he felt very sorry, and looked for it, but 
 could not find it. He did not know what 
 to do. At last he thought he would ask 
 the Lord to help him to find it. So he 
 went off alone and prayed. He then got 
 up and looked again ; the first thing he 
 saw was the present he had lost. Oh, he 
 was so glad; he ran and told his father. 
 He said he knew the Lord had heard him 
 pray. How happy men and women are 
 when the Lord hears their prayers! He 
 
FOR OUE LITTLE FEIENDS. 17 
 
 will hear little children also, and they can 
 be happy, too. Make the Lord your 
 friend, children. He is a good Father to 
 you. He watches over you ; He sends His 
 angels to take care of you. You do not 
 see them ; but they see you. You should 
 do what you are 'told to do by the Lord 
 and your parents. Then the Lord will 
 love you. 
 
 LESSON NINE. 
 
 A CLEAR CONSCIENCE. 
 
 Perhaps some of you may not know the 
 meaning of the word conscience. We will 
 explain it to you. 
 
 Did you ever tell a lie? Did you ever 
 steal anything? Did you ever disobey 
 your parents? If so, something made 
 you feel that it was not right to do so. 
 That was your conscience. 
 
 Did you ever speak the truth boldly, 
 when [you felt tempted to tell a lie? Did 
 you ever have a chance to steal, and refuse 
 to do so? Did you ever obey your parents 
 
18 SECOND BOOK 
 
 when bad boys coaxed you not to? If so, 
 you felt that you had done right, and you 
 were happier than if you had not done so. 
 It was your conscience that made you feel so. 
 
 If you always do right, you Avill have a 
 clear conscience. You will not be afraid 
 to look any one in the face, and boldly 
 speak the truth. A guilty conscience 
 makes a person hang his head, and feel 
 ashamed to look another in the face. It 
 makes him a coward. A person is never 
 so brave as when he has a clear con- 
 science. You may do wrong without any 
 other person knowing it. But God will 
 know it, and He will make your con- 
 science remind you of it. You will al- 
 ways feel guilty. 
 
 A little boy once found a hatchet lying 
 on the roadside in front of a house. His 
 first thought was that it might belong to 
 the man in the house, and that he ought 
 to return it to him. Then he thought how 
 nice it would be to have it for a plaything. 
 Besides, it might not belong to that man. 
 Fearing that the man might see him and 
 claim the hatchet, he hurried away with 
 
FOB OTJE LITTLE FBIENDS. 19 
 
 it. He told his parents he had found it, 
 but did not tell them where. He kept 
 the hatchet a few days, but his conscience 
 kept reminding him that he had stolen it. 
 Then, to get rid of this feeling, he gave 
 the hatchet away. But still the feeling 
 haunted him. That little boy is now a 
 man, but' he has never forgotten it. He 
 has wished many a time he had not taken 
 it. The man who lived in the house near 
 by has long since died. So he cannot find 
 out whether the hatchet was his or not. 
 Nor can he repay him for it. If he could, 
 he would willingly give him many times 
 the worth of it, to satisfy his conscience. 
 
 LESSON TEN. 
 
 "isn't it worse for a man?" 
 
 Our picture certainly does not represent 
 a street scene in any of the cities of Utah. 
 We have no houses built in the style 
 shown therein, nor can we often see 
 groups of depraved, hardened boys, such 
 
20 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 as these who oc- 
 cupy the b a c k- 
 groLind. It would 
 be well if we could 
 truthfully say that, 
 in our mountain 
 home, boys can 
 nowhere be found, who, in any way, re- 
 semble them. These boys are low, 
 
FOB OUR LITTLE FEIENDS. 21 
 
 vulgar, ignorant and impudent; they take 
 God's holy name in vain, they drink 
 strong drink, when they can get it; they 
 smoke every cast-away cigar end that 
 they can pick up on the pavement, or root 
 out of the gutter. 
 
 But we are "compelled to acknowledge 
 that we have a few boys in Utah who 
 use bad language, who are idle, who drink 
 strong drinks, who smoke or chew that 
 filthy weed, tobacco. We sincerely trust 
 that their numbers will continually grow 
 less, until it can be truthfully said that 
 there is not a boy or youth, in all our 
 favored valleys, who smokes or chews, 
 who lies or swears, who steals or gambles. 
 When that time comes, what a happy 
 time it will be ! God speed the day. 
 
 Now look at the bright, intelligent face 
 of the little boy, who walks by his father's 
 side. We venture to say he neither smokes, 
 chews nor swears ; for, strange to say, the 
 use of tobacco and the habit of swearing 
 almost always go hand in hand. 
 
 If you were to go to our Territorial Pen- 
 itentiary, you would find that every one of 
 
22 SECOND BOOK 
 
 the young men of Mormon parentage and 
 education, confined there, use tobacco. 
 They broke the Word of Wisdom, before 
 they broke that other commandment, 
 which says, "Thou shalt not steal." Not 
 that all who smoke will steal, but those 
 who disregard the warnings of the Lord 
 in one direction, are weaker to resist the 
 temptation to disobey His law in other 
 ways, and on other subjects. 
 
 We fancy our bright little friend has 
 been asking his father a somewhat puz- 
 zling question. The father has been 
 pointing out to his son the evil habits into 
 which those rude, rough boys have fallen. 
 But to do so, he. had to take a cigar out of 
 his own mouth. How inconsistent! How 
 ridiculous ! 
 
 The little boy perceives the inconsis- 
 tency, and asks, "Isn't it worse for a man?" 
 Yes ; we will answer the question : It is 
 worse for a man ! Who can deny it ? 
 
 Children are without experience, and 
 through ignorance they often copy the evil 
 habits of those who are much older than 
 they are, and who ought to set them 
 
FOR OUE LITTLE FRIENDS. 23 
 
 better examples. And when they do, they 
 should be pitied and excused, rather than 
 punished, for they are the victims of cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 But can grown persons be excused for 
 the same reason ? No, especially among 
 the Latter-day Saints ; and hence it may 
 well be asked of those among them who 
 are guilty of habits for which children 
 are reproved, "Isn't it worse for a man ?" 
 
 LESSON ELEVEN. 
 
 RIGHT AND WRONG. 
 
 If you'll pay attention I'll sing you a song, 
 I'll tell you what's right, and I'll tell you what's 
 wrong ; 
 It is right (warm or cool) 
 To attend Sunday School. 
 And observe every rule 
 
 Which your teachers decree. 
 But 'tis wrong, girls and boys. 
 To be making a noise ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
24 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Obedience to parents, all children should 
 
 learn, 
 For children expect to be parents in turn ; 
 It is right to obey. 
 That is, do what they say. 
 And in every way 
 
 Ever dutiful be ; 
 But 'tis wrong to object 
 And their teachings neglect ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
 To be strictly honest, of course, we should 
 
 strive. 
 For honesty is the most likely to thrive ; 
 It is right to be just 
 And e'er true to our trust, 
 For a reckoning must 
 
 At some future time be. 
 But 'tis not right to steal, 
 Nor to cheat when we deal ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
 In all that we say, we should keep to the fact. 
 Nor try to deceive by a word or an act ; 
 It is right age and youth 
 Should speak nought but the truth. 
 
FOB OUE LITTLE FKIENDS. 25 
 
 Though against us, forsooth, 
 
 It may happen to be. 
 But 'tis wrong to tell lies. 
 Or the facts to disguise ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
 A pleasing behai^or, we should cultivate. 
 Good manners will, doubtless, good feelings 
 create ; 
 We all know it is right 
 To be civil, polite. 
 And courteous, quite 
 
 Wheresoever we be ; 
 But 'tis wrong to intrude. 
 To be vulgar or rude ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
 Profane or foul language we never should use 
 But words that are proper and chaste we 
 should choose ; 
 It is right I am sure, 
 If good friends we'd secure. 
 That our speech should be pure, 
 And from filthy words free ; 
 But 'tis wrong, I declare. 
 To revile, curse or swear ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
26 SECOND BOOK 
 
 There's one Word of Wisdon we all should 
 
 observe, 
 If our wisdom and strength we'd increase 
 and preserve — 
 It is right to abstain 
 From strong drinks (that is plain) 
 And tobacco again, 
 
 Also coffee and tea ; 
 But 'tis wrong to give way 
 To excess, night or day ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
 Give heed to the precept, which tells us to 
 
 "Do 
 To others as you'd have them do unto you." 
 It is right to be kind. 
 And to do good inclined. 
 Then a pure love will bind 
 Us in true unity ; 
 But 'tis wrong to nurse hate 
 And ill-feeling create ; 
 
 Young folks, listen to me ! 
 
POft OUH LITTLE FRIENDS. 27 
 
 LESSON TWELVE. 
 
 WORK AND PLAY. 
 
 Boys and girls like to play ; and they 
 should like to ■\5iork also. It is good for 
 children to play, but not all of the time. 
 They should learn to do a great many 
 kinds of work, as soon as they are old 
 enough. In doing this, they help their 
 
 BOYS AT PLAY. 
 
 fathers and mothers to do what must be 
 done in and about their homes. And 
 they are also forming the habit of being 
 useful, which is one of the best things 
 they can do. 
 
28 SECOND BOOK 
 
 To help ourselves is much better than 
 having everything done for us by some one 
 else. And to do what we can do, well, is 
 better than doing work in such a way 
 that it must be done over again. Children 
 who work well are apt to play well^ too, 
 for they are smart and bright, and can 
 enjoy good, healthy sport. 
 
 I know two little girls, about the same age. 
 They are cousins, and live near each other. 
 I have visited at both houses, and will tell 
 you about each of these little girls. 
 
 One is always on hand to help her 
 mamma. She will rock the baby, or 
 shake his rattle to please him and keep 
 him still; answer a knock at the door, 
 hang up her little sister's cape and bon- 
 net, and show ' her the pictures and tell 
 her the letters in their little books. She 
 will also brush up the hearth, and dust 
 the chairs very nicely. To watch her play 
 is a great pleasure ; for even while she 
 romps and laughs, she is gentle and care- 
 ful and does not make a great noise, nor act 
 as if she would hurt the other children by 
 her rough ways. 
 
