Paper Church Silhouettes

       These paper cuts or silhouettes of the front and back of a church, plus stained glass windows would look lovely in any Sunday School. I've restored them for students and teachers, enjoy.

• Find more stained glass windows to color at Color The Bible
• Craft stained glass windows from melted crayons

Grandma's Prayer

Grandma's Prayer

Each evening when I say my prayer,
I kneel at Grandma's knee;
And Grandma always bows her head,
And folds her hands like me.
I thank Him for his loving care,
As all dear children should:
And ask Him for His tender grace,
To help me to be good.
And Oh. He hears my prayer I know.
And keeps from me each harmful foe.

Then Grandma says a little prayer,
As soon as I am through;
I fold my hands and bow my head,
And try to join in too.
And Oh, the words seem brimming full
Of faith and love most sweet,
Although it is a simple prayer.
And easy to repeat.
Just: "Father, guard me through the nigh'
And keep me safe 'till morning light."

Now Grandma prays, I'm very sure,
A dozen times a day;
I often linger near her door.
To hear what she might say.
She asks Him for enough of strength
To help her bear her load:
And pleads that He will hold her hand,
As she toils on the road.
And that He hears and gives her grace,
We know it by her peaceful face.

But Oh, I think the sweetest prayer
I ever heard her pray.
Is that brief one she says with me.
At closing of the day.
It seems to me 'tis good enough
To whisper when you die;
And all the angels bright would bend
To listen from the sky,
To "Father guard me through the night,
And keep me safe 'till morning light."

Squanto, The Native American Hero of Thanksgiving

      Tisquantum (January 1, 1585 – November 30, 1622), also known as Squanto, was the Native American who assisted the Pilgrims after their first winter in the New World and was integral to their survival. He was a member of the Patuxet tribe, a tributary of the Wampanoag Confederacy. During his lifetime, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean six times. Read More...

• Who Was Squantum?
• Modern History Sourcebook: William Bradford: from History of Plymouth Plantation, c. 1650 · Treaty with the Indians 1621
• Caleb Johnson's MayflowerHistory.com
• "Squanto". Folk Figure. Find a Grave. Oct 23, 2002. Retrieved Aug 18, 2011.
• Many new and unique Native American coloring pages
• Fish fertilizer: a native north american practice?  

 CNN Interviews Eric Metaxas on his recent book "Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving"

St. Patrick's Greatness

Saint Patrick stained glass window from
Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA.

      An Englishman who had toured the United States said to an American friend:

      "I cannot understand it. On the 22nd of February I supposed there would be a grand national demonstration in honor of George Washington. But nothing occured. On the 17th of March the city I was in was decorated in green flags and Irish emblems fluttered everywhere, the hotel menu card was in green ink and the evening paper came out in green.

      "Bands played in the streets, men paraded, the city police force and military turned out, there were balls, banquets and public speaking. What I want to know is whether St. Patrick or George Washington is the nation's patron saint."

      Some idea of how powerful a figure St. Patrick was may be gained by comparing the memory of St. Patrick, born 1,535 years ago, with that of George Washington, who has been dead a little more than a century.

      St. Patrick went to Ireland when it was plunged in the darkness of paganism. He confronted a hostile people with a dozen assistants. He carried the new civilization with him. He met a fighting race and subdued it single-handed.

      His first work in reaching a community was to preach the gospel in the native tongue of the people. This he did with Pauline fervor and a fire of conviction which fired the heart and imagination of the people. You can look at the work of any Irish priest to-day and see the duplication of St. Patrick's method. First a talk to the people, then the building of a church, then the erection of a school, and then the exhortation to practice the Christian virtues, the succor of the widow and the orphans, the weak, the fallen and the aged.

• The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick by Various
• Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus from Saint Patrick

      Patrick established universities which, by the labor of the inmates, were self-sustaining, and to which the youth of England flocked by thousands. Europe, during his lifetime, was in conflagration. Hordes of the north, Goths and Vandals, ravaged the south, and the lamp of learning, extinguished on the continent, burned brightly in the cloisters of the monasteries and universities of Ireland. Patrick translated nothing into Irish. He taught the Irish Latin and implanted, full born, the civilization of Christian Rome.

