independence and the real equality
of man:

_The Village Blacksmith_, Volume IV, page 86.
_For A' That and A' That_, VII, 149.

5. Courage and bravery are shown to be admirable and cowardice is made
shameful in these selections:

_The Boy and the Nettle_, Volume I, page 65.
_The Mice and the Cat_, I, 197.

6. The evil of conceit and overweening self-esteem may be shown
emphatically by the use of such selections as these:

_The Gnat and the Bull_, Volume I, page 70.
_The Cock and the Horses_, I, 146.
_The Pea Blossom_, I, 205.
_The Sparrow and the Eagle_, II, 8.
_The Milkmaid_, II, 374.

7. Flattery as a vice is made to seem unworthy, and its victim
ridiculous in the two selections following:

_The Fox and the Crow_, Volume I, page 64.
_The Spider and the Fly_, III, 19.

B. Our character is largely made up of our feelings and emotions. Reason
takes us in hand and tells us right from wrong, but we must feel before
we can act. To cultivate right feeling, laudable emotions; to make one
_wish_ to do and hence _will_ to do is perhaps the greatest function of
real literature, that is the literature of beauty and of inspiration.
Our collection is rich in this direction and to find material for
lessons is an easy task. Yet not everyone has the time to find, classify
and use everything; hence the following lists.

Before giving them, however, a word of caution is necessary. Remember
that these selections are not all suitable for children of every age.
Some that will delight the little children and stimulate them to
enthusiastic efforts to do right, will not appeal to older ones.
Moreover, the natural bent of a child's mind, the associations he has
formed, his home surroundings, and his present character will all need
to be considered before making choice of the subject matter. As for the
manner of presentation, enough will be found in the studies in _Journeys
Through Bookland_ and in other parts of this volume safely to guide the
young and inexperienced.

1. The influences of home and family are the greatest that come into the
lives of most children. Love of home, of parents, of brothers and
sisters, of children, are the perfectly natural things of existence. Yet
often the ties are weak; not infrequently are they broken. Children
drift away from the restraining and helpful influence of their parents,
and families disintegrate. The results are bad. By properly teaching
such selections as the