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diff --git a/11237-0.txt b/11237-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c98d01d --- /dev/null +++ b/11237-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3483 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11237 *** + +[Illustration] + + + +THE +PEARL BOX. + + +CONTAINING +ONE HUNDRED +BEAUTIFUL STORIES +FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. + + +BY A PASTOR. + + + + +Transcribers Note: There are many, but not one hundred, + stories in this volume. + + +PREFACE. + + +In preparing this volume of stories for young readers, the writer has +had in view their instruction, by presenting to them their station in +a familiar and instructive story. Each story contains a moral, and +teaches principles by which the youth should be governed in their +private, social and public relations in life. In the perusal of these +stories, we hope to accomplish our great object, of aiding young +persons to pursue the peaceful and pleasant path of duty--to render +them more useful in the world, and to grow wiser and happier in the +path of life. + + + + +THE PEARL BOX. + + + * * * * * + + +THE DYING BOY. + + +A little boy, by the name of Bertie, was taken very ill, and for +sometime continued to grow weaker until he died. A few hours before +his death he revived up, and his first request was to be bathed in the +river; but his mother persuaded him to be sponged only, as the river +water would be too cold for his weak frame. After his mother had +sponged him with water, he desired to be dressed; when his mother +dressed him in his green coat and white collar, and seated him at the +table with all his books and worldly treasures around him. As he sat +there, one would have thought that he was about to commence a course +of study; and yet in the marble paleness of his features, and in the +listless and languid eye, there was evidence that life in the boy was +like an expiring taper, flickering in the socket. He soon asked to go +out in his little carriage. His grandfather, whom he very much loved, +placed him in it, and carefully avoiding every stone, drew him to a +spot commanding the entire landscape. The tide was up and the sun was +shining on the deep blue waters, and bathing the distant mountains and +the green meadows in liquid gold. The gardens and orchards around were +gay in the rich crimson blossoms of the apple tree; the air was filled +with the sweet fragrance of flowers, and the birds were singing +beautifully, when little Bertie looked for the last time on the scenes +of earth. He could not remain long, and was soon taken back to the +little parlor, where he sat on the sofa, resting his elbows on the +table. It was not long before the little boy died. But he was very +happy. Among his last words were these, addressed to his little sister +three years old: "Well, Emmie, very ill--me going to Jesus." + +"Oh, mamma, Emmie loves her Saviour." + + + * * * * * + + +THE BOY AND THE GOLD ROBIN. + + +A bright eyed boy was sleeping upon a bank of blossoming clover. The +cool breeze lifted the curls from his brow, and fanned with downy +wings his quiet slumbers, while he lay under the refreshing shade of a +large maple tree. The birds sang to him during his happy hours of +sleep. By and by he awoke, and a beautiful gold robin sat on the +spray, and sung a song of joy. The boy reached out his hands to secure +the prize, but the robin spread his golden wings and soared away. He +looked after it with a longing gaze, and when it disappeared from his +sight, he wept aloud. At this moment, a form of light approached, and +took the hands of the child and pointed upwards; and he saw the bird +soaring in freedom, and the sun shining upon its burnished plumes. +Then the shining one said: "Do you love that beautiful bird?" In the +midst of his tears the child replied, "Oh, yes." "Then," said the +angel, "shall it not wing its flight from flower to flower and be +happy, rather than to dwell in a prison with thee?" Then the streams +and flowering vales of Elysium, that breathe the pure air of freedom, +spake: "Wouldst thou bring her back to thee, and make her a prisoner? +Dry up thy tears, and let thy song be, 'Stay not here, but speed thy +flight, O bright one, and snuff the mellow air of freedom.' God made +the birds to be happy in their short existence, and ought we to +deprive them of their own elements of happiness, and take from them +the freedom which they enjoy?" + + + * * * * * + + +THE WAY TO OVERCOME EVIL. + + +A little girl, by the name of Sarah Dean, was taught the precepts of +the Bible by her mother. One day she came to her mother very much +delighted, to show her some plums that a friend had given her. The +mother said to her: "Your friend was very kind, and has given you a +great many." "Yes," replied Sarah. "she was, and she gave me more than +these, but I have given some away." The mother asked to whom she had +given them; when the child replied: "I gave them to a girl that pushes +me off the path, and makes faces at me." Upon being asked why she gave +them to her, she answered: "Because I thought that should make her +know that I wished to be kind to her, and perhaps she will not be +unkind and rude to me again." This was true. The rude girl was +afterwards very good to Sarah, and felt very sorry that she had +treated her unkindly. How truly did the little girl obey the command, +"_overcome evil with good_." + + + * * * * * + + +HARRIET AND HER SQUIRREL. + + +It was on a Sabbath eve, when at a friend's house, we were all sitting +in the piazza, conversing about the efforts which were being made for +the poor heathen, and the number of Testaments which were being sent +to them. + +"Father," said little Harriet, "do the little heathen children wish to +learn to read the New Testament?" + +"O yes, my child, many of them do," said the father. + +"But have they all got Testaments if they did know how to read?" "No, +my love; few of them have ever heard about the Testament, about God, +or about Jesus Christ." "Will half a dollar buy one?" said Harriet. "O +yes, my child." + +"Then," said Harriet, "may I sell anything I have, if I can get the +money?" Her father told her she might. + +Now, every child has some favorite toy. Harriet's was a beautiful tame +_gray_ squirrel. It would eat from her hands, attend her in her +rambles, and sleep on her pillow. + +She called its name Jenny. It was taken sick, and the little girl +nursed it with care, but it at last died in her lap. + +Little Harriet wept sadly about it, and her father tried to console +her, and told her not to feel so. + +"Ah," said she, "you know, father, you told me that I might sell +anything I had to buy a Testament for the heathen children, and I was +going to sell my pretty squirrel to Mr. Smith, who said he would give +me half a dollar for it; but now my Jenny is dead." The Father then +put a silver dollar into Harriet's hand, and she dried her tears, +rejoicing that Jenny's death would be the means of his little daughter +having two or three Testaments instead of one. + + + * * * * * + + +THE REWARD. + + +A teacher in a Sabbath School promised to supply all the children in +his class with a catechism, who had none. + +One of the little girls went home from the school after the books were +given out, and said: + +"Mamma, if I had told a lie to-day, I would have got a catechism." + +"I think that very strange, Eliza; for the Sabbath School is no place +for lies, and if you could be so wicked, I know your teacher would not +have rewarded you for it." + +"Mother," said Eliza, "I tell nothing but the truth; and now I will +explain it. + +"You know I went to school this morning with the other girls. They +told me on the way how their mother had bought each of them a new +catechism on last market day, and they said, if I once saw how pretty +their books were, I would not look at my old one any more. Our teacher +asked us all, when we went in, if we had any catechisms, and those who +said they had not, received one from the teacher as a present. Jane, +after all she told me, by the way, denied that she had any, and Lizzy +did the same. But when he asked me, I told him I had one at home; but +if I had said no, I would have got a new one." + +Her mother then told her that she should be rewarded for not telling a +lie by giving her a new book and a new Bible. + + + + * * * * * + + +ANECDOTES. + + +A poor Arabian of the desert was one day asked, how he came to be +assured that there was a God. + +"In the same way," he replied, "that I am enabled to tell by a print +impressed on the sand, whether it was a man or beast that passed that +way." + +THANKFULNESS.--Walking along Bishopgate street one morning, I saw two +men standing as if amazed at something that had happened. + +"Pray, gentlemen," said I, "what is the matter?" One of them informed +me that a genteelly dressed man had hastily come up to him, and +tapping him on the shoulder, had said: + +"Sir, did you ever thank God for your reason?" + +"No," said I, "not particularly." + +"Well," said he, "do it now, for I have lost mine;" when he marched +off with great speed. + +HONESTY.--An honest boy, whose sister was sick and the family in want, +found a wallet containing fifty dollars. The temptation was great to +use the money; but he resolved to find the owner. He did so; when the +owner, learning the circumstances of the family, gave the fifty +dollars for their comfort. He took the boy to live with him. That boy +is a prosperous merchant in Ohio. + +THE BOY AND HIS MARBLES.--One Sunday a lady called to her little boy, +who was shooting marbles on the pavement, to come into the house. + +"Don't you know you shouldn't be out there, my son? Go into the back +yard if you want to play marbles; it is Sunday." + +"Yes, mother; but aint it Sunday in the back yard?" + + + * * * * * + + +THE BOY AND THE DEW DROPS. + + +A little boy who had been out early in the morning playing on the lawn +before his father's house, while the dew drops lay on the grass, was +soon after seen returning to the spot, and finding them all gone, he +sat down to weep. His father asked him why he wept. + +"Because," said he, "the beautiful dew drops are gone." His father +tried to soothe him, but he continued weeping. Just then a cloud +passed over, and on the cloud the beautiful rainbow had cast its arch. + +"There, see, my son," said the father, "there are all your dew drops; +the sun has taken them up only to set them forth in greater brightness +in the sky." + + "O father, dear father, why pass they away, + The dew drops that sparkled at dawning of day, + That glittered like stars in the light of the moon; + Oh, why are the dew drops dissolving so soon? + Does the sun in his wrath chase their brightness away, + As if nothing that's lovely might live for a day? + The moonlight is faded, the flowers still remain, + But the dew drops have shrunk to their petals again." + + "My child," said the father, "look up to the skies; + Behold that bright rainbow, those beautiful dyes, + There, there are the dew drops in glory reset, + 'Mid the jewels of heaven they are glittering yet. + Oh, are we not taught by each beautiful ray + To mourn not earth's fair things, though passing away? + For though youth of its beauty and brightness be riven, + All that withers on earth blooms more sweetly in heaven. + Look up," sad the father, "look up to the skies---- + Hope sits on the wings of those beautiful dyes." + + + * * * * * + + +LETTICE AND MYRA. +A SCENE IN LONDON. + +My young readers may have heard about the poor people in London. The +following story is a specimen of the hardships of many young girls, +in that famous city. + +"Two young women occupied one small room of about ten feet by eight. +They were left orphans, and were obliged to take care of themselves. +Many of the articles of furniture left them had been disposed of to +supply the calls of urgent want. In the room was an old four post +bedstead, with curtains almost worn out, one mattrass with two small +pillows, a bolster that was almost flat, three old blankets and cotton +sheets, of coarse description, three rush-bottom chairs, an old claw +table, a chest of draws, with a few battered band-boxes on the top of +it, a miserable bit of carpet before the fire-place, a wooden box for +coals, a little tin fender, and an old poker. What there was, however, +was kept clean, the floor and yellow paint was clean, and the washing +tub which sat in one corner of the room. + +"It was a bitter cold night, the wind blew and shook the window, when +a young girl of about eighteen sat by the tallow candle, which burned +in a tin candlestick, at 12 o'clock at night, finishing a piece of +work with the needle which she was to return next morning. Her name +was Lettice Arnold. She was naturally of a cheerful, hopeful temper, +and though work and disappointment had faded the bright colors of +hope, still hope buoyed up her spirits. + +"Her sister Myra was delicate, and lay on the mattrass on that night, +tossing about with suffering, unable to rest. At last Lettice says to +her:---- + +"'Poor Myra, can't you get to sleep?' + +"'It is so cold,' was the reply; 'and when will you have done and come +to bed?' + +"'One quarter of an hour more, Myra, and I shall have finished my +work, and then I will throw my clothes over your feet, and I hope you +will be a little warmer.' + +"Myra sighed, and lifted up her head, and leaning upon her arm watched +the progress of her sister as she plied the needle to her work. + +"'How slowly,' said Myra, 'you do get along. It is one o'clock, and +you have not finished yet.' + +"'I cannot work fast, Myra, and neatly too; my hands are not so +delicate and nimble as yours,' and smiling a little, she added: 'Such +swelled clumsy things, I cannot get over the ground nimbly and well at +the same time. You, are a fine race horse, and I a drudging pony. But +I shall soon be through.' + +"Myra once more uttered a sigh and cried: + +"'Oh, my feet are dreadful cold.' + +"'Take this bit of flannel,' said Lettice, 'and let me wrap them up.' + +"'Nay, you will want it,' she replied. + +"'Oh, I have only five minutes to sit up, and I can wrap this piece of +carpet round mine,' said Lettice. + +"And she laid down her work and went to the bed and wrapped her +sister's icy feet in the flannel, and then sat down and finished her +task. How glad was Lettice to creep to the mattress and to lay her +aching limbs upon it. A hard bed and scanty covering in a cold night +are keenly felt. She soon fell asleep, while her sister tossed and +murmured on account of the cold. + +"Lettice awoke and drew her over little pillow from under her head, +and put it under her sister's and tried every way to make her sister +comfortable, and she partly succeeded; and at last Myra, the delicate +suffering creature, fell asleep, and Lettice slumbered like a child." + +How thankful ought we to be for kind parents, a comfortable home, and +a good fire in a cold night. I will tell you in my next story what +Lettice did with her work. + + + * * * * * + + +LETTICE TAKING HOME THE WORK. + + +Early in the morning, before it was light, and while the twilight +gleamed through the curtainless windows, Lettice was up dressing +herself by the aid of the light which gleamed from the street lamp +into the window. She combed her hair with modest neatness, then opened +the draw with much precaution, lest she should disturb poor Myra, who +still slumbered on the hard mattrass--drew out a shawl and began to +fold it as if to put it on. + +"Alas!" said Lettice, "this will not do--it is thread-bare, time-worn, +and has given way in two places." She turned it, and unfolded it, but +it would not do. It was so shabby that she was actually ashamed to be +seen with it in the street. She put it aside and took the liberty of +borrowing Myra's, who was now asleep. She knew Myra would be awful +cold when she got up, and would need it. But she must go with the work +that morning. She thought first of preparing the fire, so that Myra, +when she arose, would only have to light the match; but as she went to +the box for coal, she saw, with terror, how low the little store of +fuel was, and she said to herself, "we must have a bushel of coal +to-day--better to do without meat than fire such weather as this." But +she was cheered with the reflection that she should receive a little +more for her work that day than what she had from other places. It had +been ordered by a benevolent lady who had been to some trouble in +getting the poor woman supplied with needle work so that they should +receive the full price. She had worked for private customers before, +and always received more pay from them than from the shops in London, +where they would beat down the poor to the last penny. + +Poor Lettice went to the old band-box and took out a shabby old +bonnet--she looked at it, and sighed, when she thought of the +appearance she must make; for she was going to Mrs. Danvers, and her +work was some very nice linen for a young lady about to be married. + +Just at this moment she thought of the contrast between all the fine +things that young lady was to have, and her own destitution. But her +disposition was such as not to cause her to think hard of others who +had plenty while she was poor. She was contented to receive her pay +from the wealthy, for her daily needle work. She felt that what they +had was not taken from her, and if she could gain in her little way by +receiving her just earnings from the general prosperity of others, she +would not complain. And as the thought of the increased pay came into +her mind, which she was to receive that day, she brightened up, shook +the bonnet, pulled out the ribbons, and made it look as tidy as +possible, thinking to herself that after buying some fuel she might +possibly buy a bit of ribbon and make it look a little more spruce, +when she got her money. + +Lettice now put on her bonnet, and Myra's shawl, and looking into the +little three-penny glass which hung on the wall, she thought she might +look quite tidy after all. The young lady for whom she made the linen +lived about twenty miles from town, but she had come in about this +time, and was to set off home at nine o'clock that very morning. The +linen was to have been sent in the night before, but Lettice had found +it impossible to finish it. This was why she was obliged to start so +early in the morning. She now goes to the bed to tell Myra about the +fire, and that she had borrowed her shawl, but Myra was sound asleep, +so she did not disturb her, but stepped lightly over the floor and +down stairs, for it was getting late, and she must be gone. Read the +next story, and you will be deeply interested in the result. + + + * * * * * + + +LETTICE AND CATHERINE, +OR THE UNEXPECTED MEETING. + + +I must tell you who were Lettice and Myra. They were the daughters of +a clergyman, who held the little vicarage of Castle Rising. But +misfortune, which sometimes meets the wise and good, reduced the +family to poor circumstances. After the parents' decease, Lettice and +Myra located in London, for the purpose of doing needle work for a +living. + +We said in the last story, that Lettice had entered the street and was +on her way with the work she had finished for the young lady. It was +a cold morning, the snow blew, and the street was slippery. She could +scarcely stand--her face was cold, and her hands so numbed that she +could scarcely hold the parcel she carried. The snow beat upon her +poor bonnet, but she comforted herself with the idea that she might be +supposed to have a better