STORY LESSONS
ON
CHARACTER-BUILDING (MORALS)
AND
MANNERS.

BY

LOÏS BATES

AUTHOR OF "KINDERGARTEN GUIDE," "NEW RECITATIONS FOR INFANTS,"
"GAMES WITHOUT MUSIC," ETC.

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
NEW YORK AND BOMBAY
1900

PREFACE.

Although it is admitted by all teachers, in theory at least, that morals and manners are essential subjects in the curriculum of life, how very few give them an appointed place in the school routine. Every other subject has its special time allotted, but these—the most important subjects—are left to chance, or taken up, haphazard, at any time; surely this is wrong.

Incidents often occur in the school or home life which afford fitting opportunity for the inculcation of some special moral truth, but maybe the teacher or mother has no suitable illustration just at hand, and the occasion is passed over with a reproof. It is hoped that where such want is felt this little book may supply the need.

The stories may be either told or read to the children, and are as suitable for the home as the school. "The Fairy Temple" should be read as an introduction to the Story Lessons, for the teaching of the latter is based on this introductory fairy tale. If used at home the blackboard sketch may be written on a slate or slip of paper. The children will not weary if the stories are repeated again and again (this at least was the writer's experience), and they will be eager to pronounce what is the teaching of the tale. In this way the lessons are reiterated and enforced. The method is one which the writer found exceedingly effective during long years of experience. Picture-teaching is an ideal way of conveying truths to children, and these little stories are intended to be pictures in which the children may see and contrast the good with the bad, and learn to love the good. The faults of young children are almost invariably due either to thoughtlessness or want of knowledge, and the little ones are delighted to learn and put into practice the lessons taught in these stories, which teaching should be applied in the class or home as occasion arises. E.g., a child is passing in front of another without any apology, the teacher says, immediately: "Remember Minnie, you do not wish to be rude, like she was" (Story Lesson 111). Or if a child omits to say "Thank you," he may be reminded by asking: "Have you forgotten 'Alec and the Fairies'?" (Story Lesson 95). The story lessons should be read to the children until they become perfectly familiar with them, so that each may be applied in the manner indicated.

CONTENTS.

