His soft voice said, "I was cold, and you took me in. I was hungry, and you fed me. I was tired, and you gave me your bed. I am the Christ-child, wandering through the world to bring peace and happiness to all good children. As you have given to me, so may this tree every year give rich fruit to you." So saying, he broke a branch from a fir tree, planted it in the ground, and disappeared. But the branch grew into a great tree, and every year bore golden fruit for the kind children. JANUARY: THOUGHTFULNESS AND RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY For the Teacher: I doubt if she said to you much that could act 'T was her thinking of others, made you think of her. E. B. BROWNING, My Kate. Suggestions for morning talks A few ways to show thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness at home. Who is the most thoughtful person you know? Does she ever forget to give you supper? If she has a great many things to do, how does she manage to remember your needs? What thoughtful thing can you do for her this very day? Read: "I love you mother," Joy Allison, Grade III, p. 91. Thoughtfulness at school. How many children do you suppose the old lady had who lived in a shoe? Count how many the teacher has to look after. Why must they all behave well? Thoughtfulness in speaking. Use a pleasant voice, low tones when you may disturb some one, courtesy in saying please and thank you. Read: "Please," by Alicia Aspinwall, in Can You Believe Me Stories. E. P. Dutton & Co. Thoughtfulness in remembering what you are told. How can you learn not to forget? What things do you always remember? What things do you often forget? Thoughtfulness to the neighbors. Learn the verse beginning, "She doth little kindnesses," in My Love, by James Russell Lowell. See Grade VI, page 232. Notice all the thoughtful acts you can see each day and tell about them when you come to school. Who are the most thoughtful and kind people in your neighborhood? Thoughtfulness by quick attention. Read: "A Gentleman," by Margaret Sangster, in Little Knights and Ladies. Harper & Bros. Read: "The Chicken's Mistake,” and “They Did n't Think," Phoebe Cary. Poetical Works of Alice and Phabe Cary. Houghton Mifflin Co. "Advice," Anonymous, Poetry for Home and School. G. P. Putnam's Sons. "Spartan Respect for the Aged," in School Management, Emerson E. White. American Book Co. THE THREE SIEVES 1 A little boy one day ran indoors from school, and called out eagerly: "Oh, mother, what do you think of Tom Jones? I have just heard that " 1 From Ella Lyman Cabot's Character Training, the English Edition of Ethics for Children, edited by Edward Eyles. Geo. G. Harrap & Co., London. "Wait a minute, my boy. Have you put what you have heard through the three sieves before you tell it to me?" "Sieves, mother! What do you mean?" "Well, the first sieve is called Truth. Is it true?" "Well, I don't really know, but Bob Brown said that Charlie told him that Tom "That's very roundabout. What about the second sieve Kindness. Is it kind?" "Kind! No, I can't say it is kind." "Now the third sieve - Necessity. Will it go through that? Must you tell this tale?" "No, mother, I need not repeat it." "Well, then, my boy, if it is not necessary, not kind, and perhaps not true, let the story die." FEBRUARY: FAIR PLAY AND For the Teacher: Gladness be with thee, Helper of our World! And more glad, until gladness blossoms, bursts And recommence at sorrow. ROBERT BROWNING, Balaustion's Adventure. Suggestions for morning talks Tell how Roderick Dhu kept his word and did not use his great band of men to fall upon James Fitz-James unfairly. See The Lady of the Lake, Scott, Canto v. Tell how Robin Hood tried to give everybody a fair chance by taking money away from the rich men who had got it unfairly and returning it to the poor. He never robbed the poor. See Robin Hood, Howard Pyle. Charles Scribner's Sons. What is a better way of helping the poor and the sick? Read: "The Lion and the Mouse," First Book of Stories for the Story-Teller, Fanny E. Coe. Houghton Mifflin Co. Learn: "Kindness Returned," in School Management, How David refrained from Killing his Sleeping "The Banyan Deer," Jataka Tales, Ellen C. "Little Agnes' Adventure," Margaret Brenda, in Our Young Folks. Be to others kind and true As you'd have others be to you; THE THIRTEEN JEWELED LETTERS 1 JASMINE STONE VAN DRESSER Once upon a time, a little girl lost her name, and no one could tell her where to find it. So one day she started out with a basket of luncheon, saying that if she 1 Abridged from How to Find Happy Land. By permission of G. P. Putnam's Sons, Publishers, New York and London. did not succeed in finding her name she would never come back, for she felt she was disgraced. First she met an old woman walking with a stick, who said, "What have you in your basket?" "Luncheon," replied the little girl. "What is your name?" asked the old woman. "I don't know," answered the little girl. Then she burst out crying for shame. "Tut, tut!" said the old woman. "Give me your basket of luncheon." The little girl gave it to her, and was happier than she had been since she lost her name. As she walked on through the woods she became very hungry. She turned back to see if the old woman had left a wee little crust; but all she found was the old woman's stick. Then the little girl cried, for she used to get what she wanted by crying. But this time there was no one to hear her, so she stopped. Moreover, she thought, "My luncheon must have helped the old woman to walk without her stick," and that of course made her feel better. As she got up from where she was sitting, something shining on the ground caught her eye. She stooped down and picked up a letter "N," formed of the reddest rubies you ever saw. "Oh," she cried, jumping up and down, "I have found the first letter!" you Soon she met a squirrel who said, "Have you any nuts?” “No,” she replied; "but I would give them to if I had, because then I might find another letter of my beautiful name." "Indeed," said the squirrel, “you would never find another if that's why you would help me.' She was about to cry again, but the squirrel whisked out of sight, and she walked on. "If the saucy little squirrel is telling the truth, I had best mind what he said." With that she fell to wondering whether the next letter would be of pearls, when the squirrel jumped |