bonnet at home. She cheerfully trudged +along, and at last entered Grosvenor Square, where the lamps were just +dying away before the splendid houses, while the wind rushed down the +Park colder than ever. A few boys were about the only people yet to be +seen about, and they laughed at her as she held her bonnet down with +one hand, to prevent its giving way before the wind, while she carried +her bundle and kept her shawl from flying up with the other. + +At last she entered Green Street, and came to the house of the kind +lady who had furnished her and many others with work; raised the +knocker, and gave one humble knock at the door. She had never been at +the house before, but she had sometimes had to go to other genteel +houses where she had been met with incivility by the domestics. + +But "like master, like man," is a stale old proverb, and full of +truth. The servant came to the door. He was a grave old man about +fifty. His countenance was full of kind meaning, and his manners so +gentle, that before hearing her errand, observing how cold she looked, +bade her come in and warm herself at the hall stove. + +"I have come," said Lettice, "with the young lady's work--I had not +time to come last night, but I hope I have not put her to any +inconvenience--I started before light this morning.' + +"Well, my dear, I hope not," said the servant, "but it was a pity you +could not get it done last night. Mrs. Danvers likes to have people +exact to the moment. However, I dare say it will be all right." + +As Reynolds, the servant-man, entered the drawing-room, Lettice heard +a voice, "Is it come at last?" And the young lady, who thus enquired, +was Catherine Melvin, who was then making an early breakfast before a +noble blazing fire. + +"Has the woman brought her bill?" asked Mrs. Danvers. + +"I will go and ask," said the servant. "Stay, ask her to come up. I +should like to enquire how she is getting along, this cold weather." + +Reynolds obeyed, and soon Lettice found herself in a warm, +comfortable breakfast room. + +"Good morning," said Mrs. Danvers. "I am sorry you have had such a +cold walk this morning. I am sorry you could not come last night. This +young lady is just leaving, and there is barely time to put up the +things." Catherine (for this was the young lady's name) had her back +turned to the door quietly continuing her breakfast, but when the +gentle voice of Lettice replied: + +"Indeed, madam, I beg your pardon, I did my very best"--Catherine +started, looked up and rose hastily from her chair; Lettice, advancing +a few steps, exclaimed--"Catherine." + +And Catherine exclaimed: "It is--it is you!" and coming forward and +taking her by the hand, she gazed with astonishment at the wan face +and miserable attire of the work-woman. "You," she kept repeating. +"Lettice! Lettice Arnold! Good Heavens! Where is your father? your +mother? your sister?" + +"Gone," said the poor girl, "all gone but poor Myra!" + +"And where is she? And you, dear Lettice, how have you come to this?" + +Such was the unexpected meeting of these two persons, who were once +children of the same village of Castle Rising. Lettice had been +working for her schoolmate, Catherine Melvin. The result was a happy +one, and it was not long before, by the kindness of Catherine, that +the two orphan girls were situated pleasantly in life. But as you will +wish to know how all this came about, I will give you the +circumstances in another story. + + + * * * * * + + +THE EXPLANATION. + + +Lettice's father was a man of education, a scholar, a gentleman, and +had much power in preaching. He received one hundred and ten pounds +per year for his services. Her father's illness was long and painful, +and the family were dependant on others for assistance. + +"We at last closed his eyes," said Lettice, "in deep sorrow." He used +to say to himself, "It is a rough road, but it leads to a good place." + +After his funeral, the expenses exhausted all that was left of their +money--only a few pounds were left when the furniture was sold, and +"we were obliged," said Lettice, "to give up the dear little +parsonage. It was a sweet little place. The house was covered all over +with honeysuckles and jessamines; and there was the flower garden in +which I used to work, and which made me so hale and strong, and aunt +Montague used to say I was worth a whole bundle of fine ladies. + +"It was a sad day when we parted from it. My poor mother! How she kept +looking back, striving not to cry, and poor Myra was drowned in tears. + +"Then we afterwards came to London. A person whom we knew in the +village had a son who, was employed in one of the great linen +warehouses, and he promised to try to get us needlework. So we came to +London, took a small lodging, and furnished it with the remnant of our +furniture. Here we worked fourteen hours a day apiece, and we could +only gain between three and four shillings each. At last mother died, +and then all went; she died and had a pauper's funeral." + +From this room the orphan girl removed soon after their mother's +deceased, and located among the poor of Marylebone street, where Mrs. +Danvers accidently met with the two sisters, in one of her visits +among the poor, and for whom she obtained the work which led to the +unexpected meeting related in the previous story. + + + * * * * * + + +JONAS AND HIS HORSE. + + +A horse is a noble animal, and is made for the service of man. No one +who has tender feelings can bear to see the horse abused. It is wicked +for any one to do so. A horse has a good memory, and he will never +forget a kind master. Jonas Carter is one of those boys who likes to +take care of a horse. His father gave Jonas the whole care of an +excellent animal which he purchased for his own use. Every morning he +would go into the stable to feed and water him. As all the horses in +the neighborhood had names, Jonas gave one to his, and called him +Major. Every time he went into the stable to take care of him, Major +would whine and paw, as if his best friend was coming to see him. +Jonas kept him very clean and nice, so that he was always ready for +use at any time of day. At night he made up his bed of straw, and kept +the stable warm in winter and cool in summer. Major soon found that +he was in the hands of a kind master, and being well fed, and well +cleansed, he would often show how proud and nice he was, by playing +with Jonas in the yard. His young master would often let him loose in +the yard, and when Jonas started to go in, the horse, Major, would +follow him to the door, and when he turned him into the pasture, no +one could so well catch him as Jonas; for every time he took him from +the pasture, Jonas would give him some oats; so when he saw his master +coming for him, he remembered the oats, and would come directly to +him. Some horses are very difficult to bridle, but it was not so with +Major. When Jonas came with the bridle, Major would hold his head +down, and take in his bitts, and appear as docile as a lamb. He well +knew that Jonas never drove him hard, but always used him kindly. +Jonas was not a selfish boy; he was willing to let his friends ride a +short distance; and in the picture, you will see him talking with one +of his young friends about his horse. + +Now, children, you may be sure that a dumb animal will remember his +kind master; and if ever you own a horse, or drive one which belongs +to another, be sure and treat him kindly. And you will find this rule +to work well among yourselves. Be kind to each other, and to all +whom you meet with, and it will help you along the pleasant path of +life, and secure to you many friends. + +[Illustration] + + + * * * * * + + +EDWARD AND ELLEN. + + +Edward Ford owned a snug little cottage with a small farm situated +about a mile from the village. When he was married to Ellen G----, who +was said to be one of the best girls in the village, he took her to +his nice little home, where he had every thing around very pleasant +and comfortable. Ellen was very industrious and remarkable for her +prudence and neatness. She spun and churned, and tended her poultry, +and would often carry her butter and eggs herself to market, which +greatly added to their comfort. She had a beautiful little girl, and +they gave her the name of Lily. Things glided smoothly on until Lily +was sixteen. Edward was very fond of the violin and of reading books +that were not very useful, and as he was very fond of music, he spent +a great deal more time in making music and playing the violin than +what his wife thought profitable. Ellen loved music, and was willing +to have him read profitable books, but all this while she thought he +might be patching up the fences and improving the shed for the better +comfort of the cattle. Still she would not complain, hoping all the +time that he would see the necessity of being a little more +industrious. The winter came, and all through its dreary months he was +unable to work, as he was sick. And although Ellen worked hard, yet +her husband required so much of her attention, that all her efforts +availed not much to keep poverty out of their cottage. When the spring +came, Ellen's husband was able to be about again, and she began to +hope that Edward would be more industrious, and they would be able by +strict economy to repair the loss occasioned by his winter's illness, +which had put them so far behind-hand. Edward had become lazy or +disheartened. Affairs about the house continued to grow worse; his +farm was ill worked or neglected, and by the fall, his horse and oxen +had to go for necessary expenses. Ellen still kept her cows, but it +was now very little help she received from her husband. He had been +formerly one of the most temperate of men, but now he spent his days +from home; and here lay Ellen's deepest sorrow. He was often at the +village tavern, wasting in senseless riot the time, health and means +that God had given him for other purposes. Ellen felt sad, and in the +next story you will see a painful scene in the life of + + + * * * * * + + +LILY FORD. + + +It was now in the latter part of December--two days more and comes the +season of "Merry Christmas." Ellen thought of the dreary prospect +before her. As she was thinking over her condition, and how she should +manage affairs so as to make home comfortable, the door opened, and in +came Edward earlier than usual, a sober man. With a grateful heart +Ellen set about preparing the supper, and made all the evening as +pleasant as she could for him. + +The next morning earlier than usual Edward was preparing to go out. +The weather was bitter cold, and the wood pile was very low. She did +not like to ask Edward to split some wood the evening before, as she +did not wish to vex him. Of late he had harshly refused her simple +requests. She, however, ventured this morning to ask him to split a +few logs, and he replied: + +"Why did you not ask me when you saw me doing nothing all last +evening? You must get along the best way you can until night. I have +engaged to work for Squire Davis, and I shall be late unless I go at +once." + +"To work! Have you?" said Ellen, in a pleased and grateful tone. + +"Yes; so don't detain me. I am to have a dollar and a half a day as +long as I choose to work." + +"How very fortunate!" said Ellen. + +After he was gone, Ellen busied herself in making things comfortable +for the children. It was market day, and she must carry her heavy +basket to the village for the different families who depended upon her +for their supply of fresh butter and eggs. A year ago she had a neat +little wagon and a good horse to drive. There was something in the +mind of Ellen; what it was she could not tell--a kind of sad +presentiment of something--as she was preparing to go to market. I +shall tell you in the next story what it was. You will see that Ellen +was very kind to her husband and tried every way to make him happy. + + + * * * * * + + +THE MARKET DAY. + + +Mrs. Ford had three little children--Lily, Hetty, and a dear little +babe. As she was now going to market, she told Lily, her oldest +daughter, to take good care of the baby. Lily promised to do so. It +was a very cold day. For a time the children got along very well; but +soon the wood was all burned, not a stick or chip remained; as their +father had gone away in the morning without splitting any, so they +were obliged to do the best they could. The baby began to look as if +it was cold, and Lily said: + +"Come, Hetty, we will go out and see if together we cannot roll in one +of those great logs." + +Hetty was eleven years old. Lily put the baby in the cradle and then +went out with Hetty to roll in the log. They rolled it up to the step, +and got it part way into the door, but, alas! they could not get it +further. There it stuck in the doorway, and the door was wide open; +the wind and snow beat in from without, and the fire gradually settled +away in its embers. + +Something must now be done. Hetty put on her cloak and hood and set +out for her mother; for she told them if anything happened to be sure +and come for her. Hetty soon found her mother at the village store, +and without stopping to warm herself, she said: + +"O mother, come home, for little Eddy is sick, and Lily says it is the +croup, and that he is dying. The fire is all out, and the room is full +of snow, because the big log we tried to roll in stuck fast in the +doorway." + +Hetty and her mother hastened home; and as they were crossing the +street there was her husband just entering the tavern. She told him +about little Eddy, and he promised to go for a physician and to come +home immediately; and by the time they had gone half way home, Edward, +her husband, joined them. + +They hurried along, and as they came near the cottage there stood two +of the cows, and under the shed was the third, the old "spotted cow," +which Hetty thought was in the pond when she left home. To their +surprise the log was rolled away from the door, and as Mrs. Ford +opened the door with a trembling hand, fearing her baby was dead, +there was a young man sitting by a good fire, which he had made while +Hetty was gone, with little Eddy folded in his arms. The anxious +mother bent over her baby as he lay in the stranger's arms, and +seeing his eyes closed, she whispered: + +"Is he dead?" + +"He is not, he only sleeps," replied the stranger. + +This young man came into the house in time to save the baby from the +cold chills of death. He was ever after a friend to the family--a +means of Edward's reformation, so that with some assistance the +mortgage on the farm was paid off, and the farm re-stocked. This +stranger became the husband of Lily, the eldest daughter. + + + * * * * * + + +MELLY, ANNA AND SUSY. + + +There is nothing more pleasant than to see brothers and sisters, +lovely in their lives, and in all their plays kind and obliging to +each other. Mrs. Jones' three little children were always noted for +their good behaviour by all the people in the village, and the school +teacher said they were the prettiest behaved children she ever saw, +and this was saying much in their praise, for her scholars were noted +for very good behavior and promptness in their recitations. + +Mrs. Jones kept her children under a good discipline, but she always +gave them time and opportunities for their pleasant plays. She would +not allow them to associate with vicious children, because "evil +communications corrupt good manners," and she knew her children were +as liable to fall into bad habits as any others. There were a few +vicious boys in the village where she lived who always took delight in +teasing and vexing the other children, and sometimes these boys would +try some method to break up the children's play. + +One afternoon, there being no school, Mrs. Jones gave her little +children permission to go into the lower back-room and spend awhile in +play. Away they jumped and skipped along down stairs to the play room, +with merry hearts and smiling faces. They had not been there a long +time before they heard a very singular noise, which they did not know +what to make of. But they soon forgot it, and continued playing with +the same cheerfulness; very soon again they heard the same noise, +which sounded like somebody's voice. The children began to be a little +frightened, and while little Susy stretches her hand out to take hold +of the post, and is in the act of running away. Melly and Anna put +their fingers to their lips, and listened again to know what the noise +could mean. Soon the noise was repeated, and away they flew to heir +mother's arms in such a tremor that she felt at the moment alarmed +herself. They told their mother what had happened, and all that night +the children could not sleep. + +It was ascertained the next day that one of the bad boys crept along +in the back part of the yard where the children were playing, and by +an unnatural sound of his voice made the noise that so alarmed the +three little children. Susy, who was the youngest, did not forget it +for some time; and all of them were afraid to go alone into the lower +room for many weeks. + +This was very wrong in the bad boy; he might have injured the children +at play so they would never have recovered from it. I have known young +children to be so frightened as never to forget the impression all +their life-time. How much better for the boy to have been like these +good children, and joined with them in their pleasant pastimes. Never +do any thing that will give sorrow and pain to others, but live and +act towards each other while in youth, so as to enable you to review +your life with pleasure, and to meet with the approbation of your +Heavenly Father. + + + * * * * * + + +ARTHUR AND HIS APPLE TREE. + + +One summer day little William was sitting in the garden chair beside +his mother, under the shade of a large cherry tree which stood on the +grass plot in front of the house. He was reading in a little book. +After he had been reading some time, he looked, up to his mother and +said: + +"Mother, will you tell me what is the meaning of 'you must return good +for evil?'" + +His mother replied: "I will tell you a story that will explain it. + +"I knew a little boy," she said, "whose name was Arthur Scott; he +lived with his grandmamma, who loved him very much, and who wished +that he might grow up to be a good man. Little Arthur had a garden of +his own, and in it grew an apple tree, which was then very small, but +to his great joy had upon it two fine rosy-cheeked apples, the first +ones it had produced. Arthur wished to taste of them very much to know +if they were sweet or sour; but he was not a selfish boy, and he says +to his grandmother one morning: + +"I think I shall leave my apples on the tree till my birthday, then +papa and mamma and sister Fanny will come and see me, and we will eat +them together." + +"'A very good thought," said his grandmother; "and you shall gather +them yourself.' + +"It seemed a long time for him to wait; but the birthday came at last, +and in the morning as soon as he was dressed he ran into his garden to +gather his apples; but lo! they were gone. A naughty boy who saw them +hanging on the tree, had climbed over the garden wall and stolen them. + +"Arthur felt very sorry about losing his apples, and he began to cry, +but he soon wiped his eyes, and said to his grandmother: + +"'It is hard to lose my nice apples, but it was much worse for that +naughty boy to commit so great a sin as to steal them. I am sure God +must be very angry with him; and I will go and kneel down and ask God +to forgive him.' + +"So he went and prayed for the