diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:07 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:07 -0700 |
| commit | b06e88caeee8ed91592916f1d64a1f765bcfef85 (patch) | |
| tree | fc4632546025d99a79959687ef8274f9c6738f47 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-0.txt | 901 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 90520 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-h/11148-h.htm | 1572 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif | bin | 0 -> 13814 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-h/images/front.gif | bin | 0 -> 50198 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148-h/style.css | 55 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148.txt | 1324 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11148.zip | bin | 0 -> 24462 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 90520 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148-h/11148-h.htm | 1572 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif | bin | 0 -> 13814 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148-h/images/front.gif | bin | 0 -> 50198 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148-h/style.css | 55 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148.txt | 1324 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11148.zip | bin | 0 -> 24462 bytes |
18 files changed, 6819 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11148-0.txt b/11148-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f67d5a --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,901 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11148 *** + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES: +OR, THE TWO BIBLES + +REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. + + +1851. + + + +[Illustration A: Frontispiece] + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. GUESSING + +II. THE PRESENTS + +III. USE OF THE KEEPSAKES + +IV. TWO CHARACTERS + +V. LETTERS FROM INDIA + +VI. TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS + +VII. AUNT HARDING'S LETTER + +VIII. USE OF MONEY + +IX. AUNT HARDING'S RETURN + + + + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +GUESSING. + +"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work +in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as +a keepsake, before she goes away?" + +"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately +given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more +for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know, +and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do +not think aunt intends to give us anything else." + +"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past +mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way +open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear +girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow +older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is +not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could." + +"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite +convinced. + +"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes--or, perhaps, as I +am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?" + +"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my +work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes." + +"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very +careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with +ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin." + +"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do +not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often +spoil my own." + +"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden +through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it +again." + +"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little +vexed. + +"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt +Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which +we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose." + +"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better +than a work-box." + +Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have; +for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she +was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this +failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without +any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of +St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be +content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or +friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very +sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they +cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that +you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to +your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE PRESENTS. + +Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a +farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India, +where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had +kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with +them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when +they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a +person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which +might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all +the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what +this parting gift should be. + +The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the +room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but +no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in +brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them +justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost +in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of +parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so +very far away. + +"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let +us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give +you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget +me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good +things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind." + +Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never +forget her, and they promised to remember her advice. + +"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding, +"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you +are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you +are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring +me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far +more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents; +and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the +pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is +any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by +the grace of the Holy Spirit." + +"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to +remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the +case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you +know." + +"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because +you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the +lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her +to imitate you in every respect." + +Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear +aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you +will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be +grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with +either of us." + +"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as +if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often +said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and +yet, directly after, something has been amiss." + +"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh. + +"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil +nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot +be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves, +it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help +from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should +keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in +ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and +to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake." + +"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we +should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it! +Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are +apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live +to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you +will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in +the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that +appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14." + +Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in +tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more +than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to +receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind +and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another +world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging +them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress +her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood +near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[A] gave one to each of +her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could +give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake, +but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal +life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she +offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they +might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to +take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never +more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might +meet again and be happy for ever in heaven. + +[Footnote A: See frontispiece.] + +Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and +looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the +writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there +was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly +pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and +opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely +written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In +Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine +eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix, +18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that +love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +USE OF THE KEEPSAKES. + +The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, +and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little +else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many +questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which +they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very +sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not +tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each +chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to +arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of +brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover +for her new Bible. + +"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her +sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful +book?" + +"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every +day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I +assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover +this will make!" + +"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as +long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome +book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out +of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room, +will do just as well." + +"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last +night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good, +and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not +always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading +at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room, +where I can find it in a minute." + +"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask +mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old +one." + +Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give +just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in +supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or +a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not +from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If +you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way +of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as +in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining +gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible +from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it +ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such +sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor +excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible, +when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from +reading it so constantly as you intend." + +To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in +silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and +she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few +moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went +on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping +that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt +had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be +good and happy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +TWO CHARACTERS. + +It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls. +Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have +no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like +Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one +could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish +child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness +was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready +to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her +own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to +learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners, +like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little +about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret +for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is +the gift of his Holy Spirit. + +Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever +consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him +by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of +these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your +own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has +been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and +what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There +are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the +offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's +gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number. +Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past. +God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. +vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late. + +Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer; +and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She +prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what +she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely +knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her, +because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by +degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a +habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a +few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who +seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and +it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she +had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she +was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to +keep her from sin. + +It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the +schoolroom--for the children had a governess who came to teach them +every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book +up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning. +Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a +chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then +it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read +it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible +reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she +left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no +real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to +help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from +her mind. + +The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct; +for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects +had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say +that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a +sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she +was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be +forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that +she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the +other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a +fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper +manner, she made but little progress toward improvement. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +LETTERS FROM INDIA. + +Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for +India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes +a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between. +But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last +the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends +had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and +clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her +mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through +tears of pleasure. + +Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their +mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for +themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa +and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to +hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the +cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness +to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still +invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask +him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore." + +A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's +birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday +and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up +stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired +her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and +then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round, +and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not +seen before. + +Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her +eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid +open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while +within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton, +everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain. + +"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your +aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my +birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have +been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see +that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still +go on trying to improve." + +"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will +try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and +looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then +gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight. + +"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting +her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to +be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I +know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn +out, because she is so very careful." + +"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not +deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to +provide one for her." + +At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry. +"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot +bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present +too. She would be so much grieved." + +"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be +unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to +her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome +them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful +difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what +is _right_, and not of what it would be _pleasant_ to do. When I see +any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her +with a writing-desk; but not till then." + +Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color +rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please, +for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk. +Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything +about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer, +you know." + +When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a +pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her +wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings +between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of +showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her +conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though +Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the +promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS. + +I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she +was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became +less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of +God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of +their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would +certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by. +Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not +behave like a meek and Christian child. + +It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma +wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want +it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to +lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as +children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful +passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind +when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not +deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you." + +While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her +with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words +of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into +her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them +both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their +sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and +lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon +brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask +forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had +displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be +sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon +this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so +small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a +sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and +made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much +struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite +softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to +seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends. + +Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her +share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so +unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant +after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old +work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely +in their place. + +The loss of the birthday present had a great effect upon Louisa, so +that she became more watchful over her temper and conduct. In a few +months she had improved so much, that though she was still far from +being all that could be wished, yet her mother thought she might +safely buy her the writing-desk, according to the desire of her aunt +Harding. Emma had still waited for her work-box with hope and +patience; and you may imagine the joy of both when they at last +received these long wished-for gifts. And as Emma was now not so +careless as formerly, and Louisa had grown more kind, the work-box and +the writing-desk were often lent in exchange; while the sisters soon +found out the truth of what their mother told them, that such little +frequent acts of mutual kindness do more to increase love than those +greater deeds which children sometimes talk about, but seldom have the +power to perform. + +The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy +than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and +that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed +it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of +breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as +Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter +which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend +whom they loved so well. