Part 1

[Transcriber's Notes: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic text is surrounded by _underscores_.

This first part of this text has sections of text to be copied in cursive. These sections are wrapped in brackets and preceded by the word "cursive".

These sections also have small illustrations to aid in easy reading these illustrations are signified by [*] in the text.]

Best Stories from the Best Book

AN ILLUSTRATED

Bible Companion for the Home

BY JAMES EDSON WHITE

With an Introductory Department of Easy Lessons for Children BY ELLA KING SANDERS

Over 875 Thousand Sold

SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Fort Worth, Texas Nashville, Tennessee Atlanta, Georgia

Printed in the United States of America.

COPYRIGHT 1900, BY J. E. WHITE

PREFACE

THIS little book is divided into two parts. The First Department is the children's very own. It is for them to study under the guidance of teacher, mother, brother, or sister. It has been prepared with great care by one who has had many years' experience as a teacher of children.

The Second Department is for the entertainment of children both young and old. Its lessons are taken from God's Word. While the children are learning to read from the "Easy Lesson" department, let the parents and older brothers and sisters read to them the Bible stories which follow, showing and explaining to them the beautiful pictures which accompany them. Lessons taught in this manner will never be forgotten.

TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

God speaks to us through His Word, by His Spirit, and through nature. By interesting children in nature, which is all about them, it is hoped they will find pleasure in studying God's open book, and thus be led to love and study His written Word.

BLACKBOARD TEACHING.--The crayon and the blackboard are very essential in the work with children. Let the first lessons be given in script from the blackboard. The simple sentences may be drawn from the child by questioning. Then tell the child that you will write what he has said. Then ask, "Now can you read it?" The lesson should be about some thing which the child can see, and in which he is interested.

For a review lesson, if the idiom, "I see," has been learned, many sentences may be made by drawing the objects, as "I see a *" (here draw a leaf or some other object). Use the idioms, "I have," "This is," etc., in the same way. The earlier lessons in this book should be largely supplemented from the blackboard in this way, or by variation of the different sentences.

From the first let the children write on the board, where there can be free movement of the arm. Original work should be aimed at from the start. The child soon learns to write the idiom, "I see;" then he is prepared to do original work on the board or on paper. The blackboard work on page 33 is suggestive of what may be done in original work.

SENTENCE READING.--The words of a sentence should not be read separately. At first the sentences are short, and the words are soon easily known at sight. Until the thought is known, the sentence should not be read aloud. Hence silent reading should always precede oral reading with children. "_Read as you talk_," is a good rule.

WRITING.--The script capitals and small letters on page 6 are for reference. The letters are not to be written separately, but to be used in words. For practice in writing, use the simple sentences found in the lessons. If written _many times_, the words will be memorized, and can be used in original work.

DRAWING.--Allow free hand drawing. Use outline drawings of objects, as on pages 13 and 49. Lay sticks, then draw them. Provide children with sticks of different lengths. The kindergarten colored sticks are best. They are inexpensive, and can be used in many ways.

Encourage picture illustrations of simple stories. Also the illustration of Bible lessons. Many or all of them may be crude, but thoughts are expressed, and the lesson more deeply impressed.

REVIEWS.--Observe the suggestion about silent reading first. If the thought is not easily gotten, the words are not familiar--not well learned. The child should use the words many times. As reiteration is the only way in which words are learned through the ear, so it is the only way they are learned through the eye. The use of the blackboard is an invaluable help in making impressions through the eye.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

[cursive: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z]

[cursive: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z]

EASY LESSONS.

LESSON ONE.

I see a bird.

[Cursive: I see a bird.]

I see an apple.

[Cursive: I see an apple.]

I see a tree.

[Cursive: I see a tree.]

Is it an apple tree?

[Cursive: Is it an apple tree?]

LESSON TWO

The [*] The [*]

birds. apples.

The [*] God made [*] apple tree. the birds.

God made [*] the trees.

LESSON THREE.

See the [*] See the [*] bee. butterfly.