boy who had stolen his apples. Now, +William, do you not think that was returning good for evil?" + +"O, yes," said William; "and I thank you, mother, for your pretty +story. I now understand what my new book means." Little Arthur grew to +be a man, and always bore a good name. + + + * * * * * + + +THE MOTHERLESS BIRDS. + + +There were two men who were neighbors to each other, living in a +distant country were they had to labor hard for the support of their +families. One of them was greatly troubled to know who would take care +of his children if he should die. But the other man was not so +troubled, and was always very cheerful, saying to his neighbor: "Never +distrust Providence." + +One day as the sorrowful man was laboring in the fields, sad and cast +down, he saw some little birds enter a bush, go out and then return +again. He went towards the bush, and saw two nests side by side, and +in both nests some little birds, newly hatched and still without +feathers. He saw the old birds go in a number of times, and they +carried in their bills food to give their little ones. + +At one time, as one of the mothers returned with her beak full, a +large vulture seized her and carried her away; and the poor mother, +struggling vainly under its talons, uttered piercing cries. He thought +the little young birds must certainly die, as they had now no mother +to take care of them. He felt so bad about them that he did not sleep +any that night. The next day, on returning to the fields, he said to +himself: "I will see the little ones of this poor mother; some without +doubt have already perished." + +He went up to the bush, and saw that the little ones in both nests +were all alive and well. He was very much surprised at this, and he +hid himself behind the bush to see what would happen. After a little +time he heard a crying of the birds, and soon the second mother came +flying into the bush with her beak full of food, and distributed it +all among the little birds in both nests. He now saw that the orphan +birds were as well provided for as when their own mother was living. + +In the evening, he related the whole story to his neighbor, and said +to him: + +"I will never distress myself again about who will take care of my +children, if I should die before them." + +His neighbor replied: "Let us always believe, hope, love, and pursue +our course in peace. If you die before me, I will take cure of your +children, and if I die before you, you will be a father to mine; and +if we are both taken away before our children are able to provide for +themselves, there is a Father in heaven." + + + * * * * * + + +STORY ABOUT A ROBBER. + + +I will tell you a true story about a robber. A gentleman was once +travelling through a very unfrequented road, along in a chaise, in the +latter part of the day. There was no house nor a sign of a human being +there. It was a very lonely road. Presently at a sudden turn in the +road, directly towards his horse's head, a man came out of the woods. +The gentleman was convinced by his appearance that he came for no good +purpose. He immediately stopped his horse, and asked the stranger to +get in and ride. The man hesitated a moment, and then stepped into the +chaise. The gentleman commenced talking with him about the loneliness +of the road, and observed that it would be an admirable place for a +robbery if any one was so disposed. He proceeded to speak of robbery +and criminals, and how he thought they should be sought out and +instructed, and if possible reformed; and that we ought to try to +convert and reform them; and then he began to tell him what course he +should take with a man who should attempt to rob him. He told him that +he should give him all his money first, and then began to talk kindly +to him, and show the evil consequences of his course of life. He then +said: + +"Yes, I would die on the spot rather than to injure a hair on his +head." + +They soon came to another road, when the man, who had silently +listened to all the gentleman had said, desired to get out, saying +that his home lay in that direction. + +The gentleman stopped his horse, and the man got out, took his adviser +by the hand, saying: + +"I thank you, sir, for this ride and for all you have said to me; I +shall never forget any part of it. When I met you, it was my intention +to rob you. I could easily have done so, but your kind act and kind +words put better thoughts into my heart. I think I never shall be +guilty of the crime you have saved me from committing this afternoon. +I thank God for having met you; you have made me a better man." + + + * * * * * + + +GOOD COMPANIONS. + + +One day, says a Persian poet, I saw a bunch of roses, and in the midst +of them grew a tuft of grass. + +"How," I cried to the grass, "does a poor plant like you dare to be +found in the company of roses?" + +And I ran to tear away the tuft, when the grass replied: + +"Spare me! It is true, I am not a rose; but you will perceive from my +perfume that I have been among the roses." + +This is a very pretty fable for young people. It makes us recollect +one of the proverbs of Solomon: "He that walketh with wise men shall +be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed," Young people +like to have companions, and it is proper that they should have them. + +If we had no one to associate with, we should be unhappy. We need +friends that we may confide in, and that we may tell them what we +feel and what we think. But we must take care as to the choice of +friends; for just as the grass in the fable imbibed the scent of the +roses, so we become like those with whom we associate. + + + * * * * * + + +BERTIE'S BOX. + + +A very little boy by the name of "Bertie," kept a box in which he +deposited his little treasures. After he died his mother took the key +and opened it. It was full of all sorts of things. There were +specimens of stones, and shells, and moss, and grass, and dried +flowers. There were, also, curious flies, found dead; but they were +not destroyed by him, as he would never sacrifice a short sunny +existence for self gratification. There were a number of books and +small ornamental toys which had been given him--a drawing slate with +pencils, colored chalks, a small box of colors, some little plates +which he had colored, in his own untaught style--a commenced copy of +the hymn, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" an unfinished letter to his +grandpapa, and some torn leaves which he had found with passages of +scripture upon them--a copy of the "lines on the death of an only +son." Also a number of sketches of missionary stations, chapels and +schools, which he had cut out and colored. His mother once asked him +why he cut them out, saying, that there might be some reading on the +back of the pieces worth saving. "Oh no, mamma," he replied, "I looked +carefully at the backs first." In the box was a purse containing three +shillings. + +Such were the treasures which this little lamb had left when he died; +And as you will be pleased to know what was done with the box of +treasures, I will tell you. "The thought struck me," says his mother, +"that after he was gone, I should not know what to do with Bertie's +box of treasures; I therefore asked him what I should do with them." +He replied, "Oh, give half to God and half to the children, and be +sure to divide them fairly." The money in the box was devoted to the +purchase of the Bible--and a collecting box made in the form of a +Bible; for, said he, "when my friends come and give money to the +children, then hold Bertie's box for Bertie's share." This is a good +example for all children. Your little treasures may serve a good +purpose when you die. + + + * * * * * + + +THE CHILD AND FLOWER. + + + + The Atheist in his garden stood, + At twilight's pensive hour, + His little daughter by his side, + was gazing on a flower. + + "Oh, pick that little blossom, Pa," + The little prattler said, + "It is the fairest one that blooms + Within that lonely bed." + + The father plucked the chosen flower, + And gave it to his child; + With parted lips and sparkling eye, + She seized the gift and smiled. + + "O Pa--who made this pretty flower, + This little violet blue; + Who gave it such a fragrant smell, + And such a lovely hue?" + + A change came o'er the father's brow, + His eye grew strangely wild, + New thoughts within him had been stirred + By that sweet, artless child. + + The truth flashed on the father's mind, + The truth in all its power; + "There is a God, my child," said he, + "Who made that little flower." + + + * * * * * + + +ANNE CLEAVELAND. + + +Anne was the daughter of a wealthy farmer. She had a good New England +school education, and was well bred and well taught at home in the +virtues and manners that constitute domestic social life. Her father +died a year before her marriage. He left a will dividing his property +equally between his son and daughter, giving to the son the homestead +with all its accumulated riches, and to the daughter the largest share +of the personal property amounting to 6 or 7000 dollars. This little +fortune became at Anne's marriage the property of her husband. It +would seem that the property of a woman received from her father +should be her's. But the laws of a barbarous age fixed it otherwise. + +Anne married John Warren, who was the youngest child, daintly bred +by his parents. He opened a dry good store in a small town in the +vicinity of B----, where he invested Annie's property. He was a farmer, +and did not think of the qualifications necessary to a successful +merchant. For five or six years he went on tolerably, living _genteelly_ +and _recklessly_, expecting that every year's gain would make up the +excess of the past. When sixteen years of their married life had passed, +they were living in a single room in the crowded street of R----. +Every penny of the inheritance was gone--three children had died--three +survived; a girl of fifteen years, whom the mother was educating to be +a teacher--a boy of twelve who was living at home, and Jessy, a pale, +delicate, little struggler for life, three years old. + +Mrs. W---- was much changed in these sixteen years. Her round blooming +cheek was pale and sunken, her dark chestnut hair had become thin and +gray, her bright eyes, over-tasked by use and watching, were faded, +and her whole person shrunken. Yet she had gained a great victory. +Yes, it was a precious pearl. And you will wish to know what it was. +It was a gentle submission and resignation--a patience under all her +afflictions. But learn a lesson. Take care to whom you give your hand +in marriage. + + + * * * * * + + +THE ORPHANS' VOYAGE. + + +Two little orphan boys, whose parents died in a foreign land, were put +on board a vessel to be taken home to their relatives and friends. On +a bitter cold night, when the north-east winds sang through the +shrouds of the vessel, the little boys were crouched on the deck +behind a bale of goods, to sleep for the night. The eldest boy wrapt +around his younger brother his little cloak, to shield him from the +surf and sleet, and then drew him close to his side and said to him, +"the night will not be long, and as the wind blows we shall the sooner +reach our home and see the peet fire glow." So he tried to cheer his +little brother, and told him to go to sleep and forget the cold night +and think about the morning that would come. They both soon sank to +sleep on the cold deck, huddled close to each other, and locked close +in each other's arms. The steerage passengers were all down below, +snugly stowed away in their warm berths, and forgot all about the cold +wind and the frost. When the morning came the land appeared, and the +passengers began to pace the deck, and as the vessel moved along they +tried some well known spot to trace. + + Only the orphans did not stir, + Of all this bustling train; + They reached _their home_ this very night, + They will not stir again! + The winter's breath proved kind to them, + And ended all their pain. + + But in their deep and freezing sleep, + Clasped rigid to each other, + In dreams they cried, "the bright morn breaks, + Home! home! is hear, my brother; + The angel death has been our friend, + We come! dear father, mother!" + + + * * * * * + + +LOOK UP. + + +A little boy went to sea with his father to learn to be a sailor. One +day his father said to him, "Come, my boy, you will never be a sailor +if you don't learn to climb." + +The boy was very ambitious, and soon scrambled up to top of the +rigging; but when he saw at what a height he was he began to be +frightened, and called out, "Oh father, I shall fall, what shall I +do?" + +"Look up--look up, my son," said his father; "if you look down you +will be giddy; but if you keep looking up to the flag at the top of +the mast you will descend safely." The boy followed his father's +advice, and soon came down to the deck of the vessel in safety. You +may learn from this story, to look up to Jesus, as the highest +example, and as the Saviour of mankind. + + + * * * * * + + +THE FLOWER THAT LOOKS UP. + + +"What beautiful things flowers are," said one of the party of little +girls who were arranging the flowers they had gathered in the pleasant +fields. "Which flower would you rather be like, Helen?" + +"Just as if there would be any choice," said Laura. "I like the Rose. +I should like to be the queen of flowers, or none." Laura was +naturally very proud. + +"For my part" observed Helen, "I should like to resemble the +_Rhododendron_; when any one touches it, or shakes it roughly, it +scatters a shower of honey dew from its roseate cups, teaching us to +shower blessings upon our enemies. Oh, who does not wish to be as meek +as this flower? It is very difficult, I know," said Helen; "but we are +taught to possess a meek and lowly spirit." + +"It is difficult, I know," said Lucy, "if we trust to our own +strength. It is only when my father looks at me in his kind manner, +that I have any control of myself. What a pity it is that we cannot +always remember that the eye of our Heavenly Father is upon us." "I +wish I could," said Helen. + +"Now, Clara, we are waiting for you," said Laura. Clara smiled; and +immediately chose the pale woodbine, or convolvulus, which so +carelessly winds in and out among the bushes--this is an emblem of +loving tenderness. + +"Now what says Lucy?" exclaimed Helen. + +"I think I can guess," said Clara; "either a violet, or a heart's +ease. Am I right?" + +"Not quite," said Lucy, "although both the flowers you have mentioned, +are great favorites of mine. But I think I should like to resemble the +daisy, most, because it is always looking upward." + +Certainly Lucy made a wise choice. What more do we require for +happiness, than to be able, let the cloud be ever so dark, to look +upward with trusting faith in God. + + + * * * * * + + +MY EARLY DAYS. + + +My father's house was indeed a pleasant home; and father was the +supreme guide of his own household. He was gentle, but he could he +firm and resolute when the case demanded. Mother was the sunshine of +our little garden of love; her talents and energy gave her influence; +and united to a man like father, she was all that is loveable in the +character of woman. + +[Illustration] + +But the dear old home, where I grew from infancy to boyhood, and from +boyhood to youth, I shall never forget. It was a large house on the +slope of a hill, just high enough to overlook several miles of our +level country, and smooth enough with its soft grassy carpet for us to +roll down from the summit to the foot of the hill. At the back of the +house was another hill, where we used to roll under the shade of the +old elm, and where Miles and I would sit whole afternoons and fly the +kite, each taking turns in bolding the string. This was a happy place +for us, and especially in the spring time, when the happy looking +cows grazed along the pathway which winds around the elm to the stream +where Kate and I used to sail my little boat. All summer long this +place was vocal with the songs of birds, which built their nests in +safety among the tall trees of the grove in the rear of the farm. We +had also the music of the running brook, and the pleasant hum of my +father's cotton mill, which brought us in our daily bread. Haying time +was always a happy season for us boys. Father's two horses, "_Dick_" +and "_Bonny_" would take off the farm as large a load of hay as any in +the village. + +Years past on, and we were a happy band of brothers and sisters. After +Kate, came the twins, Margaret and Herbert, and last of all came the +youngest darling, blue eyed Dora. We had a happy childhood. Our +station in the world was high enough to enable us to have all the +harmless pleasures and studies that were useful and actually necessary +to boys and girls of our station. Father always thought that it was +better in early youth not to force the boys to too hard study, and +mother loved best to see Kate and Margaret using the fingers in +fabricating garments, than in playing the harp. We were free, happy, +roving children on father's farm, unchained by the forms of +fashionable life. We had no costly dresses to spoil, and were +permitted to play in the green fields without a servant's eye, and to +bathe in the clear shallow stream without fear of drowning. As I have +said before, these were happy days; and when I think of them gone, I +often express my regret that we did not improve them more for the +cultivation of the mind and the affections. In the next story you will +see that there were some passing clouds in our early summer days. + + + * * * * * + + +MARGARET AND HERBERT. + + +In a large family there are often diversity of character and varieties +of mood and temper, which bring some clouds of sorrow. In our little +Eden of innocence there were storms now and then. Miles was a little +wild and head-strong from his babyhood, and Margaret, though very +beautiful, was often wilful and vain. For five years the twins had +grown up together the same in beauty and health One day an accident +befel Herbert, and the dear child rose from his bed of sickness a pale +and crippled boy. His twin sister grew up tall and blooming. The +twins loved each other very much, and it was a pleasant sight to see +how the deformed boy was cherished and protected by his sister +Margaret. She would often leave us in the midst of our plays to go and +sit by Herbert, who could not share with us in them. + +We had our yearly festivals, our cowslip gatherings, our blackberry +huntings, our hay makings, and all the delights so pleasant to country +children. Our five birthdays were each signalized by simple presents +and evening parties, in the garden or the house, as the season +permitted. Herbert and Margaret's birthdays came in the sunny time of +May, when there were double rejoicings to be made. They were always +set up in their chairs in the bower, decorated with flowers and +crowned with wreaths. I now think of Margaret smiling under her +brilliant garland, while poor Herbert looked up to her with his pale +sweet face. I heard him once say to her when we had all gone away to +pluck flowers: + +"How beautiful you are to-day, Margaret, with your rosy checks and +brown hair." + +"But that does not make me any better or prettier than you, because I +am strong and you are not, or that my cheeks are red and your's are +pale." + +Miles was just carrying little Dora over the steeping stones at the +brook, when Herbert cried: + +"O, if I could only run and leap like Miles; but I am very helpless." + +To which Margaret replied: "Never mind, brother; I will