XXVII

THRIFT

(1) The importance of forming the habit of saving while young. (2) How does thrift and saving bring independence? (3) Why should one spend less than he makes? (4) How does debt threaten our independence? (5) Why should our public spirit grow with increased savings? (6) How do savings help us to increase charity?

When one has formed the habit thrift
He has acquired a precious gift;
For independence it will give

To him as long as he shall live.
Thrift only means to make and save,
So that in plenty one may have;
But does not mean to hoard and stint
Till one has money like a mint.
It does mean, though, that we shall take
Great care to spend less than we make;
Which can be done quite well, indeed,
By buying only what we need,

And not indulging our desire
For luxuries and fine attire.
If we a little each day save

Our way to plenty we shall pave,
And thus avoid that horror debt,
Which is to liberty a threat;
For when in debt we deeply go
We servants are to those we owe.
By thrift and great frugality
We keep our pride and liberty.
By wasting time and money we
Are sure to come to poverty.
But thrift in saving always brings
The saver into bigger things.

The earth is made of grains of sand,

And into oceans drops expand,

Whole books are made from little facts

And habits come from little acts.

So pennies into fortunes turn,

As all who try may some day learn.
But thrift is not a selfish act;
It only prudence is, in fact;

For in our youth we must beware
Lest in old age a public care

We shall become, or, on a friend

For home and food and clothes depend.
While we must not be known as "tight,"
We should not spend without foresight;
And if investments we would make
That they are safe care we should take.
Such cautious judgment is not greed,
And we must use it to succeed.
Now all our thrift should seasoned be
With timely liberality;

That is, wise charity bestow
And public spirit always show;
For in the Bible we are shown,

We live not for ourselves alone.

Have the children tell stories and incidents illustrating thrift.

XXVIII

PATRIOTISM

(1) Love of country; (2) reverence for its flag; (3) respect for its rules; (4) its defense when necessary; (5) regard for its honor and good

name.

The light of love that never dies
Is kindled first by mother's eyes
When we in childhood see them burn
With love that naught can ever turn.
As we in mind and stature grow
The light increases till its glow
In wider circles radiance sends,
Illuming home and dearest friends,
And, too, the country of our birth,
The sweetest, fairest land on earth.
"Tis love that makes us all revere
Our parents and to them bring cheer
By helping them in every way,
And never failing to obey.

It is this love that makes our home

The dearest spot 'neath heaven's dome,

And gives us courage to defend
That home from foe to bitter end.
We want to keep it sweet and clean,
And free of everything that's mean.
We want it neat in every room

And flowers within the yard to bloom;
The simple laws our parents make
To rule the home are for our sake,
And love will not from any cause
Let us neglect these homely laws.
Just as we love and honor home
When we are there or when we roam,
Respect its rules and rulers, too,
Want it to be fine, good and true,
So should our love of country be,
Our wondrous home of Liberty.
For country is our larger home
Whose roof is just the sky's blue dome.
It is, indeed, the air we breathe,
The forests which the land enwreathe,
The mountains towering toward the sun,
The rivers that through valleys run,
The cities, towns and fertile field,
The mines which coal and metals yield,