shire, Rhode Island and New York each had one factory, and the new industry had become firmly established in the United States. In 1789 George Washington, our first president, was inaugurated in a dark-brown cloth suit of home manufacture. When President Madison was inaugurated, March 4, 1809, he wore a suit of black broadcloth, machine manufactured in the United States. The woolen industry to-day is one of the largest industries in the United States, and those who now raise wool generally make it their sole business. Most of the sheep are raised on the great plains and in the valleys of the western states. There are now many million sheep in the United States. Flocks of sheep, numbering from five hundred to several thousand, may be seen in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. There are in New Mexico alone nearly four million sheep and about the same number in Montana. Ohio, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon have each nearly three million. Ohio has the greatest number of any eastern state. Our woolen factories use many hundred million pounds of wool each year and most of the cloth made is used by our home people. The quality of the cloth depends upon the quality of the wool used, the quality of the machinery, and the skill of the workmen. A great deal of skill is necessary in making first-class woolen goods. Our factories are now using the very best machinery in the world; and our workmen are experienced and skilled and as a class are much superior to those of Europe. Our machinery is so much better and our workmen can do so much more work in a day, that we are able to compete in prices of our woolen goods with any country, although the cost of labor is much less in the European countries than in the United States. Our blankets, carpets, cassimeres, worsted goods and other woolen cloth can compete with the manufactures of the world. If we can not tell in words, we know what kindness is. We all have felt it, and no doubt we all have both given and received it. There are many ways in which we can show kindness, and many people to whom we should show it. It does not always consist in giving money to the needy. It can be more often shown by doing that which does not cost us a penny. We all like to receive a "Good morning," when given with a smile and a pleasant voice. If we give just this to one who is ill and sad, it may brighten a whole day for that person. We should be especially kind to the sick. It is not always best to visit them, but we can send a flower, or a dainty bit of food, or fruit, or even a pleasant word of inquiry. Sometimes there are strangers in our midst who feel very lonely because away from home and friends. Imagine how we would like to be treated, were we in their places. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them." The old and feeble should be treated with the greatest consideration and kindness. There should be something down deep in our hearts that will not let us treat them in any other way. We should remember that if we live, we will be old ourselves, sometime. We should be kind to poor people. They may be peculiar in dress or manner, but we should be sorry for them, rather than to make sport of them. There are unfortunate people who are deformed in mind or body. If we have any heart at all, it will grow tender toward such people and we will not rudely stare at them, nor in any way show that we notice their peculiarities. We should at all times be especially kind to father, mother, brother, sister, and friend. All the people to whom we should be kind and all the ways by which we may show kindness are too numerous to mention. If we look about we will find plenty of chances to show kindness to others. We should always be thoughtful of the comfort and happiness of others and then we will not only give kindness but receive it. It may come back to us when we least expect it, but when much needed. A kind act never gives cause for regret. Only a loving word! But it made a weak heart strong; mēre sliçe bunch språng Til'ly Only a loving word! But it made the angels smile; And what it is worth, perhaps we'll know A gentle word is never lost; Oh! never then refuse one; It cheers the heart when tempest-tossed, Every gentle deed you do LESSON L. bâre'ly toast' ed stär' tled blithe, gay, merry, glad. pär' çel, package, bundle. be numbed', deadened. |