al; it may teach us sympathy and love for our
fellow-men, or arouse anger, hatred and defiance; it may give us a
keener discrimination of right from wrong and lead us far on our search
for truth, even into the calm of religious beliefs.

We see the play of emotions in the imaginary persons that pass before
us, and as we learn to love our new friends, their influence passes out
to us through the words of the gifted author. Bob Cratchit's tender love
(Volume VI, page 304) makes us more considerate of the sick and
helpless; Tom Brown's manly defense of his praying schoolboy friend
(Volume V, page 472) leads us to new respect and admiration for the boy
who lives up to his principles, and drives us, perhaps, to begin again
upon the duties we have neglected.

By studying with the children the feelings the characters in a story
exhibit, the parent may give the best of moral lessons without the
appearance of so doing and more effectively than by countless reprimands
and formal orders.

As a suggestion of method we offer an outline based upon _Rab and His
Friends_ (Volume VI, page 99), one of the most touching stories ever
written, a series of incidents that appeal to every holy emotion.

Rab, the great mastiff, claims first place in our minds, dog though he
is; but James and Ailie are such lovable beings that we never can forget
them.

The story has been read through; we have followed the simple incidents
to their pathetic climax; we have learned to know Rab by sight and to
recognize his sterling character; James the honest, tender-hearted
carrier, and gentle, suffering Ailie, his wife, have taken their places
among the dear friends our imagination has created; we have noted the
power of the author, his humor, his scholarly English and his
sympathetic touch. We may have read the story more than once--at any
rate we have read portions of it several times, so we can trace the
emotions that are felt by the noble dog.

Page 100: When the little white bull terrier fastens himself upon Rab's
throat and the strong muzzle prevents the big fellow from defending
himself, "his whole frame stiffens with _indignation_ and _surprise_."
"He looked a statue of _anger_ and _astonishment_."

After Rab had been released from his muzzle and had killed the little
terrier, "he looked down at his victim _appeased_, _ashamed_ and
_amazed_."

Page 103: When his master aimed a kick at him, he "drew _cringing_ up"
and "slunk _dismayed_ under th