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +AUNT HARDING'S LETTER. + +Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here +then is the letter, word for word:-- + + +"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,--It is with great pleasure that I +read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am +glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that +should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better +and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of +God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil +desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as +one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves, +wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all +love for your Saviour and his commands. + +"I often think of you, and wish that you could see the poor little +Hindoo children, who have never heard of the true God, but are taught +by their heathen parents to kneel down, and pray to idols of wood and +stone. There is a river in this country, the river Ganges, which the +people believe to be a goddess, and they think that its waters can +wash away their sins. Mothers often bring their little infants and +bathe them in this river, because they believe it will make them holy. +Do you not pity these poor people, whose souls are perishing for want +of knowledge? Do you not wish that some one would go among them, and +tell them about Jesus the Son of God, who gave himself to die for +sinners, and whose blood alone can wash away sin? If so, you will be +glad to know that there are some good men here who have left their own +dear home and friends to live in this heathen country, and to teach +the poor Hindoos the true and only way to heaven. Christians in other +places, who love the Saviour, and wish that the heathen should learn +to love him too, give money to send these good men here, and to pay +for Bibles, and for other books which have been written on purpose to +show how sinners may be saved. All may help to do this who will spare +a little money from their own wishes and wants. _You_ may help, if you +love the Saviour enough to deny yourselves some little pleasure now +and then. I think you would resolve to do so, if you could go with me +sometimes to the missionary school, and see the little children +sitting in rows, learning to read about Jesus, and hear them asking +for more books to take home, that they may tell the tidings of +salvation to their heathen parents. O yes! I am sure you would want to +help them then; for you would remember that heathen children, like +yourselves, have souls which must live for ever and ever; and you +would long that they should come to the knowledge of the Saviour, who +died for them as well as for you. + +"It is now time that I should finish this long letter; so farewell, +dear Louisa and Emma. Your uncle sends his love to you. We often talk +of you, and pray that you may be the children of God, through faith in +his dear Son. Your ever affectionate, + +"AUNT HARDING." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +USE OF MONEY. + +Emma found a great deal to think about in this letter, and it led to +frequent talk with her mother about the heathen, for whom she began to +feel much concern. When she heard how Christian people were trying to +help them, and had read some accounts which her mother lent to her, +telling of the happy change that, through the blessing of God, had +been brought about in many cases by the preaching of the gospel, she +wished that Louisa and herself could join in doing something, though +ever so little, for this good cause. The love of Christ was in her +heart: when this is the case, it will be sure to show itself in love +for the souls of others. + +But Louisa, when spoken to on the subject, said that she had not +anything to give. "I am very sorry, though, that the poor Hindoos +should worship idols," she said; "and when I grow older, and have more +money, I will do a great deal for them, depend upon it." + +"But why not help them a little _now_?" said Emma. + +"Because I have no money," replied Louisa; "no money I mean except +what is in my little savings bank, and I should not like to part with +that. As for you, Emma, you never can save up a shilling; so that I am +sure you have not anything to spare." + +"Ah," said Emma, "that is true, to be sure; I never can save my money, +and so I will tell you what I mean to do. Mamma gives us threepence a +week, to spend as we please, you know; but I will only take twopence +for the time to come, and I shall ask her to give the other pennies to +the Tract Society at the end of the year. Four shillings and fourpence +is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the +Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a +week, that will buy just as many more." + +It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the +heathen _yet_. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving +it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had +loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to +assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but +when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but +little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of +others. + +Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew +older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of +Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the +promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey +his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty, +helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our +sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. +Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need +not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and +go to him for help and pardon. + +Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but +it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they +are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was +taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that +she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and +the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell, +were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first +she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and +deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick +bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which +she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by +telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the +sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent +so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the +promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only +support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed +near, and eternity close at hand. Though too ill to read, or even to +listen to the words of life, she could remember many of them in her +heart, and think of them to her comfort in this season of trial. +Sometimes she was able to talk to her mother for a few minutes, when +it was plain that her mind was chiefly filled with thoughts of Christ +and things divine. And she often said that, if it should be the will +of God to restore her to health, she hoped for grace to devote herself +to his service, and to live more to his glory than she had ever done +before. She also spoke oftener to her sister, begging her to think of +her soul, to read her Bible more, and to seek for the pardon of her +sins; and Louisa, who was in great distress at the thought of losing +her, was ready to promise anything that she asked. But it did not +appear that she was under any concern for her own state; and this was +a great trouble to poor Emma, who now felt more than ever the need of +preparing for the world to come. + +It pleased God to spare her life, though she grew better very slowly, +and it was many weeks before she could leave her room. When her long +and painful illness was over, she was again able to share with Louisa +in her lessons and her pleasures, so that in time those weeks of grief +and suffering seemed to be forgotten; but they were not forgotten by +Emma: she did not forget the mercies she had received, and the resolve +which she had made of leading a holy life: she daily prayed for an +humble and watchful mind, and for grace to keep her from falling into +sin; and, as you may suppose, she loved her Bible more and more for +the comfort which it had given her in the time of trouble. She still +took pleasure in reading it alone, and prayed that she might have +grace to obey its commands, so that it might be a lamp unto her feet +and a light unto her path. Psa. cxix, 105. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +AUNT HARDING'S RETURN. + +And now two more years had passed away, and the time when their aunt +Harding's return was looked for had come. They had talked of it all +through the winter; and when spring was over, and summer begun, the +happy tidings came that the ship had arrived in safety, and their +uncle and aunt Harding were on their way to visit them once more. I +will leave you to guess the joy that was felt by all; and you must +picture to yourself the pleasure of their meeting soon afterward: how +thankful all were that they were spared to behold each other again; +with uncle Harding's surprise at seeing two great girls instead of +little Louisa and Emma; and aunt Harding's smiles, and her hopes that +there would be found an equal improvement in matters of more +importance. + +The morning after she came, when Mrs. Harding began to unpack her +boxes, Louisa and Emma caught sight of many pretty and curious things +which she told them were intended as presents for themselves. "But +before we proceed any further," said she, as the girls were beginning +to express their thanks and pleasure, "I wish to inquire about the +parting keepsake which I gave to you; and I should be glad to see how +each book has been treated, that I may know the real value which you +set upon the gift." + +Louisa and Emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's desire. To speak the +truth, Louisa was now in hopes of having all the praise. She quickly +brought in her handsome Bible, still wrapped in the soft white paper, +and in all the gloss of newness: not a mark upon the rich purple +binding, not a speck upon the bright gilt leaves. Emma, too, brought +hers, but with a more timid look; the neat brown silk cover was faded +and worn--she had thought of making a new one only the day before--and +the brightness was gone from the leaves, and the binding seemed rather +loose, for the book opened easily, and there were some pages, less +white than others, which looked as if they had been often read. To +Louisa's surprise, Mrs. Harding laid down her book without saying a +word, while, as soon as she took Emma's Bible into her hand, she +smiled with pleasure, although tears came into her eyes. "_This_ book +has been valued as it ought to be," said she; "it has been used with +care, but often used, so that I trust it has been found a guide and a +help to heaven. But yours, Louisa"--and she pointed to the beautiful +Bible which lay upon the table--"yours has been laid aside, like the +talent which was buried in the earth. It has been of no benefit to +your soul, for you seem hardly ever to have looked to it for +instruction; as if its real worth consisted in outside ornament, you +have been careful to keep that from injury, but have never sought or +cared for the treasure that is within. But dry your tears, my dear +Louisa," added aunt Harding kindly. "I am not angry, for I know that +your mistaken care was in some measure caused by your love for me. +I am only sorry that my parting present has not been of the use which +I intended. But it is not yet too late for you to learn that, while +your Bible should be kept with proper care--for it is the word of +God--yet it was given for our daily study, that we might read it, pray +over it, and practice it; and thus, by the divine blessing, become +'wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'" 2 Tim. +iii, 15. + +"I trust," said the kind aunt, looking at her two nieces with much +affection; "I trust that my dear Emma knows and loves her Saviour, and +takes delight in the Scriptures, because they testify of him. May you +both have grace to love him above all things, to do his will, and to +put your trust in him for evermore; and then the heartfelt desire of +your aunt Harding will be fulfilled." + +Reader, beware how you neglect the word of God. But remember it is not +by merely reading it that you are to look for a blessing to your soul. +You must pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can open +your understanding, and incline your heart to heavenly wisdom, that +you may not read in vain. + + * * * * * + +PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE. + +O that the Lord would guide my ways + To keep his statutes still! +O that my God would grant me grace + To know and do his will! + +O send thy Spirit down to write + Thy law upon my heart! +Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, + Nor act the liar's part. + +From vanity turn off mine eyes; + Let no corrupt design, +Nor covetous desires, arise + Within this soul of mine. + +Order my footsteps by thy word, + And make my heart sincere: +Let sin have no dominion, Lord, + But keep my conscience clear. + +My soul hath gone too far astray, + My feet too often slip; +Yet, since I've not forgot thy way, + Restore thy wand'ring sheep. + +Make me to walk in thy commands, + 'Tis a delightful road; +Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, + Offend against my God. + + * * * * * + +VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THE YOUNG + +How shall the young secure their hearts, + And guard their lives from sin? +Thy word the choicest rules imparts + To keep the conscience clean. + +When once it enters to the mind, + It spreads such light abroad, +The meanest souls instruction find, + And raise their thoughts to God. + +'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light + That guides us all the day; +And through the dangers of the night, + A lamp to lead our way. + +Thy precepts make me truly wise; + I hate the sinner's road: +I hate my own vain thoughts that rise, + But love thy law, my God. + +Thy word is everlasting truth; + How pure is every page! +That holy book shall guide our youth, + And well support our age. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + +BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION +OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. + + * * * * * + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS; +SHOWING THE SIN OF CRUELTY. +BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE M'GREGOR FAMILY. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE COTTAGE ON THE MOOR; +OR, THE EVILS OF PRIDE. +Price eighteen cents. + +OLD ANTHONY'S HINTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, +TO MAKE THEM CHEERFUL AND WISE. +Price twenty cents. + +THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS, +SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT +WONDERFUL PEOPLE. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE EGYPTIAN, +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE JEW. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE STRANGE PLANET, +AND OTHER ALLEGORIES, +DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11148 *** diff --git a/11148-h.zip b/11148-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d053fff --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-h.zip diff --git a/11148-h/11148-h.htm b/11148-h/11148-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6253c37 --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-h/11148-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1572 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" type="text/css"> +<title>Aunt Harding's Keepsakes: or, The Two Bibles</title> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Aunt Harding's Keepsakes + The Two Bibles + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: February 18, 2004 [EBook #11148] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + + + + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="content"> + +<h2> +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES:<br> +OR, THE TWO BIBLES +</h2> + +<h3> +REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. +</h3> + +<div class="figure"><a name="front"></a> +<a href="images/front.gif"><img src="images/front-thumb.gif" alt="frontispiece"></a> +</div> + + + +<h5> +1851. +</h5> + + +<hr class="full"> + +<h3> +CONTENTS. +</h3> + +<div class="list"> +<ol class="rom"> +<li><a href="#1">GUESSING</a></li> +<li><a href="#2">THE PRESENTS</a></li> +<li><a href="#3">USE OF THE KEEPSAKES</a></li> +<li><a href="#4">TWO CHARACTERS</a></li> +<li><a href="#5">LETTERS FROM INDIA</a></li> +<li><a href="#6">TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS</a></li> +<li><a href="#7">AUNT HARDING'S LETTER</a></li> +<li><a href="#8">USE OF MONEY</a></li> +<li><a href="#9">AUNT HARDING'S RETURN</a></li> +</ol> +</div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<h2> +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES. +</h2> + +<hr class="half"> + + + +<h3> +<a name="1"></a> +CHAPTER I: GUESSING. +</h3> + +<p> +"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work +in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as +a keepsake, before she goes away?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately +given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more +for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know, +and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do +not think aunt intends to give us anything else." +</p> + +<p> +"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past +mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way +open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear +girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow +older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is +not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite +convinced. +</p> + +<p> +"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes—or, perhaps, as I +am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?" +</p> + +<p> +"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my +work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes." +</p> + +<p> +"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very +careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with +ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin." +</p> + +<p> +"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do +not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often +spoil my own." +</p> + +<p> +"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden +through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it +again." +</p> + +<p> +"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little +vexed. +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt +Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which +we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose." +</p> + +<p> +"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better +than a work-box." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have; +for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she +was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this +failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without +any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of +St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be +content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or +friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very +sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they +cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that +you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to +your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="2"></a> +CHAPTER II: THE PRESENTS. +</h3> + +<p> +Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a +farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India, +where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had +kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with +them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when +they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a +person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which +might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all +the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what +this parting gift should be. +</p> + +<p> +The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the +room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but +no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in +brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them +justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost +in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of +parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so +very far away. +</p> + +<p> +"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let +us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give +you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget +me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good +things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind." +</p> + +<p> +Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never +forget her, and they promised to remember her advice. +</p> + +<p> +"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding, +"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you +are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you +are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring +me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far +more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents; +and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the +pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is +any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by +the grace of the Holy Spirit." +</p> + +<p> +"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to +remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the +case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you +know." +</p> + +<p> +"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because +you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the +lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her +to imitate you in every respect." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear +aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you +will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be +grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with +either of us." +</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as +if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often +said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and +yet, directly after, something has been amiss." +</p> + +<p> +"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh. +</p> + +<p> +"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil +nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot +be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves, +it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help +from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should +keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in +ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and +to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake." +</p> + +<p> +"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we +should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it! +Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are +apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live +to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you +will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in +the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that +appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14." +</p> + +<p> +Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in +tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more +than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to +receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind +and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another +world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging +them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress +her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood +near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[<a href="#foot1">A</a>] gave one to each of +her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could +give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake, +but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal +life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she +offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they +might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to +take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never +more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might +meet again and be happy for ever in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="foot1"></a> +[Footnote A: See <a href="#front">frontispiece</a>.] +</p> + +<p> +Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and +looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the +writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there +was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly +pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and +opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely +written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In +Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine +eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix, +18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that +love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="3"></a> +CHAPTER III: USE OF THE KEEPSAKES. +</h3> + +<p> +The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, +and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little +else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many +questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which +they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very +sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not +tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each +chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to +arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of +brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover +for her new Bible. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her +sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful +book?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every +day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I +assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover +this will make!" +</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as +long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome +book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out +of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room, +will do just as well." +</p> + +<p> +"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last +night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good, +and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not +always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading +at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room, +where I can find it in a minute." +</p> + +<p> +"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask +mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old +one." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give +just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in +supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or +a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not +from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If +you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way +of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as +in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining +gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible +from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it +ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such +sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor +excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible, +when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from +reading it so constantly as you intend." +</p> + +<p> +To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in +silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and +she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few +moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went +on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping +that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt +had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be +good and happy. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="4"></a> +CHAPTER IV: TWO CHARACTERS. +</h3> + +<p> +It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls. +Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have +no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like +Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one +could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish +child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness +was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready +to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her +own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to +learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners, +like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little +about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret +for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is +the gift of his Holy Spirit. +</p> + +<p> +Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever +consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him +by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of +these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your +own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has +been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and +what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There +are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the +offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's +gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number. +Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past. +God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. +vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late. +</p> + +<p> +Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer; +and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She +prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what +she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely +knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her, +because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by +degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a +habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a +few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who +seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and +it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she +had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she +was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to +keep her from sin. +</p> + +<p> +It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the +schoolroom—for the children had a governess who came to teach them +every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book +up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning. +Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a +chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then +it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read +it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible +reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she +left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no +real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to +help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from +her mind. +</p> + +<p> +The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct; +for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects +had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say +that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a +sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she +was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be +forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that +she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the +other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a +fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper +manner, she made but little progress toward improvement. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="5"></a> +CHAPTER V: LETTERS FROM INDIA. +</h3> + +<p> +Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for +India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes +a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between. +But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last +the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends +had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and +clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her +mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through +tears of pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their +mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for +themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa +and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to +hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the +cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness +to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still +invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask +him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore." +</p> + +<p> +A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's +birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday +and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up +stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired +her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and +then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round, +and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not +seen before. +</p> + +<p> +Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her +eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid +open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while +within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton, +everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain. +</p> + +<p> +"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your +aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my +birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have +been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see +that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still +go on trying to improve." +</p> + +<p> +"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will +try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and +looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then +gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight. +</p> + +<p> +"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting +her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to +be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I +know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn +out, because she is so very careful." +</p> + +<p> +"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not +deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to +provide one for her." +</p> + +<p> +At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry. +"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot +bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present +too. She would be so much grieved." +</p> + +<p> +"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be +unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to +her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome +them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful +difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what +is <i>right</i>, and not of what it would be <i>pleasant</i> to do. When I see +any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her +with a writing-desk; but not till then." +</p> + +<p> +Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color +rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please, +for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk. +Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything +about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer, +you know." +</p> + +<p> +When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a +pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her +wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings +between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of +showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her +conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though +Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the +promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="6"></a> +CHAPTER VI: TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS. +</h3> + +<p> +I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she +was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became +less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of +God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of +their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would +certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by. +Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not +behave like a meek and Christian child. +</p> + +<p> +It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma +wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want +it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to +lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as +children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful +passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind +when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not +deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you." +</p> + +<p> +While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her +with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words +of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into +her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them +both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their +sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and +lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon +brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask +forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had +displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be +sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon +this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so +small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a +sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and +made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much +struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite +softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to +seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends. +</p> + +<p> +Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her +share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so +unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant +after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old +work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely +in their place. +</p> + +<p> +The loss of the birthday present had a great effect upon Louisa, so +that she became more watchful over her temper and conduct. In a few +months she had improved so much, that though she was still far from +being all that could be wished, yet her mother thought she might +safely buy her the writing-desk, according to the desire of her aunt +Harding. Emma had still waited for her work-box with hope and +patience; and you may imagine the joy of both when they at last +received these long wished-for gifts. And as Emma was now not so +careless as formerly, and Louisa had grown more kind, the work-box and +the writing-desk were often lent in exchange; while the sisters soon +found out the truth of what their mother told them, that such little +frequent acts of mutual kindness do more to increase love than those +greater deeds which children sometimes talk about, but seldom have the +power to perform. +</p> + +<p> +The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy +than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and +that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed +it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of +breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as +Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter +which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend +whom they loved so well. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="7"></a> +CHAPTER VII: AUNT HARDING'S LETTER. +</h3> + +<p> +Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here +then is the letter, word for word:— +</p> + + +<p> +"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,—It is with great pleasure that I +read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am +glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that +should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better +and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of +God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil +desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as +one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves, +wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all +love for your Saviour and his commands. +</p> + +<p> +"I often think of you, and wish that you could see the poor little +Hindoo children, who have never heard of the true God, but are taught +by their heathen parents to kneel down, and pray to idols of wood and +stone. There is a river in this country, the river Ganges, which the +people believe to be a goddess, and they think that its waters can +wash away their sins. Mothers often bring their little infants and +bathe them in this river, because they believe it will make them holy. +Do you not pity these poor people, whose souls are perishing for want +of knowledge? Do you not wish that some one would go among them, and +tell them about Jesus the Son of God, who gave himself to die for +sinners, and whose blood alone can wash away sin? If so, you will be +glad to know that there are some good men here who have left their own +dear home and friends to live in this heathen country, and to teach +the poor Hindoos the true and only way to heaven. Christians in other +places, who love the Saviour, and wish that the heathen should learn +to love him too, give money to send these good men here, and to pay +for Bibles, and for other books which have been written on purpose to +show how sinners may be saved. All may help to do this who will spare +a little money from their own wishes and wants. <i>You</i> may help, if you +love the Saviour enough to deny yourselves some little pleasure now +and then. I think you would resolve to do so, if you could go with me +sometimes to the missionary school, and see the little children +sitting in rows, learning to read about Jesus, and hear them asking +for more books to take home, that they may tell the tidings of +salvation to their heathen parents. O yes! I am sure you would want to +help them then; for you would remember that heathen children, like +yourselves, have souls which must live for ever and ever; and you +would long that they should come to the knowledge of the Saviour, who +died for them as well as for you. +</p> + +<p> +"It is now time that I should finish this long letter; so farewell, +dear Louisa and Emma. Your uncle sends his love to you. We often talk +of you, and pray that you may be the children of God, through faith in +his dear Son. Your ever affectionate, +</p> + +<p> +"AUNT HARDING." +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="8"></a> +CHAPTER VIII: USE OF MONEY. +</h3> + +<p> +Emma found a great deal to think about in this letter, and it led to +frequent talk with her mother about the heathen, for whom she began to +feel much concern. When she heard how Christian people were trying to +help them, and had read some accounts which her mother lent to her, +telling of the happy change that, through the blessing of God, had +been brought about in many cases by the preaching of the gospel, she +wished that Louisa and herself could join in doing something, though +ever so little, for this good cause. The love of Christ was in her +heart: when this is the case, it will be sure to show itself in love +for the souls of others. +</p> + +<p> +But Louisa, when spoken to on the subject, said that she had not +anything to give. "I am very sorry, though, that the poor Hindoos +should worship idols," she said; "and when I grow older, and have more +money, I will do a great deal for them, depend upon it." +</p> + +<p> +"But why not help them a little <i>now</i>?" said Emma. +</p> + +<p> +"Because I have no money," replied Louisa; "no money I mean except +what is in my little savings bank, and I should not like to part with +that. As for you, Emma, you never can save up a shilling; so that I am +sure you have not anything to spare." +</p> + +<p> +"Ah," said Emma, "that is true, to be sure; I never can save my money, +and so I will tell you what I mean to do. Mamma gives us threepence a +week, to spend as we please, you know; but I will only take twopence +for the time to come, and I shall ask her to give the other pennies to +the Tract Society at the end of the year. Four shillings and fourpence +is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the +Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a +week, that will buy just as many more." +</p> + +<p> +It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the +heathen <i>yet</i>. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving +it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had +loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to +assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but +when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but +little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of +others. +</p> + +<p> +Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew +older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of +Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the +promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey +his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty, +helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our +sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. +Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need +not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and +go to him for help and pardon. +</p> + +<p> +Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but +it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they +are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was +taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that +she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and +the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell, +were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first +she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and +deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick +bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which +she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by +telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the +sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent +so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the +promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only +support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed +near, and eternity close at hand. Though too ill to read, or even to +listen to the words of life, she could remember many of them in her +heart, and think of them to her comfort in this season of trial. +Sometimes she was able to talk to her mother for a few minutes, when +it was plain that her mind was chiefly filled with thoughts of Christ +and things divine. And she often said that, if it should be the will +of God to restore her to health, she hoped for grace to devote herself +to his service, and to live more to his glory than she had ever done +before. She also spoke oftener to her sister, begging her to think of +her soul, to read her Bible more, and to seek for the pardon of her +sins; and Louisa, who was in great distress at the thought of losing +her, was ready to promise anything that she asked. But it did not +appear that she was under any concern for her own state; and this was +a great trouble to poor Emma, who now felt more than ever the need of +preparing for the world to come. +</p> + +<p> +It pleased God to spare her life, though she grew better very slowly, +and it was many weeks before she could leave her room. When her long +and painful illness was over, she was again able to share with Louisa +in her lessons and her pleasures, so that in time those weeks of grief +and suffering seemed to be forgotten; but they were not forgotten by +Emma: she did not forget the mercies she had received, and the resolve +which she had made of leading a holy life: she daily prayed for an +humble and watchful mind, and for grace to keep her from falling into +sin; and, as you may suppose, she loved her Bible more and more for +the comfort which it had given her in the time of trouble. She still +took pleasure in reading it alone, and prayed that she might have +grace to obey its commands, so that it might be a lamp unto her feet +and a light unto her path. Psa. cxix, 105. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="9"></a> +CHAPTER IX: AUNT HARDING'S RETURN. +</h3> + +<p> +And now two more years had passed away, and the time when their aunt +Harding's return was looked for had come. They had talked of it all +through the winter; and when spring was over, and summer begun, the +happy tidings came that the ship had arrived in safety, and their +uncle and aunt Harding were on their way to visit them once more. I +will leave you to guess the joy that was felt by all; and you must +picture to yourself the pleasure of their meeting soon afterward: how +thankful all were that they were spared to behold each other again; +with uncle Harding's surprise at seeing two great girls instead of +little Louisa and Emma; and aunt Harding's smiles, and her hopes that +there would be found an equal improvement in matters of more +importance. +</p> + +<p> +The morning after she came, when Mrs. Harding began to unpack her +boxes, Louisa and Emma caught sight of many pretty and curious things +which she told them were intended as presents for themselves. "But +before we proceed any further," said she, as the girls were beginning +to express their thanks and pleasure, "I wish to inquire about the +parting keepsake which I gave to you; and I should be glad to see how +each book has been treated, that I may know the real value which you +set upon the gift." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa and Emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's desire. To speak the +truth, Louisa was now in hopes of having all the praise. She quickly +brought in her handsome Bible, still wrapped in the soft white paper, +and in all the gloss of newness: not a mark upon the rich purple +binding, not a speck upon the bright gilt leaves. Emma, too, brought +hers, but with a more timid look; the neat brown silk cover was faded +and worn—she had thought of making a new one only the day before—and +the brightness was gone from the leaves, and the binding seemed rather +loose, for the book opened easily, and there were some pages, less +white than others, which looked as if they had been often read. To +Louisa's surprise, Mrs. Harding laid down her book without saying a +word, while, as soon as she took Emma's Bible into her hand, she +smiled with pleasure, although tears came into her eyes. "<i>This</i> book +has been valued as it ought to be," said she; "it has been used with +care, but often used, so that I trust it has been found a guide and a +help to heaven. But yours, Louisa"—and she pointed to the beautiful +Bible which lay upon the table—"yours has been laid aside, like the +talent which was buried in the earth. It has been of no benefit to +your soul, for you seem hardly ever to have looked to it for +instruction; as if its real worth consisted in outside ornament, you +have been careful to keep that from injury, but have never sought or +cared for the treasure that is within. But dry your tears, my dear +Louisa," added aunt Harding kindly. "I am not angry, for I know that +your mistaken care was in some measure caused by your love for me. +I am only sorry that my parting present has not been of the use which +I intended. But it is not yet too late for you to learn that, while +your Bible should be kept with proper care—for it is the word of +God—yet it was given for our daily study, that we might read it, pray +over it, and practice it; and thus, by the divine blessing, become +'wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'" 2 Tim. +iii, 15. +</p> + +<p> +"I trust," said the kind aunt, looking at her two nieces with much +affection; "I trust that my dear Emma knows and loves her Saviour, and +takes delight in the Scriptures, because they testify of him. May you +both have grace to love him above all things, to do his will, and to +put your trust in him for evermore; and then the heartfelt desire of +your aunt Harding will be fulfilled." +</p> + +<p> +Reader, beware how you neglect the word of God. But remember it is not +by merely reading it that you are to look for a blessing to your soul. +You must pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can open +your understanding, and incline your heart to heavenly wisdom, that +you may not read in vain. +</p> + +<hr class="half"> + +<h3> +PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE. +</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>O that the Lord would guide my ways</p> + <p class="i2">To keep his statutes still!</p> +<p>O that my God would grant me grace</p> + <p class="i2">To know and do his will!