FOB OUE LITTLE FRIENDS. 29 
 
 The other little girl is never ready to do 
 what her mamma asks her to, because 
 she has not done what she was asked to 
 do before. She does not seem to like 
 work. And she does not seem to enjoy 
 play, either. If you see her try to play 
 with the other children, you will think she 
 feels unpleasantly, for she looks and acts 
 
 GIKLS AT WUKK. 
 
 unpleasantly. It is because she has not 
 done what she was asked to do — to help 
 her mamma, and she does not feel that 
 she has a right to enjoy play. 
 
 Now children, any of you would like 
 best to be like the little girl I told you 
 about first. And you can all be like her 
 if you try. 
 
30 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Remember it Is right for children, as well 
 as men and women, to work. And that it is 
 best to do your work first, and play after. 
 Then you will enjoy both work and play. 
 
 LESSON THIRTEEN. 
 
 THE APPLE TREE. 
 
 My little friends have all seen an apple. 
 Did you ever think where it came from ? 
 
 In eating an apple, you noticed some very 
 small things near the center. These are 
 called the seeds. 
 
 One of these little things, when planted 
 in the damp ground, grows. A part of it 
 comes up to form the trunk of the tree. 
 Another part, called the root, goes down 
 into the ground. 
 
 The tree is very small at first ; but it 
 gets food from the ground by little mouths 
 in the roots, and it grows larger and larger. 
 
 We see it day after day, and we know 
 that it is growing. 
 
FOR OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 31 
 
 If we break the stem, we can see a 
 juice. It is the sap. 
 
 By this sap, the tree is fed. The stem 
 that is broken off will stop growing, and 
 die, because no sap gets to it. 
 
 A great many things are made from the 
 sap : the bark, the wood, the soft green 
 leaves; and more, for flowers come with 
 their pretty colors. They go away, and 
 the fruit grows. All made from the sap, 
 and this is drawn from the ground by the 
 roots. How wonderful ! 
 
 What wisdom God has, to do these 
 things ! A large apple tree from a little 
 tiny seed ! 
 
 We could not make an apple. The 
 wisest man on the earth could not make 
 one. 
 
 How pretty the leaves of a tree are! 
 Look at one. T&ste it. Taste an apple. 
 How different ! Yet they come from the 
 same stem. 
 
32 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 LESSON FOURTEEN. 
 
 GREAT MEN. 
 
 George Washington was a great and 
 good man. It is more than eighty years 
 since he died, but his name and fame will 
 live forever. 
 
 He was not thought great merely 
 because he was 
 wealthy. He had 
 wealth, but he 
 was not vain over 
 it, as some men 
 are. His good- 
 ness and his wis- 
 dom made him 
 great. 
 
 No man can be 
 truly great unless 
 he is good. 
 
 When George Washington was a little 
 boy his parents taught him to be truthful 
 and honest, and to fear God. He loved 
 his parents, and obeyed them, and this is 
 one reason for his greatness. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
FOE OUK LITTLE FEIBNDS. 
 
 33 
 
 WASHINGTON AS A GENERAL. 
 
 He had another quality which added to 
 his greatness, that, some men in high posi- 
 tions do not 
 have. He con- 
 sidered that all 
 men had rights 
 which should 
 be respected. 
 He did not like 
 to see people 
 oppressed by 
 those who were 
 in power. 
 
 This made him fight bravely for the free- 
 dom and rights of the people of America, when 
 they were oppressed by the English govern- 
 ment. He became the leading general in the 
 American army. He fought bravely and 
 showed great wisdom, all through the 
 war. When peace was secured, he became 
 the first President of the United States. 
 
 He had been loving, truthful and obedi- 
 ent when he was a boy. He had been 
 noble and brave when he was a general. 
 Now he was wise and just as a President, 
 the leading man of the nation. 
 
34 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 He tried to give all men their rights. He 
 respected the rights of the poor as much as 
 those of the rich. He did all he could to 
 make the nation happy, and the people loved 
 him. His care was so great for the people that 
 he has been called the "Father of his country. " 
 
 MOUNT VERNON, THE HOME OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 One little incident will show his respect 
 for people's rights. 
 
 One day he and some of his officers 
 went into the country and visited a friend. 
 When they were leaving, to return home, 
 one of the officers happened to knock a 
 stone from the wall in front of the house. 
 
FOR OUE LITTLE FEIENDS. 35 
 
 The man did not offer to replace the 
 stone, and Washington noticed it. He 
 asked him if he was not going to do so, and 
 the officer replied that he would leave it 
 for some one else to do. 
 
 He felt too proud to be seen putting a 
 stone upon a "wall. But Washington 
 picked the stone up and put it back in its 
 place. As he did so, he said : 
 
 " I always make it a, rule, in visiting a place, 
 to leave things in as good order as I find them." 
 
 It was a lesson to the officer, which he 
 probably never forgot. It is a lesson, 
 too, that all boys should think of and 
 profit by, who have ever damaged other 
 people's property for fun, or mischief, or 
 want of thought. Boys who lift neighbors' 
 gates off the hinges, break windows, or 
 take other liberties with their property 
 for fun, or because they are not seen, are 
 not respecting the rights of others as they 
 should. They are not doing as they 
 would wish to be done by. 
 
 If they follow such a course through life, 
 they will never be truly great. They will 
 never be honored and remembered for 
 
36 SECOND BOOK 
 
 their good deeds and noble qualities, as 
 George Washington is. 
 
 LESSON FIFTEEN. 
 
 GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. 
 
 ''Be sure your sin will find you out!' 
 
 So says the Bible, and so say we. Sooner 
 or later, in some way or another, here or 
 hereafter, your sin will find you out. 
 
 Your parents may not find it out, your 
 playmates may know nothing of it, and 
 all the world may be ignorant of the ill 
 you have done. 
 
 But there are two beings, at least, who 
 will know it — God and yourself. You 
 may get away from your parents, you 
 may hide from your friends, you may 
 fly to the uttermost parts of the earth, but 
 God and yourself will both be there. You 
 cannot fly from them. 
 
 So, boys and girls, remember, when 
 tempted to do wrong, that if you give way 
 to it, that wrong must be righted, before 
 
FOR OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 37 
 
 your soul can be satisfied and the evil 
 blotted out. 
 
 "Nobody sees me" is a mistake. It is 
 a fraud which the tempter practices upon 
 you. It is a lie. You are seen by your- 
 self. You are seen by the ever-watchful 
 eyes of powers urtseen by you. And their 
 record and the testimony of your own 
 conscience, will bear witness against you. 
 
 Strive to do right. Strive to avoid evil. 
 Every evil deed committed is a wrong against 
 God, a wrong against mankind, a wrong 
 against yourself. Don't be your own enemy. 
 Trust in God. Do right. 
 
 As Moses of old told the children of Israel 
 (Numbers, chapter xxxii, and verse 23), so 
 we repeat: "Be sure your sin will find you 
 out." It is an everlasting truth. It cannot be 
 dodged. It cannot be evaded. It will 
 surely be fulfilled at last. 
 
 LESSON SIXIEEN. 
 
 ANSWER KINDLY. 
 
 Solomon, whose great gift was wisdom, 
 has said that "A soft answer turneth away 
 
SECOND BOOK 
 
 wrath." Children, did you ever try the 
 effect of a soft answer upon an angry 
 school-fellow or playmate? 
 
 If you never did, just try it the first 
 time one of your friends gets angry with 
 you. We feel sure you will be delighted 
 with the result. Oh, how many quarrels 
 would be saved if soft answers were given 
 to angry expressions ! 
 
 "But," says one of our readers, "suppose 
 one of my playmates is angry with me and 
 threatens me, and I have done nothing 
 to hurt him, must I bear it and answer him as 
 though he were speaking pleasantly to me?" 
 
 Yes ; and if you do so, you will gain 
 a greater victory over him than if you 
 were to whip him. 
 
 The spirit of the Lord is a meek and 
 quiet and a lowly Spirit. Those who are 
 led by it are not quarrelsome and proud. 
 They would rather suffer wrong than do 
 wrong. 
 
 But there are many boys, and men 
 too, who think they would be coward- 
 ly if they were not to resent angry expres- 
 sions when they are made to them. They 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FEIEND8. 39 
 
 think that if they do not get mad and 
 are not willing to quarrel at such times, 
 they do not show a proper spirit, and their 
 friends may think that they are not brave. 
 
 Now, children this is a wrong idea. It 
 is no sign of courage for a person to get 
 angry and indulge in a quarrelsome spirit 
 because another person does so. 
 
 A person who can return good for evil, and 
 not descend to a mean, contemptible spirit 
 when imposed upon, has true courage. 
 
 LESSON SEVENTEEN. 
 
 SPEAK OF ALL KINDLY. 
 
 Speak of all kindly. 
 Mention not blindly 
 
 Errors and faults wherein men ever fall ; 
 Never relating, 
 Stories berating — 
 
 Speak of all kindly, or never at all. 
 Should one be falling, 
 Be thou recalling. 
 
 Think of temptations that ever allure ; 
 
40 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Faith and works blending, 
 
 Kindness extending, 
 Be thou a savior, to aid and secure. 
 
 O ! in forgiving, 
 
 Blessed are the living, 
 Never assured what their pathway may be ; 
 
 Hearts now upbraiding. 
 
 Soon may need aiding, 
 Better speak gently of all that we see. 
 
 Living and loving. 
 
 Never reproving. 
 Cheering each other whatever befall ; 
 
 Never rehearsing, 
 
 Follies accursing — 
 Speak of all kindly, or never at all. 
 
 LESSON EIGHTEEN. 
 
 LEARN A TRADE. 
 
 Some boys are very anxious to learn a 
 trade. All boys should be. The,re are 
 some boys, though, who would rather not. 
 They would have to work to learn a trade ; 
 and they think they would rather live 
 without work. 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FEIENDS. 41 
 
 Perhaps they think their fathers are able to 
 support them without their assistance. Or 
 that it would not look well for them to work 
 at blacksmithing, building, shoemaking, or 
 anything of the kind, when they can live 
 without it. 
 