The butterfly has The bee has [*] [*] wings. wings. God made them all.

LESSON FOUR.

God made the birds.

God made the apples.

God made the apple tree.

God loves the birds.

I love the birds.

[Cursive: God made the birds and trees.]

LESSON FIVE.

I have [*] [Cursive: I have a box.]

I have [*] [Cursive: I have a tree.]

John made the box.

God made the tree.

LESSON SIX.

I have a [*]

[cursive: I have a rose.]

This is a [*]

[cursive: This is a leaf.]

God made the rose and the leaf.

rose leaf box tree

LESSON SEVEN.

See the little [*]

[cursive: See the little bees.]

The bees love the rose.

[cursive: The bees love the rose.]

The bees are on the rose.

[cursive: The bees are on the rose.]

[*]

bees little on are

LESSON EIGHT.

See the beautiful rose.

It is red.

I love the beautiful rose.

God made it beautiful.

This leaf is red.

[cursive: This leaf is red.]

This leaf is green.

[cursive: This leaf is green.]

LESSON NINE.

This is a butterfly.

[cursive: This is a butterfly,]

He has two wings.

[cursive: He has two wings.]

The bird has two wings.

[cursive: The bird has two wings.]

The bird can fly.

[cursive: The bird can fly.]

The butterfly can fly.

[cursive: The butterfly can fly.]

I love to see the butterfly.

[cursive: I love to see the butterfly.]

The butterfly loves the rose.

[cursive: The butterfly loves the rose.]

He has can butterfly fly wings

LESSON TEN.

[cursive: The butterfly has two wings.

God made the butterfly.

I love the butterfly.

The butterfly loves the rose.

The bees love the rose.

The bees are on the rose.

The bee has wings.

The bird has wings.

The butterfly has beautiful wings.

The red rose is beautiful.

The grape vine has green leaves.]

LESSON ELEVEN.

See this vine.

[cursive: See this vine.]

It is a grape vine.

[cursive: It is a grape vine.]

I see the grapes.

[cursive: I see the grapes.]

The grapes grow on the vine.

[cursive: The grapes grow on the vine.]

Jesus said, I am the true Vine.

LESSON TWELVE.

[cursive: kitties] Do you

[cursive: them] kind

[cursive: They] care

Do you know me?

[cursive: Do you know me?]

I love the kitties.

[cursive: I love the kitties.]

I take care of them.

[cursive: I take care of them.]

I am kind to them.

[cursive: I am kind to them.]

LESSON THIRTEEN.

I see the bird.

I love the beautiful birds.

God loves the beautiful birds.

Jesus loves the birds.

The rose is beautiful.

I see three apples.

The apples are on the tree.

I see two birds.

I see the box. John made it.

God made the birds and the trees.

God made the grape vine.

Jesus is the true vine.

The roses and birds are beautiful.

LESSON FOURTEEN.

=Holy Bible.=

The Bible is God's holy Book.

Who wrote the Bible?

Holy men wrote the Bible.

God told them what to write.

I love God's holy Book.

Do you love the Bible?

Can you read the Bible?

Holy Book. [Cursive: God's holy Book.]

wrote write [Cursive: wrote write]

[Cursive: Can you read? Do you see?]

[Cursive: What do you see?]

LESSON FIFTEEN.

Happy little kitties!

[Cursive: Happy little kitties!]

Who takes care of them?

[Cursive: Who takes care of them?]

What do they see?

[Cursive: What do they see?]

Look at their eyes.

[Cursive: Look at their eyes.]

Are they like yours?

[Cursive: Are they like yours?]

LESSON SIXTEEN.

=The Bees.=

Mary, see the little bees.

See the bee on the flower.

What is he doing?

He is getting honey.

He is a busy little bee.

Watch him fly to his home.

Do you know where his home is? I can hear the bee buzz.

LESSON SEVENTEEN.

=Bible Verses.=

The Lord is good to all.

Praise ye the Lord.

Praise ye Him, sun and moon.

