[Illustration: Yes, Toby! It's Three O'clock.] Sun-dial mottoes still can be gathered by hundreds; and they are one record of a force in the development of our literate people. For it was long after we had printing ere we had any general class of folk, who, if they could read, read anything save the Bible. To many the knowledge of reading came from the deciphering of what has been happily termed the Literature of the Bookless. This literature was placed that he who ran might read; and its opening chapters were in the form of inscriptions and legends and mottoes which were placed, not only on buildings and walls, and pillars and bridges, but on household furniture and table utensils. The inscribing of mottoes on sun-dials appears to have sprung up with dial-making; and where could a strict moral lesson, a suggestive or inspiring thought, be better placed? Even the most heedless or indifferent passer-by, or the unwilling reader could not fail to see the instructive words when he cast his glance to learn the time. The mottoes were frequently in Latin, a few in Greek or Hebrew; but the old English mottoes seem the most appealing. ABUSE ME NOT I DO NO ILL I STAND TO SERVE THEE WITH GOOD WILL AS CAREFUL THEN BE SURE THOU BE TO SERVE THY GOD AS I SERVE THEE. A CLOCK THE TIME MAY WRONGLY TELL I NEVER IF THE SUN SHINE WELL. AS A SHADOW SUCH IS LIFE. I COUNT NONE BUT SUNNY HOURS. BE THE DAY WEARY, BE THE DAY LONG SOON IT SHALL RING TO EVEN SONG. Scriptural verses have ever been favorites, especially passages from the Psalms: "Man is like a thing of nought, his time passeth away like a shadow." "My time is in Thy hand." "Put not off from day to day." "Oh, remember how short my time is." Some of the Latin mottoes are very beautiful. [Illustration: Face of Dial at Sag Harbor, Long Island.] Poets have written special verses for sun-dials. These noble lines are by Walter Savage Landor:-- IN HIS OWN IMAGE THE CREATOR MADE, HIS OWN PURE SUNBEAM QUICKENED THEE, O MAN! THOU BREATHING DIAL! SINCE THE DAY BEGAN THE PRESENT HOUR WAS EVER MARKED WITH SHADE. The motto, _Horas non numero nisi serenas_, in various forms and languages, has ever been a favorite. From an old album I have received this poem written by Professor S. F. B. Morse; there is a note with it in Professor Morse's handwriting, saying he saw the motto on a sun-dial at Worms:-- TO A. G. E. _Horas non numero nisi serenas._ The sun when it shines in a clear cloudless sky Marks the time on my disk in figures of light; If clouds gather o'er me, unheeded they fly, I note not the hours except they be bright. So when I review all the scenes that have past Between me and thee, be they dark, be they light, I forget what was dark, the light I hold fast; I note not the hours except they be bright. SAMUEL F. B. MORSE, Washington, March, 1845.