love you and +take care of you all your life," and she said these words with a +sister's love, as she put her arms around the neck of her helpless +brother. She loved him the more, and aimed to please him by reading +books to him which were his delight. This was a pleasant sight, and +the brothers always admired Margaret for her attention to their +helpless brother. + + + * * * * * + + +THE BIT OF GARDEN. + + +Young children like to have a small piece of land for a garden which +they can call their own. And it is very pleasant to dig the ground, +sow the seed, and watch the little green plants which peep out of the +earth, and to see the beautiful buds and fresh blossoms. + +Every boy and girl has a bit of garden, and we are told in the good +book to take good care of it, and see that the weeds of vice do not +spread over it, and to be sure and have it covered with plants of +goodness. This garden is the HEART. Such things as anger, sloth, +lying and cheating, are noxious weeds. But if you are active and +industrious, and keep cultivating this little garden, and keep out all +the bad weeds, God will help you to make a good garden, full of +pleasant plants, and flowers of virtue. I have seen some gardens which +look very bad, covered with briars and weeds, the grass growing in the +paths, and the knotty weeds choking the few puny flowers that are +drooping and dying out. Every thing seems to say--"How idle the owner +of this garden is." But I have seen other gardens where there were +scarcely any weeds. The walks look tidy, the flowers in blossom, the +trees are laden with fruit, and every thing says, "How busy the owner +is." Happy are you, dear children, if you are working earnestly in the +garden of your hearts. Your garden will be clean, pleasant, and +fruitful--a credit and comfort to you all your days. + + + * * * * * + + +REMEMBER THE CAKE. + + +I will tell you an anecdote about Mrs. Hannah More, when she was +eighty years old. A widow and her little boy paid a visit to Mrs. +More, at Barley Wood. When they were about to leave, Mrs. M. stooped +to kiss the little boy, not as a mere compliment, as old maids usually +kiss children, but she took his smiling face between her two hands, +and looked upon it a moment as a mother would, then kissed it fondly +more than once. "Now when you are a man, my child, will you remember +me?" The little boy had just been eating some cake which she gave him, +and he, instead of giving her any answer, glanced his eyes on the +remnants of the cake which lay on the table. "Well," said Mrs. M., +"you will remember the cake at Barley Wood, wont you?" "Yes," said the +boy, "It was nice cake, and you are _so kind_ that I will remember +both." "That is right," she replied, "I like to have the young +remember me for _being kin_--then you will remember old Mrs. Hannah +More?" + +"Always, ma'am, I'll try to remember you always." "What a good child" +said she, after his mother was gone, "and of good stock; that child +will be as true as steel. It was so much more natural that the child +should remember the cake than an old woman, that I love his +sincerity." She died on the 7th of Sept., 1833, aged eighty-eight. +She was buried in Wrighton churchyard, beneath an old tree which is +still flourishing. + + + * * * * * + + +BENNY'S FIRST DRAWING. + + +You have perhaps heard of Benjamin West, the celebrated artist. I will +tell you about his first effort in drawing. + +One of his sisters who had been married some time, came with her babe +to spend a few days at her father's. When the child was asleep in the +cradle, Mrs. West invited her daughter to gather flowers in the +garden, and told Benjamin to take care of the little child while they +were gone; and gave him a fan to flap away the flies from his little +charge. After some time the child appeared to smile in its sleep, and +it attracted young Benney's attention, he was so pleased with the +smiling, sleeping babe, that he thought he would see what he could do +at drawing a portrait of it. He was only in his seventh year; he got +some paper, pens, and some red and black ink, and commenced his work, +and soon drew the picture of the babe. + +Hearing his mother and sister coming in from the garden, he hid his +picture; but his mother seeing he was confused; asked him what he was +about, and requested him to show her the paper. He obeyed, and +entreated her not to be angry. Mrs. West, after looking some time, +with much pleasure, said to her daughter, "I declare, he has made a +likeness of _little Sally_," and kissed him with evident satisfaction. +This gave him much encouragement, and he would often draw pictures of +flowers which she held in her hand. Here the instinct of his great +genius was first awakened. This circumstance occurred in the midst of +a Pennsylvania forest, a hundred and four years ago. At the age of +eighteen he was fairly established in the city of Philadelphia as an +artist. + + + * * * * * + + +THE GREY OLD COTTAGE. + + +In the valley between "Longbrigg" and "Highclose," in the fertile +little dale on the left; stands an old cottage, which is truly "a nest +in a green place." The sun shines on the diamond paned windows all +through the long afternoons of a summer's day. It is very large and +roomy. Around it is a trim little garden with pleasant flower borders +under the low windows. From the cottage is a bright lookout into a +distant scene of much variety. + +Some years ago it was more desolate, as it was so isolated from the +world. Now the children's voices blend with the song of the wood +birds, and they have a garden there of dandelions, daisies, and +flowers. The roof and walls are now covered with stone crop and moss, +and traveller's joy, which gives it a variety of color. The currant +bushes are pruned, and the long rose brandies are trimmed, and present +a blooming appearance. This house, with forty acres of land, some +rocky and sterile, and some rich meadow and peat, formed the +possessions of the Prestons in Westmoreland. For two hundred years +this land had been theirs. Mr. Preston and his wife were industrious +and respectable people. They had two children, Martha and John. The +sister eight years older than her brother and acted a motherly part +towards him. As her mother had to go to market, to see to the cows and +dairy, and to look after the sheep on the fell; Martha took most of +the care of little Johnny. + +It is said that a very active mother does not _always_ make a very +active daughter, and that is because she does things herself, and has +but little patience with the awkward and slow efforts of a learner. +Mrs. Preston said that Martha was too long in going to market with the +butter, and she made the bread too thick, and did not press all the +water out of the butter, and she folded up the fleeces the wrong way, +and therefore she did all herself. Hence Martha was left to take the +whole care of Johnny, and to roam about in the woods. When she was +about fifteen her mother died, so that Martha was left her mother's +place in the house, which she filled beyond the expectation of all the +neighbors. Her father died when Johnny was sixteen, and his last +advice to his daughter was, to take care of her brother, to look after +his worldly affairs, and above all to bear his soul in prayer to +heaven, where he hoped to meet the household once more. The share of +her father's property when he died, was eighty pounds. Here Martha +spent her days, frugal, industrious and benevolent. And it is said, +there will not be a. grave in Grasmere churchyard, more decked with +flowers, more visited with respect, regret, and tears, and faithful +trust, than that of Martha Preston when she dies. In the next story +you will be interested in what happened at the Grey Cottage. + + + * * * * * + + +THE BOY FOUND IN THE SNOW. + + +One winter's night when the evening had shut in very early, owing to +the black snow clouds that hung close around the horizon, Martha sat +looking into the fire. Her old sheep dog, Fly, lay at her feet. The +cows were foddered for the night, and the sheep were penned up in the +yard. Fly was a faithful dog, and for some reason, this evening, he +was very restless. Why he pricked up his ears, and went snuffing to +the door, and pacing about the room, was more than Martha could tell. + +"Lie down. Fly,--good dog--lie down," she said; but Fly would not mind +her, which was an unusual thing. She was certain something was the +matter, and she felt she must go up to the fell; and with the +foresight common to the Dale's people, who knew what mountain storms +are, she took under her cloak a small vial of gin, which was kept in +case of any accident, and set out with the dog Fly. The snow fell +fast, the wind blew, and the drifts lay thick. She had great +confidence in Fly, that if any thing was the matter he would find it +out. He ran straight up the little steep path which led through the +woods. On she followed, her cloak white with snow, until she came, +into the more open ground, where she lost sight of Fly and for a time +stood bewildered, until he should return and guide her. The birds and +beasts had gone to rest, and the stillness of the moors was awful. It +was night, and dark. Suddenly she heard a child's feeble voice, and in +an instant she pressed on towards the spot from which the sound came; +soon she heard Fly's loud howl for aid. At last she reached the spot, +and found a little boy half asleep, a kind of drowsiness which +precedes death. He could not speak; he could only moan. She moistened +his lips with the gin, and poured a little down his throat. She then +raised him up and carried him a short distance down the hill; then she +stopped to rest awhile; and then she got as far as the woods, where +the winds were not so cold. Again she gave him a few drops from her +vial, and now he was able to walk a few steps; then Martha, put up a +fervent prayer to God for assistance, as she dragged the lost boy +to her cottage. She now laid him down to the warm fire, while Fly +snuffed around him in great joy. She took off his wet clothes, and +wrapped him in her woollen cloak. He soon recovered and was able to +tell his story. + +[Illustration] + +His father had sent him up to the fells for a sheep that was missing. +The dog left him, and night and snow came on, and he got lost on the +fells. The family had lately come to live near Rydal, and the boy did +not know all the landmarks. Martha took the best of care of the boy +till the morning, when his mother came, with a grateful heart towards +God for the means which had guided Martha to her lost boy. + + + * * * * * + + +THE BROTHER AND SISTER. +(In three Stories.) + + +THE PARTING SCENE. + + +In one of our western cities was a poor woman, in the garret of a +lonely house, who was very sick, and near dying. She had two children, +a brother and sister, who knelt beside her bed to catch her dying +words. "Annie, my daughter," said the mother, "soon, and your young +brother will have no earthly friend but you; will you, my daughter, be +to him a faithful sister?" + +"Yes, mother, _I will_," said the daughter, as she wiped away her +tears. + +And then she laid her hand upon the head of her son, and said, "Be a +good boy, Willy, and mind your sister; she is but three years older +than yourself, but as far as her knowledge goes, she will be a guide +for you; and she and you have a Father in Heaven who will never leave +you. Will you promise to do as she wishes?" + +Willy raised his eyes to his mother, and bowed his head in token of +assent, and then burst into tears. The mother was a Christian, and +putting her arm around the neck of Willy, and with the other hand +clasping her daughter, she calmly said to them, "Weep not, dear +children, you will find friends; God is the father of the fatherless. +Keep in mind that his eye is upon you; be honest and virtuous, +faithful and believing, and all things will work together for your +good." + +The dying mother could say no more; her breath grew short, and +stretching out her arms, she cried, "My dear children, I must leave +you: let me kiss you--God bless and keep----" + +Her arms fell from around them, the words died away on her lips, and +her weary soul departed. + +After the funeral of this mother, the moon shone brightly into the +desolate chamber, and revealed a beautiful scene, that of a sister's +love. + +Anna sat near the window, and little Willy lay his weary head in her +lap. They were now without father or mother. Sleep had stolen upon the +weary eyes of Willy. Anna smoothed back the dark hair, which hung over +his brow, then carefully raised his slender frame in her arms and laid +him upon his bed. Then seating herself beside him she thought of her +mother's last request to take care of Willy. + +"Yes," she exclaimed, "I must begin to-morrow. I will go out and try +to get some work, for poor Willy must remain at school. Dear boy," she +exclaimed, "I will never see him suffer." You will, in the next story, +find + + +ANNA SEEKING EMPLOYMENT. + + +It was a wearisome day to poor Anna, as she walked from square to +square, calling at the houses for employment. Some received her +kindly, and patronised her themselves, and promised to interest their +friends in her behalf, while others, alleging that she could not earn +as much as a woman, endeavored to beat her down a few shillings in her +price. But among all, Anna found means of subsistence for many months. +But soon her constitution began to grow weak, and her friends thought +it best for Willy to give up his school awhile, and to obtain some +place as errand boy, and for Anna to pursue a more active life. + +Soon Anna found herself in a new home, doing the work of a family +which devolved on her. She kept a diary, and she would often go away +in her own little room and scribble a few lines in her book. Here is +an extract from her writings:---- + +"To-day I am very tired and yet but very little has been accomplished. +I know I could do well enough if I was allowed to regulate my work, or +if there was only order in the arrangement. There is certainly a great +want of system in this family; I am never allowed to finish one piece +of work before I am called off to another, and then blamed because I +did not do the first in time. + +"One wants me to put the dough in the pants, and before I get my +hands clean, another calls me to go and get some wood; another tells +me to go to the store for some thread; another cries out, Anna! Anna! +and away I am sent to the third story after a book. Do they think a +girl like me is never tired? Ah, me! I must seek another place. I love +little children, and I think I should do for a child's nurse; I will +advertise." + +And she did advertise, and it was not long before she was answered by +a request to call at Number 4, Elm street, at three o'clock on +Wednesday. In the next story we shall find + + +ANNA WITH A PLEASANT HOME. + + +Anna, having obtained leave of her mistress, soon found herself at the +door of Mrs. West. The servant girl came to the door, and Anna +followed her into the sitting-room, where every thing was nicely +arranged. Soon a gentle looking lady came into the room, with a babe +in her arms, and asking her, in a pleasant voice, "if she was the girl +who advertised? You look hardly strong enough to handle such a boy as +this," said she, as she placed on her lap a plump, black-eyed little +fellow of eight months old. "Let me see if you can lift him easily." + +Anna gave the little fellow a hug and a kiss, and then playfully +tossed him up a few times, but he was so heavy that she soon placed +him on her knee, saying, "I am not used to holding children, but think +I shall soon get accustomed to it." The lady agreed to have Anna come +and enter upon her duties the next week. + +Weeks rolled away, and Anna's face looked joyous, for peace was in her +heart. She loved her mistress because she was so thoughtful and would +not even let her carry the babe half so much as she wished, but would +tell her to amuse him on the floor. Mrs. West would often bring her +work and sit with Anna in the nursery, and talk with her about her +mother and Willy. Oh, how Anna loved Mrs. West! + +Willy was now learning a trade with an honest carpenter, who gave him +permission to visit his sister once a week, and many happy hours did +they pass together in the nursery with the little pet Charley. + +As the summer months came on, Mrs. West prepared to visit her mother, +who lived a few miles in the country. Anna went with her. Charley was +now old enough to go into the woods and run about, while Anna gathered +flowers, chased butterflies, and amused him with infant stories. +Little Charley would often fall asleep to the sweet tones of Anna's +voice, and then she would take him up and bear him to the house. + +Three years passed away, and Charley needed no other nurse than his +mother, and Anna's heart ached at the thought of leaving Mrs. West and +little Charley. She had been so happy there that she dreaded to go out +among strangers to look for a new place. + +Mrs. West made arrangements for Anna to live with her parents, who in +a short time made her their adopted child. It was a beautiful country +home, and she became as a dear child to Mr. and Mrs. Warren. + + + * * * * * + + +THE GLOW WORM. + + +On a summer's evening about half an hour after bed time, as three +little brothers lay talking together they heard a gentle footstep on +the stairs. It was their sister Lucy. "Are you asleep," she asked. + +"No, we are not asleep," cried the boys. + +"I have brought something to show you" said Lucy, and going into the +darkest corner of the room, she opened her hand and the boys saw +something sparkle like a diamond or a star. + +"What is it," cried little Frank, jumping out of bed and running to +look. Lucy held out her hand, but told him not to touch it. + +"Oh, it moves! It moves!" said he "It must be something alive." + +"Ah!" said John, "it is a glow worm. I saw one last summer on a bank +in Sand Lee." + +"Take care," said Frank, "that it does not burn the counterpane." The +two elder brothers laughed; but Lucy reminded them that they would +most likely have fallen into the same mistake, if they had not been +taught that the glow worm's light, though it shines so brightly, does +not burn. To convince Frank she told him to hold out his hand. The +little boy felt afraid, but as he knew that Lucy never deceived him, +he put out his hand, and soon, to his great delight, the harmless +glow worm lay in his hand. Lucy promised to tell him something about +the glow worm another time. Frank went back to his bed, and Lucy bid +her brothers good night, promising to put the prize under a glass on +the lawn. + +So night after night, for weeks, the three boys saw the twinkling +light of the glow worm on the dewy grass. One evening they began to +quarrel about it, and none but little Frank was willing to give up his +claim to it. It grieved him to hear his brothers quarrelling and +saying unkind words to each other; and he also thought that the poor +glow worm ought not to be kept a prisoner under the glass, instead of +flying over the green turf or mossy bank. But when he tried to bring +John and Robert to the same opinion, they would not hear to him. So +Lucy, who was a kind sister, when she found that the pleasure she had +procured for them was the occasion of their naughty conduct, sat down +by the window and told them to remember that God, who made the glow +worm and caused its light to shine, could see them in their chamber, +and hear every sinful word. John and Robert felt the force of their +sister's words, and