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diff --git a/16185-h/16185-h.htm b/16185-h/16185-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e24a3b --- /dev/null +++ b/16185-h/16185-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6413 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Nest in the Honeysuckles, and Other Stories, Written for the American Sunday-School Union. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + + ul.TOC { list-style-type: none; + position: relative; + width: 85%; + } + ul.LOI { list-style-type: none; + position: relative; + width: 85%; + } + span.ralign {position: absolute; right: 0; top: auto;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Nest in the Honeysuckles, and other +Stories, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Nest in the Honeysuckles, and other Stories + +Author: Various + +Editor: American Sunday School Union + +Release Date: July 2, 2005 [EBook #16185] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES *** + + + + +Produced by Bethanne M. Simms, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h3>Frontispiece.</h3><p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></p> + + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="Mrs_Dudley_stood_by_her_little_boy_looking_from_the_window" id="Mrs_Dudley_stood_by_her_little_boy_looking_from_the_window"></a> +<img src="images/image001.png" width="468" height="580" alt="Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy, looking from the window." title="Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy, looking from the window." /> +<span class="caption">Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy, looking from the window.</span> +</p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + + + +<h3>THE<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></h3> + +<h1>Nest in the Honeysuckles,</h1> + +<h2>AND OTHER STORIES.</h2> + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 354px;"> +<img src="images/image002.png" width="354" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> + +<p class="center">WRITTEN FOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.</p> + +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> + +<p class="center"><big>Philadelphia:</big><br /> +AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,<br /> +No. 316 CHESTNUT STREET.<br /> +<i>NEW YORK:</i> No. 147 NASSAU ST.<br /> +<i>BOSTON:</i> No. 9 CORNHILL....<i>CINCINNATI:</i> 41 WEST FOURTH ST.<br /> +<i>LOUISVILLE</i>: No. 103 FOURTH ST.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="center"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a> +<i>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by the<br /> +AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,<br /> +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of +Pennsylvania.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>No books are published by the <span class="smcap">American Sunday-School Union</span> +without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of fourteen +members, from the following denominations of Christians, viz. Baptist, +Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and +Reformed Dutch. Not more than three of the members can be of the same +denomination, and no book can be published to which any member of the +Committee shall object.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<ul class="TOC"> +<li><span class="ralign">PAGE</span><br /> +<br /> +</li> + +<li><a href="#THE_NEST_IN_THE_HONEYSUCKLES"><b>THE NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER II. GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER III. PLEASANT NEIGHBOURS.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER IV. HOME DUTIES AND HOME PLEASURES.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER V. HOME LIFE AND HOME EDUCATION.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></span><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><b>CHAPTER VI. GOING ABROAD.</b></span></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#MAY_I_POP_SOME_CORN"><b>"MAY I POP SOME CORN?"</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#WHICH_WOULD_YOU_RATHER_I_SHOULD_DO"><b>"WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER I SHOULD DO?"</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_BIRDS_AND_THE_SNOW-STORM"><b>THE BIRDS AND THE SNOW-STORM.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_FIRST_STRAWBERRY"><b>THE FIRST STRAWBERRY.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#I_PRAYED_ALL_DAY_FOR_HELP"><b>"I PRAYED ALL DAY FOR HELP."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#EVER_SO_MANY_BEAUTIFUL_THINGS"><b>"EVER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#LILY_AND_HER_DUCKLINGS"><b>LILY AND HER DUCKLINGS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#PRAYING_FOR_RAIN"><b>PRAYING FOR RAIN.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_GRAPE-CLUSTERS"><b>THE GRAPE-CLUSTERS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#IT_ALMOST_MAKES_ME_CRY"><b>"IT ALMOST MAKES ME CRY."