 They fancy it is not as respectable to work 
 at a trade, as to spend their time in idleness. 
 They see some people who dress well, and 
 yet never seem to work. They admire them. 
 They think their life must be a pleasant one. 
 They notice that tradesmen seldom dress so 
 finely, and often work very hard. That, they 
 think, they would not like. Boys who feel 
 like this are very foolish. 
 
 The most worthless men we know of are 
 those who do not work for their living. 
 Many of those who wear stylish clothes are 
 gamblers, who live by cheating others. 
 Some are thieves, who steal from honest 
 men for a living. Those who spend their 
 time in idleness, and let their fathers 
 support them, are quite as useless. They 
 are like drones in the bee- hive. They eat 
 but do not work. The world would be 
 better off without all such. 
 
42 SECOND BOOK 
 
 But tradesmen are useful. They are 
 workers. They add to our happiness. We 
 could not do well without them. If there 
 were no shoemakers, we should have no 
 shoes to wear. If there were no carpenters, 
 nor masons, nor plasterers, we could have no 
 nice houses. All these are necessary. 
 
 It is honorable to work at any useful 
 trade. Many of the greatest and best men 
 that ever lived have been tradesmen. 
 
 Every boy should learn a trade, no matter 
 how rich his father may be. If he should 
 never have to work at it for a living it will 
 never hurt him, nor disgrace him, to be able 
 to earn his living. 
 
 We hope every one of our little readers will 
 try to learn some useful trade. 
 
 LESSON NINETEEN. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF. 
 
 About two thousand five hundred years 
 ago, there lived in Athens, the chief city of 
 Greece, a slave named ^sop. He had 
 
FOR OUB LITTLE FEIENDS. 43 
 
 not only the misfortune to be a slave, but 
 some say he was also deformed. 
 
 He was blessed, however with much 
 wisdom and wit, and is said to be the 
 author of many fables, which have been 
 translated into several languages for • the 
 benefit of the little folks. 
 
 Fables, as no doubt many of you know, 
 are little stories in which animals, rocks, 
 
 THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF. 
 
 trees, etc., are represented as speaking 
 and acting, on purpose, to teach mankind 
 some wise lesson, or give them some good 
 advice. The moral of a fable, is the good 
 lesson that we can learn from it. 
 
 Our picture is to illustrate one of these 
 well-known fables, called the Shepherd 
 
44. SECOND BOOK 
 
 Boy and the Wolf. It runs something 
 like this : 
 
 " Once upon a time, there lived.in a country 
 where there were a great many wolves, a boy, 
 who was hired by a farmer to herd his sheep. 
 
 These fierce wolves would sometimes 
 attack the herd of sheep, and kill and 
 devour numbers of them and their lambs. 
 
 Whenever any wolves came near a flock, 
 it was the duty of the shepherd boy to 
 give the alarm, by calling out loudly, 
 wolf, wolf! so that the laborers at work 
 in the fields near by, might come to his 
 help, and drive away the wolves. 
 
 The boy we have spoken of was very 
 wicked, for he would often cry wolf, wolf! 
 when there was no wolf near. 
 
 This would cause the laborers to leave 
 their work, and come running to drive 
 away the wolves. 
 
 Then the bad boy would laugh at them, 
 for there were no wolves, and he thought 
 it was fine fun to deceive them thus. 
 
 After he had done this a number of 
 times, the men would not believe him 
 when he cried wolf, wolf! and did not go 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FRIENDS. 45 
 
 to his assistance. At last the wolves did 
 come. In vain he cried "wolf, wolf!" All 
 thought he was lying, and therefore would 
 not leave their work ; so the poor sheep 
 and lambs were torn to pieces, and the 
 boy himself barely escaped. 
 
 The moral of this fable is, that a liar is 
 seldom believed, even when he speaks the 
 truth. 
 
 LESSON TWENTY. 
 
 LIGHT. 
 
 " / am the light of the worlds — Jesus. 
 
 A FINE vessel was once sailing along a 
 rocky coast. The captain was at his post, 
 watching for dangers ahead ; but he made 
 a fatal mistake, and one of the largest 
 steam vessels ever built, was wrecked. 
 He mistook the light. 
 
 Such was the fate of the ship called the 
 " Great Britain " on the coast of Ireland, 
 a few years ago, and all through a light 
 shining in the darkness, that was not 
 marked on the chart. 
 
46 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Boys and girls sometimes make mis- 
 takes, very much like that of the captain 
 of the "Great Britain." They follow a 
 false light ; they go down to destruction. 
 They heed not the warnings of their par- 
 ents, their teachers and their friends, but 
 are led astray by the glare of some one of 
 the many false lights that shine to deceive. 
 
 They listen to the tempter. They are shown 
 the apparently bright side of sin. They meet 
 with bad company. They join with those 
 who revile and curse, who take the name of 
 God in vain, who do not remember to keep 
 holy the Sabbath day. Their end is death. 
 
 Jesus says, " I am the light of the 
 world." His holy word is the chart which 
 should guide us in the voyage of our life. 
 His unerring Spirit will cause that light 
 to shine within us. Trust none but those 
 who are inspired by it. 
 
 Those who are thus guided are also 
 lights to the children of men. They shine 
 by the light of God. Our Savior told His 
 disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." 
 
 Listen not to those who reject "His 
 word, who close their eyes to His light. 
 
rOK OUK LITTLE FEIENDS. 
 
 FjOs-IR-T secohstd. 
 lesson one. 
 
 GEORGE S RESOLUTION. 
 
 George is a bright, manly little fellow, 
 three and a half years old. He never 
 sees beer nor wine drunk at home ; his 
 parents do not think it right to use them. 
 
 But many families do use such drinks, 
 and he has visited at such houses many 
 times with his ma. With having beer and 
 wine given him there to drink, he soon 
 grew to like the taste of them ; and one day 
 he drank so much that it made him 
 almost drunk, and he could hardly walk 
 home. 
 
 His pa heard of it, and the next morn- 
 ing he called George to him, and told 
 him how wrong and foolish it was for 
 people to get drunk, and that God would 
 not be pleased with us if we did. When 
 
48 SECOND BOOK 
 
 he had done talking to him, George looked 
 up in his face and said : 
 
 "Pa, I am not going to drink any more 
 wine, nor beer either. I am going to be 
 like you, pa !" 
 
 He had never seen his pa drink liquor 
 of any kind, and he took him for a pat- 
 tern. It made his pa think that if George 
 was going to watch his actions and 
 pattern after him, he must be sure and 
 always do right himself. 
 
 Parents sometimes forget that their 
 children notice all that they do, and that 
 the little ones are often led to do wrong 
 because they see them do so. 
 
 George's pa was very proud of his litrie 
 boy for making such a resolve, and hoped 
 he would be able to keep it. He knew if 
 he would stick to it through all his life, it 
 would be a very great blessing to him. 
 He felt that he would not for any amount 
 of money tempt George to break his promise. 
 
 Liquor has been offered to George many 
 times since, but he has never tasted it. 
 
 When he is asked to drink, he draws 
 himself up with dignity, and says : "I 
 
FOE ODE LITTLE FEIENDS. 49 
 
 don't want it. I promised my. pa I 
 wouldn't drink any more. I am going to 
 be like my pa !" 
 
 We wish every little boy would make 
 such a resolution as this, and stick to it. 
 
 LESSON TWO. 
 
 THE OSTRICH. 
 
 We have all seen men riding on horses 
 and mules ; we have read of some travel- 
 ing on the backs of camels and elephants ; 
 but the idea of a man riding on a bird is 
 rather a novel one. 
 
 Yet in some parts of Africa, the scene 
 represented in our picture, is not so 
 strange a sight as many might suppose. 
 The ostrich which is the largest of all 
 birds, is there sometimes tamed and 
 rode by the natives ; its size, strength 
 and extreme swiftness in running, making 
 it very valuable for this purpose. 
 
 Besides being the largest of birds, the 
 ostrich has several other peculiarities. 
 Though in the shape of a bird, in some 
 
50 SECOND BOOK 
 
 of its ways and habits, it more resembles 
 a four-footed animal. 
 
 Unlike nearly all other birds, it cannot 
 fly. Its wings are very small compared 
 with its body, and, exert them as it may, 
 they cannot raise it from the ground. 
 
 RIDING THE OSTRICH. 
 
 Still they are most valuable helps to it 
 while running, and for swiftness it cannot 
 •be equalled by any other known animal. 
 
 In the matter of food, this creature is 
 not at all particular. It is very fond of 
 grass and grain, but will not refuse 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FRIENDS. 51 
 
 leather, metal, wood and other hard sub- 
 stances. It is said that one was once 
 present when some bullets were being 
 cast, and as they fell on the ground hot 
 from the mold the bird picked them up 
 and swallowed them, appearing to enjoy 
 the meal. After' that we should fancy 
 nothing would disagree with its stomach, 
 and that a keg of nails would be as 
 healthy diet for it as a bag of corn, or a 
 heap of shavings as a load of hay. 
 
 The beautiful feathers of this creature are 
 highly prized by ladies, for trimming their hats 
 and other head dresses. For this reason it is 
 extensively hunted by the Moors and Arabs. 
 
 As there is no chance for one man and 
 horse, be it the fleetest that ever ran, 
 catching the ostrich, they adopt the plan 
 of having fresh men and horses stationed 
 ready to keep up the chase when the first 
 become tired. 
 
 This is the more easily done as the bird 
 does not take a straight course, but runs 
 in a circle; so the hunters know when 
 once it is started, near where it is likely 
 to pass, and post themselves accordingly. 
 
52 SECOND BOOK 
 
 In this way it is at last run down and 
 killed for its feathers, or secured to tame. 
 The ostrich is found on the sandy 
 deserts of Africa and Arabia. It averages 
 from seven to eight feet high, from the 
 ground to its head. Its neck and legs 
 are long, and has two long toes on each 
 foot, the inside one being larger than the 
 others. The color of the feathers of the male 
 bird is black ; of the female dusky. Those 
 of the wings and tail are white ; sometimes, 
 however, marked with black. 
 