Praise Him, all ye stars of light.

Let them praise the name of the Lord.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.

Sing praise upon the unto our God.

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart.

LESSON EIGHTEEN.

This is a family of [Illustration]

They are little black ants.

The ants work.

They live in the ground.

Watch the ants make a house.

The house is made in the ground.

They make rooms in the house.

Watch the ant carry food.

The Bible says, "Watch the ant and be wise."

LESSON NINETEEN.

See this [*]

How do you do, pretty butterfly?

I see your beautiful wings.

You love the rose.

Can you get your dinner in the rose?

I love to watch you.

Do you remember when you were a [*]?

You are pretty now.

[cursive: Pretty butterfly. Beautiful wings.]

LESSON TWENTY.

geese [Illustration] legs

walk boat

swim back

body dinner

Watch the geese walk.

They can swim better than they can walk.

Their body is the shape of a boat.

Their legs are set far back on the body.

Do you know why?

[cursive: Watch the geese get their dinner in the water.]

LESSON TWENTY-ONE.

Here is a spider.

This spider made a web.

The web is his home.

Do you see his home?

Do you see the spider?

The spider loves to work.

Watch a spider make a web.

Do all spiders make webs?

to work webs

home his

LESSON TWENTY-TWO.

=Number Story.=

LESSON TWENTY-THREE.

Here is a beautiful vine.

It came from a tiny black seed.

It is a morning glory vine.

Do you see the pretty buds?

Can you find a morning glory flower in the evening?

Who gives the morning glory life?

[cursive: Morning glory.

a tiny black seed.

evening.]

LESSON TWENTY-FOUR.

=The Flood.=

One time God let it rain for many days.

The water was very deep. It covered all the earth. All the trees were covered with water.

All the mountains were covered.

In one place the people were safe.

Yes, in the ark.

God had told Noah to make the ark.

Noah loved God. He believed what God told him.

The people did not love God. They did not believe what God told Noah.

They did not believe that God would send a flood.

But the flood came.

Noah and his family were safe in the ark.

LESSON TWENTY-FIVE.

=The Bean's Story. I.=

Here I am in my warm bed.

John made the box.

He put the dirt into the box.

Mary put me in my bed.

Then she covered me with dirt.

The sun made the bed warm.

The children wanted me to wake up.

They gave me some water.

They said, "This will wake her up."

I love the warm sun and the water.

The children knew this.

children knew wanted water covered warm wake gave

LESSON TWENTY-SIX.

=The Bean's Story. II.=

Good morning, children.

You see I am awake now.

I am getting out of my white coat.

I put my feet out first.

You call my feet roots.

My roots help me to stand.

Did you know that I have mouths in my roots?

I cannot run about to get my food.

I get food out of the ground.

good morning awake mouths white coat help stand roots feet

LESSON TWENTY-SEVEN.

=The Bean's Story. III.=

I am glad the children like to watch me.

This morning they can see my tiny leaves.

Shall I tell the children about the mouths in my leaves? I get food out of the air.

My leaves have work to do.

In this, they are like your hands.

I shall have many hands by and by.

shall hands leaves about air like glad by and by

LESSON TWENTY-EIGHT.

=The Bean's Story. IV.=

Do you see my long stem?

I can stand up now.

I shall reach up toward the sun.

Can you draw my pretty leaves?

See the bud at the end of my stem.

Watch for the leaves that are in that bud.

It will open soon.

Can you make it open?

stem reach toward that up end bud open

LESSON TWENTY-NINE.

=The Bean's Story. V.=

What do you think of me now?

I have grown big and tall.

Here are two little bean pods.

You see the tiny beans in the pod.

Here are some white flowers.

They will soon fall off.

Watch for more bean pods.

By and by the tiny beans will grow big.

What will they look like?

My work will soon be done.

Think what I have done for you.

You may thank Him who gave me life.

LESSON THIRTY.

One day it looked [*] like this. By and by it had leaves.

Then it looked [*] like this. Mary.]