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_BOY_WHO_STEALS"><b>THE BOY WHO STEALS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#LOOK_AT_THE_BIRDS"><b>LOOK AT THE BIRDS!</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_LOST_CHILD"><b>THE LOST CHILD.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_UNPLEASANT_NEIGHBOUR"><b>THE UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOUR.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_BOY_WHO_KEPT_HIS_PURPOSE"><b>THE BOY WHO KEPT HIS PURPOSE.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#MARYS_STORY"><b>MARY'S STORY.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_SUNNY_FACE_AND_THE_SHADY_FACE"><b>THE SUNNY FACE, AND THE SHADY FACE; OR, JUNE AND NOVEMBER.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#IT_ISNT_FAIR_I_PEEPED"><b>"IT ISN'T FAIR. I PEEPED."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></span><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_CHRYSALIS"><b>THE CHRYSALIS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_COTTAGE"><b>CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#I_WILL_CONQUER_MYSELF"><b>I WILL CONQUER MYSELF.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#SELFISH_ELLA"><b>SELFISH ELLA.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#OUR_FATHER_WHO_ART_IN_HEAVEN"><b>"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#HATTIE_AND_HERBERT"><b>HATTIE AND HERBERT.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_TWO_WILLS"><b>THE TWO WILLS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#BLESS_GOD_FOR_THIS_DOLL"><b>"BLESS GOD FOR THIS DOLL."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#BESSIE_HARTWELL"><b>BESSIE HARTWELL.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#MARYS_GREAT_TREASURE"><b>"MARY'S GREAT TREASURE"</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#SUSAN_WILL_BE_HAPPIER_IF_I_GO_WITH_HER"><b>"SUSAN WILL BE HAPPIER IF I GO WITH HER."</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_NEWS-BOYS_BANK"><b>THE NEWS-BOYS' BANK.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#IDAS_DRESS"><b>IDA'S DRESS.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#WHAT_MADE_WILLIE_HAPPY"><b>WHAT MADE WILLIE HAPPY.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#DO_YOU_INTEND_TO_BE_A_GENTLEMAN"><b>DO YOU INTEND TO BE A GENTLEMAN? (A QUESTION FOR BOYS.)</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#GENEROUS_NELLY"><b>GENEROUS NELLY; OR, THE WILLING MIND.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#LOVEST_THOU_ME"><b>LOVEST THOU ME?</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#MY_LITTLE_BAG"><b>MY LITTLE BAG.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#DO_YOU_LIKE_YOUR_SEAT"><b>DO YOU LIKE YOUR SEAT?</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#THE_LITTLE_BEGGAR"><b>THE LITTLE BEGGAR.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#LITTLE_CHARLEY"><b>LITTLE CHARLEY.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#DARLING_WILLIE"><b>DARLING WILLIE.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#WIDOW_CAHOON_AND_HER_GRANDSON"><b>WIDOW CAHOON AND HER GRANDSON.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></span><br /><br /> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<ul class="LOI"> +<li><a href="#Mrs_Dudley_stood_by_her_little_boy_looking_from_the_window"><b>Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy, looking from the window.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#Eddie_popping_corn"><b>Eddie popping corn.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#The_lady_was_sitting_at_her_desk_writing_when_the_boys_entered"><b>The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys entered.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#I_wouldnt_be_so_mean"><b>"I wouldn't be so mean."</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#His_mother_kissed_his_plump_brown_cheek"><b>His mother kissed his plump, brown cheek.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#First_interview_with_the_news-boy"><b>First interview with the news-boy.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#Nelly_brought_forth_her_purse"><b>Nelly brought forth her purse.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#The_elder_held_out_her_hand"><b>The elder held out her hand.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +<li><a href="#Willie_was_one_day_sitting_with_his_grandmother_by_the_open_window"><b>Willie was one day sitting with his grandmother by the open window.</b></a><br /><br /> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_NEST_IN_THE_HONEYSUCKLES" id="THE_NEST_IN_THE_HONEYSUCKLES"></a>THE NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 147px;"> +<img src="images/image003.png" width="147" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<p>"Do come here, mother," said +Eddie, carefully tip-toeing from +the window, and beckoning +with his hand. "Here is something +I want to show you. +Come carefully, or I am afraid +you will frighten it."