 Ostrich eggs are considered great delica- 
 cies, and are cooked in several ways. They 
 are very large, weighing, as a general 
 thing, about three pounds. The natives 
 make a business of finding them in the 
 sand of the desert, where the mother lays 
 them, and it is a very simple way for them 
 to obtain a good dinner, when they find no 
 easier way of getting one. 
 
FOE ODB LITTLE FRIENDS. 
 
 53 
 
 LESSON THREE. 
 
 CRUELTY AND KINDNESS. 
 
 A YOUNG lady finding a large spider on 
 her dress, was about to brush it into the 
 fire. 
 
 "Do not burn it!" said a young man 
 
 who saw her. 
 
 ■ 
 
 "Why not" asked the lady. 
 
 
 THE KIND MILKMAID, 
 
 
 '"^'^'V^^-"* 
 
 The young man said that when he was 
 a small boy, his mother had taught him 
 that burning was a hard and cruel death. 
 That when it was necessary to kill a bug, 
 
54 SECOND BOOK 
 
 or anything else, there were better, be- 
 cause less cruel ways of taking life, than 
 by burning. She taught him that to 
 drown was one of the least cruel ways of 
 taking life. 
 
 THE BRUTAL DRIVER. 
 
 The young lady thanked her friend for 
 teaching her this good lesson. She said 
 she had not thought of it before, but she 
 would never burn anything needlessly 
 again. 
 
FOR OUE LITTLE FEIENDS. 55 
 
 Perhaps some of you, my little friends, like 
 the young lady, have not been led ,to think 
 about these things. I hope, like her, you will 
 be thankful for this lesson, and remember it. 
 
 It is good to be kind even to the small- 
 est creatures that God has made. He 
 made them as wett as us. And they have 
 a right to live on the earth as well as we 
 have. Sometimes it is necessary for us to 
 kill insects ; then we should show all the 
 kindness we can to them, and kill them 
 in the quickest and most merciful way. 
 
 We should never hurt anything need- 
 lessly. The Lord is very kind to us all, 
 and He wants us to be kind to each other 
 and to all His creatures. 
 
 LESSON FOUR. 
 
 BABY WILL WAKE. 
 
 I CAN only just remember 
 How my baby brother lay. 
 
 In his narrow little coffin. 
 Ere they carried it away. 
 
56 SECOND BOOK 
 
 I could not understand them, 
 
 When they told me he was dead ; 
 
 No thought of baby brother 
 
 Could be linked with thoughts of dread. 
 
 And still the sweet impression 
 Lingered with me day by day, 
 
 That the baby soon would waken, 
 And begin to laugh and play. 
 
 ! fair and blissful childhood ! 
 So innocent and pure ! 
 
 So free from every sorrow, 
 From every pang secure ! 
 
 1 since have learned the lesson. 
 
 Why it is that mortals grieve, 
 When friends they love and cherish 
 Of earthly homes take leave. 
 
 But blessed glorious gospel, 
 Thy truth gives ample scope 
 
 For holy peace and light and trust. 
 And patient, living hope. 
 
FOR OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 57 
 
 That all these little sleeping forms, 
 
 So lifeless, cold and white, 
 Will wake in beauteous life, and with 
 
 The spirits re-unite. 
 
 Oh ! glorious resurrection ! 
 
 For this the Savior died ! 
 I think this one sweet gospel truth 
 
 Is worth the world beside ! 
 
 O ! father, keep my heart still pure. 
 
 And worthy to partake 
 Of that blessed resurrection, 
 
 And see the baby wake ! 
 
 LESSON FIVE. 
 
 ASKING GOD. 
 
 " I don't believe it," thoughtlessly said 
 a mother to her toddling; lisping boy, as 
 
 he strove to pour into her ear the story of 
 
 his baby troubles. 
 
58 SECOND BOOK 
 
 " Don't believe it ma !" replied the little 
 one, in his baby way of talking, as his 
 face reddened at the idea of his mother 
 fancying he told a falsehood ; " don't believe 
 it, ma !" added he a moment after, " den 
 you may do and ast Dod !" 
 
 This little boy had been taught to kneel by 
 his bedside every evening before he lay down 
 to rest, and ask Jesus to " listen to a little 
 child," and he felt sure God heard his prayers. 
 If so, reasoned he, God will hear mamma as 
 well, and he could think of no better way of 
 setting himself right in his mother's eyes and 
 proving his statement, than by directing her 
 to " go and ask God." 
 
 His mother smiled at his idea, and was 
 no doubt satisfied that her little son had 
 told the truth. 
 
 Now this speech of our little friend 
 may seem to some a very strange one. 
 Still his idea, as far as he understood it, 
 was a correct one ; for there is no surer 
 plan, no better way for those who are in 
 doubt or trouble, or who lack wisdom, than 
 to "go and ask God," in the right way. 
 The answer may come in rather a different 
 
FOK OUl! LITTLE FJUENDS. 59 
 
 manner than that which this little one 
 imagined it would, yet it will be none 
 the less sure if we ask Him in faith, and 
 as He has directed, in the name of His 
 Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 It was through asking the Lord that 
 the Prophet Joseph first received the word 
 of revelation. Through prayer, holy men 
 of old learned the ways of their Heavenly 
 Father; and in this same way the servants 
 of the Lord Jesus learn His will in our 
 day. 
 
 LESSON SIX. 
 
 LIVE FUR SOMETHING. 
 
 Thousands of persons breathe, move and 
 live — pass off the stage of life and are 
 heard of no more. Why? Because they 
 did no good in the world. None were 
 blessed by them, and none could point to 
 them as their friends or benefactors. 
 
 Of what value is such a life? Its pos- 
 sessor has suffered the golden days of his 
 
60 SECOND BOOK 
 
 probation to pass by unimproved, and his 
 light has gone out in darkness. 
 
 Children, you have life before you ; do 
 not waste it foolishly. Make up your 
 minds while young, to live for something 
 good and useful. 
 
 Understand that you have a mission 
 given you, and be determined to fill it 
 worthily and well. 
 
 Recollect that you cannot be truly great 
 unless you are truly good, and make it 
 your constant study to learn to do all the 
 good you can. 
 
 You may be young and not very widely 
 known, but you can extend the circle of 
 your acquaintance and influence by good 
 deeds, and, wherever you go, you can carry 
 an influence with you that will inspire 
 others with good resolves and a determina- 
 tion to follow your example. 
 
 Do this, and you will write your names on 
 the hearts of your acquaintances in letters that 
 will never perish, and you will enter upon a 
 career of ever-increasing happiness and glory. 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 61 
 
 LESSON SEVEN. 
 
 LOST IN THE SNOW. 
 
 The winter of 1872-3, in many parts of 
 the country, was one of the most severe 
 ever known.* The thermometer in many 
 places fell occasionally to between thirty and 
 forty degrees below zero, indicating such in- 
 tense cold as is very rarely experienced any- 
 where, except in the Arctic regions. 
 
 Besides being so very cold, snow storms, 
 such as were hardly ever known before, 
 occurred in many of the States. 
 
 This was especially the case in Minne- 
 sota, where several hundred persons and 
 many more animals lost their lives. One 
 of these heavy storms lasted about three 
 days. During the whole of that time the 
 frost was exceedingly severe, the wind 
 high, and the snow so thick as to almost 
 darken the air in the daytime. 
 
 While this lasted, men away from home 
 with their teams were buried in the snow, 
 and frozen to death. Children on their 
 way from school, perished in the same 
 
62 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 
 CARRYING CHARLIE HOME. 
 
 way, when only a few rods from their 
 homes ; and some persons, short of fuel, 
 were frozen to death in their houses, so 
 terrible was the cold. 
 
FOB OUE LITTLE FKIEND8. 63 
 
 Never, perhaps, since this country was 
 discovered and settled by white men, has 
 there been a more severe storm, and one in 
 which so many human beings and animals 
 lost their lives. 
 
 Our picture illustrates an incident which 
 we are going to tell you about that, 
 took place in one of the Western States, 
 during that winter. This is not a story made 
 up for children to read, but is an occurrence 
 which really happened. 
 
 Annie, nine years old, and Charlie, still 
 younger, were on their way homeward from 
 school, when one of these heavy snow storms 
 came on, accompanied with a strong wind, 
 which blew the snow in every direction. 
 
 Some of you have, no doubt, been out in 
 a storm of this kind, and have been very 
 glad indeed to get into the house, and by the 
 warm fireside. 
 
 But unfortunately for Annie and Charlie 
 — poor little things — they had quite a dis- 
 tance to walk, and there was, perhaps, not 
 one house between the school and their 
 home. They trudged bravely along for 
 awhile, but at last they lost their way, and 
 
64- SECOND BOOK 
 
 then sat down in a hollow to cry and rest. 
 
 Here they soon would have been over- 
 come with the cold, and fallen asleep 
 never to wake, at least in this life ; but the 
 cry of Charlie;— " Oh ! what shall we do? 
 I'm so cold!" roused his sister, and clasp- 
 ing his hand in hers, she made another 
 effort to find the path that led to their 
 home. 
 
 They walked along as well as they could 
 in the blinding snow and fierce wind, 
 for a little while longer. At last Annie 
 thought she saw their house a little way 
 off; but when they reiached the spot, no 
 house was there. In the greatest distress 
 she cried, "The wind has blown the house 
 away!" 
 
 They were so weary that they could go 
 no farther, and, benumbed and chilled, the 
 children sank down on the snow. 
 
 There can be no doubt that they would 
 have been frozen to death in a very short 
 time; but oh! joy to relate! their father, 
 alarmed for their safety, had got some 
 neighbors to go with him to hunt for them, 
 and a kind Providence directed their steps in 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FKIENDB. 65 
 
 the right direction. Just after the poor chil- 
 dren had given up through fatigue, their 
 father and his neighbors reached the spot 
 where they were, and rescued them. 
 
 You may be sure the meeting was a most 
 happy one. It was hard to tell whether 
 
 RESCUING A BOY. 
 
 the father or his children were most delighted. 
 They were not far from home, and in a 
 few minutes they were safe within its shelter- 
 ing' walls. When, with the attention and 
 
66 SECOND BOOK . 
 
 kindness of their mother, Annie and Charhe 
 had fully recovered from the effects of their 
 narrow escape from death in the storm, the 
 joy of parents and children can be better 
 imagined than described. 
 