      He introduced the arts and crafts, developed agriculture, taught industry, application and love of work. Institutions of learning, churches and homes of religious workers, training schools and seminaries, were supported, not by contributions, but by labor of the inmates.

      From idleness to industry, from fighting to the arts of peace, from Druidical worship to Christian practice and ideals, St. Patrick turned the whole island by personal effort and example, by incessant exhausting toil. He died as he lived, without the possession of a groat.

      The arts and letters, science and biblical knowledge which fled from the continent took refuge in the famous schools which made Durrow and Arragh the universities of the west. To the eternal honor of Irish hospitality be it said that these thousands of strangers from every country in Europe were not only welcomed, but supplied gratuitousily with books, clothes and food.

• About Durrow Abby
• Irish midlands ancestry
• http://www.offalyhistory.com/content/reading_resources/books_articles/durrow_monastery.htm
• http://www.artsforpeace.ie/contacts.html
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "School of Durrow". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.

       The scholarship thus engendered refurbished Europe when, a century's anarchy over, the Irish missionaries emerged from schools and flashed over the charred remains of European civilization the sacred light of learning.

      So, when the bearer of the name Patrick, laborer and toiler though he be, remembers that his title is descended from one of the proudest in Rome, patrician, and thinks in his poverty and humility of the ancient glory of his people, where is there an American who will not honor in him the survival through the centuries of the pride and learning and achievement of his ancestors, and join him on St. Patrick's day in singing "All Hail to St. Patrick!" The Marion Daily Mirror, March 17th, 1909.

      As part of a more than fifty-year-old Chicago tradition, the Chicago River is dyed green in observance of St. Patrick's Day. The actual event does not necessarily occur on St. Patrick's Day and is scheduled for the Saturday of the closest weekend. The dye takes days to dissipate. The tradition of dyeing the river green arose by accident when some plumbers used fluorescein dye to trace sources of illegal pollution discharges. The dyeing of the river is still sponsored by the local plumbers union. 

 The Chicago River during the 2009 Saint Patrick's Day celebration.

"Apple Of My Eye" Valentines

The "Apple of My Eye Valentine" card.

On top you see three white apple shaped interior pages and two red
exterior apple shaped pages. Below, left, half of the apple is glued on
to the other, leaving a section open to insert the interior white apple
pages that have been previously folded.

   This little tutorial for Valentine's Day was created for those of you who still like to handcraft your own cards and letters. If you are looking for a special Valentine pattern for your classroom teacher, this is a classic prototype. I have also included here the origins of the first "apple of my eye" references as well. Also view a few vintage versions of similar cards (below) from American publishers over fifty years ago.

 Materials You Will Need:

• white glue
• scissors
• red, brown, green, and white construction paper
• black pen (preferably permanent ink)
• pattern
• heavy cardboard
• a stapler
• googly eyes (tiny)
  

Step-by-step Directions for the Apple of My Eye Valentine Card:

1. Download and print the pattern for the "Apple of My Eye Valentine."
2. Cut the pattern shapes out and trace these onto heavy cardboard.
3. Trace around the smaller apple shape three times. Cut out at least three white pages for the interior of the card. Fold these in half and set them aside.
4. Cut two larger apple shapes in red, yellow, or green for the exterior of the apple card.
5. Glue the two red shapes front to back on only one half of the apple. see  picture, right.
6. Now take the folded white interior apple pages and staple these together along their outside edge to form a kind of a pamphlet. 
7. Then glue the outside pages of this little pamphlet into the open leaves of the red apple card. You may like to write a message on these. I have chosen to write mine on the outside of the card.
8. Now trace and cut out the worm shapes from green paper. 
9. Glue the worm's head on the outside of the front part of your Valentine. Glue the backside of the paper worm to the lower outside, back half of the Valentine card.
10. Now look carefully at the interior white pages and approximate where it would be best for the worm's body to be threaded through in order for both ends to appear as though they are attached. Cut a hole through all of your Valentine's white interior pages at this point.
11. Now you will need to weave together to strips of paper that are cut to an approximate width similar to the that of the worm pattern. You will only need about five inch lengths of two colors. One strip should be green and the other white or pale pink.
12. This art teacher, Mr. Lundgren, demonstrates the accordion ribbon fold technique in his video, that I used in my card. He has made several excellent videos for art students and visitors may access them here.
13. Now glue the accordion folded ribbon into place after threading it through the hole. Hold the two ends firmly in place until the white glue becomes a bit tacky. 
14. I have also drawn on the pattern sheet a stem and an apple leaf for you to trace and cut. Glue these onto the outside of your card at it's top.
15. Add details to the worm, leaves, and stem with a thin tipped, black permanent ink marker along with an expression: "You are the apple of my eye," or "An apple for the teacher," or a scripture, all of which are listed below. I also glued tiny googly eyes to my worm for character.

