"He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed of God" (Ecclus. iii. 1-16).

CHAPTER CXXIV.

PROVERBS (continued).

SYMPATHY OF WORDS.

"A SOFT answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

"The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour : but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

"Admonish a friend, it may be he hath not done it : and if he have done it, that he do it no more.

"Admonish thy friend, it may be he hath not said it: and if he have, that he speak it not again.

"Admonish a friend: for many times it is a slander, and believe not every tale.

"There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

"Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him; and not being angry, give place to the law of the Most High."

SYMPATHY OF DEEDS.

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and

there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

"He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor. "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

"Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity.

:

"Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

"Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.

"Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou bewrayest his secrets, follow no more after him. "For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.

"As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again. "Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.

"As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that bewrayeth secrets is without hope."

ORDER AND DILIGENCE.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

"The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

"The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

"The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

"There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

"A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

"A greyhound; an he-goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

"He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

"Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

"For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

"The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

"The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field."

SLOTH.

"He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. "The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold ; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

"As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

"He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

"The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute,"

THE BOY AND THE BEE.

AN idle boy had laid his head
Down in a meadow full of flowers,
With daisy buds around him spread,
And clover blossoms white and red,
So fragrant after showers.

And as he lay with half-shut eye,
Watching the hazy light, came flying
A busy bee with laden thigh,
Across the blossoms growing by
The spot where he was lying.

"O busy bee," the boy begun,

Stay with me, now you've come at last; I love to see across the sun,

Like gossamer so finely spun,
Your wings go sailing past."

But with a low and surly hum,
The bee into a blossom flew,
As if the living creature dumb,
Had answered short, "I cannot come,
I've something else to do."

"O bee, you're such a little thing,"
The idle boy went on to say;
"What matters all that you can bring?
You'd better rest your silver wing,
And have a bit of play."

But with his sullen hum, and slow,

The bee passed on, and would not stay, As though he murmured, "Don't you know That little things must work below,

Each in his little way?"

I know not if the idler caught

This lesson from the busy bee,

But through his mind there came a thought
As it flew by him: "Is there nought,
No work to do for me?

"My sister asked me on the wall
To nail her rose's long green shoot,
The rose she likes the best of all,
Because the lady at the hall
In autumn gave the root.

"Poor baby has been hard to cheer,
All day he would not sleep or smile;
I might go home and fetch him here,
And pluck him flowers, while mother dear
Should rest a little while.

"Go dive into the clover red,

Old bee, and hum your surly tune,
And pack your honey close," he said,
Upspringing from his grassy bed,
"I'll be as busy soon."

Mrs. C. Alexander.

CHAPTER CXXV.

PROVERBS (continued).

DECEIT.

"THESE Six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

"A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

"An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

"A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.