 During one severe snow storn, a little boy 
 in Wisconsin, while trying to regain his hat, 
 which had been blown off by the wind, sank 
 into a drift. 
 
 He would have frozen to death had it 
 not been for a faithful dog. The noble 
 animal ran home, and by his actions induced 
 a servant to go with him to the drift, who, 
 by digging away the snow, rescued the boy. 
 
 LESSON EIGHT. 
 
 LOVELY UESERET. 
 
 In our lovely Deseret, 
 Where the Saints of God have met, 
 There's a multitude of children all around; 
 
FOK OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 67 
 
 They are generous and brave, 
 They have precious souls to save, 
 They must listen, and obey the gospel 
 sound. 
 
 Chorus : 
 
 Hark! hark! hark! 'tis children's music. 
 Children's voices, O! how sweet! 
 
 When in innocence and love. 
 
 Like the angels up above. 
 They with happy hearts and cheerful faces, 
 meet. 
 
 That the children may live long, 
 
 And be beautiful and strong. 
 Tea and coffee and tobacco they despise ; 
 
 Drink no liquor, and they eat 
 
 But a very little meat; 
 They are seeking to be great and good and 
 wise. 
 
 They should be instructed young. 
 How to watch and guard the tongue. 
 And their tempers train, and evil passions 
 bind; 
 
€8 SECOND BOOK 
 
 They should always be polite, 
 And treat everybody right, 
 And in every place be affable and kind. 
 
 They must not forget to pray 
 Night and morning, every day, 
 For the Lord to keep them safe from 
 every ill, 
 And assist them to do right. 
 That with all their mind and niight 
 They may love Him, and may learn to do 
 His will. 
 
 LESSON NINE. 
 
 BAD WORDS. 
 
 Never use bad words ; because it is 
 very foolish as well as very wicked. Some 
 boys think if they swear, use slang phrases, 
 or big and ugly words, are insulting 
 to their sisters, overbearing to their 
 brothers and playfellows, and disrespectful 
 to their mothers, that people will think 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FEIEND8. 69 
 
 they are manly and brave. But it is not 
 so. Nobody likes such boys, and they 
 are nearly always mean and cowardly. 
 
 Good boys always use good language, 
 and are respectful and kind to their moth- 
 ers and their sisters, and courteous to 
 every body. The consequence is, every one 
 believes them, all good people love them, 
 and they grow up useful, happy, and respect- 
 ed by all their friends and acquaintances. 
 
 But when little boys learn to swear and 
 swagger and talk vulgarly, they soon be- 
 come so bad that no one has any confi- 
 dence in them. They lose all their friends, 
 become bad and unhappy men, and some- 
 times end their lives in a very sad and 
 disgraceful manner. 
 
 Little boys and girls, as well as men 
 and women, should remember that Jesus 
 says we shall have to give an account for 
 every idle, naughty word that we speak. 
 
 It is to be feared that many of us will 
 have a great many foolish and wicked 
 words and speeches to answer for, that we 
 shall be very much ashamed of, and very 
 sorry that we ever uttered. 
 
70 SECOND BOOK 
 
 If you should ever feel tempted to use 
 bad words, just think for a moment that 
 God hears you, and, though you cannot 
 see Him now, yet some day you will have 
 to stand before Him and give an account 
 of all you have done and said in this life. 
 
 Do not, then, use any evil words, and do 
 not associate with any boys or girls who do. 
 
 If any of your playmates indulge in 
 naughty words, you had better shun them 
 and not play with them until they leave 
 off their wicked habits. 
 
 Try to associate with those who are 
 good to their mothers and fathers, kind to 
 their brothers and sisters, and courteous 
 and respectful to everybody. Then you 
 will learn to be good, and God will love 
 you, and your parents and friends will 
 love you, and you will become happy and 
 useful men and women. 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FEIENDS. 71 
 
 LESSON TEN. 
 
 WHEN THE TEACHER COMES. 
 
 We suppose every little Latter-day Saint 
 knows the teachers of the Church, whose 
 kindly visits of friendship and good-will, from 
 time to time^ gladden the house of every 
 Saint. 
 
 They are welcomed by father and mother 
 when they enter, who feel happy to see 
 them. Father stops his work, and mother 
 leaves her chore's, and both sit down to 
 listen to their words of counsel and instruc- 
 tion. 
 
 Now, little friends, what should you do? 
 Keep on playing, or talking, or reading or 
 continue at anything else you may be doing? 
 
 No ! such a course shows disrespect to the 
 servants of God, and God is angry with such 
 as treat thus rudely those whom He sends. 
 
 No ! rather let us follow the good pattern 
 shown us by our parents. At once leave 
 our play, cease making a noise, draw near 
 
72 SECOND BOOK 
 
 and listen attentively to what is being said. 
 For the visits of teachers are for young and 
 old. All can and all should receive benefit 
 from the visit. 
 
 Now we hope the next time the teachers 
 come visiting, that Joseph and George, and 
 all the rest, will leave their games, and Mary 
 and Lizzie cease their needlework; and if 
 little Brigham, the baby, cries or is cross, 
 they will try to keep him quiet, so that there 
 may be peace in the house. 
 
 Then, when the teachers leave, and say: 
 "God bless you. Brother and Sister So and 
 So, and all your little ones," you will all feel 
 that you deserve this bles'sing, and that it 
 will rest and abide with you. 
 
 Always remember that God sends the 
 teachers to instruct you ; and if you attend 
 to their instructions, you will please God, 
 please your parents, and please all good 
 men and women. 
 
 And, further, by taking such a course you 
 will make yourself beloved and useful, when 
 the day comes that you are called to help 
 build up His Church. 
 
FOB OUB LITTLE FEIEND8. 73 
 
 LESSON ELEVEN. 
 
 THE "didn't thinks." 
 
 There are quite a number of boys and 
 girls in this world, who may be said to 
 belong to the great army of "didn't 
 thinks." No matter what they do that is 
 wrong, or what they leave undone that 
 would be right to do, when called to 
 account, their excuse is, "We didn't think." 
 
 On the next page we have a picture of two 
 young misses who belong to this army. They 
 seated themselves on a high rock on the pleas- 
 ant sea shore, to watch the passing vessels 
 and read a deeply interesting book. 
 
 As they sat there, the tide came in ; and 
 as it slowly rose higher and higher around 
 them, they gazed and read, and never 
 thought of their peril, until at last the 
 waves, washing at their feet, compelled 
 them to consider the dangers by which 
 they had carelessly allowed themselves to 
 be encircled. 
 
 Then they hurriedly arose to return 
 home ; but their way was stopped. The 
 
74. 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 THE GIRLS WHO "DIDNT THINK. 
 
 rising ocean had not only surrounded 
 them, but covered the lower beach that 
 lay between them and the main land. 
 
FOB OUR LITTLE PEIENDS. 75 
 
 Yet worse, the tide was still rising, and would 
 soon cover the rock on which they stood. 
 
 What could they do? They were afraid 
 to plunge into the water and wade to the 
 shore, and still more afraid to remain on 
 the rock. To go or stay was to be in 
 danger of drowning, so not knowing what 
 to do, they clung to each other, and 
 sobbingly awaited the result of their 
 thoughtlessness. 
 
 In the meantime, their little dog, more 
 thoughtful than they, had run ashore 
 before the way was cut off. By his 
 strange antics he alarmed their friends, 
 who, becoming anxious at the children's 
 absence, followed him to the beach, where 
 they found the girls in the dangerous 
 position shown in our picture. 
 
 A sturdy sailor, used to the waves, was 
 soon found, and he plunged into the 
 water, and carried first one girl and then the 
 other to the shore. 
 
 It is said, " All is well that ends well," 
 but how would it have been if these girls 
 had not been discovered, through their 
 little dog's thinking of their danger? They 
 
76 SECOND BOOK 
 
 would either have slipped ofif the rock 
 overcome with fatigue, or the tide would 
 have covered their standing ground and 
 swept them away. 
 
 A crowd of little "didn't thinks" will 
 sometimes do much damage. One of 
 them will get a match, and then light a 
 fire in some sly corner. The place chosen 
 may be under the shade of a haystack, or 
 in a barn. The fire is lighted, and all is 
 fun for a few moments, until they notice 
 some straw or hay has caught fire, and is 
 burning rapidly. 
 
 In their fright they run away, and the 
 whole of the haystack or barn is soon in 
 flames, and thousands of dollars' worth of 
 food for man and beast destroyed. 
 
 Even worse, sometimes some of the little 
 "didn't thinks" are unable to escape, so rap- 
 idly does the fire spread, and they are burned 
 to death ; or some kind friend suffers the same 
 fate in trying to save them. What a sad re- 
 sult of a little thoughtlessness ! 
 
 But what shall we say of this excuse — 
 "I didn't think?" Sometimes we feel it is 
 a cowardly untruth, told to hide pure 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FRIENDS. 
 
 77 
 
 THE " DIDN T THINK WHO SET THE HOUSE 
 ON FIRE. 
 
78 SECOND BOOK 
 
 wilfulness, or to escape punishment. At 
 other times, the excuse is doubtless true ; 
 but if so, is still a very poor one, for, 'in 
 other words, the little "didn't think" says, 
 "I was too careless or too lazy to use the 
 good sense and judgment God has given 
 me, to keep me out of just such trouble." 
 
 And now, boys and girls, while we do 
 not wish to see you act like old men and 
 women, and be always pondering and 
 reflecting, we do hope that you will not 
 belong to the crowd of "didn't thinks." 
 
 We hope that you will be wise little 
 thinkers, and use your brains to a good 
 purpose, and thus avoid the troubles those 
 who do not think are sure to run into. 
 
 LESSON TWELVE. 
 
 SONG OF A MISSIONARY S CHILDREN. 
 
 The long, long time, dear father, 
 Since we have looked on you. 
 
 Makes all the days seem longer — 
 The night seems longer too. 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FKIENDS. 79 79 
 
 While in a distant country, 
 
 Across the mighty sea, 
 We hope you're feeling happy, 
 
 Wherever you may be. 
 