1.—MORALS.
CHAPTER			PAGE
I.	Introductory Story—
	1.	The Fairy Temple	1
II.	Obedience—
	2.	The Two Voices	4
	3.	(Why we Should Obey.) The Pilot	6
	4.	(Why we Should Obey.) The Dog that did not like to be Washed	7
	5.	(Ready Obedience.) Robert and the Marbles	9
	6.	(Unready, Sulky Obedience.) Jimmy and the Overcoat	9
III.	Loyalty—
	7.	Rowland and the Apple Tart	10
IV.	Truthfulness—
	8.	(Direct Untruth.) Lucy and the Jug of Milk	12
	9.	(Untruth, by not Speaking.) Mabel and Fritz	13
	10.	(Untruth, by not Telling All.) A Game of Cricket	14
	11.	(Untruth, by "Stretching"—Exaggeration.) The Three Feathers	16
V.	Honesty—
	12.	Lulu and the Pretty Coloured Wool	17
	13.	(Taking Little Things.) Carl and the Lump of Sugar	19
	14.	(Taking Little Things.) Lilie and the Scent	19
	15.	Copying	20
	16.	On Finding Things	22
VI.	Kindness—
	17.	Squeaking Wheels	23
	18.	Birds and Trees	24
	19.	Flowers and Bees	25
	20.	Lulu and the Bundle	26
VII.	Thoughtfulness—
	21.	Baby Elsie and the Stool	27
	22.	The Thoughtful Soldier	28
VIII.	Help One Another—
	23.	The Cat and the Parrot	29
	24.	The Two Monkeys	30
	25.	The Wounded Bird	31
IX.	On Being Brave—
	26.	(Brave in Danger.) How Leonard Saved his Little Brother	32
	27.	(Brave in Little Things.) The Twins	33
	28.	(Brave in Suffering.) The Broken Arm	34
	29.	(Brave in Suffering.) The Brave Monkey	35
X.	Try, Try Again—
	30.	The Sparrow that would not be Beaten	35
	31.	The Railway Train	36
	32.	The Man who Found America	37
XI.	Patience—
	33.	Walter and the Spoilt Page	38
	34.	The Drawings Eaten by the Rats	39
XII.	On Giving In—
	35.	Playing at Shop	40
	36.	The Two Goats	41
XIII.	On Being Generous—
	37.	Lilie and the Beggar Girl	41
	38.	Bertie and the Porridge	42
XIV.	Forgiveness—
	39.	The Two Dogs	43
XV.	Good for Evil—
	40.	The Blotted Copy-book	43
XVI.	Gentleness—
	41.	The Horse and the Child	45
	42.	The Overturned Fruit Stall	46
XVII.	On Being Grateful—
	43.	Rose and her Birthday Present	47
	44.	The Boy who was Grateful	47
XVIII.	Self-help—
	45.	The Crow and the Pitcher	48
XIX.	Content—
	46.	Harold and the Blind Man	49
XX.	Tidiness—
	47.	The Slovenly Boy	50
	48.	Pussy and the Knitting	51
	49.	The Packing of the Trunks	53
XXI.	Modesty—
	50.	The Violet	54
	51.	Modesty in Dress	55
XXII.	On Giving Pleasure to Others—
	52.	"Selfless" and "Thoughtful". A Fairy Tale	56
	53.	The Bunch of Roses	56
	54.	Edwin and the Birthday Party	57
	55.	Davie's Christmas Present	59
XXIII.	Cleanliness—
	56.	Why we Should be Clean	61
	57.	Little Creatures who like to be Clean	62
	58.	The Boy who did not like to be Washed	63
	59.	The Nails and the Teeth	64
XXIV.	Pure Language—
	60.	Toads and Diamonds. A Fairy Tale	66
XXV.	Punctuality—
	61.	Lewis and the School Picnic	67
XXVI.	All Work Honourable—
	62.	The Chimney-sweep	69
XXVII.	Bad Companions—
	63.	Playing with Pitch	70
	64.	Stealing Strawberries	71
XXVIII.	On Forgetting—
	65.	Maggie's Birthday Present	73
	66.	The Promised Drive	74
	67.	The Boy who Remembered	75
XXIX.	Kindness to Animals—
	68.	Lulu and the Sparrow	76
	69.	Why we Should be Kind to Animals	77
	70.	The Butterfly	78
	71.	The Kind-hearted Dog	78
XXX.	Bad Temper—
	72.	How Paul was Cured	79
	73.	The Young Horse	80
XXXI.	Selfishness—
	74.	The Child on the Coach	82
	75.	Edna and the Cherries	82
	76.	The Boy who liked always to Win	83
	77.	The two Boxes of Chocolate	84
	78.	Eva	85
XXXII.	Carelessness—
	79.	The Misfortunes of Elinor	86
XXXIII.	On Being Obstinate—
	80.	How Daisy's Holiday was Spoilt	87
XXXIV.	Greediness—
	81.	Stephen and the Buns	89
XXXV.	Boasting—
	82.	The Stag and his Horns	90
XXXVI.	Wastefulness—
	83.	The Little Girl who was Lost	91
XXXVII.	Laziness—
	84.	The Sluggard	91
XXXVIII.	On Being Ashamed—
	85.	The Elephant that Stole the Cakes	92
XXXIX.	Ears and No Ears—
	86.	Heedless Albert	94
	87.	Olive and Gertie	95
XL.	Eyes and No Eyes—
	88.	The Two Brothers	97
	89.	Ruby and the Wall	98
XLI.	Love of the Beautiful—
	90.	The Daisy	99
XLII.	On Destroying Things—
	91.	Beauty and Goodness	100
XLIII.	On Turning Back When Wrong—
	92.	The Lost Path	101
XLIV.	One Bad "Stone" may Spoil the "Temple"—
	93.	Intemperance	103
2.—MANNERS.
XLV.	Preliminary Story Lesson—
	94.	The Watch and its Springs	104
XLVI.	On Saying "Please" and "Thank You"—
	95.	Fairy Tale of Alec and his Toys	105
XLVII.	On Being Respectful—
	96.	Story Lesson	108
XLVIII.	Putting Feet Up—
	97.	Alice and the Pink Frock	109
XLIX.	Banging Doors—
	98.	How Maurice came Home from School	110
	99.	Lulu and the Glass Door	111
L.	Pushing in Front of People—
	100.	The Big Boy and the Little Lady	112
LI.	Keeping to the Right—
	101.	Story Lesson	113
LII.	Clumsy People—
	102.	Story Lesson	114
LIII.	Turning Round When Walking—
	103.	The Girl and her Eggs	115
LIV.	On Staring—
	104.	Ruth and the Window	116
LV.	Walking Softly—
	105.	Florence Nightingale	117
LVI.	Answering when Spoken To—
	106.	The Civil Boy	118
LVII.	On Speaking Loudly—
	107.	The Woman who Shouted	119
LVIII.	On Speaking when Others are Speaking—
	108.	Margery and the Picnic	120
LIX.	Look at People when Speaking to Them—
	109.	Fred and his Master	122
LX.	On Talking Too Much—
	110.	Story Lesson	122
LXI.	Going in Front of People—
	111.	Minnie and the Book	124
	112.	The Man and his Luggage	124
LXII.	When to Say "I Beg Your Pardon"—
	113.	Story Lesson	125
	114.	The Lady and the Poor Boy	126
LXIII.	Raising Cap—
	115.	Story Lesson	126
LXIV.	On Offering Seat to Lady—
	116.	Story Lesson	127
LXV.	On Shaking Hands—
	117.	Reggie and the Visitors	129
LXVI.	Knocking Before Entering a Room—
	118.	The Boy who Forgot	130
LXVII.	Hanging Hats Up, Etc.—
	119.	Careless Percy	130
LXVIII.	How to Offer Sweets, Etc.—
	120.	How Baby did it	132
LXIX.	Yawning, Coughing and Sneezing—
	121.	Story Lesson	132
LXX.	How a Slate Should Not be Cleaned—
	122.	Story Lesson	133
LXXI.	The Pocket-handkerchief—
	123.	Story Lesson	135
LXXII.	How to Behave at Table—
	124.	(On Sitting Still at Table.) Phil's Disaster	136
	125.	(On Sitting Still at Table.) Fidgety Katie	136
	126.	(Thinking of Others at Table.) The Helpful Little Girl	137
	127.	(Upsetting Things at Table.) Leslie and the Christmas Dinner	138
	128.	Cherry Stones	138
LXXIII.	On Eating and Drinking—
	129.	Rhymes	140
	130.	Rhymes	141
LXXIV.	Finale—
	131.	How another Queen Builded	142

