صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

presently replied, "Eighty-six thousand four hundred times."

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

16. The dial could scarcely keep its countenance during this harangue; but resuming its gravity, thus replied: "Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such a useful, industrious person as yourself, should have been overcome by this sudden suggestion.

17. "It is true, you have done a great deal of work in your time; so have we all, and àre likely to do; which, although it may fatigue us to think of, the question is, whether it will fatigue us to do.

18. "Would you now do me the favour to give about a half dozen strokes to illustrate my argument ?"

19. The pendulum complied, and ticked six times in its usual pace. "Now," resumed the dial, may I be allowed to inquire, if that exertion was at all fatiguing or disagreeable to you?"

[ocr errors]

20. "Not in the least," replied the pendulum, "it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of sixty, but of millions."

21. "Very good," replied the dial; "but

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

[ocr errors]

22. "That consideration staggers me, I confess," said the pendulum.

[ocr errors]

23. "Then I hope," resumed the dial-plate, we shall all immediately return to our duty: for the maids will lie in bed if we stand idling thus."

24. Upon this the weights, who had never been accused of light conduct, used all their influence in urging him to proceed; when, as with one consent, the wheel began to turn, the hands began to move, the pendulum began to swing, and, to its credit, ticked as loud as ever; while a red beam of the rising sun that streamed through a hole in the kitchen, shining full upon the dial-plate, it brightened up, as if nothing had been the matter.

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

MORAL.

26. A celebrated modern writer says, "Take care of the minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves." This is an admirable remark, and might be very seasonably recollected when

we begin to be "weary in well doing," from the thought of having much to do.

27. The present moment is all we have to do with, in any sense; the past is irrecoverable; the future is uncertain; nor is it fair to burden one moment with the weight of the next.

28. Sufficient unto the moment is the trouble thereof. If we had to walk a hundred miles, we should still have to set but one step at a time, and this process continued, would infallibly bring us to our journey's end.

29. Fatigue generally begins, and is always increased, by calculating in a minute, the exertion of hours.

30. Thus, in looking forward to future life, let us recollect that we have not to sustain all its toil, to endure all its sufferings, or encounter all its crosses, at once.

31. One moment comes laden with its own little burdens, then flies, and is succeeded by another no heavier than the last:-if one could be borne, so can another and another.

32. Even looking forward to a single day, the spirit may sometimes faint from an anticipation of the duties, the labours, the trials to temper and patience, that may be expected.

33. Now this is unjustly laying the burden of many thousand moments upon one. Let any one resolve always to do right now, leaving then to do as it can; and if he were to live to the age of Methuselah, he would never do wrong.

34. But the common errour is to resolve to

act right after breakfast, or after dinner, or tomorrow morning, or next time; but now, just now, this once, we must go on the same as ever.

35. It seems easier to do right to-morrow than to-day, merely because we forget that when to-morrow comes, then will be now.

36. Thus life passes with many, in resolutions for the future, which the present never fulfils. 37. "It is not thus with those, who " by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honour, and immortality.'

[ocr errors]

3. Day by day, minute by minute, they execute the appointed task, to which the requisite measure of time and strength is proportioned; and thus, having worked while it was called day, they at length rest from their labours, and their works "follow them."

39. Let us then, "whatever our hands find to do, do it with all our might, recollecting that now is the proper and accepted time."

LESSON XXXVII.

THE TWO PARROTS.

1. Two parrots were confined together in a large cage. The cup which held their food,

was put at the bottom of the cage. They commonly sat on the same perch, and close beside each other.

2. Whenever one of them went down for food, the other always followed; and when they had eaten enough, they hastened to the highest perch of the cage.

3. They lived four years in this state of confinement; and always showed a strong affection for each other. At the end of this time, the female grew very weak, and had all the marks of old age.

4. Her legs swelled, and she was no longer able to go to the bottom of the cage to take her food but her companion went and brought it to her.

5. He carried it in his bill, and emptied it into hers. This affectionate bird continued to feed his mate in this manner for four months. But her weakness increased every day.

6. At last she was unable to sit on the perch; and remained croûched at the bottom of the cage. Sometimes she tried to get up to the lower perch, but was not able.

7. Her companion did all he could to assist her. He often took hold of the upper part of her wing with his bill, and tried to draw her up to him. His looks and his motions showed a great desire to help her and to make her sufferings less.

8. But the sight was still more affecting, when the female was dying. Her distressed companion

22970B

« السابقةمتابعة »