 Our kind, good mother teaches 
 
 Us how to pray for you. 
 When we kneel down together. 
 
 At night, and morning too. 
 
 She says, to distant nations. 
 
 By God's command, you're sent. 
 
 To preach the glorious gospel. 
 And we must be content. 
 
 We pray that Jesus' spirit 
 
 May ever fill your heart. 
 And give you light and knowledge, 
 
 To others to impart. 
 
 That through your heav'nly counsel, 
 The humble may be blest — 
 The pure in heart directed 
 To Zion in the West. 
 
 We pray that God will give you 
 
 Good health and appetite. 
 With wholesome food and clothing, 
 
 And quiet sleep at night. 
 
80 SECOND BOOK 
 
 When you are waiting dinner, 
 In homes across the sea — 
 
 When prattling stranger children 
 Are clinging to your knee ; 
 
 While gently you caress them, 
 Do not your feelings roam. 
 
 With fatherly affection. 
 
 To your dear mountain home, 
 
 Where loving hearts are beating, 
 And pure as winter snow ; 
 
 Where brightest eyes are beaming 
 With love's deep filial glow? 
 
 Yet father — dearest father, 
 We do not — dare not pray 
 
 For your return to Zion 
 
 Till God shall name the day. 
 
 LESSON THIRTEEN. 
 
 CIVILITY. 
 
 Some boys think they appear smart by 
 being rude and insolent to poor persons. 
 If a person is poorly dressed, they think 
 
FOB OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 81 
 
 they have no right to show him any respect, 
 or even be civil to him, If he is lame, also, 
 they think " Limpy" is a good enough name 
 for him. If he has a bald head, they are 
 very apt to call him " Baldy." 
 
 You have all heard of the prophet 
 Elisha. He -lived a great many hundred 
 years ago. A crowd of boys once mocked 
 him, and cried out to him, "Go up, thou 
 bald head!" 
 
 That was not only very rude, but really 
 wicked ; for he was a prophet of God. 
 They were punished for it, too. The 
 prophet cursed them, and then two bears 
 came out of the woods and tore forty-two 
 of them to pieces. 
 
 It is best to treat every person with 
 civility. Kind, polite persons are always 
 liked best, and, besides, it pays to be civil. 
 
 There was once a conductor on a rail- 
 road, who thought it was smart to be rude 
 to poor men. He saw a poor-looking, 
 lame man waiting for the train to start, 
 and he said to him : 
 
 " Hello, Limpy ! get aboard, or you'll be 
 left." 
 
82 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Then as the lame man was getting on 
 the car, he said, " Hurry up, Limpy." 
 
 How do you think the conductor felt, 
 when some one told him, a few minutes 
 after, that the lame man was the presi- 
 dent of the railroad ? 
 
 He knew he would lose his place if the 
 man would not forgive him, and he felt 
 ashamed and very sorry for his rudeness. 
 
 But the president was a very kind, good 
 man, and he forgave him, and let him 
 keep his place, but told him never to be 
 uncivil to any person again. 
 
 Remember, children, if you want to go 
 through life smoothly, be kind and 
 pleasant yourselves. Civility is a fortune. 
 
 LESSON FOURTEEN. 
 
 THE PEACOCK. 
 
 The peacock is a fine, noble and grace- 
 ful-looking creature. But it has a strong, 
 harsh cry of "Eko," which musical people 
 dislike. 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FEIENDS. 
 
 83 
 
 The male i§ the one that has the hand- 
 some feathers, of all the colors of the 
 rainbow. The female has only a plain dress 
 of grey and black. She lays twenty eggs 
 a year, and rears one brood in that 
 time. 
 
 THE PEACOCK. 
 
 When I was in India, these birds often 
 flew quite near my head, and did not seem 
 at all afraid. This is not strange, when 
 we find out that the natives think a great 
 
84 SECOND BOOK 
 
 deal of the peacock. They always treat 
 it kindly, and this makes it tame. 
 
 In one place where a great number of 
 these birds were, a party of white men 
 went out with their guns to shoot them. 
 This made the natives so very angry, that 
 they nearly beat the sportsmen to death 
 with clubs. 
 
 Some people think this bird is vain and 
 proud, as he is very apt to strut about to 
 show his fine, bright feathers, which 
 sparkle in the sun. But then he does no 
 more than many people do, who are very 
 fond of making a show of their fine 
 clothes and ornaments. 
 
 It is not well for boys and girls or grown 
 folks to be vain and proud of what they wear, 
 or of what they do and say. If they have fine 
 or good things, it is best to be thankful to 
 God, and not to boast. 
 
 The peacock in his native woods, roosts 
 upon high trees in the night-time, in 
 order to be safe from tigers and other wild 
 beasts ; but these animals sometimes 
 climb up the trees where they are asleep, 
 and catch and eat them. 
 
fFOK OUB LITTLE FEIENDS. 85 
 
 The peacocks make their nests on the 
 ground where the bushes and grass are 
 very thick, in places where they think no 
 wild beasts are likely to trouble them, 
 and try their best to rear their young, of 
 which they are very fond. 
 
 King Sologion thought much of these 
 birds, and used to send men to catch 
 them and take them to Jerusalem, where 
 many of them lived in his gardens. 
 
 At the present time, these birds may be 
 seen in the gardens of rich people in 
 different countries, and also in museums. 
 
 About eighteen hundred years ago, the 
 people who lived in the city of Rome, in 
 Europe, were so proud and extravagant in 
 their feasts, that many of their rich men 
 would have the brains of these birds 
 cooked, and served at their meals. 
 
 LESSON FIFTEEN. 
 
 ANNIE S SYMPATHY. 
 
 Little Annie clung to her mother's side. 
 And the tear-drops stood in her eye. 
 
86 SECOND BOOK 
 
 As she saw the earth wrapped in its 
 wintry pride, 
 And heard the cold blasts move by. 
 
 The mother said, as she kissed her child, 
 " My darling has nothing to fear ; 
 
 Though the storm without is fierce and wild. 
 It never can enter here. 
 
 " Our house is beautiful, nice and warm, 
 With the fire's bright, cheerful blaze ; 
 
 Your father provides for you well ; like a 
 charm 
 You shall spend the wintry days." 
 
 " Yes, mother, your child knows your words 
 
 are true," 
 The dear loving Annie replied ; 
 " I have all that I need — I have father and 
 
 you. 
 By whom ev'ry want is supplied — 
 
 " But I'm thinking of poor little Carrie and 
 Ned; 
 Their house is so shabby and old — 
 Their mother is sick and their father 
 dead — 
 That I think they are hungry and cold. 
 
FOH OCK LITTLE FRIENDS. 87 
 
 " They live in that house by the big, tall oak, 
 Which the frosts and the winds have made 
 bare ; 
 
 I've watched the chimney, and see no smoke 
 Rise up on the stormy air. 
 
 " No kind father's footsteps are ever heard 
 On that threshold where orphans tread ; 
 
 No father's lips with a loving word. 
 Nor his hands to provide them bread." 
 
 This short speech was made without guile 
 or art ; 
 
 It was love's sweet, innocent strain ; 
 The appeal was made to a mother's heart. 
 
 And it was not made in vain. 
 
 The mother in haste enveloped her form. 
 With sympathy warm in her breast ; 
 
 Kissed the daughter good-bye, and braved 
 the storm, 
 To rescue the poor distressed. 
 
 Her purse was large and her hands not slack, 
 And the old house was filled with joy ; 
 
 And Annie's heart when her mother came 
 back. 
 Beat with pleasure without alloy. 
 
SECOND BOOK 
 
 LESSON SIXTEEN. 
 
 YOUTH THE TIME TO STUDY. 
 
 Childhood and youth are the best sea- 
 sons of life to study. The mind is then 
 free from care, and the memory is not 
 burdened with business. Young people, 
 who turn their attention to study, can 
 easily learn and recollect what they read 
 or what is taught to them. The mind is 
 then bright and active, and does not 
 readily part with any knowledge that is 
 imparted unto it. 
 
 If you converse with aged persons you can 
 prove this. You will find that they can recol- 
 lect events of their childhood and youth with- 
 out any difficulty. Their memories will re- 
 call conversations that occurred probably 
 seventy years previously ; but the things 
 which happened a few years before, they do 
 not remember very well. 
 
 For this reason the hours of youth are 
 precious. Their moments are golden. 
 They should not be idly spent. 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FKIENDS. 89 
 
 Still, it would not be wise for boys and 
 girls to do nothing else but study. Such 
 a course would be very likely to injure 
 them. They should have time to play 
 and amuse themselves. 
 
 If any of our little readers have a good bow, 
 they do not always keep it bent. When they 
 have done using it, and before putting it away, 
 they loosen the string. If they did not, it 
 would soon lose its strength and spring, and 
 they could not shoot with it. 
 
 It is just so with the mind. It cannot 
 always be kept bent or on the strain, with- 
 out being injured. Therefore, amusement 
 and play are necessary to keep it strong 
 and full of vigor. 
 
 But too much amusement is also an 
 evil. The mind is injured by it, and it 
 becomes feeble. 
 
 Children need time to study, and time 
 to play. When they study, they should 
 work hard. Then, when they play, they 
 should dismiss their studies from their 
 minds, and let their thoughts be upon 
 what then engages their attention. So, 
 also, when they return to their studies. 
 
90 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 A LITTLE GIRL STUDYING. 
 
 their minds should not be filled with the 
 thoughts of their play, but be upon their 
 books. 
 
FOB OUR LITTLE FEIENDS. 91 
 
 Children, you have good opportunities 
 now of obtaining learning. Put them to 
 a good use. Learn all you can while you 
 are young, and have the time to study. 
 Read good books, and read them with 
 care. By so doing, what you read will be 
 fastened upon your memories and be of 
 use to you. 
 
 You will soon grow up to be young men 
 and women. Then, if you have been 
 careless, you will feel the loss of learning, 
 and you will wish that you had paid atten- 
 tion to it when you were children. 
 
92 SECOND BOOK 
 
 LESSON ONE. 
 