I have cut a hole, left, large enough to insert my accordion folded ribbon. I will "guesstimate" where to glue this in order to
make the interior ribbon look as though it is a natural extension of the worm's body.

Here you can see that I have inserted an accordion woven ribbon through the worm hole and glued it in place. The worm now looks as though it has eaten through the pages of my Valentine apple card. Below it a link to an art teacher who demonstrates this simple accordion paper folding technique in a video.

Pattern for the "Apple of My Eye" Valentine Card.
Click on image to download the largest file.

Where does the expression "Apple of My Eye" come from? The phrase "Apple of My Eye" comes from the Bible. It is first mentioned in Deut. 32:10 “He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye,"and then Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. . . Proverbs 7:2 also includes the expression, "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye," and lastly in Zech. 2:8 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."

• Read more about these scriptures and what the meaning behind the phrase is here.
• "James Re: Who is the apple of God's eye?"
• Apple of God's Eye

More Apple Inspired Valentines:

• Share the Love {You're the Apple of my Eye}
• Apple sweet teacher's treat for Valentine's Day!
• Printable Sandwich Bag that may be used for apple candies on Valentine's Day
• Digital Costume Stamps Perfect for "Apple of My Eye" Valentine Cards
• Bridget's Paper Blessings: "You're the apple of my eye" card idea perfect as a valentine

Vintage Apple Themed Valentines: 

"Of Core-se You Know You're the Apple of My Eye!"

 

"You're the "Apple" of my eye Dear Valentine!"

"You're the APPLE of my eye . . . Please be my Valentine! card

Thanksgiving From the American Sunday - School Union: 1873

      When my father was still alive, he collected small antique books, most usually of a religious origin. This small Union Hymns manual was distributed by the American Sunday School Union in Philadelphia, 1873.

      He told me that such small books were also normally carried by soldiers during the civil war. My father taught as a history professor in religious collages for over twenty years after retiring from ministry, so I suspect that his information is accurate. Although his doctorate was in Greek and Roman history, he frequently taught American Civil War history too.

      I am very thankful for all he taught me about Jesus and this little post is dedicated to him.

Excerpt from the Thanksgiving category of the antique volume:

Thanksgiving.

For the blessings of the gospel. C.M.

Let every mortal ear attend,

And every heart rejoice!

The trumpet of the gospel sounds,

With an inviting voice:-

Ho! all ye hungry, starving souls,

That feed upon the wind,

And vainly strive, with earthly toys,

To fill an empty mind:

Eternal wisdom has prepared

A soul-reviving feast;

And bids your longing appetites

The rich provision taste.

Ho! ye who pant for living streams,

And pine away and die;

Here you may quench your raging thirst,

With springs that never dry.

Rivers of love and mercy here

In a rich ocean join;

Salvation in abundance flows,

Like floods of milk and wine.

The front cover of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The backside of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The inside inscription of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

The two illustrations of the New Union Hymns: American Sunday School Union.

Little Apple Rhymes and Poems

A Apple Pie.

B bit it.

C cut it.

D dealt it. 

E eat it.

F fought for it.

G got it. 

H hid it.

J joined it.

K kept it.

L longed for it.

M mourned for it.

N nodded at it. 

O opened it.

P peeped at it.

Q quartered it.

R ran for it.

S stole it.

T took it. 

V viewed it.

W wanted it.

X Y Z & 

Amperse and 

All wished for 

A piece in hand.

