of the surrounding trees, which shut out the glare of the noisy world.

Churches, which are set apart entirely for the worship of God, are considered sacred places. We should enter them with becoming reverence, and not indulge in trifling or levity within them. We ought not to injure them by marking or cutting, and should be careful that we do not mar them in any way.

There is something venerable in all old buildings, especially those which have been remark- . able as seats of learning or as scenes of interesting events, that should lead us to preserve them with care. Even the old schoolhouse in which we conned our A, B, C, we would not harm. The same feeling would we cherish towards the relics of dress once worn by our grandfathers or grandmothers, nor would we, with ruthless hands, metamorphose them into fashionable garments of our own day.

CHAPTER III.

REVERENCE FOR WORKS OF ART AND FOR OBJECTS OF NATURE.

THE higher works of art are products of the most earnest thought, and of the long and

What is said of churches? Of all old buildings? Relics of dress? Subject of Chapter III.? Why should the higher works of art be treated with the greatest reverence?

patient labor of men of mighty genius. They are most wonderful exhibitions of the creative power of man. They serve to embody what is highest and holiest in the aspirations of our nature. We ought, therefore, to regard them with the greatest reverence. We should do all in our power to encourage them, and should preserve them with the greatest care. It was noble in Theodore Six, a mechanic of Paris, in the late revolution there, when a large painting of Louis Philippe was about to be destroyed, to cry out: "Respect for monuments! Why destroy anything? Why fire at those paintings? Let us show that the people know how to respect public monuments!"

In examining paintings, statuary, and collections of curiosities, we should be cautious against injuring them. When children are permitted to see such things, they should not seek to touch them.

No species of architecture, from the humblest cottage to the most elegant public building, should ever be wantonly injured. The habit of carving one's name, or writing it in pencilmarks, on any part of a building, is a very bad one. Even fences should be spared from all marks of the kind. The rule should be, to mar nothing which comes well made from the hand of a workman. Scholars ought to be very careful of their schoolhouse, and they should keep

What should we do in reference to them? What is told of Theodore Six? What directions to children and others in regard to paintings, etc.? What directions in regard to every species of architecture? To scholars?

their seats and desks looking new and nice from year to year.

Books, by means of which we derive so much of our knowledge, and that give us so much pleasure, ought to be treated with great care. A good scholar and real lover of learning will never deface his books with ugly marks, tear and wear out the leaves, turn down the corners, or break the covers. He will have those which he uses most, neatly covered, and will keep them nicely arranged upon his table or desk, at home or at school. And if he borrows a book, he will be sure to return it uninjured, and without so long a delay that the owner will give it up for lost.

Among the most venerable objects of nature, trees may be mentioned. Those are justly considered public benefactors, who plant trees along the streets of our villages, and reserve large public grounds, to be ornamented with trees, shady walks, and fountains. Public gardens, too, where all may enter and enjoy the sight of beautiful flowers, and fruits, and other ornaments of the ground, are a great benefit to all, especially to the poor, who have few means of enjoyment of their own, and who may here freely enjoy those pure pleasures, which save them from the resorts of vice and crime.

All things of this kind should be so reverenced,

What is said about books? Of a good scholar? What is said of trees? Who may be considered public benefactors? What is said of public gardens? What advantage from reverencing things of this kind?

that the enclosures may be thrown wide open for all to enter, without the fear that their beauty will be ruined. Not a shrub about ornamented grounds should be broken, or a flower plucked, or the grass trampled down, by those who are permitted to visit them. Trees, standing here and there in a field, or by the roadside, ought never to be cut down, if it is possible to avoid it, and boys should never allow themselves to girdle or wound them. It is very desirable that the grounds about a schoolhouse should be shaded and ornamented with trees. The older scholars can aid much in adorning the grounds, and all can help forward the work by carefully abstaining from doing them any injury.

The eminent of all ages have delighted in paying honors to trees, groves and forests. The temples of the Greeks were mostly situated in groves; and Christian churches might well be embosomed in shade, and religious services might not be inappropriately performed beneath the wide-spreading branches of sheltering trees. "The Jews held in the highest veneration Siloa's Brook, that flowed 'fast by the oracle of God.' The ancient Persians never polluted water, considering those who committed such indecorum guilty of sacrilege; and they enacted a law, that whoever conveyed the water of a

What is said in regard to ornamented grounds, and trees? Grounds about a schoolhouse? Duty of scholars in this respect? To what have the eminent of all ages delighted in paying honors? What is said about Greek templesChristian churches? What was held in high veneration by the Jews?

spring to any spot which had not been watered before, besides other immunities, his descendants should enjoy the benefit of such water to the end of the fifth generation."

In laying out towns and villages, regard should be had to the future beauty of the place. Large squares should be left unoccupied, and what there is of beauty and pleasantness in the natural features of the place should be preserved.

In this connection, the architecture of animals, and the care we ought to have not to injure or destroy their habitations, may be referred to. It shows an unfeeling, if not a cruel disposition, wantonly to destroy bird's nests, or the nests of ants, bees, squirrels, or any other innocent animals. They have toiled many a day, and by slow degrees brought them to perfection, and perhaps stored them with food; and why should we wish to destroy their means of comfort and their harmless pleasures, and oblige them to go over the same labor again, and perhaps expose them to much suffering?

The young would do well to give attention to the natural history of animals. Besides becoming acquainted with many interesting and amusing habits of animals, they would find curious and wonderful examples of skill in the construction of their habitations, which would

What is related of the ancient Persians? What is said about laying out towns and villages? What is referred to in this connection? What shows a very unfeeling disposition? Why should we not wish to destroy them? To what study would the young do well to attend? What advantages would they derive from it?