 HONOR THY PARENTS. 
 
 " Honor thy father and thy mother 
 that thy days may be long upon the land 
 which the Lord thy God giveth thee." 
 
 The boy or girl who keeps this com- 
 mandment of God, is a great blessing to 
 his or her parents, and is doing that 
 which is well pleasing in the sight of the 
 Lord. 
 
 No one who has been obedient to his 
 parents from childhood to manhood, has 
 ever been sorry for it, if his parents have 
 trained him up in the way he should 
 
 go- 
 
 The best men and women that have 
 
 ever lived, are those who have sacredly 
 
FOE OUK LITTLE FBIENDS. 93 
 
 kept the fifth commandment as this is 
 called. 
 
 The Lord has promised a great blessing 
 to those who will honor their parents. 
 
 Can any of you, young readers, tell me 
 what that blessing is ? 
 
 " Honor jhy father and thy mother :" 
 saith the Lord. 
 
 What for ? 
 
 ^'That thy days may be long upon the 
 land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." 
 
 This is a glorious promise, and I hope 
 that all the boys and girls are striving to 
 gain this blessing. 
 
 This brings to my mind an incident 
 which occurred in old England, several 
 years ago, in the days of my childhood. 
 
 A woman and her son lived close by 
 where my parents resided. In the course 
 of time the woman was taken sick, and 
 for several weeks she was confined to her 
 bed. Being poor, her son had to wait 
 upon her through her illness. 
 
 On the outside of the door was a pretty 
 singing bird in a cage. It belonged to 
 the young man, and while his mother was 
 
94 SECOND BOOK 
 
 sick, he amused himself many an hour 
 with this bird instead of being by his 
 mother's bedside. 
 
 He fed the bird well, called it pretty 
 names, and paid more attention to it than 
 he did to his sick parent. 
 
 Many times his mother would call him, 
 but he seemed to heed her very little. 
 
 He did not keep sacred the fifth com- 
 mandment — he broke it. 
 
 Did he honor the mother who had 
 watched over him, and cared for him from 
 the days of his infancy ? No. 
 
 A few more days passed over, and his 
 mother died. 
 
 This was a sad blow for the young man. 
 Left alone in the world without father or 
 mother, brother or sister ; he began to 
 think that he had done wrong. He wept 
 bitterly, and called for his mother, but 
 there was no answer. 
 
 He would have given anything that he pos- 
 sessed if he could have called her back ; but 
 it was too late, for her spirit had fled. 
 
 My young readers will probably want 
 to know if the young man still had the 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FBIENDS. 95 
 
 same love for the bird, after his mother 
 died ? No, he had not. 
 
 Shortly after his mother was buried, I 
 noticed the bird and cage had disap- 
 peared. He had sold them. 
 
 Children, obey your parents. Love, 
 honor and jrespect them ; and should they 
 be called away from this mortal life, you 
 will have nothing to regret. 
 
 LESSON TWO. 
 
 TRUE MANLINESS. 
 
 Most boys like to be thought manly, 
 and a truly manly boy is a very pleasant 
 sight. We mean one who mingles with the 
 playfulness of boyhood a little of the 
 thought of more mature years. 
 
 But many boys take very unmanly men 
 for their models. They see one foolish 
 fellow puffing at a big cigar, and they fancy 
 it must be very manly to smoke. 
 
 They notice another pouring whisky down 
 his throat, and they seem to get the notion 
 
96 SECOND BOOK 
 
 that they would be much more like men 
 if they were to drink strong drink. 
 
 They hear some reckless man using the 
 vilest language, and taking the name of God 
 in vain, and they jump to the conclusion 
 that it must be something grand and 
 brave to curse and swear. 
 
 Now then, let us take our last example 
 and think about it : 
 
 What is there good, or noble, or brave, or 
 wise, or praiseworthy in using the name of 
 our Father in Heaven or of our Savior, 
 without respect, love, or reverence in our 
 daily, common-place talk? 
 
 Is any man or boy happier, wiser, better 
 or richer by so doing ? 
 
 Are they the wise and good of the earth 
 who do so ? 
 
 Are they not generally the most wicked 
 and reckless of men who curse and blas- 
 pheme the most fluently? 
 
 Then why should we copy the worst types 
 of manhood in trying to be manly, when 
 the examples of the best are before us? 
 
 Though we are sure no boy can tell us 
 any advantage that can arise from the 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 97 
 
 abuse of God's holy name, yet we can tell 
 him many evils that arise therefrom. 
 
 To begin, it is unnecessary, and conse- 
 quently foolish. 
 
 It lessens our respect for holy things and 
 leads us into the society of the wicked. 
 
 It brings upon us the disrespect of the 
 good, who avoid us. 
 
 It leads us to other sins ; for he who is 
 willing to abuse his Creator, is not ashamed 
 to defraud his fellow creatures. 
 
 And also, by so doing, we directly and 
 knowingly break one of the most direct 
 of God's commandments ; for the Bible 
 contains this commandment : 
 
 " Thou shalt not take the name of 
 the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord 
 will not hold him guiltless that taketh His 
 name in vain." 
 
 Boys, if patient, will find that they are 
 sure to grow up to be men. But if they 
 are impatient to adopt the ways of men, 
 let them pattern after the best men. 
 
 It is not manly to swear, but it is truly 
 manly to raise our voices to God in praise 
 and prayer. 
 
98 SECOND BOOK 
 
 It is not manly to drink strong drink, 
 smoke and chew, but it is manly to observe 
 the Word of Wisdom. 
 
 It is not manly to loaf around the 
 street, picking up all sorts of evil infor- 
 mation, but it is manly to labor and to 
 study good books. 
 
 Finally, it is not manly to serve the devil, 
 to ape the ways of the wicked, and copy 
 the fashions of the Gentiles, but it is most 
 manly to serve God with all our heart, 
 with all our mind and all our strength. 
 
 LESSON THREE. 
 
 AN ARAB SCHOOL. 
 
 What a task it must be to learn to 
 write as the little fellows in the picture 
 are doing ! 
 
 They have neither pens, ink nor paper, 
 seats nor desks ; but kneeling on the floor, 
 upon which some sand is sprinkled, they 
 have to copy with their fingers the marks 
 made by their teacher. 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 
 
 99 
 
 A CURIOUS SCHOOL. 
 
 To learn to write as we do, with pens, 
 ink, paper, and comfortable seats and 
 desks, is a very tedious process ; and to 
 become a good writer, requires' daily 
 practice for years. The labor of the oper- 
 
100 SECOND BOOK 
 
 ation, however, is not very heavy, that is, 
 it does not tire us Hke chopping, digging 
 or other hard work. 
 
 But to learn to write as these young Arabs 
 are doing, is not only very tedious and 
 clumsy, but it must also be very tiresome. 
 
 One would think the Arabians must be 
 very stupid to adhere to such a poor way 
 as this of teaching their children to write. 
 But then Arabia is an eastern land, and 
 all orientals, or natives of the lands of the 
 far east, cling very obstinately to old 
 habits. 
 
 They do not seem as if they have the 
 faculty to progress like the nations of the 
 west ; and because of this, they use tools 
 now very much like those used by their 
 forefathers three or four thousand years 
 ago. 
 
 This is the case among the nations of 
 all eastern climes, except where Europeans 
 or Americans have established themselves, 
 and have introduced their customs. 
 
 The people of Europe or the very few 
 of them who knew how to write ages ago, 
 had to learn in some such clumsy way as 
 
FOR OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 101 
 
 some of the Arabians do today. But it is a 
 long, long time since that was the case. 
 They are too progressive and inventive for 
 that ; and for centuries, now, they have used 
 pen or pencils, and paper or parchment. 
 
 Who would believe that the Arabians, who 
 learn to write yi the primitive manner here 
 represented, were, a thousand years ago, a 
 powerful and civilized nation, and that many 
 poems and works on science were composed 
 in their beautiful language ? 
 
 Then they were masters of a large portion 
 of Asia and Africa, and some part of 
 Europe ; and the civilized nations of today 
 are indebted to them for one important 
 branch of mathematical science ; for it is 
 said that the Arabians gave algebra to the 
 Europeans. 
 
 But their glory has dwindled since then, 
 and today most of them are but little in 
 advance of the Indians. 
 
102 SECOND BOOK 
 
 LESSON FOUR. 
 
 GOOD ADVICE. 
 
 God has an ear for all we say, 
 In the night and in the day ; 
 When it's dark and when it's light. 
 We are ever in His sight. 
 
 Oh, how good we ought to be, 
 And from evil ever free ; 
 Pray to God to make us good ; 
 Thank Him for our daily food. 
 
 Never smoke nor use strong drink. 
 Never any evil think. 
 Fervent be in daily prayer. 
 Sabbath breaking never dare. 
 
 Never steal, or lie, or swear, 
 Nor our books or clothing tear ; 
 When we play be kind and meek. 
 No bad words be heard to speak. 
 
 Never be with bad folks seen. 
 Keep ourselves and clothing clean, 
 Never quarrel, never fight. 
 Always say and do what's right. 
 
FOB OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 103 
 
 Try and keep our bodies pure, 
 Let no evil ways allure ; 
 Faithful to the truth remain, 
 Then eternal lives we'll gain. 
 
 LpSSON FIVE. 
 
 RESPECT FOR THE AGED. 
 
 Respect for age is a virtue that should be 
 cultivated by the Latter-day Saints. It is a 
 beautiful sight to see young people showing 
 honor to those in years. 
 
 Boys and girls who do not reverence aged 
 people are not likely to pay respect to their 
 parents ; and it is easily told in a community 
 by the manners and deportment of children 
 whether parents are honored and obeyed or 
 not, or whether authority of any kind is 
 respected. 
 
 When we see young people in company 
 choosing the best seats for themselves, and 
 leaving the poorest for their seniors to 
 occupy, we have a low opinion of their train- 
 ing or of their hearts. Such conduct 
 
104 SECOND BOOK 
 
 gives evidence of a selfish disposition, and is 
 apt to manifest itself in many different ways. 
 