settled their quarrel without delay, and they gave +Frank permission to go early in the morning and let the imprisoned +glow worm creep away. + + + * * * * * + + +EMILY'S MORNING RAMBLE. + + +In the suburbs of the city of B. stands the beautiful residence of Mr. +James. It was a rural spot, as it was surrounded with all the beauties +of nature. There were rippling streams, and winding paths through the +green fields and woods, sunny hills and mossy rocks. Emily, the only +daughter of Mr. J., had all these pleasant scenes to enjoy, and every +thing to make her home happy. Her father owned a noble pair of grays +and a very fine carriage, and she had the pleasure of riding with her +father whenever she chose. But Emily did not live altogether for her +own happiness; she was accustomed to go and see the people in the +neighborhood of her home, and if any were poor or sick she would +always try to benefit them. + +Her mother had to put up many a bundle of nice things for her to take +to some poor family in need. She was also fond of the works of nature, +and would frequently spend an hour in walking alone in the shady rural +places in her town. One day, as the beautiful spring had just unfolded +its loveliness, Emily thought she would walk out and breathe the +delicious air. With a heart laden with good thoughts and with a quick +step she passed along the gravelled street and by the cultivated +grounds and fine houses, until she reached the green turf and wooded +slopes, and here paused awhile under the large old trees, and thought +of the wisdom, goodness, and love of God in giving us such a beautiful +earth. + +On her route, where the river curved around the foot of a gentle +sloping hill in the shadows of old forest trees, was made a rural +cemetery; so pleasant were its quiet paths and its cool shades in +summer, that the living loved to wander there. Friends came there to +plant flowers upon the graves of dear ones they had lost. + +Through a low ivy covered gateway of stone, Emily entered the quiet +place. There were no massive railings, and lofty monuments, and no +costly devices, but God had made this place very beautiful--flowers +were blooming along the well trodden paths, and around the last +resting places of the dead. Here and there arose a simple shaft or a +light column, and the graves of the household were bordered by a green +hedge or surrounded by shadowing trees. + +As Emily passed through the familiar walks, she came suddenly to a +grave in the remote corner of the cemetery, beside which sat a +solitary mourner. A small white slab lay upon the centre of the green +mound and at its head grew a rose bush in bloom, bending, till its +weight of white buds and blossoms touched the long bright grass upon +the grave. Emily attracted by its simply beauty, and drawing near, she +stooped down and read upon the marble slab, "Dear Mina." Her young +eyes filled instantly with tears, for she knew that it was the darling +child of a lady who to her was a stranger. As she turned away from the +spot she met a lady approaching, who passed her and kneeled down +beside the grave. She thought she would speak to the lady, and with +tender sympathy she asked, "Was it your child?" + +The lady, who was deep in thought, looked up at the sound of Emily's +earnest voice, and answered, softly, "yes; 'Dear Mina' was my only +child." This interview led Emily to an acquaintance with the sorrowing +mother, which caused her never to forget her morning ramble. She was a +good woman, and at the decease of Emily's mother became her Christian +companion and instructor. + + * * * * * + +I doubt whether he will find the way to heaven who desires to go +there alone: all heavenly hearts are charitable: enlightened souls +cannot but diffuse their rays. I will, if I can, do something for +others and for heaven, not to merit by it, but to express my +gratitude. Though I cannot do what I would, I will labor to do what I +can.--_Feltham_. + + + * * * * * + + +FLYING THE KITE. + + +Flying the kite is a pleasant amusement for boys, and when we see the +kites flying high in the air, we are always reminded of a kite whose +history we heard when a little child, and which we give our readers. +Shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war, there was a little +boy whose parents had left their home and friends in England, on +account of their sympathy with the struggle of freedom for their +rights in America. Their first home was in Norfolk, Va. + +This little boy was very much delighted with the American eagle, and +he determined to make a kite as much like his favorite bird as he +could. He had a friend who was a painter and gilder, and a person +of great ingenuity. Together they contrived a beautiful kite +representing an eagle of gigantic size. It was painted and gilded in +the most beautiful manner, and a small but very brilliant lantern was +attached to it just below the breast. + +They kept their secret very carefully, never suffering any one to +enter the room while it was making. + +On a dark, cloudy, windy night, the kite was flown. Its mechanism was +so perfect that it sailed very beautifully. The lantern illuminated +every part, and it made a very brilliant appearance. Crowds of people +thronged the streets, wondering what the strange visitor was. Some +were alarmed, and thought it was an omen of fearful events. + +Great was their admiration when they discovered that the wonderful +bird was the ingenious contrivance of a little boy; and they could +scarcely be convinced that what looked so much like a real bird was +only an ingenious combination of sticks and painted paper. + + + * * * * * + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY. + + +There are a great many novel sights in the streets of London, for the +cheap entertainment of the people. The family circle of different +animals and birds is an admirable illustration of the peace which +should pervade among families. The proprietor of this little menagerie +calls it, "The Happy Family." The house in which they are kept is a +simple constructed cage. It is a large square hen-coop, placed on a +low hand-cart which a man draws about from one street to another, and +gets a few pennys a day from those who stop to look at the domestic +happiness of his family. Perhaps the first thing you will see, is a +large cat, washing her face, with a number of large rats nestling +around her, like kittens, whilst others are climbing up her back and +playing with her whiskers. In another corner of the room a dove and a +hawk are sitting on the head of a dog which is resting across the neck +of a rabbit. The floor is covered with the oddest social circles +imaginable--weazles and Guinea pigs, and peeping chickens, are putting +their noses together, caressingly. The perches above are covered with +birds whose natural antipathies have been subdued into mutual +affection by the law of kindness. The grave owl is sitting upright, +and meditating in the sun, with a keen-sighted sparrow perched between +his ears trying to open the eyes of the sleepy owl with its sharp +bill. + +Children stop to look at this scene, and Mr. Burritt thinks they may +carry away lessons which will do them good. They will think on it on +their way to school, and at home too, when any thing crosses their +will in family or on the play ground. + + + * * * * * + + +STORY ABOUT AN INDIAN. + + +A poor sick man might go to the door of some rich person's house and +ask relief for himself and not be able to obtain admittance; but if he +brought in his hand a paper written by the son of the master of the +house, whom he had met with in a distant land, and in his name asked +for the relief, his request would be granted for the sake of the +master's son. + +Now we all need friends and every one tries to get and keep a few +friends. Children will love a little dog, or a lamb, or a dove, or a +bird. The little boy will talk to his top, and the little girl will +talk to her doll, which shows that they want a friend; and if the top +and doll could talk and love them, they would feel happier. + +Some years ago there was an Indian in the State of Maine, who for his +very good conduct had a large farm given him by the State. He built +his little house on his land, and there lived. The white people about +did not treat him so kindly as they ought. His only child was taken +sick and died, and none of the whites went to comfort him, or to +assist him in burying his little child. Soon after, he went to the +white people, and said to them--"When white man's child die, Indian +may be sorry--he help bury him--when my child die, no one speak to +me--I make his grave alone. I can no live here, for I have no friend +to love me." + +The poor Indian gave up his farm, dug up the body of his child, and +carried it with him 200 miles through the forest, to join the Canada +Indians. + +The Indian loved his child, and he wanted friends. So you children +will need a friend to look to every day. When we are sick, in +distress, or about to die, we want a friend in whom we may trust and +be happy. + + * * * * * + +Wherefore did God create passions within us, pleasures round about +us, but that these, rightly tempered, are the very ingredients of +virtue.--_Milton_. + + + * * * * * + + +GATHER THE FLOWERS. + + +Two little girls went into the fields to gather flowers. Buttercups, +violets, and many other blossoms were in abundance. One of the girls +was pleased with every thing, and began to pick such flowers as came +in her way. In a short time she collected a great quantity of flowers, +and though some of them were not very handsome, yet they made a very +beautiful bunch. The other child was more dainty and determined to get +her none but those which were very beautiful. The buttercups were all +of one color and did not strike her fancy--the blue violets were too +common, and so the little pair wandered on through the fields till +they were about to return home. By this time the dainty child, seeing +that her sister had a fine collection of flowers while she had none, +began to think it best to pick such as she could get. But now the +flowers were scarce; not even a dandelion nor a flower was to be +found. The little girl at length begged of her sister a single +dandelion, and thus they returned home. The children told their story, +and their mother addressed them thus "My dear children, let this event +teach you a lesson. Jane has acted the wisest part. Content with such +flowers as came in her way, and not aiming at what was beyond her +reach, she has been successful in her pursuit. But Laura wanted +something more beautiful than could be found, collected nothing from +the field, and was finally obliged to beg a simple flower from her +sister. So it is, children, in passing through life--gather what is +good and pleasant along your path, and you will, day by day, collect +enough to make you contented and happy. But if you scorn those +blessings which are common, and reach after those which are more +rare and difficult to be obtained, you will meet with frequent +difficulties, and at last be dependant on others. So gather the +flowers as you go along the pathway of life." + + * * * * * + +Think not all is well within when all is well without; or that thy +being pleased is a sign that God is pleased: but suspect every thing +that is prosperous, unless it promotes piety, and charity, and +humility.--_Taylor_. + + * * * * * + +God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this +short time eternity depends.--_Taylor_. + + + * * * * * + + +JANE AND HER LESSONS. + + +It is a mark of a good scholar to be prompt and studious. Such were +the habits of little Jane Sumner. She was the youngest of three +sisters and from her first being able to read, she was very fond of +reading; and at school her teacher became much interested in little +Jane on account of her interest in study, and the promptness she +manifested in reciting her lessons. Jane had a quiet little home and +was allowed considerable time for study, although she hid to devote +some time in assisting her mother about house. + +There was a very fine garden attached to Mrs. Sumner's residence, +where she took much pleasure in cultivating the flowers. In the centre +of the garden was built a summer house all covered over with grape +vine. The broad leaves of the vine made a refreshing shade to it, and +thereby shielded the warm sun from persons under it. This little +summer house Jane frequently occupied for her study. In the picture +you see her with book in hand getting her lesson. She arose very early +in the morning, and by this means gained much time. + + Up in the morning early, + By daylights earliest ray, + With our books prepared to study + The lessons of the day. + +Little Jane, for her industry and good scholarship, obtained quite a +number of "rewards of merit," which her school mates said she justly +deserved. There is one of them with these lines: + + For conduct good and lessons learned, + Your teacher can commend; + Good scholarship has richly earned + This tribute from your friend. + +On one day, she came running home very much pleased with her card, +which her teacher gave herself and her little sister Emma, for their +good conduct and attention to their studies. The card contained these +lines: + + See, Father! mother, see! + To my sister and me, + Has our teacher given a card, + To show that we have studied hard. + To you we think it must be pleasant, + To see us both with such a present. + +Every good boy and girl will be rewarded, and all such as are +studious, and respectful to their teachers, will always get a reward. + + * * * * * + +God never allowed any man to do nothing. How miserable is the +condition of those men who spend their time as if it were _given_ +them, and not lent.--_Bishop Hall_. + + + * * * * * + + +HARVEST SONG. + + + Now the golden ear wants the reaper's hand, + Banish every fear, plenty fills the land. + Joyful raise songs of praise, + Goodness, goodness, crowns our days. + Yet again swell the strain, + He who feeds the birds that fly, + Will our daily wants supply. + + CHORUS---- + + As the manna lay, on the desert ground, + So from day to day, mercies flow around. + As a father's love gives his children bread, + So our God above grants, and we are fed. + + * * * * * + +Think in the morning what thou hast to do this day, and at night what +thou hast done; and do nothing upon which thou mayst not boldly ask +God's blessing; nor nothing for which thou shalt need to ask his +pardon.--_Anon_. + + + * * * * * + + +TELLING SECRETS. + + +There is a company of girls met together, and what can they be talking +about. Hark! "Now I will tell you something, if you'll promise never +to tell," says Jane. "I will, certainly," replied Anne. "And will you +promise _never_ to tell a single living creature as long as you live?" +The same reply is given, "_I will never tell_." + +Now Jane tells the secret, and what is it? It turns out to be just +nothing at all, and there is no good reason why every body should'nt +know it. It is this--"Lizzy Smith is going to have a new bonnet, +trimmed with pink ribbon and flowers inside." Anna thinks no more of +her solemn promise, and the first school-mate she meets, she opens the +secret, with a solemn injunction for her not to tell. By and by the +secret is all out among the girls--the promises are all broken. Now, +children, remember your word--keep it true, and never make a promise +which you do not intend to keep, and always avoid telling foolish +secrets. + + + * * * * * + + +AGNES AND THE MOUSE. + + +One brilliant Christmas day, two little girls were walking towards a +neighboring village, when they observed a little creature walking +about the road. "Surely," said Mary, "it is a large mouse;" and it did +not seem to be afraid, so they thought from its tameness, it must be +hungry. "Poor little thing," said Agnes, "I wish I had something to +give you." She took a few almonds from her pocket and went gently +along towards the mouse and put it close by its side. The mouse began +to nibble, and soon finished it. Agnes then put down two or three +more, and left the mouse to eat its Christmas dinner. I think you +would have enjoyed seeing the mouse eating the almonds. I hope you +will always be kind to poor dumb animals. I have seen children who +were cruel to dumb animals. This is very wrong, and such children will +never be respected, nor can thy expect to be befriended. + + + * * * * * + + +THE TWO ROBINS. + + +A few summers ago I was sitting on a garden seat, beneath a fruit +tree, where the works of nature looked very beautiful. Very soon I +heard a strange noise among the highest branches of the tree over my +head. The sound was very curious, and I began to look for the cause. I +shook one of the lower branches within my reach, and very soon I +discovered two birds engaged in fighting; and they seemed to gradually +descend towards the ground. They came down lower and lower, tumbling +over one another, and fighting with each other. They soon reached the +lowest branch, and at last came to the ground very near me. It was +with some difficulty that I parted them; and when I held one of them +in each of my hands, they tried to get away, not because they were +afraid of me but because they would resume the conflict. They were two +young robins, and I never before thought that the robin had such a bad +spirit in its breast. Lest they should get to fighting again, I let +one go, and kept the other housed up for several days, so that they +would not have much chance of coming together again. + +Now, children, these two little robins woke in the morning very +cheerful, and appeared very happy as they sat on the branch of the +tree, singing their morning songs. But how soon they changed their +notes. You would have been sorry to have seen the birds trying to hurt +each other. + +If children quarrel, or in any degree show an unkind temper, they +appear very unlovely and, forget that God, who made them, and gives +them many blessings, disapproves of their conduct. Never quarrel, but +remember how pleasant it is for children to love each other, and to +try to do each other good. + + * * * * * + +Every hour is worth at least a good thought, a good wish, a good +endeavor.