LESSON THIRTY-ONE.

=The Lily.=

Look at this pure white lily.

Jesus wants us to think how the lilies grow.

He said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow."

Who made the beautiful white dress for this lily?

If God cares for the lily, will He not care for us?

He wants us to obey Him as the lily does.

Then He will clothe us as He does the lily.

He will make our lives pure and beautiful.

LESSON THIRTY-TWO.

Here are grapes, an apple, and bananas.

Which do you like best?

Can you tell where bananas grow?

Do not be afraid to eat plenty of good, ripe fruit.

All who obey God shall eat fruit from the tree of life in the earth made new.

LESSON THIRTY-THREE.

=A Friend of Ours.=

Yes, the sheep is a friend.

Your warm dress was made from her coat. She gives it away in the spring. In the fall you are glad to put it on.

The sheep are timid.

They need some one to care for them.

The man who cares for the sheep is the shepherd.

The little sheep are lambs.

Jesus calls us His lambs.

So you can say, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

A good shepherd would give his life for his sheep.

Jesus gave His life for us.

King David was a shepherd. One time a lion was going to kill one of his lambs. David killed the lion.

Some day the lion and the lamb shall live together. Yes, and a little child shall lead them.

LESSON THIRTY-FOUR.

See how that girl carries the milk.

Look at the girl who is milking.

I never saw any one milk from that side of the cow.

I do not think those girls live in this country.

This must be a milking scene in some country far across the water.

They have some strange ways of doing things in those countries.

LESSON THIRTY-FIVE.

I need not tell you our name.

The children say we look like faces.

Did you ever see any of us look cross?

We are always smiling and happy.

Give us the right kind of food and our size will please you.

[cursive: Think of our smiling faces when things do not please you.]

LESSON THIRTY-SIX.

=The Lion.=

Here is the lion.

Is he not fine looking?

Other beasts are afraid of him.

He is called the king of beasts.

A lamb is not safe with him now.

By and by GOD will make all things new. Then the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The Bible says that the wolf and the lamb, the lion and the calf, shall lie down together.

Then other beasts will not be afraid of the lion.

Then you can pet the lion as you do your cat now.

Do you want to live in that home?

Only the pure in heart shall live in the earth when it is made new.

LESSON THIRTY-SEVEN.

These little bunnies are having a fine time.

They know good food when they find it.

Do you know what kind of food bunnies like best?

Look at their eyes. Are they like kitty's eyes?

LESSON THIRTY-EIGHT.

I think this must be the home of our bunnies.

Does it look like the country homes you have seen?

Look at the road and the trees.

Are the trees alike?

Do you think it would have been nice if God had made all trees alike?

LESSON THIRTY-NINE.

=Wheat and Tares.=

Do you know what is made from wheat? If you do not, ask some one to tell you.

When Jesus was on earth, He talked about wheat. At the same time He talked about some bad plants, called tares.

He said that a man sowed some good seed in a field. Then some one came and sowed tares in the same field. The good seed was wheat.

So the wheat and tares were growing in the same field.

The servant wanted to root up the tares. The man said, "No; let them grow together until the harvest."

Why did Jesus tell this story? See what He says about it:--

"The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the kingdom. But the tares are the children of the wicked one. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are the angels."

The harvest is very near.

That is when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven.

The reapers will take the children of the kingdom home to heaven.

The children of the wicked one will be destroyed.

Are we wheat or tares?

LESSON FORTY.

Here is a shepherd with his flock.

I think he must be a kind shepherd.

See how tenderly he carries the little lamb.

Jesus is our Shepherd. Isaiah says of Him, "He shall gather the lambs with His arms."

So He will tenderly care for all His lambs now.

Soon He will come to take them to the home He is preparing.

LESSON FORTY-ONE.

Will they reach the shore?

I wonder what they think?

Once Jesus was with His disciples on the lake.

There came a great storm. Jesus was asleep.

The disciples worked like these men are working.

At last they called to Jesus.

When He awoke He spoke to the wind, and there was a calm.