 When persons of this kind go to table 
 you will see them selecting the best of every- 
 thing, entirely regardless of others, however 
 aged or honorable they may be. So with 
 everything else where there is a preference,, 
 if they can get the first choice, they are sure 
 to take it. 
 
 A boy who cultivates such a disposition as 
 this, becomes a selfish and unfeeling man, 
 makes but a poor husband and a very in- 
 different father. 
 
 A girl who takes such a course is not a 
 desirable person for a wife, and unless she 
 changes in her disposition, it is not likely 
 she will be respected or enjoy an honorable 
 old age. 
 
 There are many who do not respect old 
 age as they ought to. 
 
 We have sometimes blushed for young 
 people in company when we have seen 
 them, upon entering a room, walk up 
 to the easy chairs and take possession 
 of them, while aged ladies or aged gentle- 
 men, old enough to be their mothers or 
 
FOE OUE LITTLE FBIBND8. 105 
 
 fathers, were obliged to take a less comfort- 
 able seat. 
 
 Such conduct is always a mark of bad 
 breeding. No gentleman or lady will be 
 guilty of such conduct. In this respect we 
 may learn something from the Spartans, a 
 people who lived ages ago, and who are 
 called pagans or heathens by the Christians 
 of this generation. 
 
 We are told that one of the lessons, 
 oftenest and most strongly taught to the 
 Spartan youth, was to entertain great 
 reverence and respect for old men, and to 
 give them proofs of it upon all occasions. 
 They saluted them, and made way for them 
 in the streets. They arose to show them 
 honor in all companies and public assemblies. 
 Above all, they received their advice, and 
 even their reproofs with docility and sub- 
 mission. By these characteristics a Spartan 
 was known wherever he went. 
 
 If he had behaved otherwise, it would have 
 been looked upon as a reproach to himself 
 and a dishonor to his country. 
 
 An old man of Athens once went into a 
 
106 SECOND BOOK 
 
 theatre to see a play. None of his own 
 countrymen offered him a seat. 
 
 There were several Spartan ambassadors 
 in Athens at the time, and they were at the 
 theatre. 
 
 When the old man came near, they and 
 their retinue all arose, out of reverence to 
 his age, and seated him in the midst of them. 
 
 There was reason for the remark that old 
 age had nowhere so honorable an abode as 
 in Sparta, and that it was an agreeable thing 
 to grow old in that city. 
 
 The Spartan mode of training their chil- 
 dren, was in some respects very good. 
 
 That people rightly considered that the 
 surest way to have citizens submissive to the 
 law and to the magistrate, was to teach chil- 
 dren early, and accustom them to be 
 perfectly obedient to their parents, their 
 masters and their superiors. 
 
FOR OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 107 
 
 LESSON SIX. 
 
 AN ANCIENT MILL. 
 
 Perhaps but few of us would recognize 
 the rude maqj;iine in our engraving as a 
 grain mill. 
 
 Those in use in this country are very 
 different in their construction. 
 
 In this country, if a farmer wants his 
 grain ground, he has but to haul it to a 
 custom grist mill, where he can have it 
 done to suit him, on short notice. 
 
 But in olden times there were no 
 custom grist mills, propelled by water or 
 steam power, and the mill, similar to that 
 in the picture, was an indispensable article 
 in every family. 
 
 As frequent mention is made in the Bible 
 of the hand mill, it must have been in com- 
 mon use at a very early period ; and in eastern 
 countries it is still used extensively. 
 
 Even in this Territory its use is not 
 entirely unknown. The writer saw one in 
 operation in Ephraim, Sanpete County, 
 
108 
 
 SECOND BOOK 
 
 CORN MILL OF THE FAR EAST. 
 
 a few years since, which was very similar 
 in appearance to that pictured in the 
 engraving. 
 
FOE OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 109 
 
 It is made of two circular stones, about 
 the size of our common grindstones, placed 
 one above the other. The lower one is 
 fixed so as not to move, and has a little rise 
 towards the center on the upper surface ; 
 the top stone is hollowed out on the lower 
 side, to fit this rise, and in its center there 
 is a round hole to receive the grain. 
 
 In the top and towards the edge of 
 the upper stone, a wooden handle is fixed 
 to turn it around with. 
 
 In ancient times in the East, this mill 
 was used regularly, day after day; for, as 
 bread in that country will remain good 
 only ^a. short time, it was the custom to 
 grind fresh flour and bake every day, 
 except the Sabbath. 
 
 It was the business of maid-servants to 
 grind, and so was considered a degrading em- 
 ployment for a man, or woman of rank. 
 
 Sometimes one turned the mill alone ; 
 but frequently two were engaged at it, to 
 make the work lighter. In the latter case 
 they sat, one on each side, thrusting the 
 handle around continually from one side 
 to the other. 
 
110 SECOND BOOK 
 
 Thus the Savior speaks of "two women 
 grinding at the mill." 
 
 As the mill was so essential to every 
 family, it was forbidden to take the upper 
 or lower mill stone for a pledge, or for a 
 debt. 
 
 LESSON SEVEN. 
 
 THE FIRST DRINK. 
 
 Beware of the first drink of liquor, of 
 wine of beer. The first drink, remem- 
 ber. If a boy never takes the first drink, 
 he will never take the second, and he will 
 never be a drunkard. 
 
 " O," says the tempter, "take a drink; 
 it won't hurt you. One drink will do you 
 no harm." 
 
 But in that first drink lies the great 
 danger. It may be only a few drops, but 
 if you take it, you will find it harder 
 to refuse the next drink you are asked to 
 take. 
 
FOE OUK LITTLE FRIENDS. Ill 
 
 It is by taking a drink now and then, 
 that men learn to be drunkards. The 
 first drink, and the second, and the third 
 may not hurt them ; but by taking them, 
 they learn to like the taste, and, step by 
 step, they go on until they die drunkards. 
 
 The boy or man who never drinks beer, 
 wine or liquor, never will be drunk. If 
 he drinks sometimes, he may be. 
 
 Remember boys, and never take the first 
 drink. 
 
 It is easier to say no, when asked to take 
 the first drink, than to refuse the second. 
 
 Men are ashamed to press a boy or man 
 to drink, if he has never taken the first 
 drink. 
 
 But if he ever has drunk, and they 
 know it, they think it no harm to make 
 him drink again. 
 
 Never gamble the first time, and you 
 will never gamble the second. 
 
 So with swearing and every other sin. 
 It is the first act that should be shunned. 
 No one can be safe who says, "I will com- 
 mit this sinful act this once, and then I 
 will cease and do it no more." 
 
112 SECOND BOOK 
 
 By doing this, Satan obtains power 
 over him and he binds him in his chains. 
 
 Never be coaxed, driven, ridiculed or 
 laughed into taking the first wrong step. 
 
 LESSON EIGHT. 
 
 SABBATH SCHOOL HYMN. 
 
 Blest Sabbath day! how gladly we hail 
 thee! 
 When lessons sweet, we may repeat- 
 Blest Sabbath day ! 
 
 How sacred is the joyous sound. 
 
 When little children gather round, 
 
 And hearts with songs abound ; 
 Blest Sabbath day ! 
 
 Praise ye the Lord! little ones with sing- 
 ing. 
 While truth we speak and wisdom seek. 
 Praise ye the Lord ! 
 
 Let His good word, to bless and cheer. 
 
 In every infant mind appear ; 
 
 With faith and light sincere, 
 Praise ye the Lord ! 
 
FOK OUB LITTLE FRIENDS. 113 
 
 Great is His name, His goodness and His 
 
 glory ! 
 To Him we owe each bliss we know ; 
 
 Great is His name ! 
 With grateful hearts, the holy throng. 
 With thanks and praise, with prayer and 
 
 song,^ 
 Shall echo loud and long — 
 
 Great is His name ! 
 Blest Sabbath day ! His word pronounced 
 
 thee holy ! 
 We hail thee then, and sing again — 
 
 Praise ye the Lord ! 
 Whilst valleys, woods and mountains ring. 
 Our heavenly Father, Christ and King, 
 Is pleased when children sing — 
 
 Great is His name ! 
 
 LESSON NINE. 
 
 COURAGE AND COWARDICE. 
 
 Some boys think if a boy is quarrel- 
 some, and ready to fight whenever he is 
 provoked, he must be brave. 
 
114 SECOND BOOK 
 
 On the other hand, if a person refuses 
 to fight when any one wants him to, they 
 consider him a coward. This is a wrong idea. 
 
 It requires as much bravery sometimes 
 to refuse to fight, as it does to engage in 
 a fight at other times. 
 
 The person who would fight for fear of 
 being called a coward is not brave. 
 
 He is a brave fellow who will always dare 
 to do right, regardless of what others 
 may say or think. 
 
 There was once a very quiet, peaceable 
 boy attending school whom we will call John. 
 
 Among his playmates, there was one 
 who was very quarrelsome, and many 
 others who were fond of seeing boys fight. 
 
 John had scarcely been at school one 
 day, when Robert, the quarrelsome boy 
 dared him to fight. 
 
 John refused to, and to avoid a quarrel, 
 left the playground and returned to 
 school. As he did so, the boys all jeered 
 at him and called him a coward. 
 
 He did not like that. He would rather 
 have had the boys think well of him ; but 
 his parents had taught him that it was 
 
FOE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS. 
 
 115 
 
 wrong to quarrel, or to fight without just 
 cause, and he wanted to do right, even if 
 the boys did not like him. 
 
 After school one day, the boys went to 
 the river to swim. 
 
 BOYS SWIMMING. 
 
 The boys had called John the "coward 
 of the school" so much, that he did not 
 feel free to join them in their sports. So 
 he remained on the bank. 
 
 Suddenly Robert cried for help. He 
 was drowning. 
 
116 SECOND BOOK. 
 
 What was to be done ? 
 
 The other boys were afraid to help him 
 lest they should drown. 
 
 But John pulled off his coat, swam to 
 him and saved his life. 
 
 From that day John was admired for 
 his courage. No one called him a coward. 
 
 Remember there are other and better 
 ways of showing our bravery than by 
 fighting. 
 
 The End. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BX8610.D45 D4 
 Deseret Sundav school read^^^^^^ 
 
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 3 1924 029 473 711