--_Clarendon_. + + + * * * * * + + +THE PLEASANT SAIL. + + +Down by the sea-coast is the pleasant town of Saco, Where Mr. Aimes +has resided for many years. Once a year he had all his little nephews +and nieces visit him. It was their holiday, and they would think and +talk about the visit for a long time previous to going there. Their +uncle took much pleasure in making them happy as possible while they +were with him. He owned a pleasure sail boat which he always kept in +good order. On this occasion he had it all clean and prepared for the +young friends, as he knew they lotted much on having a sail. As his +boat was small, he took part of them at a time and went out with them +himself, a short distance, and sailed around the island, and returned. +In the picture you see them just going out, with their uncle at the +helm, while three of the nephews are on the beach enjoying the scene. + +But I must tell you children to be very careful when you go on the +water to sail. There are some things which it is necessary for you to +know, as a great many accidents occur on the water for the want of +right management. When you go to sail, be sure and have persons with +you who understand all about a boat, and how to manage in the time of +a squall. Always keep your seats in the boat, and not be running about +in it. Never get to rocking a boat in the water. A great many people +have lost their lives by so doing. Sailing on the water may be very +pleasant and agreeable to you if you go with those who understand +all about the harbor, and are skilled in guiding the boat on the +dangerous sea. + +[Illustration] + + + * * * * * + + +THE SAILOR BOY. + + +Yarmouth is the principal trade sea-port town in the county of +Norfolk. Fishermen reside in the towns and villages around, and among +the number was a poor man and his wife; they had an only son, and when +ten years old his father died. The poor widow, in the death of her +husband, lost the means of support. After some time she said to her +boy, "Johnny, I do not see how I shall support you." "Then, mother, I +will go to sea," he replied. His mother was loth to part with Johnny, +for he was a good son and was very kind to her. But she at last +consented on his going to sea. + +John began to make preparations. One day he went down to the beach +hoping to find a chance among some of the captains to sail. He went to +the owner of one and asked if he wanted a boy. "No," he abruptly +replied "I have boys enough." He tried a second but without success. +John now began to weep. After some time he saw on the quay the captain +of a trading vessel to St. Petersburg, and John asked him if "a boy +was wanted." "Oh, yes," said the captain, "but I never take a boy or a +man without a character." John had a Testament among his things, which +he took out and said to the captain, "I suppose this won't do." The +captain took it, and on opening the first page, saw written, "_John +Read, given as a reward for his good behaviour and diligence in +learning, at the Sabbath School_." The captain said, "Yes, my boy, +this will do; I would rather have this recommendation than any other," +adding, "you may go on board directly." John's heart leaped for joy, +as, with his bundle under his arm, he jumped on board the vessel. + +The vessel was soon under weigh, and for some time the sky was bright, +and the wind was fair. When they reached the Baltic Sea a storm came +on, the wind raged furiously, all hands were employed to save the +vessel. But the storm increased, and the captain thought all would be +lost. While things were in this state the little sailor boy was +missing. One of the crew told the captain he was down in the cabin. +When sent for he came up with his Testament in his hand and asked the +captain if he might read. His request was granted. He then knelt down +and rend the sixtieth and sixty-first Psalms. While he was reading the +wind began to abate, (the storms in the Baltic abate as suddenly as +they come on.) The captain was much moved, and said he believed the +boy's reading was heard in Heaven. + + + * * * * * + + +THE BRACELET; +OR, HONESTY REWARDED. + + +At St. Petersburgh, the birth day of any of the royal family is +observed as a time of great festivity, by all kinds of diversions. +When the vessel in which John Read shipped arrived, he was allowed to +go on shore to see the sport on that occasion. In one of the sleighs +was a lady, who at the moment of passing him lost a bracelet from her +arm, which fell on the snow. John hastened forward to pick it up, at +the same time calling after the lady, who was beyond the sound of his +voice. He then put the bracelet into his pocket, and when he had seen +enough of the sport, went back to the ship. + +John told the captain all about it, showing him the prize which he had +found. + +"Well, Jack," said the captain "you are fortunate enough--these are +all diamonds of great value--when we get to the next port I will sell +it for you." "But," said John, "It's not mine, it belongs to the lady, +and I cannot sell it." The captain replied, "O, you cannot find the +lady, and you picked it up. It is your own." But John persisted it was +not his. "Nonsense, my boy," said the captain, "it belongs to you." +John then replied "But if we have another storm in the Baltic," (see +story preceding.) "Ah, me," said the Captain, "I forgot all about +that, Jack. I will go on shore with you to-morrow and try to find the +owner." They did so; and after much trouble, found it belonged to a +nobleman's lady, and as a reward for the boy's honesty, she gave him +eighty pounds English money. John's next difficulty was what to do +with it. The captain advised him to lay it out in hides, which would +be valuable in England. He did so, and on arriving at Hull, they +brought one hundred and fifty pounds. + +John had not forgotten his mother. The captain gave him leave of +absence for a time, and taking a portion of his money with him, he +started for his native village. When he arrived there, he made his way +to her house with a beating heart. Each object told him it was home, +and brought bygone days to his mind. On coming to the house he saw it +was closed. He thought she might be dead; and as he slowly opened the +gate and walked up the path and looked about, his heart was ready to +break. A neighbor seeing him, said, "Ah, John, is that you?" and +quickly told him that his mother still lived--but as she had no means +of support, she had gone to the poor-house. John went to the place, +found his mother, and soon made her comfortable in her own cottage. +The sailor boy afterwards became mate of the same vessel in which he +first left the quay at Yarmouth. + + + * * * * * + + +NO PAY--NO WORK. + + +"Little boy, will you help a poor old man up the hill with this +load?" said an old man, who was drawing a hand-cart with a bag of corn +for the mill. + +"I can't," said the boy, "I am in a hurry to be at school." + +As the old man sat on the stone, resting himself he thought of his +youthful days, and of his friends now in the grave; the tears began to +fall, when John Wilson came along, and said,--"shall I help you up the +hill with your load sir?" The old man brushed his eyes with his coat +sleeve, and replied, "I should be glad to have you." He arose and took +the tongue of his cart, while John pushed behind. When they ascended +the top of the hill, the old man thanked the lad for his kindness. In +consequence of this John was ten minutes too late at school. It was +unusual for him to be late, as he was known to be punctual and prompt; +but as he said nothing to the teacher about the cause of his being +late, he was marked for not being in season. + +After school, Hanson, the first boy, said to John, "I suppose you +stopped to help old Stevenson up the hill with his corn." + +"Yes," replied John, "the old man was tired and I thought I would give +him a lift." + +"Well, did you get your pay for it?" said Hanson, "for I don't work +for nothing." + +"Nor do I," said John; "I didn't help him, expecting pay." + +"Well, why did you do it? You knew you would be late to school." + +"Because I thought I _ought_ to help the poor old man," said John. + +"Well," replied Hanson "if you will work for nothing, you may. _No +pay, no work_, is my motto." + +"To _be kind and obliging_, is mine," said John. + +Here, children, is a good example. John did not perform this act of +kindness for nothing. He had the approbation of a good conscience--the +pleasure of doing good to the old man--and the respect and gratitude +of his friends. Even the small act of benevolence is like giving a cup +of cold water to the needy, which will not pass unnoticed. Does any +body work for nothing when he does good? Think of this, and do +likewise. + + + * * * * * + + +THE TREE THAT NEVER FADES. + + +"Mary," said George, "next summer I will not have a garden. Our pretty +tree is dying, and I won't love another tree as long as I live. I will +have a bird next summer, and that will stay all winter." + +George, don't you remember my beautiful canary bird? It died in the +middle of the summer, and we planted bright flowers in the ground +where we buried it. My bird did not live as long as the tree." + +"Well, I don't see as we can love anything. Dear little brother died +before the bird, and I loved him better than any bird, or tree, or +flower. Oh! I wish we could have something to love that wouldn't die." + +The day passed. During the school hours, George and Mary had almost +forgot that their tree was dying; but at evening, as they drew their +chairs to the table where their mother was sitting, and began to +arrange the seeds they had been gathering, the remembrance of the tree +came upon them. + +"Mother," said Mary, "you may give these seeds to cousin John; I never +want another garden." + +"Yes," added George, pushing the papers in which he had carefully +folded them towards his mother, "you may give them all away. If I +could find some seeds of a tree that would never fade, I should like +then to have a garden. I wonder, mother, if there ever was such a +garden?" + +"Yes, George, I have read of a garden where the trees never die." + +"A _real_ garden, mother?" + +"Yes, my son. In the middle of the garden, I have been told, there +runs a pure river of water, clear as chrystal, and on each side of the +river is the _tree of life_,--a tree that never fades. That garden is +_heaven_. There you may love and love for ever. There will be no +death--no fading there. Let your treasure be in the tree of life, and +you will have something to which your young hearts can cling, without +fear, and without disappointment. Love the Saviour here, and he will +prepare you to dwell in those green pastures, and beside those still +waters." + + * * * * * + +Every neglected opportunity draws after it an irreparable loss, which +will go into eternity with you.---_Doddridge_. + + + * * * * * + + +YOUNG USHER. + + +You have read of that remarkable man, Mr. Usher, who was Archbishop of +Armagh. I will tell you something about his early childhood. He was +born in Dublin, in the year 1580, and when a little boy he was fond of +reading. He lived with his two aunts who were born blind, and who +acquired much knowledge of the Scriptures by hearing others read the +Scriptures and other good books. At seven years of age he was sent to +school in Dublin; at the end of five years he was superior in study to +any of his school fellows, and was thought fully qualified to enter +the college at Dublin. + +While he was at college he learned to play at cards, and he was so +much taken up with this amusement that both his learning and piety +were much endangered. He saw the evil tendency of playing cards, and +at once relinquished the practice entirely. When he was nine years +old, he heard a sermon preached which made a deep impression on his +mind. From that time he was accustomed to habits of devotion. He loved +to pray, and felt that he could not sleep quietly without first +commending himself to the care of his Heavenly father for protection. +When he was fourteen years old, he began to think about partaking of +the Lord's supper. He thought this act to be a very solemn and +important one, and required a thorough preparation. On the afternoon +previous to the communion, he would retire to some private place for +self examination and prayer. When he was but sixteen years of age, he +obtained such a knowledge of chronology as to have commenced the +annals of the Old and New Testaments, which were published many years +after, and are now a general standard of reference. + +When his father died, he being the eldest son, the paternal estate was +left to him to manage. But as he feared it would occupy to much of his +time and attention, he gave it entirely to his brother and sisters, +reserving only enough for his books and college expenses. At the age +of twenty he entered the ministry, and seven years after was chosen a +professor in the University of Dublin. In 1640, he visited England at +the time of the commencement of the rebellion; all his goods were +seized by the popish party, except some furniture in his house, and +his library at Drogheda, which was afterwards sent to London. He bore +his loss with submission, but he never returned to Ireland. He had +many trials to endure on account of the troublous times in England, +(it being the time of civil wars.) In 1646 he received a kind +invitation from the Countess of Peterborough to reside in one of her +houses, which proposal he accepted and lived in one of them till his +death, in 1665. By the direction of Cromwell he was buried in +Westminster Abbey. + + + * * * * * + + +A GOOD ACT FOR ANOTHER. + + +A man was going from Norwich to New London with a loaded team; on +attempting to ascend a hill where an Indian lived he found his team +could not draw the load. He went for the Indian to assist him. After +he had got up the hill he asked the Indian what was to pay. The Indian +told him to do as much for some body else. + +Some time afterward the Indian wanted a canoe. He went up Shetucket +river, found a tree, and made him one. When he had finished it he +could not get it to the river; accordingly he went to a man and +offered to pay him if he would go and draw it to the river for him. +The man set about it immediately, and after getting it to the river, +the Indian offered to pay him. "No," said the man; "don't you +recollect, so long ago, helping a man with a team up the hill by the +side of your house?" "Yes." "Well, I am the man; take your canoe and +go home." + + + * * * * * + + +A BOY REPROVED BY A BIRD. + + +The sparrows often build their nests under the eaves of houses and +barns. A young lad saw one of the sparrows conveying materials for her +nest, which she was building under the eaves of a cottage adjoining +his father's house. He was told not to disturb it. But birds eggs form +a temptation to many boys. At a favorable opportunity the lad climbed +up to the roof of the cottage and carried away the nest with the eggs +in it. Among the materials of which the nest was composed was a piece +of paper with some printed verses on it. The boy pulled it out and +found it to be a page of one of Dr. Watts' hymns, which had been +picked up in the yard by the poor bird for strengthening her nest. +The boy unfolded the paper and read:---- + + "Why should I deprive my neighbor + Of his goods against his will? + Hands were made for honest labor, + Not to plunder nor to steal." + +The lad says, in his after years, "I never forgot the lesson presented +to me by that leaf of paper which had been fixed to the nest of the +poor sparrow." Let young people remember that when they do wrong they +will get reproved, and it may be by the means of a bird. + + + * * * * * + + +THE ECHO. + + +Little Charles knew nothing about an echo. As he was playing by +himself in the field, he cried out, "Ho, hop!" and immediately a voice +from the woods near by answered, "ho, hop!" Being surprised at this, +he called out, "who be you?" The voice answered, "who be you." Charles +thought this very strange, and cried out "you're a stupid fellow," +and "stupid fellow," was the reply from the woods. + +Charles began to be much displeased, and called several abusive names, +and every name he called, came back to him. "I never met with such +insolence," said he, "but I'll revenge myself;" and he ran up and down +among the trees, trying to find the supposed offender, but he could +see no one. Vexed and disappointed, he hastened home and told his +mother that a bad boy had hidden in the woods and called him all sorts +of names. + +His mother smiled and shook her head. "Now you have been angry at +yourself, Charles, for you must know that you heard nothing but your +own words repeated. As you have seen your own face reflected in the +water, so you have now heard your own voice echoed." Had Charles spoke +kind words he would have heard kind words in return. It is often true +that the behavior we meet with from others, is but an echo of our own. +If we speak kind words we shall have kind words in return. + + + * * * * * + + +LIZZY AND HER DOG. + + +I wish to relate to you a very affecting story about a good girl who +died when she was thirteen years old. She was an interesting young +girl, and possessed great intellectual powers. She was also very fond +of the works of nature, especially of flowers, and would often say, +"How good God is to make these beautiful flowers for us to enjoy." +Soon it was very evident to her friends that disease was preying on +her delicate constitution. She bore all her sickness with calm +submission, and when she died she appeared to all who knew her to be +prepared for heaven. While she was sick, her parents did every thing +to make her comfortable and happy. They had a dog which Lizzy set a +great deal by, and with him she used to play in the house and in the +garden. When Lizzy was so sick that she could not play with him, he +would come and lay himself down at her bed side, and appeared to be +very sad on her account. When she died [and] was buried, the dog +followed with the parents in the funeral, to the grave-yard where +Lizzy was laid away. One day, about five months afterwards, I went +with her father to see the grave of Lizzy. + +As we went into the grave-yard, we walked slowly along, reading the +names of persons buried there, while the dog followed us. We soon +missed the dog, supposing he had wandered into some other part of the +cemetery. But when we came within a few yards of Lizzy's grave we saw +him sitting at its head, leaning against the stone which was erected +in memory of the lovely daughter. It was a very affecting scene--the +attachment of the dog, as well as the power of his memory. Dogs are +faithful creatures, and we can never bear to see them abused. Be kind +to them and they will be kind to you. + + + * * * * * + + +JULIA'S SUNSET WALK. + + +It was a beautiful June day, just at the sun's setting, when Julia +Eastworth went to visit the resting place of a dear grandmother. While +she was in the grave-yard, meditating on the loss of one of her best +earthly friends, she saw a lady dressed in mourning busily engaged in +doing something near a rose bush that grew at the foot of a little +mound, at a short distance from where she stood. Julia walked along +and came near where she was, and laid her hand gently upon the woman +and said, "Madam, is this your little mound?" + +"Oh, no, my child; it is my dear Elise's grave." + +"And is it long since you laid her here ma'am?" said Julia. + +"Only a few weeks," was the reply; "there were buds on this rose bush +when I brought it here." + +"And was it her's?" asked Julia, as she stooped down to inhale the +rich fragrance of the beautiful flower. + +"Yes, my child, it was a dear treasure to her. My Elise was a good +child, she was my Idol, but my Heavenly Father has seen best to remove +her from me. I only cared to live that I might be useful to her in +giving her such instructions as might be a blessing to her. I almost +adored her, but she is gone from me, and I am alone. I know she is +happy, because she was good." + +"And have you always lived here in our town?" asked Julia. + +"Oh, no! I am from Italy. When my child was but two years old, I left +my native shores, and with my only relative, my father, followed my +young husband, who is an American, to his own land. We settled in the +State of Virginia, and a short time ago he died and left me with a +charge to take care of our dear Elsie. She had her father's hair and +complexion, and inherited his delicate constitution, We were poor, and +I labored hard, but I cared not, if I could only make my child +comfortable and happy. She was not like me; her mind was full of +thoughts of beauty; she would often talk of things with which I could +not sympathize; the world seemed to her to be full of voices, and she +would often say, 'How beautiful _heaven_ must be.' Her nature was +purer and gentler than mine, and I felt that