Apple Gathering by Georgina Rossetti

    I plucked pink blossoms from mine apple-tree
        And wore them all that evening in my hair:
    Then in due season when I went to see
            I found no apples there.

    With dangling basket all along the grass
        As I had come I went the selfsame track:
    My neighbours mocked me while they saw me pass
            So empty-handed back.

    Lilian and Lilias smiled in trudging by,
        Their heaped-up basket teased me like a jeer;
    Sweet-voiced they sang beneath the sunset sky,
            Their mother's home was near.

    Plump Gertrude passed me with her basket full,
        A stronger hand than hers helped it along;
    A voice talked with her through the shadows cool
            More sweet to me than song.

    Ah Willie, Willie, was my love less worth
        Than apples with their green leaves piled above?
    I counted rosiest apples on the earth
            Of far less worth than love.

    So once it was with me you stooped to talk
        Laughing and listening in this very lane:
    To think that by this way we used to walk
            We shall not walk again!

    I let my neighbours pass me, ones and twos
        And groups; the latest said the night grew chill,
    And hastened: but I loitered, while the dews
            Fell fast I loitered still.

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, 1803

The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit, and always green;
The trees of nature fruitless be,
Compar'd with Christ the Appletree.

This beauty doth all things excel,
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see,
In Jesus Christ the Appletree.

For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought;
I miss'd of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the Appletree.

I'm weary'd with my former toil—
Here I will sit and rest awhile,
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the Appletree.

With great delight I'll make my stay,
There's none shall fright my soul away;
Among the sons of men I see
There's none like Christ the Appletree.

I'll sit and eat this fruit divine,
It cheers my heart like spirit'al wine;
And now this fruit is sweet to me,
That grows on Christ the Appletree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the Appletree.


Two Little Apples by Anonymous
Two little apples hanging on a tree,
Two little apples smiling at me.
I shook that tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples, Mm! Mm! Good!

Costumes Worn On Halloween

      Halloween costumes are costumes worn on or around Halloween, a festival which falls on October 31. The Halloween costume has a relatively short history. Wearing costumes has long been associated with other holidays around the time of Halloween, even Christmas. Among the earliest references to wearing costumes at Halloween is in 1895, where "guisers" are recorded in Scotland, but there is almost no mention of a costume in England, Ireland, or the United States until 1900. Early costumes emphasized the pagan and gothic nature of the holiday, but by the 1930s costumes based on characters in mass media such as film, literature, and radio were popular. Halloween was originally promoted as a children's holiday, and as a means of reining in the wicked and destructive behavior of teenagers. Early Halloween costumes were aimed at children in particular, but after the mid-20th century, as Halloween increasingly came to be celebrated by adults, the Halloween costume was worn by adults as much as children.

      Although Halloween is often claimed to be a cultural descendant of the Celtic festival of Samhain, such claims are generally not considered either historically accurate or scholarly. In particular, the custom of dressing up in costumes and going "guising" or trick-or-treating at Halloween developed from Christian customs created in Western Europe around the 15th century. Guising at Halloween in Scotland is recorded in 1895, where masqueraders in disguise carrying lanterns made out of scooped out turnips, visit homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. The practice of Guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising" around the neighborhood.

      The holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day were often celebrated with costume parades, wild parties, and licentiousness of all sorts. In the 18th century in the United Kingdom, Halloween was celebrated in rural areas by farmers as a fertility rite, while in cities it had a Carnival-like atmosphere. But as Halloween was transported to the United States by waves of European immigrants, the licentious and rowdy elements of Halloween were domesticated to conform with the emerging Victorian era morality. Halloween was made into a private rather than public holiday, celebrations involving liquor and sensuality de-emphasized, and only children were expected to celebrate the festival.

These little ones are dressing in costume for All Saints Day at their private Catholic school. This costume celebration is fast becoming a popular alternative to traditional Trick-or-Treating. This is in part because of the current trends towards gore and inappropriate adult content surrounding the secular culture of Halloween. Guising on All Saint's Day also emphasizes the imitation of positive, historical characters throughout Christian church history.