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley laid aside her book, and stepped cautiously +forward, Eddie leading the way back to the +window. "What is it?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"It is a bird with straw in its mouth, and I do +believe it is going to build a nest."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy a few minutes, +looking from the window. Presently a robin alighted +on the walnut tree, directly before them, with a bunch +of dry grass in its mouth. It rested a few seconds, +and then flew in among the branches of a honey<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>suckle +which twined around the pillars, and crept +over the top of the porch. A fine, warm place it +was for a nest, sheltered from the north winds, and +from the driving rains, and from the hot rays of the +noon-day sun.</p> + +<p>Eddie and his mother watched the bird for some +time. It would bring straws, and arrange them in +its nest, as only a bird can; and then it would away +again, and come back, perhaps, with its bill covered +and filled with mud, which it used for mortar in +fastening the materials in their places. Then it +would get in the nest, and, moving its feet and +wings, would make it just the right shape to hold +the pretty eggs she would lay in it, and the little +robins she would love so well, and feed so carefully.</p> + +<p>The robin was industrious, and worked hard to +get the house finished in season. I think she must +have been very tired when night came, and she flew +away to her perch to rest till morning. I do not see +how she could balance herself so nicely on one foot, +as she slept with her head turned back, and half-hidden +beneath her wing.</p> + +<p>Eddie often watched the robin during the day. +He was careful not to frighten it. "I wonder how +the robin could find so nice a place. I should not +have thought it would have known about it,"—he +said to his mother, as he saw the bird fly in, almost +out of sight, among the clustering branches.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley told Eddie God taught the birds +<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>where to build their nests, and that he took care of +them, and provided food for them.</p> + +<p>Is it not wonderful that God, who has built the +world in which we live, and all the bright worlds we +can see in the sky, should attend to the wants of the +robins and sparrows, and other birds which he has +made? We should forget them, if we had much of +importance to attend to, or we should be weary of +providing for their wants; but our heavenly Father +never forgets, and never grows weary. He hears +the ravens when they cry, and not even a sparrow +falls to the ground without his knowledge. "Are +ye not much better than they?" our Saviour said to +his disciples, when endeavouring to teach them to +trust in the love and parental care of God, and not +to be anxious in regard to their temporal welfare.</p> + +<p>If God so cares for the birds, whose lives are +short, and who have no souls to live in another +world, will he not much more care for those who +are made in his image, and for whom the Saviour +died?</p> + +<p>No good thing will he withhold from those who +walk uprightly, who try to obey his commandments, +and look to Christ for salvation from sin. I hope, +my dear children, when you see the birds, you will +remember God's love to them and to you.</p> + +<p>I have given you all I know of the history of one +day of the robin's life, but Eddie will observe it +while it lives in its house in the honeysuckle, and +<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>will tell me all he sees of its domestic arrangements. +I hope to tell you with what kind of a carpet it +covers the floor, and what it hangs on the walls, and +how it brings up its little children, if it should be +so happy as to have any to gladden its quiet home, +and cheer it with their chattering tongues. I am +sure it will have pretty flowers and green leaves for +pictures to look at, painted by One whose skill no +artist can rival; and it will need no Cologne for perfume +for the breath of the honeysuckle is more +delicious than any odour which the art of man could +prepare.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING.</h4> + + +<p>I promised to tell you more about the nest in +the honeysuckles. Eddie has observed it with +great attention, and has kept me well informed in +regard to it. I have stepped out upon the porch +with him, and, kneeling down, and looking over the +side, I have had a peep myself at this wonderfully +contrived home of the robins. It is partly supported +by a cornice, which runs around the porch, +and gives it a firmer foundation than the small +branches of the honeysuckle could do.