she was a fit companion +of the angels. But she is now gone to be with them, and I hope soon to +meet her." + +Julia bid the lady good bye, and went towards her home. As she walked +slowly along, she thought to herself, "Elsie with the angels!" and she +dwelt upon the theme till her mother, seeing her rather different in +her conduct, asked her the cause, when she replied, "Oh, mother! I +want to dwell with the angels." + + + * * * * * + + +FLORA AND HER PORTRAIT. + + +"And was there never a portrait of your beautiful child," said Anne +Jones, to a lady whom she met at the grave where her child had been +lain a few weeks. + +"Oh, yes! but I may never have it," replied the woman as she stood +weeping at the grave. + +Anna did not understand the mother's tears, but in a few moments she +became calm, and continued to explain. + +"Not many weeks before my child's illness, as we were walking together +in the city, an artist observed my daughter and followed us to our +humble home. He praised her countenance to me, and said her beauty was +rare. In all his life he had never seen face to compare with it, nor +an eye so full of soul, and begged to have me consent to his drawing +her portrait. After many urgent entreaties, my dear child consented. +For several mornings I went with Flora to the artist's room, though I +could ill afford the time, for our daily bread was to be earned. When +he was finishing the picture, Flora went alone. One day she returned, +and flinging into my lap her little green purse, she said: 'The +picture does not need me any more, and I am very glad, for my head +aches badly. They say the portrait is very like me, mother.' + +"I resolved to go and see it the day following, but when the time came +that I first looked upon it, my dear child began to fade in my arms, +until she died. And here she is buried. Since then I go to the +artist's room to see her portrait, and there, full of life and beauty, +she stands before me, and I have permission to see it every day. + +"But I am about to leave this country for our native land. My aged +father has long wished to return to his own country, and we shall soon +sail with our friends for Italy. I must leave the dear child here. But +if I can purchase the picture of the artist, I shall be happy. We are +poor; but by the sale of some little articles, we have raised money +enough to buy the picture, at the price which the artist demands for a +similar picture. + +"When I went to buy it, you know not how I felt, when the artist, +notwithstanding all my pleadings, denied my request. His apology was, +that he had taken it for some purpose of his own; some great +exhibition of paintings; what, I could not fully comprehend. He would +not sell it. Day after day I have been to him, but in vain. And now +the time of our departure will soon come, and duty demands that I +must go with my father, and I must leave my dear Flora, and portrait +too." + +She then laid her face upon the grave and wept. Anna's eyes were +filled with tears, and for some moments she did not speak. At last she +thought--"I know the artist." And then touching the mother, who was +almost insensible, she said, "Madam, it may be that I can do something +for you; describe to me the picture. I think I must have seen it at +this same artist's room." + +The mother then gave the description, and after Anna had gathered from +the mother all needful information, her name, and residence, and time +of sailing, then giving her own address, and speaking to her words of +consolation and hope, she arose and left the stranger at the grave of +her child. The next story will tell you how the picture was obtained. + + + * * * * * + + +THE PORTRAIT OF FLORA PURCHASED. + + +Anna started for her home, and when she had arrived, she slowly +ascended to her room, flung herself upon her couch, and buried her +face among its cushions. + +"Edgar," (for that was the artist's name, and Anna knew him,) "Edgar +is cold hearted." She did not meet the family at tea that evening, but +when her mother came to inquire if she was ill, she related all the +sad story of the childless mother, and asked what could be done. The +next morning, Anna and her father went to see the artist. He was not +in attendance, but one to whom they were well known brought forward +the picture, at Anna's request, and which she had before seen. While +they were looking at it, the artist came in. + +"Pardon me, sir," said Anna's father, "for examining your beautiful +picture during your absence, but my daughter has a very earnest desire +to possess it. Is it for sale?" + +Edgar replied, "I have painted this picture for the coming artist's +exhibition, and, therefore, I have made no design as to its disposal, +but it would be an honor to me to have you and Miss Anna its +purchasers. I would wish, however, previously to its being given up, +that it might be exhibited, according to my intention, at the rooms, +which open on Monday next." + +Mr. H. hesitated: the vessel, which was to carry away the sorrowing +mother, was to sail in a little more than two weeks: they must have +the picture at that time, if ever; and he said to the artist, "I am +aware that this is a beautiful painting, and I will pay you your +price, but I must be allowed to take it at the expiration often days, +if at all." + +Edgar reflected a few moments, and being well aware that, in the +mansion of Mr. Hastings, his elegant picture would be seen by persons +of the most accomplished manners, and of excellent taste, concluded to +sell the picture. The bargain was made and Anna and her father +departed, leaving the artist somewhat elated at the thought of having +Mr. H. the owner of his picture. + +That night Edgar dreamed that Flora, who had been buried a few weeks, +and of whose image his picture was the exact resemblance, stood before +him, pleading him to have pity on her lonely mother: he dreamed her +hand clasped his, and he awoke trembling. + +He raised himself upon his elbow, and pressed to his lips some flowers +which were left on his table, and then rejoiced that the ocean would +soon be between him and the wearisome old woman who had so long +annoyed him about the picture. + +The Monday morning came and with it the portrait of Flora, which had +been admired at the exhibition rooms the previous week. A simple frame +had been prepared for it, and for a few moments Anna gazed on the +picture, and with a love for the buried stranger, looked for the last +time into the deep dark eyes which beamed on the canvass. + +The ship Viola, bound for the port of Naples, lay at the wharf, the +passengers were all hurrying on board, the flags were flying, and all +wore the joyous aspect of a vessel outward bound. A carriage drawn by +a pair of horses came down to the vessel. Mr. Hastings and Anna +alighted, and were followed by a servant, who took the safely cased +portrait in his arms, and accompanied them on board the ship. They +soon met the mother of Flora, and Anna took the picture and presented +it to her, and promised to care for the rose buds which bloomed at +Flora's grave. Mr. H. received from the gallant captain a promise to +take special charge of the Italian widow, and her aged father, and to +care for the valued picture of Flora. Thanks and farewells closed the +scene, when Anna, with her father, returned home. There she found a +note from Edgar, the artist, requesting permission to call on Anna +that evening. She wrote a reply, saying that a previous engagement +would forbid her complying with his request, at the same time +enclosing a check for $200, saying, "My father requests me to forward +this check to you in payment for the portrait of _Flora Revere_." + + + * * * * * + + +THE SAINT'S REST. + + + We've no abiding city here: + This may distress the worldling's mind, + But should not cost the saint a tear, + Who hopes a better rest to find, + + We've no abiding city here; + We seek a city out of sight. + Zion its name; the Lord is there; + It shines with everlasting light. + + Hush, my soul, nor dare repine; + The time my God appoints is best; + While here to do his will be mine, + And his to fix my time of rest. + + + * * * * * + + +A GOOD MOTHER. + + +Mrs. Savage was the eldest sister of Matthew Henry. When she was a +child she had a great many advantages for the improvement of her mind. +When only seven years of age, she could translate the Hebrew language, +and when ten years old, she could write out her father's sermons. She +possessed a very amiable disposition, and was very kind and benevolent +to all who needed the comforts of life. She was a Christian, and when +she became a mother she began the work of educating her children +herself. She had a large family of nine children, and as she had +treasured up in her memory many hymns and verses which she had learned +when a child, she was able to teach the same to her children. She was +so kind and affectionate that every body loved her. Her children took +much pleasure in hearing their mother repeat to them the hymns and +texts of Scripture which she had learned. + +[Illustration] + +Some children are very careless, and indifferent to their parents' +advice; such ones will regret it in their riper years. But Mrs. +Savage's little boys and girls loved their mother, and were very +obedient to her commands. When evening came, before they retired to +bed she would call her little children around her (as you see in the +picture,) and they would kneel down and say their evening prayer. A +pleasant sight, indeed, to see our dear children remembering their +Creator in the days of their youth. Mrs. S. was "useful, beloved, +meek, humble, and charitable." She lived a happy, cheerful life; she +was an ornament to her Christian profession, a "good mother." She died +suddenly at the good old age of eighty-eight. + + + * * * * * + + +MOTHER'S LAST LESSON. + + +"Will you please teach me my verse, mamma, and then kiss me and bid me +good night," said little Roger, as he opened the door and peeped into +the chamber of his sick mother. "I am very sleepy, but no one has +heard me say my prayers." Mrs. L. was very ill, and her friends +believed her to be dying. She sat propped up with pillows and +struggling for breath, her eyes were growing dim, and her strength was +failing very fast. She was a widow, and little Roger was her only +darling child. He had been in the habit of coming into her room every +night, and sitting in her lap, or kneeling by her side, while she +repeated some Scripture passages to him, or related a story of wise +and good people. She always loved to hear Roger's verse and prayer. + +"Hush! hush!" said the lady who was watching beside the couch. "Your +dear mamma is too ill to hear you to night." And as she said this, she +came forward and laid her hand gently upon his arm as if she would +lead him from the room. "I cannot go to bed to night," said the little +boy, "without saying my prayers--I cannot." + +Roger's dying mother heard his voice, and his sobs, and although she +had been nearly insensible to everything around her, yet she requested +the attendant lady to bring the boy and lay him near her side. Her +request was granted, and the child's rosy cheek nestled in the bosom +of his dying mother. + +"Now you may repeat this verse after me," said his mother, "and never +forget it: 'When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take +me up.'" The child repeated it three times--then he kissed the pale +cheek of his mother, and went quietly to his little couch. + +The next morning he sought as usual for his mother, but she was now +cold and motionless. She died soon after little Roger retired to his +bed. That was her last lesson to her darling boy---he did not forget +it. He has grown to be a man and occupies a high post of honor in +Massachusetts. I never can look upon him without thinking about the +faith so beautifully exhibited by his dying mother. It was a good +lesson. + + + * * * * * + + +THE GOLDEN CROWN. + + +A teacher once asked a child, "If you had a golden crown, what would +you do with it?" The child replied, "I would give it to my father to +keep till I was a man." He asked another. "I would buy a coach and +horses with it," was the reply. He asked a third. "Oh," said the +little girl to whom he spoke, "I would do with it the same as the +people in heaven do with their crowns. I would cast it at the +Saviour's feet." + + + * * * * * + + +EARLY AT SCHOOL. + + +One Sabbath evening a teacher was walking up and down in the porch +before his house, in one of the South Sea Islands. The sun was setting +behind the waves of the ocean, and the labors of the day were over. In +that cool, quiet hour, the teacher was in prayer, asking a blessing on +his people, his scholars, and himself. As he heard the leaves of the +Mimosa tree rustling, he thought the breeze was springing up--and +continued his walk. Again he heard the leaves rattle, and he felt sure +that it could not be the wind. So he pushed aside the long leafy +branches of the trees, and passed beneath. And what did he find there? +Three little boys. Two were fast asleep in each other's arms, but the +third was awake. + +"What are you doing there, my children?" asked the teacher. "We have +come to sleep here," said the boy. "And why do you sleep here; have +you no home?" "Oh, yes," said the lad, "but if we sleep here, we are +sure to be ready when the school bell rings in the morning." "And do +your parents know about it?" "Mine do," said the lad, "but these +little boys have no parents; they are orphans." + +You know the nights in the South Sea Islands are not cold and damp +like ours, but as the teacher thought a heavy rain would fall in the +night, he roused the orphans, and led the three little boys into the +large porch of the house where they might rest in safety. He was happy +to find that they were some of his scholars, and that they loved their +school. What would these little Islanders think if they could look +from their distant homes into some of our schools and see how many +late comers there are! + + + * * * * * + + +THE PLUM BOYS. + + +Two boys were one day on their way from school, and as they were +passing a cornfield, in which there were some plum trees, full of +nice, ripe fruit, Henry said to Thomas, "Let us jump over and get some +plums. Nobody will see us, and we can scud along through the corn and +come out on the other side." + +Thomas said, "I cannot. It is wrong to do so. I would rather not have +the plums than to steal them, and I think I will run along home." + +"You are a coward," said Henry, "I always knew you were a coward, and +if you don't want any plums you may go without them, but I shall have +some very quick." + +Just as Henry was climbing the fence, the owner of the field rose up +from the other side of the wall, and Henry jumped back and ran away. +Thomas had no reason to be afraid, so he stood still, and the owner of +the field, who had heard the conversation between the boys, told him +that he was very glad to see that he was not willing to be a thief. He +then told Thomas that he might step over the fence and help himself to +as many plums as he wished. The boy was pleased with the invitation, +and soon filled his pockets with plums which he could call his own. +Honesty will always get its reward. + + + * * * * * + + +THE FIRST DOLLAR. + + +I will tell you an affecting story about a young lad by the name of +Emerson Terry, who lived in Hartford, Ct. He was very kind to the +poor, and could never see the sufferings of his fellow beings without +making an effort for their relief. Here is one instance of his +kindness and liberality: + +While he resided in Bristol, his father, Dr. Terry, took little +Emerson with him to ride into Hartford that he might see the city. +Emerson had one dollar, and it was the first dollar he ever earned. He +took the dollar with him, thinking to buy something with it in the +city. While they were riding along on the way, they overtook a poor +fugitive slave seeking his freedom in the North. Mr. Terry kindly took +the wayfaring man into his carriage when the poor man related to him +his sufferings and poverty, and also his trust in God. Young Emerson's +heart was touched, when, of his own accord, he drew out his _first_ +and _only_ dollar and gave it to the poor fugitive. When he returned +home he told his mother what he had done, with a satisfaction that +indicated his pleasure in being able to relieve a suffering stranger. +How noble was this act. He felt willing to forego the pleasure of +spending his dollar for himself, for any pleasing toys that he might +help a poor wanderer on the earth. When he was fifteen years of age, +he was drowned in the Connecticut river. He was beloved and respected +by a large circle of acquaintance. He was noted for his kind +disposition, tender feelings, and lovely spirit. He sleeps in peace, +and we all hope to meet him in heaven. + + + * * * * * + + +THE SHEPHERD AND HIS BIBLE. + + +A poor shepherd, living among the Alps, the father of a large family, +for whose wants he provided with great difficulty, purchased an old +Bible from a dealer in old cloths and furniture. On Sunday evening, as +he was turning over the leaves, he noticed several of them were pasted +together. He immediately began to separate the pasted leaves with +great care. Inside of these leaves he found carefully enclosed a bank +bill of five hundred dollars. On the margin of one of the pages was +written these words: "I gathered together money with very great +difficulty, but having no natural heirs but those who have absolutely +need of nothing, I make thee, whosoever shall read this Bible, my +natural heir." + +We cannot promise our young friends that they will find money in the +leaves of their Bibles, but you may be assured that if you study its +pages, and follow its precepts, you will find wisdom, which is better +than silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. + + + * * * * * + + +REVELATION OF GOD'S HOLY WORD. + + + Ye favored lands, rejoice + Where God reveals his word: + We are not left to nature's voice + To bid us know the Lord. + + His statutes and commands + Are set before our eyes; + He puts the gospel in our hands, + Where our salvation lies. + + His laws are just and pure, + His truth without deceit; + His promise is for ever sure, + And his rewards are great. + + + * * * * * + + +PLEASANT PLAY. + + +There are many plays in which children may amuse themselves so as to +benefit both the mind and body. Exercise is very essential to the +health, and all children should accustom themselves to such exercise +as will give elasticity too all the muscles of the body. Some +children often play too hard, and others, before they get through +playing, get to quarrelling. Children never appear so badly as when +they quarrel with each other. Joseph and William, Jane and little +Susan, are out in the garden playing "hide and seek," around the +summer house. William became a little contrary, because everything in +the play did not suit him, and declared he would run away. Children +should never let anger rise in their bosoms because of some small +mistake on the part of others. They should always overlook all +mistakes, forgive all injuries, and learn to love each other when at +play, as well as when at school. Good children will play together, +without getting angry, and it is a pretty sight to see such children +all happy in each other's society and enjoying their pleasant pastimes +with cheerful and happy hearts. + + Our evil actions spring like trees, + From small and hidden seeds; + We think, or wish some wicked thing, + And then do wicked