Excerpt
January.—Now the weather is very cold. There are no leaves upon the trees. The ground is frozen quite hard. Perhaps it is covered with snow. Every thing looks very cold and comfortless. A little boy or girl, when out of humor, reminds me of this month. Bring plenty of wood and make a good fire, that we may warm ourselves.
February is a cold month, but the days are getting longer. Now the crocuses and snow-drops begin to appear. When little boys and girls have been naughty, how pleasant it is to see them begin to be good again! Remember, the crocuses and snow-drops do not make themselves grow: it is God that causes them to grow. So we must look to him to enable us to be good.
March.—The wind blows very hard. Mind it does not blow you away. See, that tree has been blown down. Job says that God is angry with the wicked, and that they are as stubble before the wind. Do you recollect that the winds and the sea obeyed Jesus, and were still when he bade them? He can still our angry passions as easily as he did the winds and waves.
April.—The spring is come; the trees are in blossom; the leaves begin to appear. The birds sing merrily, and every thing looks cheerful. Now you may work in your gardens. Do you not like to see a garden neat and free from weeds? It is very pleasant to see children free from bad habits and naughty ways.
The blessing of the lord, it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it.May.—This is a very pleasant month: now there are a great many flowers. Little girls are fond of swinging. I hope they will not disobey their parents. Little boys and girls often get hurt when they are disobedient to their parents. They forget that the Bible says, "Children obey your parents."
June.—Now it is time to cut the grass and make hay. It is very pleasant to go and help. See how soon the grass withers after it is cut. "In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up, in the evening it is cut down and withereth." Little children often seem very well, but on a sudden they are taken ill, and die;—they are compared to grass and flowers.
July.—It is very hot, and the animals retire to the shade. Now you must water your garden: if you do not, your plants will die. Are you fond of strawberries and currants? They are now ripe, but do not eat them without leave.
Our father ate forbidden fruit,
And from his glory fell;
And we, his children, thus were brought
To death, and near to hell.
August.—The grain begins to ripen. Now the farmer sends his men with their sickles, and they reap it; it is then tied up in sheaves and carried to the barn. Do you recollect the parable about the wheat and the tares? Matthew, 13. Christ compares those who love him to wheat: they will go to heaven. The wicked are compared to tares: they are to be punished.
September.—It is time to gather the apples and pears. You may get a basket, and pick up those that fall down. Christ said, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" he then spoke of peoples actions. We know whether little children are good or naughty, by what they do.
The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; the fruit of the wicked to sin.October.—The leaves are falling off the trees. The days are now a great deal shorter than they were. The grapes are ripe; it is time to gather them. Christ compared himself to a vine, and his disciples to the branches....