</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>O send thy Spirit down to write</p> + <p class="i2">Thy law upon my heart!</p> +<p>Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,</p> + <p class="i2">Nor act the liar's part.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>From vanity turn off mine eyes;</p> + <p class="i2">Let no corrupt design,</p> +<p>Nor covetous desires, arise</p> + <p class="i2">Within this soul of mine.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Order my footsteps by thy word,</p> + <p class="i2">And make my heart sincere:</p> +<p>Let sin have no dominion, Lord,</p> + <p class="i2">But keep my conscience clear.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>My soul hath gone too far astray,</p> + <p class="i2">My feet too often slip;</p> +<p>Yet, since I've not forgot thy way,</p> + <p class="i2">Restore thy wand'ring sheep.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Make me to walk in thy commands,</p> + <p class="i2">'Tis a delightful road;</p> +<p>Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,</p> + <p class="i2">Offend against my God.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="half"> + +<h3> +VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THE YOUNG +</h3> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>How shall the young secure their hearts,</p> + <p class="i2">And guard their lives from sin?</p> +<p>Thy word the choicest rules imparts</p> + <p class="i2">To keep the conscience clean.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When once it enters to the mind,</p> + <p class="i2">It spreads such light abroad,</p> +<p class="i2">The meanest souls instruction find,</p> + <p>And raise their thoughts to God.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light</p> + <p class="i2">That guides us all the day;</p> +<p>And through the dangers of the night,</p> + <p class="i2">A lamp to lead our way.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Thy precepts make me truly wise;</p> + <p class="i2">I hate the sinner's road:</p> +<p>I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,</p> + <p class="i2">But love thy law, my God.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Thy word is everlasting truth;</p> + <p class="i2">How pure is every page!</p> +<p>That holy book shall guide our youth,</p> + <p class="i2">And well support our age.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<h5> +THE END. +</h5> + +<hr class="full"> + +<h4> +BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION +OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. +</h4> + +<hr class="half"> +<div class="poem" style="font-size: smaller;"> +<p> +<b>KINDNESS TO ANIMALS; +SHOWING THE SIN OF CRUELTY. +BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE M'GREGOR FAMILY.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE COTTAGE ON THE MOOR; +OR, THE EVILS OF PRIDE.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>OLD ANTHONY'S HINTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, +TO MAKE THEM CHEERFUL AND WISE.</b> +Price twenty cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS, +SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT +WONDERFUL PEOPLE.</b> +Price twenty-one cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE EGYPTIAN, +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE JEW.</b> +Price twenty-one cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE STRANGE PLANET, +AND OTHER ALLEGORIES, +DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS</b> +Price sixteen cents. +</p> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + +***** This file should be named 11148-h.htm or 11148-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/4/11148/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif b/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5ac04d --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif diff --git a/11148-h/images/front.gif b/11148-h/images/front.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c6961d --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-h/images/front.gif diff --git a/11148-h/style.css b/11148-h/style.css new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45dbe82 --- /dev/null +++ b/11148-h/style.css @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +body {margin:0; padding:0;} + +.content + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +p + {text-align: justify;} +blockquote + {text-align: justify;} +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 + {text-align: center;} +.cap + {text-align: justify; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +.dp + {text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 30%; font-weight: bold;} + +hr + {text-align: center; width: 50%;} +html>body hr + {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} +hr.full + {width: 100%;} +hr.half + {width: 50%;} +html>body hr.full + {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + +img + {border: none;} +.footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} +.figure + {text-align: center; font-size: 0.7em;} +.right + {float: right; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 0;} +.left + {float: left; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 5%;} + +.list + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +.rom + {list-style-type: upper-roman;} + +.poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} +.poem .stanza + {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.poem p + {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem p.i2 + {margin-left: 2em;} +.poem p.i4 + {margin-left: 4em;} +.poem .caesura + {vertical-align: -200%;}
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/11148.txt b/11148.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e71c116 --- /dev/null +++ b/11148.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1324 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Aunt Harding's Keepsakes + The Two Bibles + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: February 18, 2004 [EBook #11148] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + + + + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES: +OR, THE TWO BIBLES + +REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. + + +1851. + + + +[Illustration A: Frontispiece] + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. GUESSING + +II. THE PRESENTS + +III. USE OF THE KEEPSAKES + +IV. TWO CHARACTERS + +V. LETTERS FROM INDIA + +VI. TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS + +VII. AUNT HARDING'S LETTER + +VIII. USE OF MONEY + +IX. AUNT HARDING'S RETURN + + + + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +GUESSING. + +"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work +in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as +a keepsake, before she goes away?" + +"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately +given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more +for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know, +and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do +not think aunt intends to give us anything else." + +"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past +mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way +open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear +girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow +older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is +not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could." + +"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite +convinced. + +"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes--or, perhaps, as I +am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?" + +"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my +work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes." + +"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very +careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with +ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin." + +"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do +not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often +spoil my own." + +"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden +through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it +again." + +"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little +vexed. + +"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt +Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which +we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose." + +"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better +than a work-box." + +Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have; +for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she +was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this +failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without +any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of +St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be +content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or +friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very +sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they +cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that +you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to +your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE PRESENTS. + +Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a +farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India, +where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had +kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with +them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when +they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a +person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which +might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all +the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what +this parting gift should be. + +The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the +room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but +no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in +brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them +justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost +in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of +parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so +very far away. + +"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let +us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give +you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget +me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good +things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind." + +Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never +forget her, and they promised to remember her advice. + +"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding, +"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you +are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you +are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring +me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far +more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents; +and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the +pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is +any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by +the grace of the Holy Spirit." + +"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to +remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the +case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you +know." + +"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because +you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the +lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her +to imitate you in every respect." + +Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear +aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you +will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be +grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with +either of us." + +"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as +if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often +said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and +yet, directly after, something has been amiss." + +"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh. + +"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil +nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot +be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves, +it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help +from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should +keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in +ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and +to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake." + +"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we +should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it! +Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are +apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live +to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you +will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in +the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that +appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14." + +Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in +tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more +than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to +receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind +and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another +world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging +them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress +her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood +near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[A] gave one to each of +her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could +give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake, +but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal +life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she +offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they +might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to +take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never +more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might +meet again and be happy for ever in heaven. + +[Footnote A: See frontispiece.] + +Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and +looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the +writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there +was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly +pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and +opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely +written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In +Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine +eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix, +18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that +love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +USE OF THE KEEPSAKES. + +The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, +and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little +else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many +questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which +they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very +sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not +tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each +chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to +arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of +brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover +for her new Bible. + +"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her +sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful +book?" + +"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every +day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I +assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover +this will make!" + +"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as +long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome +book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out +of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room, +will do just as well." + +"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last +night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good, +and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not +always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading +at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room, +where I can find it in a minute." + +"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask +mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old +one." + +Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give +just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in +supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or +a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not +from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If +you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way +of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as +in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining +gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible +from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it +ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such +sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor +excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible, +when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from +reading it so constantly as you intend." + +To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in +silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and +she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few +moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went +on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping +that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt +had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be +good and happy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +TWO CHARACTERS. + +It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls. +Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have +no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like +Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one +could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish +child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness +was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready +to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her +own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to +learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners, +like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little +about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret +for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is +the gift of his Holy Spirit. + +Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever +consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him +by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of +these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your +own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has +been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and +what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There +are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the +offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's +gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number. +Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past. +God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. +vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late. + +Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer; +and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She +prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what +she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely +knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her, +because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by +degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a +habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a +few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who +seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and +it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she +had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she +was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to +keep her from sin. + +It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the +schoolroom--for the children had a governess who came to teach them +every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book +up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning. +Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a +chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then +it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read +it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible +reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she +left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no +real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to +help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from +her mind. + +The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct; +for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects +had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say +that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a +sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she +was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be +forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that +she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the +other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a +fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper +manner, she made but little progress toward improvement. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +LETTERS FROM INDIA. + +Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for +India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes +a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between. +But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last +the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends +had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and +clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her +mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through +tears of pleasure. + +Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their +mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for +themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa +and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to +hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the +cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness +to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still +invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask +him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore." + +A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's +birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday +and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up +stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired +her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and +then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round, +and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not +seen before. + +Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her +eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid +open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while +within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton, +everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain. + +"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your +aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my +birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have +been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see +that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still +go on trying to improve." + +"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will +try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and +looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then +gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight. + +"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting +her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to +be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I +know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn +out, because she is so very careful." + +"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not +deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to +provide one for her." + +At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry. +"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot +bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present +too. She would be so much grieved." + +"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be +unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to +her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome +them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful +difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what +is _right_, and not of what it would be _pleasant_ to do. When I see +any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her +with a writing-desk; but not till then." + +Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color +rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please, +for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk. +Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything +about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer, +you know." + +When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a +pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her +wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings +between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of +showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her +conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though +Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the +promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS. + +I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she +was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became +less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of +God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of +their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would +certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by. +Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not +behave like a meek and Christian child. + +It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma +wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want +it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to +lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as +children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful +passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind +when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not +deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you." + +While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her +with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words +of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into +her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them +both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their +sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and +lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon +brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask +forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had +displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be +sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon +this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so +small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a +sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and +made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much +struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite +softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to +seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends. + +Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her +share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so +unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant +after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old +work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely +in their place. + +The loss of the birthday present had a great effect upon Louisa, so +that she became more watchful over her temper and conduct. In a few +months she had improved so much, that though she was still far from +being all that could be wished, yet her mother thought she might +safely buy her the writing-desk, according to the desire of her aunt +Harding. Emma had still waited for her work-box with hope and +patience; and you may imagine the joy of both when they at last +received these long wished-for gifts. And as Emma was now not so +careless as formerly, and Louisa had grown more kind, the work-box and +the writing-desk were often lent in exchange; while the sisters soon +found out the truth of what their mother told them, that such little +frequent acts of mutual kindness do more to increase love than those +greater deeds which children sometimes talk about, but seldom have the +power to perform. + +The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy +than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and +that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed +it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of +breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as +Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter +which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend +whom they loved so well. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +AUNT HARDING'S LETTER. + +Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here +then is the letter, word for word:-- + + +"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,--It is with great pleasure that I +read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am +glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that +should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better +and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of +God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil +desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as +one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves, +wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all +love for your Saviour and his commands. + +"I often think of you, and wish that you could see the poor little +Hindoo children, who have never heard of the true God, but are taught +by their heathen parents to kneel down, and pray to idols of wood and +stone. There is a river in this country, the river Ganges, which the +people believe to be a goddess, and they think that its waters can +wash away their sins. Mothers often bring their little infants and +bathe them in this river, because they believe it will make them holy. +Do you not pity these poor people, whose souls are perishing for want +of knowledge? Do you not wish that some one would go among them, and +tell them about Jesus the Son of God, who gave himself to die for +sinners, and whose blood alone can wash away sin? If so, you will be +glad to know that there are some good men here who have left their own +dear home and friends to live in this heathen country, and to teach +the poor Hindoos the true and only way to heaven. Christians in other +places, who love the Saviour, and wish that the heathen should learn +to love him too, give money to send these good men here, and to pay +for Bibles, and for other books which have been written on purpose to +show how sinners may be saved. All may help to do this who will spare +a little money from their own wishes and wants. _You_ may help, if you +love the Saviour enough to deny yourselves some little pleasure now +and then. I think you would resolve to do so, if you could go with me +sometimes to the missionary school, and see the little children +sitting in rows, learning to read about Jesus, and hear them asking +for more books to take home, that they may tell the tidings of +salvation to their heathen parents. O yes! I am sure you would want to +help them then; for you would remember that heathen children, like +yourselves, have souls which must live for ever and ever; and you +would long that they should come to the knowledge of the Saviour, who +died for them as well as for you. + +"It is now time that I should finish this long letter; so farewell, +dear Louisa and Emma. Your uncle sends his love to you. We often talk +of you, and pray that you may be the children of God, through faith in +his dear Son. Your ever affectionate, + +"AUNT HARDING." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +USE OF MONEY. + +Emma found a great deal to think about in this letter, and it led to +frequent talk with her mother about the heathen, for whom she began to +feel much concern. When she heard how Christian people were trying to +help them, and had read some accounts which her mother lent to her, +telling of the happy change that, through the blessing of God, had +been brought about in many cases by the preaching of the gospel, she +wished that Louisa and herself could join in doing something, though +ever so little, for this good cause. The love of Christ was in her +heart: when this is the case, it will be sure to show itself in love +for the souls of others. + +But Louisa, when spoken to on the subject, said that she had not +anything to give. "I am very sorry, though, that the poor Hindoos +should worship idols," she said; "and when I grow older, and have more +money, I will do a great deal for them, depend upon it." + +"But why not help them a little _now_?" said Emma. + +"Because I have no money," replied Louisa; "no money I mean except +what is in my little savings bank, and I should not like to part with +that. As for you, Emma, you never can save up a shilling; so that I am +sure you have not anything to spare." + +"Ah," said Emma, "that is true, to be sure; I never can save my money, +and so I will tell you what I mean to do. Mamma gives us threepence a +week, to spend as we please, you know; but I will only take twopence +for the time to come, and I shall ask her to give the other pennies to +the Tract Society at the end of the year. Four shillings and fourpence +is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the +Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a +week, that will buy just as many more." + +It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the +heathen _yet_. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving +it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had +loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to +assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but +when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but +little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of +others. + +Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew +older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of +Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the +promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey +his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty, +helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our +sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. +Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need +not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and +go to him for help and pardon. + +Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but +it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they +are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was +taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that +she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and +the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell, +were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first +she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and +deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick +bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which +she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by +telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the +sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent +so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the +promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only +support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed +near, and eternity close at hand. Though too ill to read, or even to +listen to the words of life, she could remember many of them in her +heart, and think of them to her comfort in this season of trial. +Sometimes she was able to talk to her mother for a few minutes, when +it was plain that her mind was chiefly filled with thoughts of Christ +and things divine. And she often said that, if it should be the will +of God to restore her to health, she hoped for grace to devote herself +to his service, and to live more to his glory than she had ever done +before. She also spoke oftener to her sister, begging her to think of +her soul, to read her Bible more, and to seek for the pardon of her +sins; and Louisa, who was in great distress at the thought of losing +her, was ready to promise anything that she asked. But it did not +appear that she was under any concern for her own state; and this was +a great trouble to poor Emma, who now felt more than ever the need of +preparing for the world to come. + +It pleased God to spare her life, though she grew better very slowly, +and it was many weeks before she could leave her room. When her long +and painful illness was over, she was again able to share with Louisa +in her lessons and her pleasures, so that in time those weeks of grief +and suffering seemed to be forgotten; but they were not forgotten by +Emma: she did not forget the mercies she had received, and the resolve +which she had made of leading a holy life: she daily prayed for an +humble and watchful mind, and for grace to keep her from falling into +sin; and, as you may suppose, she loved her Bible more and more for +the comfort which it had given her in the time of trouble. She still +took pleasure in reading it alone, and prayed that she might have +grace to obey its commands, so that it might be a lamp unto her feet +and a light unto her path. Psa. cxix, 105. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +AUNT HARDING'S RETURN. + +And now two more years had passed away, and the time when their aunt +Harding's return was looked for had come. They had talked of it all +through the winter; and when spring was over, and summer begun, the +happy tidings came that the ship had arrived in safety, and their +uncle and aunt Harding were on their way to visit them once more. I +will leave you to guess the joy that was felt by all; and you must +picture to yourself the pleasure of their meeting soon afterward: how +thankful all were that they were spared to behold each other again; +with uncle Harding's surprise at seeing two great girls instead of +little Louisa and Emma; and aunt Harding's smiles, and her hopes that +there would be found an equal improvement in matters of more +importance. + +The morning after she came, when Mrs. Harding began to unpack her +boxes, Louisa and Emma caught sight of many pretty and curious things +which she told them were intended as presents for themselves. "But +before we proceed any further," said she, as the girls were beginning +to express their thanks and pleasure, "I wish to inquire about the +parting keepsake which I gave to you; and I should be glad to see how +each book has been treated, that I may know the real value which you +set upon the gift." + +Louisa and Emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's desire. To speak the +truth, Louisa was now in hopes of having all the praise. She quickly +brought in her handsome Bible, still wrapped in the soft white paper, +and in all the gloss of newness: not a mark upon the rich purple +binding, not a speck upon the bright gilt leaves. Emma, too, brought +hers, but with a more timid look; the neat brown silk cover was faded +and worn--she had thought of making a new one only the day before--and +the brightness was gone from the leaves, and the binding seemed rather +loose, for the book opened easily, and there were some pages, less +white than others, which looked as if they had been often read. To +Louisa's surprise, Mrs. Harding laid down her book without saying a +word, while, as soon as she took Emma's Bible into her hand, she +smiled with pleasure, although tears came into her eyes. "_This_ book +has been valued as it ought to be," said she; "it has been used with +care, but often used, so that I trust it has been found a guide and a +help to heaven. But yours, Louisa"--and she pointed to the beautiful +Bible which lay upon the table--"yours has been laid aside, like the +talent which was buried in the earth. It has been of no benefit to +your soul, for you seem hardly ever to have looked to it for +instruction; as if its real worth consisted in outside ornament, you +have been careful to keep that from injury, but have never sought or +cared for the treasure that is within. But dry your tears, my dear +Louisa," added aunt Harding kindly. "I am not angry, for I know that +your mistaken care was in some measure caused by your love for me. +I am only sorry that my parting present has not been of the use which +I intended. But it is not yet too late for you to learn that, while +your Bible should be kept with proper care--for it is the word of +God--yet it was given for our daily study, that we might read it, pray +over it, and practice it; and thus, by the divine blessing, become +'wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'" 2 Tim. +iii, 15. + +"I trust," said the kind aunt, looking at her two nieces with much +affection; "I trust that my dear Emma knows and loves her Saviour, and +takes delight in the Scriptures, because they testify of him. May you +both have grace to love him above all things, to do his will, and to +put your trust in him for evermore; and then the heartfelt desire of +your aunt Harding will be fulfilled." + +Reader, beware how you neglect the word of God. But remember it is not +by merely reading it that you are to look for a blessing to your soul. +You must pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can open +your understanding, and incline your heart to heavenly wisdom, that +you may not read in vain. + + * * * * * + +PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE. + +O that the Lord would guide my ways + To keep his statutes still! +O that my God would grant me grace + To know and do his will! + +O send thy Spirit down to write + Thy law upon my heart! +Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, + Nor act the liar's part. + +From vanity turn off mine eyes; + Let no corrupt design, +Nor covetous desires, arise + Within this soul of mine. + +Order my footsteps by thy word, + And make my heart sincere: +Let sin have no dominion, Lord, + But keep my conscience clear. + +My soul hath gone too far astray, + My feet too often slip; +Yet, since I've not forgot thy way, + Restore thy wand'ring sheep. + +Make me to walk in thy commands, + 'Tis a delightful road; +Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, + Offend against my God. + + * * * * * + +VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THE YOUNG + +How shall the young secure their hearts, + And guard their lives from sin? +Thy word the choicest rules imparts + To keep the conscience clean. + +When once it enters to the mind, + It spreads such light abroad, +The meanest souls instruction find, + And raise their thoughts to God. + +'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light + That guides us all the day; +And through the dangers of the night, + A lamp to lead our way. + +Thy precepts make me truly wise; + I hate the sinner's road: +I hate my own vain thoughts that rise, + But love thy law, my God. + +Thy word is everlasting truth; + How pure is every page! +That holy book shall guide our youth, + And well support our age. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + +BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION +OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. + + * * * * * + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS; +SHOWING THE SIN OF CRUELTY. +BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE M'GREGOR FAMILY. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE COTTAGE ON THE MOOR; +OR, THE EVILS OF PRIDE. +Price eighteen cents. + +OLD ANTHONY'S HINTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, +TO MAKE THEM CHEERFUL AND WISE. +Price twenty cents. + +THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS, +SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT +WONDERFUL PEOPLE. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE EGYPTIAN, +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE JEW. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE STRANGE PLANET, +AND OTHER ALLEGORIES, +DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + +***** This file should be named 11148.txt or 11148.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/4/11148/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/11148.zip b/11148.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f584d6f --- /dev/null +++ b/11148.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29caa5c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11148 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11148) diff --git a/old/11148-h.zip b/old/11148-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d053fff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148-h.zip diff --git a/old/11148-h/11148-h.htm b/old/11148-h/11148-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6253c37 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148-h/11148-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1572 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" type="text/css"> +<title>Aunt Harding's Keepsakes: or, The Two Bibles</title> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Aunt Harding's Keepsakes + The Two Bibles + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: February 18, 2004 [EBook #11148] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + + + + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="content"> + +<h2> +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES:<br> +OR, THE TWO BIBLES +</h2> + +<h3> +REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. +</h3> + +<div class="figure"><a name="front"></a> +<a href="images/front.gif"><img src="images/front-thumb.gif" alt="frontispiece"></a> +</div> + + + +<h5> +1851. +</h5> + + +<hr class="full"> + +<h3> +CONTENTS. +</h3> + +<div class="list"> +<ol class="rom"> +<li><a href="#1">GUESSING</a></li> +<li><a href="#2">THE PRESENTS</a></li> +<li><a href="#3">USE OF THE KEEPSAKES</a></li> +<li><a href="#4">TWO CHARACTERS</a></li> +<li><a href="#5">LETTERS FROM INDIA</a></li> +<li><a href="#6">TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS</a></li> +<li><a href="#7">AUNT HARDING'S LETTER</a></li> +<li><a href="#8">USE OF MONEY</a></li> +<li><a href="#9">AUNT HARDING'S RETURN</a></li> +</ol> +</div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<h2> +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES. +</h2> + +<hr class="half"> + + + +<h3> +<a name="1"></a> +CHAPTER I: GUESSING. +</h3> + +<p> +"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work +in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as +a keepsake, before she goes away?" +</p> + +<p> +"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately +given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more +for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know, +and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do +not think aunt intends to give us anything else." +</p> + +<p> +"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past +mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way +open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear +girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow +older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is +not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could." +</p> + +<p> +"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite +convinced. +</p> + +<p> +"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes—or, perhaps, as I +am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?" +</p> + +<p> +"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my +work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes." +</p> + +<p> +"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very +careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with +ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin." +</p> + +<p> +"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do +not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often +spoil my own." +</p> + +<p> +"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden +through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it +again." +</p> + +<p> +"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little +vexed. +</p> + +<p> +"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt +Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which +we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose." +</p> + +<p> +"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better +than a work-box." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have; +for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she +was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this +failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without +any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of +St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be +content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or +friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very +sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they +cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that +you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to +your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="2"></a> +CHAPTER II: THE PRESENTS. +</h3> + +<p> +Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a +farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India, +where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had +kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with +them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when +they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a +person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which +might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all +the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what +this parting gift should be. +</p> + +<p> +The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the +room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but +no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in +brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them +justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost +in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of +parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so +very far away. +</p> + +<p> +"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let +us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give +you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget +me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good +things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind." +</p> + +<p> +Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never +forget her, and they promised to remember her advice. +</p> + +<p> +"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding, +"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you +are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you +are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring +me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far +more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents; +and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the +pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is +any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by +the grace of the Holy Spirit." +</p> + +<p> +"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to +remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the +case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you +know." +</p> + +<p> +"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because +you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the +lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her +to imitate you in every respect." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear +aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you +will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be +grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with +either of us." +</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as +if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often +said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and +yet, directly after, something has been amiss." +</p> + +<p> +"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh. +</p> + +<p> +"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil +nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot +be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves, +it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help +from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should +keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in +ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and +to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake." +</p> + +<p> +"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we +should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it! +Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are +apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live +to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you +will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in +the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that +appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14." +</p> + +<p> +Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in +tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more +than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to +receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind +and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another +world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging +them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress +her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood +near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[<a href="#foot1">A</a>] gave one to each of +her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could +give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake, +but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal +life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she +offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they +might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to +take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never +more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might +meet again and be happy for ever in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +<a name="foot1"></a> +[Footnote A: See <a href="#front">frontispiece</a>.] +</p> + +<p> +Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and +looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the +writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there +was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly +pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and +opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely +written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In +Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine +eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix, +18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that +love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="3"></a> +CHAPTER III: USE OF THE KEEPSAKES. +</h3> + +<p> +The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, +and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little +else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many +questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which +they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very +sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not +tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each +chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to +arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of +brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover +for her new Bible. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her +sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful +book?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every +day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I +assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover +this will make!" +</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as +long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome +book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out +of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room, +will do just as well." +</p> + +<p> +"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last +night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good, +and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not +always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading +at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room, +where I can find it in a minute." +</p> + +<p> +"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask +mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old +one." +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give +just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in +supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or +a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not +from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If +you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way +of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as +in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining +gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible +from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it +ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such +sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor +excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible, +when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from +reading it so constantly as you intend." +</p> + +<p> +To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in +silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and +she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few +moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went +on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping +that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt +had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be +good and happy. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="4"></a> +CHAPTER IV: TWO CHARACTERS. +</h3> + +<p> +It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls. +Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have +no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like +Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one +could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish +child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness +was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready +to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her +own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to +learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners, +like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little +about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret +for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is +the gift of his Holy Spirit. +</p> + +<p> +Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever +consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him +by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of +these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your +own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has +been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and +what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There +are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the +offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's +gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number. +Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past. +God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. +vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late. +</p> + +<p> +Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer; +and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She +prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what +she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely +knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her, +because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by +degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a +habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a +few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who +seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and +it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she +had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she +was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to +keep her from sin. +</p> + +<p> +It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the +schoolroom—for the children had a governess who came to teach them +every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book +up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning. +Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a +chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then +it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read +it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible +reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she +left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no +real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to +help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from +her mind. +</p> + +<p> +The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct; +for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects +had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say +that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a +sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she +was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be +forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that +she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the +other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a +fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper +manner, she made but little progress toward improvement. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="5"></a> +CHAPTER V: LETTERS FROM INDIA. +</h3> + +<p> +Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for +India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes +a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between. +But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last +the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends +had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and +clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her +mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through +tears of pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their +mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for +themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa +and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to +hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the +cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness +to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still +invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask +him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore." +</p> + +<p> +A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's +birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday +and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up +stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired +her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and +then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round, +and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not +seen before. +</p> + +<p> +Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her +eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid +open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while +within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton, +everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain. +</p> + +<p> +"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your +aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my +birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have +been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see +that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still +go on trying to improve." +</p> + +<p> +"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will +try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and +looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then +gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight. +</p> + +<p> +"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting +her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to +be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I +know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn +out, because she is so very careful." +</p> + +<p> +"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not +deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to +provide one for her." +</p> + +<p> +At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry. +"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot +bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present +too. She would be so much grieved." +</p> + +<p> +"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be +unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to +her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome +them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful +difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what +is <i>right</i>, and not of what it would be <i>pleasant</i> to do. When I see +any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her +with a writing-desk; but not till then." +</p> + +<p> +Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color +rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please, +for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk. +Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything +about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer, +you know." +</p> + +<p> +When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a +pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her +wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings +between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of +showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her +conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though +Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the +promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="6"></a> +CHAPTER VI: TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS. +</h3> + +<p> +I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she +was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became +less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of +God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of +their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would +certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by. +Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not +behave like a meek and Christian child. +</p> + +<p> +It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma +wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want +it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to +lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as +children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful +passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind +when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not +deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you." +</p> + +<p> +While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her +with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words +of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into +her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them +both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their +sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and +lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon +brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask +forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had +displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be +sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon +this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so +small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a +sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and +made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much +struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite +softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to +seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends. +</p> + +<p> +Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her +share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so +unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant +after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old +work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely +in their place. +</p> + +<p> +The loss of the birthday present had a great effect upon Louisa, so +that she became more watchful over her temper and conduct. In a few +months she had improved so much, that though she was still far from +being all that could be wished, yet her mother thought she might +safely buy her the writing-desk, according to the desire of her aunt +Harding. Emma had still waited for her work-box with hope and +patience; and you may imagine the joy of both when they at last +received these long wished-for gifts. And as Emma was now not so +careless as formerly, and Louisa had grown more kind, the work-box and +the writing-desk were often lent in exchange; while the sisters soon +found out the truth of what their mother told them, that such little +frequent acts of mutual kindness do more to increase love than those +greater deeds which children sometimes talk about, but seldom have the +power to perform. +</p> + +<p> +The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy +than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and +that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed +it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of +breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as +Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter +which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend +whom they loved so well. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="7"></a> +CHAPTER VII: AUNT HARDING'S LETTER. +</h3> + +<p> +Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here +then is the letter, word for word:— +</p> + + +<p> +"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,—It is with great pleasure that I +read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am +glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that +should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better +and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of +God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil +desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as +one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves, +wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all +love for your Saviour and his commands. +</p> + +<p> +"I often think of you, and wish that you could see the poor little +Hindoo children, who have never heard of the true God, but are taught +by their heathen parents to kneel down, and pray to idols of wood and +stone. There is a river in this country, the river Ganges, which the +people believe to be a goddess, and they think that its waters can +wash away their sins. Mothers often bring their little infants and +bathe them in this river, because they believe it will make them holy. +Do you not pity these poor people, whose souls are perishing for want +of knowledge? Do you not wish that some one would go among them, and +tell them about Jesus the Son of God, who gave himself to die for +sinners, and whose blood alone can wash away sin? If so, you will be +glad to know that there are some good men here who have left their own +dear home and friends to live in this heathen country, and to teach +the poor Hindoos the true and only way to heaven. Christians in other +places, who love the Saviour, and wish that the heathen should learn +to love him too, give money to send these good men here, and to pay +for Bibles, and for other books which have been written on purpose to +show how sinners may be saved. All may help to do this who will spare +a little money from their own wishes and wants. <i>You</i> may help, if you +love the Saviour enough to deny yourselves some little pleasure now +and then. I think you would resolve to do so, if you could go with me +sometimes to the missionary school, and see the little children +sitting in rows, learning to read about Jesus, and hear them asking +for more books to take home, that they may tell the tidings of +salvation to their heathen parents. O yes! I am sure you would want to +help them then; for you would remember that heathen children, like +yourselves, have souls which must live for ever and ever; and you +would long that they should come to the knowledge of the Saviour, who +died for them as well as for you. +</p> + +<p> +"It is now time that I should finish this long letter; so farewell, +dear Louisa and Emma. Your uncle sends his love to you. We often talk +of you, and pray that you may be the children of God, through faith in +his dear Son. Your ever affectionate, +</p> + +<p> +"AUNT HARDING." +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="8"></a> +CHAPTER VIII: USE OF MONEY. +</h3> + +<p> +Emma found a great deal to think about in this letter, and it led to +frequent talk with her mother about the heathen, for whom she began to +feel much concern. When she heard how Christian people were trying to +help them, and had read some accounts which her mother lent to her, +telling of the happy change that, through the blessing of God, had +been brought about in many cases by the preaching of the gospel, she +wished that Louisa and herself could join in doing something, though +ever so little, for this good cause. The love of Christ was in her +heart: when this is the case, it will be sure to show itself in love +for the souls of others. +</p> + +<p> +But Louisa, when spoken to on the subject, said that she had not +anything to give. "I am very sorry, though, that the poor Hindoos +should worship idols," she said; "and when I grow older, and have more +money, I will do a great deal for them, depend upon it." +</p> + +<p> +"But why not help them a little <i>now</i>?" said Emma. +</p> + +<p> +"Because I have no money," replied Louisa; "no money I mean except +what is in my little savings bank, and I should not like to part with +that. As for you, Emma, you never can save up a shilling; so that I am +sure you have not anything to spare." +</p> + +<p> +"Ah," said Emma, "that is true, to be sure; I never can save my money, +and so I will tell you what I mean to do. Mamma gives us threepence a +week, to spend as we please, you know; but I will only take twopence +for the time to come, and I shall ask her to give the other pennies to +the Tract Society at the end of the year. Four shillings and fourpence +is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the +Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a +week, that will buy just as many more." +</p> + +<p> +It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the +heathen <i>yet</i>. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving +it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had +loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to +assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but +when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but +little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of +others. +</p> + +<p> +Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew +older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of +Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the +promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey +his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty, +helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our +sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. +Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need +not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and +go to him for help and pardon. +</p> + +<p> +Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but +it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they +are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was +taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that +she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and +the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell, +were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first +she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and +deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick +bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which +she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by +telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the +sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent +so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the +promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only +support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed +near, and eternity close at hand. Though too ill to read, or even to +listen to the words of life, she could remember many of them in her +heart, and think of them to her comfort in this season of trial. +Sometimes she was able to talk to her mother for a few minutes, when +it was plain that her mind was chiefly filled with thoughts of Christ +and things divine. And she often said that, if it should be the will +of God to restore her to health, she hoped for grace to devote herself +to his service, and to live more to his glory than she had ever done +before. She also spoke oftener to her sister, begging her to think of +her soul, to read her Bible more, and to seek for the pardon of her +sins; and Louisa, who was in great distress at the thought of losing +her, was ready to promise anything that she asked. But it did not +appear that she was under any concern for her own state; and this was +a great trouble to poor Emma, who now felt more than ever the need of +preparing for the world to come. +</p> + +<p> +It pleased God to spare her life, though she grew better very slowly, +and it was many weeks before she could leave her room. When her long +and painful illness was over, she was again able to share with Louisa +in her lessons and her pleasures, so that in time those weeks of grief +and suffering seemed to be forgotten; but they were not forgotten by +Emma: she did not forget the mercies she had received, and the resolve +which she had made of leading a holy life: she daily prayed for an +humble and watchful mind, and for grace to keep her from falling into +sin; and, as you may suppose, she loved her Bible more and more for +the comfort which it had given her in the time of trouble. She still +took pleasure in reading it alone, and prayed that she might have +grace to obey its commands, so that it might be a lamp unto her feet +and a light unto her path. Psa. cxix, 105. +</p> + + + + +<h3> +<a name="9"></a> +CHAPTER IX: AUNT HARDING'S RETURN. +</h3> + +<p> +And now two more years had passed away, and the time when their aunt +Harding's return was looked for had come. They had talked of it all +through the winter; and when spring was over, and summer begun, the +happy tidings came that the ship had arrived in safety, and their +uncle and aunt Harding were on their way to visit them once more. I +will leave you to guess the joy that was felt by all; and you must +picture to yourself the pleasure of their meeting soon afterward: how +thankful all were that they were spared to behold each other again; +with uncle Harding's surprise at seeing two great girls instead of +little Louisa and Emma; and aunt Harding's smiles, and her hopes that +there would be found an equal improvement in matters of more +importance. +</p> + +<p> +The morning after she came, when Mrs. Harding began to unpack her +boxes, Louisa and Emma caught sight of many pretty and curious things +which she told them were intended as presents for themselves. "But +before we proceed any further," said she, as the girls were beginning +to express their thanks and pleasure, "I wish to inquire about the +parting keepsake which I gave to you; and I should be glad to see how +each book has been treated, that I may know the real value which you +set upon the gift." +</p> + +<p> +Louisa and Emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's desire. To speak the +truth, Louisa was now in hopes of having all the praise. She quickly +brought in her handsome Bible, still wrapped in the soft white paper, +and in all the gloss of newness: not a mark upon the rich purple +binding, not a speck upon the bright gilt leaves. Emma, too, brought +hers, but with a more timid look; the neat brown silk cover was faded +and worn—she had thought of making a new one only the day before—and +the brightness was gone from the leaves, and the binding seemed rather +loose, for the book opened easily, and there were some pages, less +white than others, which looked as if they had been often read. To +Louisa's surprise, Mrs. Harding laid down her book without saying a +word, while, as soon as she took Emma's Bible into her hand, she +smiled with pleasure, although tears came into her eyes. "<i>This</i> book +has been valued as it ought to be," said she; "it has been used with +care, but often used, so that I trust it has been found a guide and a +help to heaven. But yours, Louisa"—and she pointed to the beautiful +Bible which lay upon the table—"yours has been laid aside, like the +talent which was buried in the earth. It has been of no benefit to +your soul, for you seem hardly ever to have looked to it for +instruction; as if its real worth consisted in outside ornament, you +have been careful to keep that from injury, but have never sought or +cared for the treasure that is within. But dry your tears, my dear +Louisa," added aunt Harding kindly. "I am not angry, for I know that +your mistaken care was in some measure caused by your love for me. +I am only sorry that my parting present has not been of the use which +I intended. But it is not yet too late for you to learn that, while +your Bible should be kept with proper care—for it is the word of +God—yet it was given for our daily study, that we might read it, pray +over it, and practice it; and thus, by the divine blessing, become +'wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'" 2 Tim. +iii, 15. +</p> + +<p> +"I trust," said the kind aunt, looking at her two nieces with much +affection; "I trust that my dear Emma knows and loves her Saviour, and +takes delight in the Scriptures, because they testify of him. May you +both have grace to love him above all things, to do his will, and to +put your trust in him for evermore; and then the heartfelt desire of +your aunt Harding will be fulfilled." +</p> + +<p> +Reader, beware how you neglect the word of God. But remember it is not +by merely reading it that you are to look for a blessing to your soul. +You must pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can open +your understanding, and incline your heart to heavenly wisdom, that +you may not read in vain. +</p> + +<hr class="half"> + +<h3> +PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE. +</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p>O that the Lord would guide my ways</p> + <p class="i2">To keep his statutes still!</p> +<p>O that my God would grant me grace</p> + <p class="i2">To know and do his will!</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>O send thy Spirit down to write</p> + <p class="i2">Thy law upon my heart!</p> +<p>Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,</p> + <p class="i2">Nor act the liar's part.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>From vanity turn off mine eyes;</p> + <p class="i2">Let no corrupt design,</p> +<p>Nor covetous desires, arise</p> + <p class="i2">Within this soul of mine.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Order my footsteps by thy word,</p> + <p class="i2">And make my heart sincere:</p> +<p>Let sin have no dominion, Lord,</p> + <p class="i2">But keep my conscience clear.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>My soul hath gone too far astray,</p> + <p class="i2">My feet too often slip;</p> +<p>Yet, since I've not forgot thy way,</p> + <p class="i2">Restore thy wand'ring sheep.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Make me to walk in thy commands,</p> + <p class="i2">'Tis a delightful road;</p> +<p>Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,</p> + <p class="i2">Offend against my God.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="half"> + +<h3> +VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THE YOUNG +</h3> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>How shall the young secure their hearts,</p> + <p class="i2">And guard their lives from sin?</p> +<p>Thy word the choicest rules imparts</p> + <p class="i2">To keep the conscience clean.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>When once it enters to the mind,</p> + <p class="i2">It spreads such light abroad,</p> +<p class="i2">The meanest souls instruction find,</p> + <p>And raise their thoughts to God.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light</p> + <p class="i2">That guides us all the day;</p> +<p>And through the dangers of the night,</p> + <p class="i2">A lamp to lead our way.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Thy precepts make me truly wise;</p> + <p class="i2">I hate the sinner's road:</p> +<p>I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,</p> + <p class="i2">But love thy law, my God.</p> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<p>Thy word is everlasting truth;</p> + <p class="i2">How pure is every page!</p> +<p>That holy book shall guide our youth,</p> + <p class="i2">And well support our age.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<h5> +THE END. +</h5> + +<hr class="full"> + +<h4> +BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION +OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. +</h4> + +<hr class="half"> +<div class="poem" style="font-size: smaller;"> +<p> +<b>KINDNESS TO ANIMALS; +SHOWING THE SIN OF CRUELTY. +BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE M'GREGOR FAMILY.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE COTTAGE ON THE MOOR; +OR, THE EVILS OF PRIDE.</b> +Price eighteen cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>OLD ANTHONY'S HINTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, +TO MAKE THEM CHEERFUL AND WISE.</b> +Price twenty cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS, +SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT +WONDERFUL PEOPLE.</b> +Price twenty-one cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE EGYPTIAN, +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE JEW.</b> +Price twenty-one cents. +</p> + +<p> +<b>THE STRANGE PLANET, +AND OTHER ALLEGORIES, +DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS</b> +Price sixteen cents. +</p> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + +***** This file should be named 11148-h.htm or 11148-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/4/11148/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif b/old/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5ac04d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148-h/images/front-thumb.gif diff --git a/old/11148-h/images/front.gif b/old/11148-h/images/front.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9c6961d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148-h/images/front.gif diff --git a/old/11148-h/style.css b/old/11148-h/style.css new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45dbe82 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148-h/style.css @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +body {margin:0; padding:0;} + +.content + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +p + {text-align: justify;} +blockquote + {text-align: justify;} +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 + {text-align: center;} +.cap + {text-align: justify; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +.dp + {text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 30%; font-weight: bold;} + +hr + {text-align: center; width: 50%;} +html>body hr + {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} +hr.full + {width: 100%;} +hr.half + {width: 50%;} +html>body hr.full + {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + +img + {border: none;} +.footnote + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em;} +.figure + {text-align: center; font-size: 0.7em;} +.right + {float: right; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 0;} +.left + {float: left; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 5%;} + +.list + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +.rom + {list-style-type: upper-roman;} + +.poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} +.poem .stanza + {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.poem p + {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem p.i2 + {margin-left: 2em;} +.poem p.i4 + {margin-left: 4em;} +.poem .caesura + {vertical-align: -200%;}
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/old/11148.txt b/old/11148.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e71c116 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1324 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Aunt Harding's Keepsakes + The Two Bibles + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: February 18, 2004 [EBook #11148] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + + + + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES: +OR, THE TWO BIBLES + +REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. + + +1851. + + + +[Illustration A: Frontispiece] + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. GUESSING + +II. THE PRESENTS + +III. USE OF THE KEEPSAKES + +IV. TWO CHARACTERS + +V. LETTERS FROM INDIA + +VI. TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS + +VII. AUNT HARDING'S LETTER + +VIII. USE OF MONEY + +IX. AUNT HARDING'S RETURN + + + + +AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES. + + +CHAPTER I. + + +GUESSING. + +"Can you guess," said Louisa to her sister, as they sat at their work +in the summer-house, "can you guess what aunt Harding will give us, as +a keepsake, before she goes away?" + +"No, I have not thought about it," said Emma; "and aunt has lately +given us so many pretty things, that we can scarcely expect any more +for a long time to come. There is my doll and its cradle, you know, +and your baby-house and furniture, how much money they cost! No, I do +not think aunt intends to give us anything else." + +"But I am quite sure she will," replied Louisa; "for I was going past +mamma's dressing-room this morning, when the door was a little way +open, and I heard aunt Harding say, 'I should like to give the dear +girls something really useful, which they may value as they grow +older.' I did not hear anymore, because mamma has always told us it is +not right to listen, and so I came away as fast as I could." + +"Well, I wonder what the present will be?" said Emma, now quite +convinced. + +"What should you think of two handsome work-boxes--or, perhaps, as I +am the eldest, of a work-box for yourself, and writing-desk for me?" + +"That would be charming!" said Emma; "and I would let you use my +work-box, and you could lend me your writing-desk sometimes." + +"I will not make any promises," said Louisa; "you know you are very +careless, and I should not like my nice new desk to be stained with +ink, or, perhaps, scratched with the point of a pin." + +"But mamma says I am growing more careful," said her sister; "and I do +not think I am so heedless about other people's things, though I often +spoil my own." + +"Remember my wax doll," said Louisa, "which you left in the garden +through that heavy shower of rain, so that I could never play with it +again." + +"O, that was such a very long time ago!" said Emma, looking a little +vexed. + +"Perhaps it will not be a writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt +Harding will give us," said Louisa; "there are many other things which +we should like. I wish she would ask us to choose." + +"So do I," added Emma; "but there is nothing that I should like better +than a work-box." + +Louisa thought of many other things which she should be glad to have; +for she was apt to indulge in a foolish habit of wishing for what she +was not likely to possess. It is a bad thing to give way to this +failing; for by doing so we may often make ourselves unhappy, without +any good or real cause. People who do so should think of the words of +St. Paul: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be +content." Philip. iv, 11. And children, who have kind parents or +friends to provide for all their wants, should learn that it is very +sinful to let the thoughts be often dwelling upon things that they +cannot have, and do not really need. Pray for a grateful heart, that +you may rejoice in the blessings that surround you, and be thankful to +your heavenly Father, who gives you all things richly to enjoy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +THE PRESENTS. + +Mrs. Harding, the aunt of these little girls, had been paying a +farewell visit to their mamma, before going with Mr. Harding to India, +where it was likely that they would remain for some years. She had +kindly given many little presents to her nieces during her stay with +them; but they were such as Louisa and Emma would cease to value when +they became old enough to "put away childish things;" and being a +person of piety and judgment, she wished her last gift to be one which +might be worthy of their regard in youth and in age, and through all +the changes of life. It did not take any long time to determine what +this parting gift should be. + +The evening before she went away, she called Louisa and Emma into the +room. They both looked round upon the table and chests of drawers, but +no sign of a present was to be seen; no parcel neatly wrapped up in +brown paper, nor anything like a work-box or a desk. But, to do them +justice, the thought of what they might receive was not then uppermost +in their mind; for their heart was full of grief at the prospect of +parting with their aunt, whom they dearly loved, and who was going so +very far away. + +"Sit down beside me, dear children," said their aunt Harding, "and let +us have a little talk together, quietly by ourselves. I wish to give +you a few parting words of advice. I am sure that you will not forget +me when I am gone; and when you think of me, I hope that the good +things which I have tried to teach you will also come into your mind." + +Both Louisa and Emma said, again and again, that they could never +forget her, and they promised to remember her advice. + +"Your mamma will often write to me concerning you," said aunt Harding, +"and I cannot express the joy that it will afford me to hear that you +are learning to hate sin more and more, and to live like children of +our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall be glad to find that you +are improving in your studies, and I hope that every letter will bring +me an account of your progress in useful knowledge; but I shall be far +more anxious to hear of your being good and dutiful to your parents; +and, above all, I shall long to know if you seek in earnest for the +pardon of your sins, through the blood of Christ, and whether there is +any proof in your conduct that your evil hearts have been changed by +the grace of the Holy Spirit." + +"If mamma sends you a good account of us," said Louisa, "please to +remember, aunt, that you promised to write to us when that was the +case. And you will write to me first, because I am the eldest, you +know." + +"Since you claim to be thought of first," replied her aunt, "because +you are a year older then your sister, I hope you intend to take the +lead by setting before her a good example, that it may be well for her +to imitate you in every respect." + +Louisa blushed, and was silent. "We will try our very best, dear +aunt," said Emma, "that mamma may send you good news, and then you +will write to us both. And, perhaps, before you come back, we shall be +grown such good girls, that you will not be able to find fault with +either of us." + +"I am afraid that is not very likely," said Louisa; "for it seems as +if we could not help being naughty sometimes. I am sure I have often +said to myself, 'Mamma shall not have to reprove me once to-day,' and +yet, directly after, something has been amiss." + +"O! that is quite true," said Emma, with a sigh. + +"The reason is this," their aunt replied; "you were born with an evil +nature, which loves sin and leads you to do wrong, so that you cannot +be good and dutiful of yourselves. When you have made such resolves, +it has been in your own strength, without your having asked for help +from God; and this being the case, it was not possible that you should +keep from sin. The only way to lead a holy life is to put no trust in +ourselves, to have a constant sense of our need of divine grace, and +to pray earnestly that it may be given to us for Christ's sake." + +"But you talk of my return," added she, "as if it were certain that we +should meet again; yet how many things may happen to prevent it! +Nothing can be more uncertain than the future, though young people are +apt to think that all will fall out just as they wish. I may not live +to come back; or if I should be spared to do so, who can tell that you +will be here to meet me? Long before that time you may be laid low in +the narrow grave. 'For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that +appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' James iv, 14." + +Before their aunt Harding had done speaking, both the children were in +tears; for the thought that they might never see her again was more +than they could bear. Seeing that their hearts were softened to +receive the word of instruction, she went on to talk to them in a kind +and earnest manner on the great importance of preparing for another +world, showing them their awful state without the Saviour, and urging +them to seek him at once by faith and prayer; then, further to impress +her advice upon their minds, she unlocked a little cabinet which stood +near her, and taking out two handsome Bibles,[A] gave one to each of +her nieces, telling them that as it was the best present she could +give them, so she hoped they would value it, not only for her sake, +but because it was the word of God, and taught the way of eternal +life. After this, she desired them to kneel down with her, while she +offered a fervent prayer that God would bless them, and that they +might be led by the Holy Spirit into the fold of Christ, who died to +take away their sins. And she also prayed, that if they should never +more see each other in this world, they and all whom they loved might +meet again and be happy for ever in heaven. + +[Footnote A: See frontispiece.] + +Now I will not say that when the sisters were alone together, and +looked at their handsome Bibles, a thought of the work-box and the +writing-desk never crossed their minds; but it is certain that there +was not a word said upon the subject, and each seemed to be greatly +pleased with her present, admiring the rich purple binding, and +opening the book with care, to look at the name which had been nicely +written by their aunt on one of the blank leaves at the beginning. In +Louisa's Bible, just under her name, was the text, "Open thou mine +eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psa. cxix, +18; and in Emma's, in the same place, was written, "I love them that +love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Prov. viii, 17. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +USE OF THE KEEPSAKES. + +The next day was a sorrowful one, both to the friends who went away, +and to those who were left behind. The children could talk of little +else than their uncle and aunt Harding. They asked their mother many +questions about the journey they had begun, and the country to which +they were going. When Louisa and Emma saw that their mamma was very +sad, and not so ready as usual to join in their talk, they did not +tease her, as some thoughtless children would have done, but each +chose for herself a pleasant and quiet employment. Louisa began to +arrange the furniture in her baby-house, and Emma brought a piece of +brown silk from her drawer of treasures, and set about making a cover +for her new Bible. + +"Why, Emma, what are you about?" cried Louisa, after watching her +sister for a moment; "surely you are not going to use that beautiful +book?" + +"Yes, I am," said Emma, quietly; "I mean to read a little in it every +day. Ah! I see that you think it will soon be torn and soiled; but I +assure you I intend to be very careful; and look, what a nice cover +this will make!" + +"I am afraid," said Louisa, laughing, "you will never be careful as +long as you live. To think of so soon beginning to use that handsome +book! I have made up my mind to read a chapter every day, but not out +of my new Bible. I think the old one, that lies in the school-room, +will do just as well." + +"So it would," returned Emma; "and I thought of that myself last +night, when aunt Harding told us how much she wished us to be good, +and to love the Scriptures: but then the school-room Bible is not +always in its place, and that might sometimes hinder me from reading +at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room, +where I can find it in a minute." + +"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask +mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old +one." + +Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give +just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in +supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or +a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not +from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If +you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way +of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as +in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining +gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible +from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it +ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such +sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor +excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible, +when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from +reading it so constantly as you intend." + +To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in +silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and +she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few +moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went +on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping +that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt +had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be +good and happy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +TWO CHARACTERS. + +It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls. +Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have +no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like +Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one +could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish +child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness +was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready +to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her +own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to +learn, and thankful to be taught. Both of these children were sinners, +like all who are born into this sinful world: but Louisa cared little +about the concerns of her soul; while Emma had begun to pray in secret +for pardon through Christ her Saviour, and for the new heart which is +the gift of his Holy Spirit. + +Reader, you too are a sinner, and by nature far from God. Do you ever +consider what is your present state? Have you been brought near to him +by the blood of Christ, the new and living way? You may have heard of +these things before, but without giving heed to the salvation of your +own soul, or seeking to prepare for the world to come. If this has +been the case, pause now, and ask yourself whither you are going, and +what must be the end, if you do not repent and turn from sin. There +are many awful texts in the Bible concerning those who trifle with the +offers of divine mercy, and harden their hearts against the Saviour's +gracious call. O! pray that you may not be one of this unhappy number. +Seek the Lord while he may be found, before the day of grace is past. +God has said that his "Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. +vi, 3; and if you will not repent to-day, to-morrow may be too late. + +Emma's Bible was nicely covered, and laid in her own little drawer; +and every morning she read a chapter before she went down stairs. She +prayed that God would teach her by his Holy Spirit to understand what +she read; and though her prayers were very simple, and she scarcely +knew what words to use, yet she felt sure that he would hear her, +because he has promised to do so, for the sake of his dear Son. And by +degrees, as she began to love her Bible more and more, she learned a +habit of going to their little room alone, once in each day, to read a +few verses in private, and to offer a short prayer to her "Father who +seeth in secret." Matt, vi, 6. She found a great blessing in this; and +it often happened that the thought of a text of Scripture which she +had been reading in her room alone would come into her mind when she +was afterward tempted to say or do something wrong, and thus help to +keep her from sin. + +It was not so with Louisa. The Bible was often wanted in the +schoolroom--for the children had a governess who came to teach them +every day; and Louisa soon found it too much trouble to take the book +up stairs at night, and to carry it down again the next morning. +Besides this, she did not always rise from her bed in time to read a +chapter, so that it was often put off till after breakfast, and then +it commonly happened that she had other things to do, and did not read +it at all. Emma would sometimes gently remind her that her Bible +reading had been forgotten; but this made Louisa so cross that she +left off doing so at last. The truth was, that this poor child had no +real love for the Scriptures; and as she did not seek for grace to +help her, the good resolves that she had made passed away quickly from +her mind. + +The difference between the sisters was seen in their outward conduct; +for Emma's reading of the Bible would have been in vain if the effects +had not been shown in her temper and daily life. I do not mean to say +that she never went wrong; for Emma had still an evil nature, and a +sinful heart, often leading her to forget the commands of God. But she +was truly sorry when this had been the case, and would ask to be +forgiven with many tears; and she also prayed for divine grace, that +she might try to be more watchful for the time to come. Louisa, on the +other hand, thought too highly of herself to be easily convinced of a +fault; and as she seldom received reproof in an humble and proper +manner, she made but little progress toward improvement. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +LETTERS FROM INDIA. + +Some months passed before there came a letter from Mrs. Harding; for +India, as you know, is many thousands of miles from here, and it takes +a long time for a ship to sail over the wide sea which lies between. +But great was the joy of the children and their mother when at last +the good tidings came that, through the mercy of God, their friends +had reached that distant country, safe and well. Louisa danced and +clapped her hands; and Emma felt very happy, sitting beside her +mother, and looking up in her face, while she read the letter through +tears of pleasure. + +Mrs. Harding had written a few lines to the children, which their +mother read aloud to them, and then allowed them to look at for +themselves. The words were these: "I often think of you, dear Louisa +and Emma, and pray for divine blessings upon you both; and I hope to +hear that you are giving yourselves to the Saviour, who died upon the +cross for you. You know the love of Jesus for the young; his kindness +to them when he was upon earth; and the tender way in which he still +invites them to come to him. Go, then, to Christ without delay: ask +him to be your friend, and you will be happy for evermore." + +A few weeks after this letter had been received, Mrs. Western's +birthday arrived, when it was usual for her children to have a holiday +and a little treat. On the morning of this day, as Emma was running up +stairs, her mamma called to her from her dressing-room, and desired +her to come in, and to shut the door. Emma did as she was bid; and +then Mrs. Western, with a smile on her face, told her to look round, +and try if she could discover anything in the room that she had not +seen before. + +Almost before her mother had done speaking, the little girl fixed her +eyes upon a handsome work-box, standing upon the table with the lid +open, and showing a lining of pale blue silk, edged with silver; while +within were scissors and thimble, an abundance of needles and cotton, +everything, in short, that Emma had long been wishing for in vain. + +"It is yours, my dear," said her mamma; "it is a present from your +aunt Harding, who, in her letter, requested me to choose for you on my +birthday something that you would like, if your conduct should have +been such as to deserve a token of our approval. I am happy to see +that you strive to amend your faults, and I trust that you will still +go on trying to improve." + +"O, mamma, how beautiful! and how kind in aunt Harding! Indeed I will +try to deserve it." And the little girl went close to the box, and +looked at its contents, but without venturing to touch them; then +gently closing the lid, she stood gazing upon it with silent delight. + +"But, mamma," said Emma, looking up with a sudden thought, and casting +her eyes round the room as if in search of something which was not to +be seen, "where is Louisa's present? She would like a writing-desk, I +know; for the old work-box which she has had so long is not yet worn +out, because she is so very careful." + +"I am sorry to say," returned Mrs. Western, "that Louisa is not +deserving of any present, and therefore it would have been wrong to +provide one for her." + +At hearing this, Emma changed color, and looked almost ready to cry. +"Dear mamma," said she, "do pray have pity on poor Louisa. I cannot +bear to show her my beautiful box, if she is not to have a present +too. She would be so much grieved." + +"My dear," said Mrs. Western, "do you not perceive that it would be +unjust and contrary to your aunt's wish, if, while Louisa gives way to +her faults, I were to treat her as though she were seeking to overcome +them? It is quite as painful to me as to yourself to make this needful +difference between you; but in all our actions we must think of what +is _right_, and not of what it would be _pleasant_ to do. When I see +any sign of improvement in your sister, I shall gladly provide her +with a writing-desk; but not till then." + +Emma paused for a moment; her eyes filled with tears, and the color +rose to her face. "Then mamma," said she, "I will wait, if you please, +for my work-box, until you think proper to give Louisa her desk. +Please to put it away in some safe place, and I will not say anything +about it. I can do very well without the box a little while longer, +you know." + +When Mrs. Western found that Emma was willing to deny herself a +pleasure rather than give pain to her sister, she consented to her +wish, because she desired to encourage kind and tender feelings +between them; and she knew it would be easy to find some other way of +showing Louisa that her friends were grieved and displeased by her +conduct. So the work-box was safely put away for the present; though +Emma had her hopes that the time would soon come when, with the +promised writing-desk, it might be again brought forward. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +TROUBLE BETWEEN SISTERS. + +I have told you that Emma was not without her faults; and whether she +was a little lifted up by her mother's approval, so that she became +less watchful over herself, and felt less her need of the grace of +God, I cannot say: but so it was, that on the very same evening of +their mother's birthday, the sisters had a quarrel, which would +certainly have been worse, if Mrs. Western had not been sitting by. +Louisa was the first to blame; but, on the other hand, Emma did not +behave like a meek and Christian child. + +It was about Louisa's old work-box that this quarrel took place. Emma +wished to have the use of it for a short time, as Louisa did not want +it herself: but Louisa, as you have seen, was not very willing to +lend; and some sharp and unkind words passed between them, such as +children too often use when they give way to angry and sinful +passions. No doubt the thought of her own work-box was in Emma's mind +when she said, "You are selfish and ill-natured, Louisa, and do not +deserve that people should give up any pleasure for you." + +While she was speaking, she saw her mother's eyes turned toward her +with a look of surprise and sorrow; and at the same moment the words +of Scripture, "Be kindly affectioned one toward another," came into +her mind. She blushed and looked down while Mrs. Western reproved them +both, and told them of the grief which, she felt on account of their +sinful conduct, reminding them also of the example of the meek and +lowly Jesus, who has commanded us to live in love. Emma was soon +brought to tears, and went out of the room to weep alone, and ask +forgiveness, for her Saviour's sake, from the holy God whom she had +displeased by her sin: but Louisa, as usual, was inclined to be +sullen, and did not think that she had been at all in the wrong. Upon +this, her mother pointed out to her the unkindness of refusing so +small a favor to her sister; and in the hope of bringing her to a +sense of her fault, she told her what had passed in the morning, and +made known to her the whole affair of the work-box. Louisa was so much +struck by this proof of Emma's love, that her heart was quite +softened, and she not only owned that she had done amiss, but ran to +seek her sister, and asked her to forget their quarrel and be friends. + +Emma was very glad to agree to this, and was also ready to take her +share of blame, saying that she had been very wrong in speaking so +unkindly, and she hoped never to be so naughty again. It was pleasant +after this, to see Louisa's desire that her sister should use the old +work-box, and what care Emma showed in keeping all its contents nicely +in their place. + +The loss of the birthday present had a great effect upon Louisa, so +that she became more watchful over her temper and conduct. In a few +months she had improved so much, that though she was still far from +being all that could be wished, yet her mother thought she might +safely buy her the writing-desk, according to the desire of her aunt +Harding. Emma had still waited for her work-box with hope and +patience; and you may imagine the joy of both when they at last +received these long wished-for gifts. And as Emma was now not so +careless as formerly, and Louisa had grown more kind, the work-box and +the writing-desk were often lent in exchange; while the sisters soon +found out the truth of what their mother told them, that such little +frequent acts of mutual kindness do more to increase love than those +greater deeds which children sometimes talk about, but seldom have the +power to perform. + +The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy +than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and +that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed +it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of +breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as +Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter +which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend +whom they loved so well. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +AUNT HARDING'S LETTER. + +Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here +then is the letter, word for word:-- + + +"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,--It is with great pleasure that I +read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am +glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that +should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better +and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of +God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil +desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as +one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves, +wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all +love for your Saviour and his commands. + +"I often think of you, and wish that you could see the poor little +Hindoo children, who have never heard of the true God, but are taught +by their heathen parents to kneel down, and pray to idols of wood and +stone. There is a river in this country, the river Ganges, which the +people believe to be a goddess, and they think that its waters can +wash away their sins. Mothers often bring their little infants and +bathe them in this river, because they believe it will make them holy. +Do you not pity these poor people, whose souls are perishing for want +of knowledge? Do you not wish that some one would go among them, and +tell them about Jesus the Son of God, who gave himself to die for +sinners, and whose blood alone can wash away sin? If so, you will be +glad to know that there are some good men here who have left their own +dear home and friends to live in this heathen country, and to teach +the poor Hindoos the true and only way to heaven. Christians in other +places, who love the Saviour, and wish that the heathen should learn +to love him too, give money to send these good men here, and to pay +for Bibles, and for other books which have been written on purpose to +show how sinners may be saved. All may help to do this who will spare +a little money from their own wishes and wants. _You_ may help, if you +love the Saviour enough to deny yourselves some little pleasure now +and then. I think you would resolve to do so, if you could go with me +sometimes to the missionary school, and see the little children +sitting in rows, learning to read about Jesus, and hear them asking +for more books to take home, that they may tell the tidings of +salvation to their heathen parents. O yes! I am sure you would want to +help them then; for you would remember that heathen children, like +yourselves, have souls which must live for ever and ever; and you +would long that they should come to the knowledge of the Saviour, who +died for them as well as for you. + +"It is now time that I should finish this long letter; so farewell, +dear Louisa and Emma. Your uncle sends his love to you. We often talk +of you, and pray that you may be the children of God, through faith in +his dear Son. Your ever affectionate, + +"AUNT HARDING." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +USE OF MONEY. + +Emma found a great deal to think about in this letter, and it led to +frequent talk with her mother about the heathen, for whom she began to +feel much concern. When she heard how Christian people were trying to +help them, and had read some accounts which her mother lent to her, +telling of the happy change that, through the blessing of God, had +been brought about in many cases by the preaching of the gospel, she +wished that Louisa and herself could join in doing something, though +ever so little, for this good cause. The love of Christ was in her +heart: when this is the case, it will be sure to show itself in love +for the souls of others. + +But Louisa, when spoken to on the subject, said that she had not +anything to give. "I am very sorry, though, that the poor Hindoos +should worship idols," she said; "and when I grow older, and have more +money, I will do a great deal for them, depend upon it." + +"But why not help them a little _now_?" said Emma. + +"Because I have no money," replied Louisa; "no money I mean except +what is in my little savings bank, and I should not like to part with +that. As for you, Emma, you never can save up a shilling; so that I am +sure you have not anything to spare." + +"Ah," said Emma, "that is true, to be sure; I never can save my money, +and so I will tell you what I mean to do. Mamma gives us threepence a +week, to spend as we please, you know; but I will only take twopence +for the time to come, and I shall ask her to give the other pennies to +the Tract Society at the end of the year. Four shillings and fourpence +is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the +Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a +week, that will buy just as many more." + +It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the +heathen _yet_. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving +it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had +loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to +assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but +when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but +little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of +others. + +Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew +older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of +Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the +promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey +his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty, +helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our +sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it. +Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need +not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and +go to him for help and pardon. + +Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but +it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they +are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was +taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that +she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and +the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell, +were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first +she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and +deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick +bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which +she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by +telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the +sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent +so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the +promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only +support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed +near, and eternity close at hand. Though too ill to read, or even to +listen to the words of life, she could remember many of them in her +heart, and think of them to her comfort in this season of trial. +Sometimes she was able to talk to her mother for a few minutes, when +it was plain that her mind was chiefly filled with thoughts of Christ +and things divine. And she often said that, if it should be the will +of God to restore her to health, she hoped for grace to devote herself +to his service, and to live more to his glory than she had ever done +before. She also spoke oftener to her sister, begging her to think of +her soul, to read her Bible more, and to seek for the pardon of her +sins; and Louisa, who was in great distress at the thought of losing +her, was ready to promise anything that she asked. But it did not +appear that she was under any concern for her own state; and this was +a great trouble to poor Emma, who now felt more than ever the need of +preparing for the world to come. + +It pleased God to spare her life, though she grew better very slowly, +and it was many weeks before she could leave her room. When her long +and painful illness was over, she was again able to share with Louisa +in her lessons and her pleasures, so that in time those weeks of grief +and suffering seemed to be forgotten; but they were not forgotten by +Emma: she did not forget the mercies she had received, and the resolve +which she had made of leading a holy life: she daily prayed for an +humble and watchful mind, and for grace to keep her from falling into +sin; and, as you may suppose, she loved her Bible more and more for +the comfort which it had given her in the time of trouble. She still +took pleasure in reading it alone, and prayed that she might have +grace to obey its commands, so that it might be a lamp unto her feet +and a light unto her path. Psa. cxix, 105. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +AUNT HARDING'S RETURN. + +And now two more years had passed away, and the time when their aunt +Harding's return was looked for had come. They had talked of it all +through the winter; and when spring was over, and summer begun, the +happy tidings came that the ship had arrived in safety, and their +uncle and aunt Harding were on their way to visit them once more. I +will leave you to guess the joy that was felt by all; and you must +picture to yourself the pleasure of their meeting soon afterward: how +thankful all were that they were spared to behold each other again; +with uncle Harding's surprise at seeing two great girls instead of +little Louisa and Emma; and aunt Harding's smiles, and her hopes that +there would be found an equal improvement in matters of more +importance. + +The morning after she came, when Mrs. Harding began to unpack her +boxes, Louisa and Emma caught sight of many pretty and curious things +which she told them were intended as presents for themselves. "But +before we proceed any further," said she, as the girls were beginning +to express their thanks and pleasure, "I wish to inquire about the +parting keepsake which I gave to you; and I should be glad to see how +each book has been treated, that I may know the real value which you +set upon the gift." + +Louisa and Emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's desire. To speak the +truth, Louisa was now in hopes of having all the praise. She quickly +brought in her handsome Bible, still wrapped in the soft white paper, +and in all the gloss of newness: not a mark upon the rich purple +binding, not a speck upon the bright gilt leaves. Emma, too, brought +hers, but with a more timid look; the neat brown silk cover was faded +and worn--she had thought of making a new one only the day before--and +the brightness was gone from the leaves, and the binding seemed rather +loose, for the book opened easily, and there were some pages, less +white than others, which looked as if they had been often read. To +Louisa's surprise, Mrs. Harding laid down her book without saying a +word, while, as soon as she took Emma's Bible into her hand, she +smiled with pleasure, although tears came into her eyes. "_This_ book +has been valued as it ought to be," said she; "it has been used with +care, but often used, so that I trust it has been found a guide and a +help to heaven. But yours, Louisa"--and she pointed to the beautiful +Bible which lay upon the table--"yours has been laid aside, like the +talent which was buried in the earth. It has been of no benefit to +your soul, for you seem hardly ever to have looked to it for +instruction; as if its real worth consisted in outside ornament, you +have been careful to keep that from injury, but have never sought or +cared for the treasure that is within. But dry your tears, my dear +Louisa," added aunt Harding kindly. "I am not angry, for I know that +your mistaken care was in some measure caused by your love for me. +I am only sorry that my parting present has not been of the use which +I intended. But it is not yet too late for you to learn that, while +your Bible should be kept with proper care--for it is the word of +God--yet it was given for our daily study, that we might read it, pray +over it, and practice it; and thus, by the divine blessing, become +'wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'" 2 Tim. +iii, 15. + +"I trust," said the kind aunt, looking at her two nieces with much +affection; "I trust that my dear Emma knows and loves her Saviour, and +takes delight in the Scriptures, because they testify of him. May you +both have grace to love him above all things, to do his will, and to +put your trust in him for evermore; and then the heartfelt desire of +your aunt Harding will be fulfilled." + +Reader, beware how you neglect the word of God. But remember it is not +by merely reading it that you are to look for a blessing to your soul. +You must pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who alone can open +your understanding, and incline your heart to heavenly wisdom, that +you may not read in vain. + + * * * * * + +PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE. + +O that the Lord would guide my ways + To keep his statutes still! +O that my God would grant me grace + To know and do his will! + +O send thy Spirit down to write + Thy law upon my heart! +Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, + Nor act the liar's part. + +From vanity turn off mine eyes; + Let no corrupt design, +Nor covetous desires, arise + Within this soul of mine. + +Order my footsteps by thy word, + And make my heart sincere: +Let sin have no dominion, Lord, + But keep my conscience clear. + +My soul hath gone too far astray, + My feet too often slip; +Yet, since I've not forgot thy way, + Restore thy wand'ring sheep. + +Make me to walk in thy commands, + 'Tis a delightful road; +Nor let my head, or heart, or hands, + Offend against my God. + + * * * * * + +VALUE OF THE SCRIPTURES TO THE YOUNG + +How shall the young secure their hearts, + And guard their lives from sin? +Thy word the choicest rules imparts + To keep the conscience clean. + +When once it enters to the mind, + It spreads such light abroad, +The meanest souls instruction find, + And raise their thoughts to God. + +'Tis like the sun, a heavenly light + That guides us all the day; +And through the dangers of the night, + A lamp to lead our way. + +Thy precepts make me truly wise; + I hate the sinner's road: +I hate my own vain thoughts that rise, + But love thy law, my God. + +Thy word is everlasting truth; + How pure is every page! +That holy book shall guide our youth, + And well support our age. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + +BOOKS PUBLISHED FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION +OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. + + * * * * * + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS; +SHOWING THE SIN OF CRUELTY. +BY CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE M'GREGOR FAMILY. +Price eighteen cents. + +THE COTTAGE ON THE MOOR; +OR, THE EVILS OF PRIDE. +Price eighteen cents. + +OLD ANTHONY'S HINTS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, +TO MAKE THEM CHEERFUL AND WISE. +Price twenty cents. + +THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS, +SHOWING THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THAT +WONDERFUL PEOPLE. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE EGYPTIAN, +BY THE AUTHOR OF THE JEW. +Price twenty-one cents. + +THE STRANGE PLANET, +AND OTHER ALLEGORIES, +DESIGNED TO ILLUSTRATE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Harding's Keepsakes, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT HARDING'S KEEPSAKES *** + +***** This file should be named 11148.txt or 11148.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/4/11148/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Michelle +Croyle and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/11148.zip b/old/11148.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f584d6f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11148.zip |