deeds. + + Whoever dares to tell a lie, + Whoever steals a pin, + Whoever strikes an angry blow, + Has done a deed of sin. + + + * * * * * + + +GEORGE AND HIS GUINEA. + + +Little George Ames went with his aunt to attend a missionary meeting. +After the minister had ended his sermon, as he sat in the pew he +whispered to his aunt, saying, "I wish you would lend me a guinea and +I will give it to you again when we get home." His aunt asked him what +he wanted of his guinea; he told her he wished to put it in the box +when it came round, to assist in sending the gospel to the heathen +children. She replied, "a guinea is a great deal of money, George; you +had better ask your mother, first." As George's mother lived very near +the church, he went home immediately, and said, "Mother, will you let +me have my guinea to give to the mission?" George's mother saw that he +was very much interested for the heathen children, and says to him, +"supposing you give half of it." "No," said George, "I want to give it +all." "Well, my dear, you will remember you cannot give it and have +it too." She then gave him a one pound note, and a shilling. But +George said he would rather have a guinea. "Why," said his mother, +"what difference can it make? it is just the same amount." "Yes," said +George, "but that one pound will seem so much for a little boy to +give. If I had a guinea, I could put it in between two half-pence and +nobody would know anything about it." His mother was pleased with his +proposal, and George having got his guinea returned to the church and +put it in the box as he intended. + +Little George is now dead, and there is no danger of his being puffed +up by what he has done. You may learn from this act of George, how to +do some good to poor heathen children. You should be willing to deny +yourselves some pleasures in order that you may benefit others. And if +you do good out of a pure motive you will be blessed in the deed. + + + * * * * * + + +THE JEW AND HIS DAUGHTER. + + +A Jew came to this country from London, many years ago, and brought +with him all his property. He had a lovely daughter of seventeen; with +her he settled in a charming retreat on the fruitful banks of the +Ohio, in the Western part of Virginia. He had buried his wife before +he left Europe, and he knew no comfort but the company of his beloved +daughter. She possessed an amiable disposition, and was well educated; +she could speak several languages, and her manner pleased all who knew +her. Being a Jew, he brought up his daughter in the strictest +principles of his faith. + +It was not long after that his daughter was taken sick. The rose faded +from her cheek, her strength failed, and it was certain that she could +not live long. Her father was deeply affected. He tried to talk with +her, but could seldom speak without weeping. He spared no expense to +have her get well. One day he was walking in the wood near his house +when he was sent for by his dying daughter. With a heavy heart he +entered the door of her room, and he saw that he was now to take the +last farewell of his daughter. + +"My father," said the child, "do you love me?" "Yes," he replied, "you +know that I love you." "I know, father, you have ever loved me. You +have been a kind father, and I tenderly love you. Grant me my dying +request." + +"What is it, my child? ask what you will, though it take every +farthing of my property, it shall be granted. I _will grant_ your +request." + +"My dear father, I now beg of you never again to speak lightly of +Jesus of Nazareth; I know that he is a Saviour, and that he has made +himself known to me, since I have been sick, even for the salvation of +my soul. I entreat you to obtain a Testament that tells of him and +that you may bestow on him the love that was formerly _mine_." She now +ceased speaking, her father left the room, when her soul took its +flight to God who gave it. After her decease the parent purchased a +Testament and read about Jesus of Nazareth, and is now a devoted +Christian. Good children may be made blessings to their parents and +friends. + + + * * * * * + + +ANECDOTES. + + +TRUE BENIFICENCE.--Mark Antony, when very much depressed, and at the +ebb of his fortune, cried out, "I have lost all, except what I have +given away." + +WASHINGTON AND THE SOLDIER.--A British soldier said, "It was once in +my power to shoot Gen. Washington." "Why, then," said an American, +"did you not do it?" "Because," he replied, "the death of Washington +would not have been for our benefit, for we depended upon him to treat +our prisoners kindly." + +YES AND NO.--John Randolph, in one of his letters to a young relative, +says: "You must expect unreasonable requests to be preferred to you +every day of your life; and you must endeavor to say _no_ with as much +facility and kindness as you would say _yes_." + +OSCEOLA.--It is said that the name of Osceola was given to that famous +chief by an old lady in a frontier village, who had newly arrived in +the country, and had never seen an Indian. When she seen him she burst +forth in utter astonishment--"Oh see! Oh la! What a curious looking +man!" + +SIGISMOND.--This Emperor was once reproached by some courtiers for +being favorable to his foes--to whom he replied, "Do I not effectually +destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?" + + + * * * * * + + +CHINESE PROVERBS. + + +What is told in the ear is often heard a hundred miles. + +Riches come better after poverty, than poverty after riches. + +Who aims at excellence will be above medirocity; who aims at medirocity +will fall short of it. + +No remedies can revive old age and faded flowers. + +A truly great man never puts away the simplicity of a child. + +He who toils with pain will eat with pleasure. + +A wise man forgets old grudges. + + + * * * * * + + +Those that dare lose a day are dangerously prodigal; those that dare +misspend it, desperate.--_Bishop Hall_. + +Truth enters into the heart of man when it is empty, and clean and +still; but when the mind is shaken with passion as with a storm, you +can never hear the voice of the charmer, though he charm never so +wisely. + + + * * * * * + + +COMFORT AND SOBRIETY. + +Let me here give you a few maxims to commit to memory:---- + +Avoid and shun the sources of misery. + +Be sure not to _indulge_ your appetite. + +Strong drink excites a person to do wrong. + +Remember you are never out of temptation. + +A _life of virtue and temperence_ will secure to you money and time; +will give you health, and prosperity, peace, character, respect, and +usefulness. + + +PLEDGE. + + + Our hands and our hearts we give + To the temperance pledge, declaring + That long as on earth we live, + All its bountiful blessings sharing, + + We will taste not and touch not the bowl + That burns with intoxication, + And will lend our assistance to roll + The temperance ball through the nation. + + + * * * * * + + +THE TRUSTY DOG. + + +I am glad to introduce to you, the noble dog whose picture is before +you. He was an old and tried friend of mine, and I could tell you a +great many things about him. He was more trust-worthy than many a +little child that I have known; for though circumstances have thrown +me in the way of many beautiful children, some of the little ones with +whom I have met, were not so truthful and trusty as they ought to have +been. + +[Illustration: "Erie," the trusty dog.] + +But I must not forget the work I commenced; and run off into telling +you stories of bad children rather than of the good dog. I know that +you are already interested in this noble fellow, by this fine portrait +of him. Hasn't he a beautiful face. It is as kind and good natured a +dog as you ever saw. Now you want to know his name; and, perhaps some +of you are feeling curious by this time, to know what he is doing with +that great basket which he holds in his mouth, I will first tell you +his name, and then come to the question of the basket. His name was +"Erie." Mayhap you never knew a dog by this name. It is very peculiar +to call a dog "Erie," but, as this was an extraordinary wise dog, he +deserved a name somewhat different from ordinary dogs. + +Now I will proceed to my story which is true, and may be believed as +well as wondered at. + +"Erie" had great many wonderful tricks. He seemed to understand what +was said to him, and would obey promptly any person in whom he had +confidence, when they told him to do anything which was in his power +to do. You could trust him to carry any article which he could hold in +his mouth, He would take it to any place you might name, where he was +accustomed to go, and give to the person you told him to give it to, +and never to any other, under any circumstances. If he could not find +the person to whom the article was sent, he would surely return it to +you with a knowing look which seemed to say, "I tried to do my errand +but couldn't." He was usually very good natured, but on such +occasions, when he was entrusted with the care of anything; he did not +like to be interfered with, and if any one attempted to touch anything +which he held in his mouth he would growl at them in a most ferocious +manner, as if he would say, "Take care, this is not yours, and I shall +treat you harshly if you undertake to carry off what belongs to +another." + +His master used to love hunting very much, and "Erie" almost always +went with him. At such times he was very fond of carrying the game bag +in his mouth. There was a closet in the house where his master kept +his guns powder, flasks, and all things necessary for hunting. One day +Mr. A. left for [the] woods with his gun, while the dog was absent +from home. He had gone about a mile, when he thought of his powder +flask which in the haste of leaving home he had forgotten. He turned +back regretting that he had taken so many unnecessary steps, when his +eye fell upon "Erie" running toward him with great speed holding the +powder flask in his mouth. The dog had returned home and finding his +master gone, had examined the closet, the door of which had been left +ajar, and found the gun gone while the flask was left; he seemed to +know this ought not to be, and seizing the flask in his mouth he +pursued his master and carried him the important article. + +Mr. A. taught him to carry meat home from the market, and he was never +known to eat it, or allow any other dog to take it from him. + +This was very convenient for the family. Often when Mr. A. was in +haste, he would write a note telling the butcher what meat to send him +for his dinner. This note he would put into the bottom of the meat +basket, and give the basket to "Erie," telling him which market he was +to go to, and reminding him to be sure and come back quickly. In a few +moments the dog would return with the dinner as safely as a child +could have done. + +One day as he was going home from the market, the basket was heavy, +having in it a large piece of meat. "Erie" grew very tired and set the +basket down on the pavement to rest his mouth a moment. At this moment +a large black dog was passing, who, smelling the meat, thought he +would like a piece for his own dinner; so walking up to the basket he +attempted to thrust his nose in and help himself. "Erie" gave one of +his ferocious warning growls, which said as plain as words, "Take +care, take care." At first the other dog retreated a little, but being +very hungry he again approached the basket. + +"Erie" seemed really to reason about the matter. He knew that the +other dog was determined to steal the meat which was especially +entrusted to _his_ care. It was as if he thought to himself, "Now if I +stop to fight with this dog, some other dog may come and run away with +my meat, my only safety is flight," so seizing up the basket he fled +as fast as his legs could carry him toward home. The large dog pursued +him a little way, but "Erie" out-ran him and reached home in safety, +As soon as he had deposited the basket in the hands of his mistress, +he turned and ran down street again as fast as he could, in search of +the thieving dog, whose dishonesty he seemed to think he must punish. +After searching a long time he found him playing with a number of +other dogs, and I never saw a dog take a worse whipping than "Erie" +gave him. + +Now my dear children as you read this story, ask yourselves if you are +as honest and trustworthy as this noble dog was. You know that you may +be much better than he; for God has made you wiser and given you power +to do much, more than any animal. + + + * * * * * + + +THE UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE. + + +Josiah Martin was a young man of whom any mother might have been +proud. He was an only child, and had been the support of his widowed +mother for five years; though at the time when we first knew him he +was not twenty. + +And this was not all. He was so frugal, and industrious, that he was +able, besides providing for himself and mother, to contribute largely +toward the support of his aunt Eleanor and her daughter, who were very +poor, and without his help, might have suffered oftentimes for want of +the necessaries of life. + +In return for his care, he had a wealth of love bestowed upon him by +mother, aunt and cousin, who often said, and often felt in their +hearts, that Josiah was as good a boy as ever lived. He enjoyed +perfect health, and had naturally a merry heart, so that every day of +his life, he was as happy as the birds. He expected to continue so, +through many long years: and never thought of dying until he got to be +an old man. + +One pleasant summer morning, he rose early and prepared to leave home +to be absent a week. He had agreed to go and help Mr. Brown about +harvesting, and the farm being five miles from where his mother lived, +he could not come home before Saturday night. He bade his mother an +affectionate good morning, and started cheerily on his way. The road +ran by aunt Eleanor's door, so he thought he would just peep in, and +see how she was and tell her that he should not see her again for +several days. + +The old lady did not seem as well as usual, and "wished heartily," she +said, that Josiah wasn't going away. + +"Why, I shall be back," said he "in six days, and can come sooner, if +any of you need me." + +"You should not speak so positive about it," said aunt Eleanor, "you +may never come back again." + +"Oh fye, auntie, you've got the blues this morning! I shall be back +just as sure as Saturday night comes." + +"Don't be too certain my boy; life and death are not in our hands; you +may be called any hour." + +[Illustration] + +"Now auntie, don't get gloomy about such a hale stout boy as I am; +who never saw a sick day in his life, and don't know what pain is. Why +see how strong I am," and laughingly he bent down, and lifting his +cousin with one arm and his great dog with the other, he tripped +lightly over the threshold. "There, auntie," he cried, "I could carry +off your whole establishment, almost as easy as Samson did the gates +of Gaza." + +Though the old lady smiled at the moment the cloud came back again to +her face, and through the open door she watched him as long as her +misty eyes could distinguish him in the distance. + +As merry, as strong, and as full of life as ever, the young man went +to his work that morning. Arrived at the harvest field, he took off +his coat and went in among the laborers, saying that he thought he +could outwork them all that day, he felt so vigorous. The sun was +exceeding hot, the air sultry and close, and the laborers, in spite of +their determination and strength, grew very weary when the sun was +high in the heavens. About eleven o'clock, a boy came from the house +and brought them a jug of cold water. Josiah took it first, and drank +of it until they all called to him to stop. He did not heed them, but +being very thirsty, drank until he was satisfied; then stooped to set +the jug on the ground, and fell down beside it a corpse. + +Thus suddenly, in the prime of his young life, was he called into +eternity. In a moment from perfect health, he passed to death. + +I seem to hear you saying, little reader, "This was very sudden; but +surely such unexpected deaths are rare, I shall not die in that way." +That you cannot tell, you must go in the time that God appoints, it +may be before another sunset. But whether it be sooner or later that +you are called home to heaven, would you not love to leave with your +friends the memory of as good a life as this of which you have been +reading. On the neat white slab that shows where Josiah sleeps it +says, "Here lies a good boy, who blessed the world while he lived in +it." Go ye little readers and do likewise. + + * * * * * + + 'Tis well to walk with a cheerful heart + Wherever our fortunes call, + With a friendly glance, an open hand, + And a gentle word for all. + Since life is a thorny and difficult path + Where toil is the portion of man, + We all should endeavor, while passing along, + To make it us smooth as we can. + + + * * * * * + + +THE FIRST DECEPTION. + + +When I was a boy, and attended school, I was like a great many other +boys, more inclined to play and read story books than I was to study +my lessons; it was a rule at our school to carry a book home every +night and study the lesson for the following day; but I would avoid +this by some deception, and of course the next morning my recitation +would be very imperfect. + +One morning I awoke quite early, and I remembered that we were to have +a very difficult lesson on that morning, and I had neglected it that I +might join in a game of foot-ball. It was too late then to commit it +to memory, and I felt ashamed to go to school without it, for I knew +that I should be punished, and be obliged to remain in at recess to +make up the lesson. I did not want to play truant, for I was fearful +of detection, so I went to my father and feigned headache, and plead +that I might remain at home that day. The wish was granted, and for a +moment I felt relieved, but at breakfast or dinner, I was not allowed +to eat anything; I was obliged to remain in doors all day, although +the sun was shining brightly out of doors, and with a conscience +restless and reproving me all the time, I passed a wretched day. + +My father, always kind and attentive to his children, would lay his +hand upon my head and pity me, so that my heart ached when I thought +how wickedly I was deceiving him. The day passed, and I went to my +bed, but I could not sleep. I had told my father a lie, and the +thought of it lay like a weight upon my heart. I slept a little, but +it was a troubled and unhappy sleep. When I arose in the morning, I +went to my father, and with tearful eyes confessed my deception. He +was surprised and grieved. I stood before him with my head hung down, +feeling thoroughly ashamed. I asked forgiveness of him and it was +granted. I was then told to go to school and tell the teacher of my +fault, and promise never to attempt such a wrong again. + +I have grown a man since then, but the memory of that error is still +fresh in my mind. It was the last time I ever attempted to deceive my +father. I have no father or mother now, but the lesson which that day +I learned, will guard me through life from any attempt at deceiving +those to whom I am indebted for kindness and love. If any little boy +should read this story, let him be mindful and avoid all temptations, +which, if yielded to, will cause him in after years many bitter pangs +and hearty remorse. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pearl Box, by A Pastor + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11237 *** |