      While wearing costumes at Halloween is recorded in Scotland in 1895, there is little evidence of costumes in England, Ireland, or the United States prior to 1900, however. Early Halloween costumes emphasized the pagan and gothic nature of Halloween, and were aimed primarily at children. Costumes were also made at home, or using items (such as make-up) which could be purchased and utilized to create a costume. But in the 1930s, A.S. Fishbach, Ben Cooper, Inc., and other firms began mass-producing Halloween costumes for sale in stores as trick-or-treating became popular in North America.

      Halloween costumes in popular culture are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, skeletons, witches, goblins, trolls, devils, etc. or in more recent years such science fiction-inspired characters as aliens and superheroes. There are also costumes of pop culture figures like presidents, athletes, celebrities, or characters in film, television, literature, etc. Another popular trend is for women (and in some cases, men) to use Halloween as an excuse to wear sexy or revealing costumes, showing off more skin than would be socially acceptable otherwise. Young girls also often dress as entirely non-scary characters at Halloween, including princesses, fairies, angels, farm animals and flowers.

      Halloween costume parties generally fall on or around October 31, often falling on the Friday or Saturday prior to Halloween. The wearing of costumes for the purpose of "Trick-or-Treating" or guising, is traditionally done on the eve of Halloween and the tradition of wearing costumes for All Saint's Day generally is done either on All Saint's Day or on a school day that has been chosen for that purpose in parochial schools.

• All Saints Day by James Russell Lowell
• Fall - Time Fun! 
• How Halloween Came to Be Celebrated in Christendom
  

Johnny Appleseed Praise and Worship

"Learn it. Live it. At least when you're walkin' the orchard!"

This song, sung by Dennis Day, was part of the short 1948 Disney classic,"Johnny Appleseed"; A retelling of the story of John Chapman, who spent his life roaming America and planting apple trees, thus earning his nickname. Then entire movie can be found on Youtube under "Johnny Appleseed Song".

Lyrics:

The Lord is good to me

and so I thank the Lord,

for givin' me the things I need,

the sun and rain and an appleseed,

Yes, He's been good to me.

I owe the Lord so much,

for everything I see,

I'm certain if it weren't for Him

there'd be no apples on this limb.

He's been good to me.

Oh, here am I 'neath the blue, blue sky,

A-doin' as I please!

Singin' with my feathered friends,

Hummin' with the bees.

I wake up every day,

As happy as can be

Because I know that with His care

My apple trees, they will still be there.

Oh the Lord is been good to me.

(Another verse I found online, but not in the Disney movie)

Every seed I sow will grow into a tree

and soon there'll be apples there

for everyone in the world to share.

The Lord is good to me.

"Jesus Loves The Little Children"

Gary Chapman sings "Jesus Loves the Little Children" from the video series, A Hymn a Week, which he and his wife, Cassie, upload here and to Facebook.

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

• Words written by preacher Clare Herbert Woolston (1856–1927)
• Sung to the 1864 Civil War tune "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" by George Fredrick Root
• Inspired by Matthew 19:14: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
• Some versions change Woolston's original words slightly by inserting the color "brown" between "red" and "yellow."
• Some modern versions read 'Ev'ry colour, ev'ry race, all are cover'd by His grace' instead of 'Red and yellow, black, and white, all are precious in His sight.'
• Alternate lyrics:

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Fat and skinny, short and tall,
Jesus loves them one and all,

OR

Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.

Biblical Wayang

"The Wayang Wahyu or biblical wayang is a unique and exceptional art form that became popular int the '60s as a means to preach the gospel through puppets. Bible stories are depicted through shadow theater, accompanied by the music of the traditional gamelan. Wayang Wahyu uses Javanese language, music and other supporting platforms to complete an artistic religious expression. It is an evolved form of the Wayang but uses the pattern of the traditional version.

It is a phenomenon, as it combines the old and new and cross-over of cultures and religions. It uses Hindu-Islamic influenced art to propogate Catholicism in a predominantly Islam and Hindu population. It is presented through light entertainment, the puppet theater, and yet is imbued with meaning, and steeped in philosophical, religious, moral and cultural nuances. It makes for an enriching and meaningful artistic experience, a glimpse into the colorful culture of Indonesia."