LIST OF SUBJECTS ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.

1.—MORAL SUBJECTS.
	PAGE
All Work Honourable	69
Ashamed, On being	92
Bad Companions	70
Boasting	90
Brave, On being	32
Carelessness	86
Cleanliness	61
Content	49
Copying	20
Destroying Things, On	100
Ears and no Ears	94
Exaggeration	16
Eyes and no Eyes	97
Fairy Temple	1
Finding Things	22
Forgetting	73
Forgiveness	43
Generous, On being	41
Gentleness	45
Giving In, On	40
Giving Pleasure to Others, On	56
Good for Evil	43
Grateful, On being	47
Greediness	89
Help one Another	29
Honesty	17
How another Queen Builded	142
Intemperance	103
Introductory Story	1
Kindness	23
Kindness to Animals	76
Laziness	91
Love of the Beautiful	99
Loyalty	10
Modesty	54
Nails, The	64
Obedience	4
Obstinate, On being	87
Patience	38
Punctuality	67
Pure Language	66
Self-Help	48
Selfishness	82
Teeth, The	65
Thoughtfulness	27
Tidiness	50
Truthfulness	12
Try, Try Again	35
Turning Back when Wrong	101
Wastefulness	91
2.—MANNERS.
Answering when Spoken To	118
Banging Doors	110
Cherry Stones (see "How to Behave at Table")	138
Clumsy People	114
Coughing	132
Eating and Drinking, On	140
Excuse Me, Please (see "Going in Front of People")	124
Going in Front of People	124
Hanging Hats Up, etc.	130
How to Behave at Table	136
"I Beg Your Pardon," When to say	125
Keeping to the Right	113
Knocking Before Entering a Room	130
Look at People when Speaking to Them	122
Manners	104
Offering Seat to Lady	127
Offer Sweets, How to	132
"Please," On Saying	105
Pocket-handkerchief, The	135
Preliminary Story Lesson	104
Pushing in Front of People	112
Putting Feet Up	109
Raising Cap	126
Respectful, On being	108
Shaking Hands, On	129
Sitting Still at Table, On	136
Sneezing	132
Speaking Loudly, On	119
Speaking when Others are Speaking, On	120
Spitting (see "How a Slate Should Not be Cleaned")	133
Staring, On	116
Talking Too Much, On	122
"Thank You," On Saying	105
Thinking of Others at Table	137
Turning Round when Walking	115
Upsetting Things at Table (see "Leslie and the Christmas Dinner")	138
Walking Softly	117
Yawning	132

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Story Lessons on Character-Building (Morals) and Manners

STORY LESSONS
ON
CHARACTER-BUILDING (MORALS)
AND
MANNERS.

BY

LOÏS BATES

PREFACE.

CONTENTS.

LIST OF SUBJECTS ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.

1.—MORAL SUBJECTS.

I. INTRODUCTORY STORY.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Story Lessons on Character-Building (Morals) and Manners

STORY LESSONS ON CHARACTER-BUILDING (MORALS) AND MANNERS.

BY

LOÏS BATES

PREFACE.

CONTENTS.

LIST OF SUBJECTS ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.

1.—MORAL SUBJECTS.

I. INTRODUCTORY STORY.

STORY LESSONS
ON
CHARACTER-BUILDING (MORALS)
AND
MANNERS.