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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13424 ***
+
+HONORING PARENTS
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+HONORING PARENTS.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Prepared for the Massachusetts S.S. Society, and revised by the
+Committee of Publication._
+
+BOSTON:
+
+MASS. SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY,
+Depository, No. 13 Cornhill.
+
+1851.
+
+
+
+
+HONORING PARENTS.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I suppose all my young readers have learned the fifth commandment,
+and have often been told that children should honor their parents by
+cheerful and prompt obedience to all their commands. This is one way in
+which parents should be honored continually.
+
+But there is another way by which you may not only show that you feel
+respect for your father and mother yourself, but you may force others to
+feel the same respect for them.
+
+That you may understand what I mean, I will tell you a story of a little
+boy who, for _once_, at least in his life, honored his mother. This
+was not by any command, however, for she was not with him at the time,
+and I do not suppose that she ever heard of the circumstance which I am
+about to tell you.
+
+One morning, a teacher entered her school of about sixty children,
+accompanied by another young lady,--her friend. The children did not
+cluster around as thickly as usual. Some quietly took their seats; and
+others, disliking the restraint of a stranger's presence, ran into the
+play-ground. But nine o'clock soon came; and the teacher, having
+conducted her friend to a seat where she might observe what passed
+around her, rang a small bell, and the seats were soon filled with rosy
+cheeks and smiling countenances. The morning hymn was sung, and then all
+knelt to implore the blessing of him who loved little children when he
+was in the world, and who loves them no less now he is in heaven. They
+rose from their knees; and soon the teacher was busied with classes, and
+the children who could study, with their books.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Miss H. (the stranger) soon became interested in watching the movement
+of six or eight little boys, of four years old, who occupied a low bench
+near her. The smallest of these was a little black-eyed boy, who moved
+about on the seat as much as any one, and made rather more than his
+share of noise. He had a little book of pictures, which he was eagerly
+displaying to the little ones around him; and several times had his
+earnest explanations been interrupted by the voice of the teacher,
+saying, "Willy, my dear, you must look at the pictures without talking;"
+when a rude boy stepped up and snatched it from his hand.
+
+Now, what would you have done, if you had been in Willy's place just
+then? Would you have struck your naughty little playmate, or called him
+bad names? or should you have tried to snatch the book back again? Willy
+knew a better way. He looked troubled, indeed, at first. He asked for
+the book in a very coaxing tone; but when he found that the selfish
+Henry would not give it up, he quietly turned away to find amusement
+in something else.
+
+A little girl, who sat near, now handed Willy a large yellow-covered
+book, full of beautiful painted pictures. His eyes now sparkled more
+brightly than ever, as he began to turn over the leaves. Soon Henry
+spied the pretty book; and not at all ashamed of his unkindness, he
+moved towards Willy, and began to look over his shoulder. Would you not
+have pushed him away, or at least have turned round so as to conceal the
+book? But Willy held it towards him and pointed to the bright pictures
+as pleasantly as if Henry had never been unkind to him.
+
+When school had closed, and the children had left the room, Miss H. said
+to the teacher, "Who is that little boy you called Willy?" "His name is
+William D----," said the teacher; "but why do you wish to know?"
+"Because I know he has a _good mother_," was the reply.
+
+Now, how did this stranger, who never spoke to the little boy in her
+life, know that he had a good mother? Was it not by his kind and
+forgiving conduct to Henry? Yes; she knew that some good mother had
+taught little Willy not to return evil for evil, but to do good to those
+that used him spitefully. It was true, Willy's mother loved the meek and
+forgiving Saviour, and tried to teach her little boy to love him and be
+like him. And was she not honored, when the conduct of her son told
+every one that he had a good mother?
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Dear children, can you not thus honor _your_ parents? But instead
+of this, some children take the opportunity, when they are away from
+their parents, to disobey all their wishes and instructions, and thus
+lead those who see them to suppose that they have not been taught to
+do right. O, how dreadful, that the conduct of a child should cause a
+stranger to say, "I know he has a _bad_ mother!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Honoring Parents, by Anonymous
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13424 ***