near. "You have taken my horse," said Naber. "Since Heaven has willed it, I wish you joy of it; but I beg of you never to tell any one how you obtained it." "And why not?" said Daher. "Because," said the noble Arab, "another man might be really ill, and men would fear to help him. You would prevent others from doing an act of charity, for fear of being deceived, as I have been." Struck with shame at these words, Daher was silent for a moment; then, springing from his horse, he led it back to its owner, and conducted him to his own tent, where they spent a few days together, and became fast friends for life. How beautiful was the conduct of Naber! He was not a Christian, but he acted exactly according to the precepts of Christianity. Our Saviour told his disciples not to resist evil, and to do good to those that injured them; and this was what Naber did. How much better this was than if he had killed Daher with his spear! By doing as he did, he got his horse back, changed his enemy into a friend, and a bad man into a good man. III. THE ARAB AND THE PEARLS. AN Arab once lost his way in the desert, and wandered to and fro, he knew not where, and was in danger of dying of hunger and thirst. After straying about for a long time, he came to a fountain of water, where the travellers in the desert were in the habit of stopping, with their horses and camels, to drink. He saw lying upon the bank a small leathern bag. "God be praised," said he, as he took it up; "there may be dates or nuts inside, and I shall have something to eat as well as water to drink." In this hope he quickly opened the bag; but as soon as he saw what was inside, he said, with a sad countenance, "Alas! they are only pearls." This story teaches us the difference between things which have a real and those which have an artificial value. Pearls are precious stones, so called: they are worn as ornaments by rich ladies; and they sell for a great deal of money. But you cannot eat them; and though you can wear them, they will not shelter you from the winter's cold or the summer's heat. But all articles of food have a real and substantial value; because food sustains life, and without it we should die. If you were cast away on a desolate island, a bag of potatoes would be worth much more than a bag of gold. The poor Arab of whom we have just read could not eat his pearls, and therefore they were of no use to him. But if he had been in a great city, he could have sold them, and bought food with them. AWAKE, little girl; 'tis time to arise; Come, shake drowsy sleep from your eye: O, come! for the fields with gay flowers o'erflow, O, come, for the bee has flown out of his bed, The spider is weaving her delicate thread, O, come, for the ant has crept out of her cell, She knows the true value of moments too well Awake, little sleeper, and do not despise Of insects instruction to ask: From your pillow with good resolutions arise, V. EVENING. LITTLE girl, it is time to retire to rest; The sheep are put into the fold; The linnet forsakes us, and flies to her nest, The owl has flown out from her lonely retreat, The sun too now seems to have finished his race, But though we no longer can see his bright face, Little girl, have you finished your daily employ, If so, lay your head on your pillow with joy; The moon through your curtains shall cheerfully peep, And mild evening breezes shall fan you to sleep, And softly say, "I thank thee, Lord, He must say, when he ariseth, Then, dressing very quietly, The Christian child should say, "With thy spotless robe of righteousness, Lord, clothe my soul, I pray." He reverently kneeleth, When the little Christian playeth, If a playmate take his playthings, To snatch them back, but mildly ask, He hath asked to be made holy; So he must strive all day No greedy thoughts dishonor When no human eye can see him, When in a fault he falleth, He must not hide the stain ; Repentance and confession Must yield their healing pain. He must kneel down in his chamber, Confess what he hath done, And ask to be forgiven For the sake of God's dear Son. Again, when evening cometh, The Christian child will pray, |