Exhibit Schedule:
October 10-29, 2011
GSIS Museo ng Sining
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The Old Testament Alphabet

      The following illustrated alphabet ( u is missing) is from "The Child's Colored Scripture Book," 1866. The plates have been restored by Kathy Grimm for teachers and parents to reprint freely.

Aaron, the High Priest of the
Jews, within the Temple pray'd,
And offer'd sacrifices, which were on the
altar laid.

Balaam the Prophet, on an ass,
a visit went to pay
To Balak; but an Angel stood to meet
him on the way.

Cain, the first son of Adam, full of
jealousy and pride,
Fiercely kill'd his brother Abel, and was
wretched till he died.

Daniel, faithful, brave, and pious,
was shut in the lion's den,
By the heathen King Darius, but came
safely out again;
For God, who made the lions, watches
over righteous men.

Elijah, when he hid himself, had
nothing left to eat,
But the Lord's ravens daily brought the
Prophet bread and meat.

Finding the infant Moses; who,
left at the river's side,
Was lying in a little ark, with fresh
bulrushed tied;
Great Pharoah's daughter pitied as the
child looked up and cried.

Goliath, of the Philistines the
leader and the pride,
Came forth and laugh'd while all the
host of Israel he defied;
But David, with a sling and stone, so
smote him that he died.

Hagar and Ishmael, her son,
out to the desert fled,
With water in a bottle, and a little loaf
of bread:
But, when they both had called to God,
in safety they were led.

Job suffer'd many sorrows, but was
patient to the end;
Knowing, in all his troubles, that the
Lord was still his friend.

King David, once a shepherd boy,
to Israel's throne was raised,
And, singing to his harp, in sweetest
Psalms he pray'd and praised.

Lot, with his wife and daughters,
left the Cities of the Plain,
Which, for their wickedness, God smote
with storms of fiery rain;
But Lot's wife was destroy'd, because
she would look back again.

Miriam, the Prophetess, was
Aaron's sister: she
Led forth the Jewish women, who
escaped from the Red Sea,
And danced and sang for joy that all her
nation was set free.

Noah alone, of all the people,
hated evil and loved good,
And when the earth was drown'd, by rain
from heaven, in a flood,
God taught him how to build a ship, or
ark, of gopher-wood.

Obadiah sought, from wicked
men, Elijah's life to save;
It was he who fed, and hid, a hundred
prophets in a cave.

Pharaoah, the King of Egypt,

Queen of Sheba. You have heard
how she from her own country came,
And brought rich gifts to Solomon, whose
wisdom, skill and fame,
Caused Kings and Princes to bow down
in homage to his name.

Ruth was the youthful widow, of
the tender, loving heart,
Who refused, in spite of poverty, from
Naomi to part.

Samson, the man of mighty strength,
who blind and captive lay
Within a house, in which his foes had
come to drink and play,
Pull'd down the pillars, and the house
fell on them all that day.

Tubal-Cain was first of workmen,
who for useful metals sought,
And brass and iron into shape, at the
smith's anvil wrought.

Vashti, the Queen, refused to go
at her proud King's command,
And so was sent away, while Esther sat
at his right hand.

Widowed, and poor, and hungry,
the woman was who fed
Elijah, Prophet of the Lord, with a small
cake of bread;
But God returned a hundred-fold, and
kept her table spread.

Xis the letter which is used, to show
is the number ten,
And Ten Commandments Moses gave,
from God to sinful men.

Young Joash, when a little child,
was hidden from the sight
Of those who sought to slay him, and
was kept, both day and night,
Till priests and captains claimed for him
his own true kingly right.

Zedekiah, King of Judah, lived
to see his sons both slain,
Then blind and captive went away,
never to see again:
For he led an evil life, which brings
both misery and pain

Josephus Hyde And His Sinful Pride

Josephus loved to strut, and cry:

"No boy in town is rich as I!"

And vainly both his aunties tried

To break him of such foolish pride.

His little playmates, in delight,

Made fun of him with all their might,

While he pretended not to see

Or sneered at them unpleasantly.

At length misfortunes came, -- and left

Josephus of his wealth bereft!

He made his way, -- but first of all

He learned: -- Pride goes before a fall!

by Elizabeth Kirkman Fitzhugh.