LESSON FORTY-TWO.

=Washing Dishes.=

"Good morning, Mary! How can you sing while washing dishes? I always feel cross, for I do not like to wash dishes."

"Well," said Mary, "I must tell you my secret. I used to feel cross, too. Now I think about the lesson I am to learn while washing dishes. Jesus said that we should make the inside of the cup clean as well as the outside."

"Oh, yes, mama tells me to wash the dishes clean, but I get so tired of them."

"But, Nellie, you do not see the lesson we are to learn. You know we try to look very pretty when people see us. We want them to think that we are pure and clean. When I am washing dishes, I think how Jesus makes my heart pure and clean. He says, Though your sins be red, I will make them white as snow."

Nellie went home happy. Do you think she can sing now while washing dishes?

LESSON FORTY-THREE.

=Creation. I.=

"In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth."

The earth did not look as it does now. Every thing was very beautiful.

Green grass covered all the valleys, hills, and mountains.

There were lovely lakes and rivers.

The air and water were clear and pure.

There were no swamps nor deserts, and there were no weeds. The most beautiful flowers were seen in every place.

We cannot think how lovely every thing was at that time. The earth was full of the love of God.

"And God saw every thing that He had made, and it was very good."

LESSON FORTY-FOUR.

=Creation. II.=

God did not make the earth as man makes things.

"He spake, and it was done." He was six days in making the heaven and the earth.

"And God said, Let there be light, and there was light."

This was on the first day.

The second day He made the air.

At this time water covered all the earth.

The third day He made the dry land appear. He called the dry land earth.

Then the rivers, lakes and seas were made.

He spake, and all the earth was covered with green grass.

Then came the herbs and trees.

The herbs were bearing seed.

The trees were bearing fruit.

The seed and fruit were to be food for man.

LESSON FORTY-FIVE.

=Creation. III.=

On the fourth day He said, "Let there be lights in the heaven."

The sun, moon, and stars were to give light upon the earth.

He made the sun to rule the day.

He made the moon to rule the night.

Now there was light; there was air, there was water.

But there were no birds in the air.

There were no fishes in the water.

On the fifth day He made all the birds and fishes.

Now there were animals in the air.

There were animals in the water.

But there were no animals on the land.

On the sixth day God made all the land animals.

The same day He said, "Let us make man in our image."

He gave them the seed of the herbs and the fruit of the trees for food.

"And God saw every thing that He had made, and it was very good."

Thus the heavens and the earth were made.

LESSON FORTY-SIX.

=Creation. IV.=

On the seventh day God rested from all His work.

He blessed it and made it holy.

He calls the Sabbath His holy day.

On the seventh day He looked at the things He had made and called them very good.

On the Sabbath we should stop our work and our play. God wants us to be happy on that day.

It makes us happy to look at the lovely things He has made for us.

He wants us to remember Him and thank Him for His love.

He told us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

LESSON FORTY-SEVEN.

=Creation. V.=

God loved Adam and Eve. He wanted them to be very happy. So He gave them every thing that was good for them.

He planted a garden in Eden. That was their home. We have never seen such a lovely home as that was. But if we live in the earth made new, we shall see the Garden of Eden. In that garden was "every tree that was good for food," and pretty to look at. All the fruit was perfect.

Then there was the river to water the garden. By the river was the tree of life.

The Lord put Adam into the garden to care for it. So there was a happy family in a lovely home.

Lucifer, Son of the Morning.

SATAN was once a beautiful, powerful angel in Heaven. His name then was Lucifer, which means, "Son of the Morning," or, "Shining One, Son of the Dawn." His position in Heaven, his beauty, power, and final end, are well described in Ezekiel 28:12-19.

Lucifer, or Satan, is, next to God and Christ, the wisest being in the universe, for God said, "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom." Verse 12.

He was a very beautiful being, for the text says he was "perfect in beauty." Verse 12.

He has been in the Eden home of Adam and Eve. "Thou hast been in the garden of God." Verse 13.