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>But I must not forget to tell you about the finishing +of the nest. The second day, the robin was at +work before six o'clock in the morning; so you see +birds are early risers, and like to have their work +done in good season. They know how pleasant it is +to see the rosy dawn, and welcome it with their +sweetest strains of music. I wonder how many of +my little friends see the sun rise, these bright mornings! +If they would awake with the birds, they +must, as wisely as the birds, go to their places of +rest before the shades of evening shroud the world +in darkness. If they sit up late, they will lose the +morning songs, which fill the woods with sounds of +gladness, and which resound from every tree and +shrub about the houses of those who love these pleasant +visitors, and refuse to allow them to be frightened +from their premises.</p> + +<p>The robin rose early, as I have told you, and +resumed her labours for a short time. Through the +day she came occasionally to see how the house was +drying, but did not seem to be at all busy. She +had accomplished so much by her previous industry, +that there was no necessity for much exertion, and +she felt quite at liberty to enjoy herself, taking +short excursions in the country, and returning sometimes +alone, and sometimes in company with her +mate. He, once in a while, visited the nest; but +was so well satisfied with the domestic arrangements +of his wife, and had so much confidence in her +<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>ability and skill, that he manifested no disposition to +interfere with any of her plans, but cheerfully acquiesced +in them, and cheered and encouraged her +by singing her one of his sweetest songs, telling her +how dearly he loved her, how highly he esteemed +her, and how truly happy he was that he had so +pleasant and agreeable, and at the same time so +housewifely, a companion. She appeared quite as +well pleased to be appreciated as any wife or housekeeper +of my acquaintance, and it made her labour +a labour of love. We all like to be appreciated.</p> + +<p>I see the robin is a plain, common-sense bird in +her notions, and wants nothing for mere display. +Every thing which could add to the real comfort of +her family she has provided, and has no desire for +any thing further. Many house-keepers might learn +a valuable lesson from her prudent, comfortable +arrangements.</p> + +<p>When the dwelling was completed, and suitably +dry for occupancy, the robin deposited there four +bluish-green eggs. I assure you they are beautiful, +and are great treasures to her. In about twelve +days from the time Eddie first saw her carrying +straws into the honeysuckles, she became very domestic, +never leaving home but for a few minutes at +a time. Her four eggs now occupy all her attention +and her great business seems to be to keep +them warm with the heat of her own body. She +does not complain of being confined at home, but is +<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>entirely satisfied to attend to the duties which devolve +upon her. She is not uneasy that she cannot +sing like her husband, or, like him, attend to the +interests of Robindom; but quietly and discreetly +she labours in her appropriate sphere, and feels no +wish to leave it for a less secluded and less happy +life. Her <i>heart</i> is satisfied with the happiness of +her home, and she feels no uneasiness—no ungratified +longings for something to occupy her, aside +from the duties she so cheerfully performs.</p> + +<p>Madam Robin was entirely satisfied with the success +of her labours, and she had reason to be. No +bird could have done better. This consciousness of +having done well did not make her proud; it only +gave her such self-respect as every one feels who is +conscious that an allotted task has been faithfully +performed; and the praise of her husband was no +injury to her, as she was not silly enough to think +of herself more highly than she ought to think.</p> + +<p>As the house was for a summer residence, she +selected fine straw-matting, instead of woollen carpets +for it. She put it down with great care, perfectly +smooth and even. The wall was covered with +the same cool material, delicately woven. Wasn't +it nice?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>PLEASANT NEIGHBOURS.</h4> + + +<p>The location selected by our friend, the robin, +seems to be highly appreciated by many of the +feathered race. Although the robin was the first +settler, others have already decided that it affords +great advantages in the way of shelter from the +fierce winds, from the burning rays of a summer +sun, and from the too-curious eyes of hawks and +other birds of prey.</p> + +<p>An abundance of fresh, soft water can be obtained +not far from Honeysuckleville, and this is always a +recommendation in favour of any place, either for +men or birds. Fruit also abounds. There will be +bright red currants for the little folks; strawberries, +too, more than they can eat, and raspberries in any +quantity they may wish. I must not forget the +cherries, of which birds are so fond, and which +they can have at any time when they are ripe, for +merely the trouble of picking.</p> + +<p>It is not surprising, with all these advantages in +its favour, that Honeysuckleville should find more +than one family happy to settle within its borders. +For some time, two song-sparrows have made it frequent +visits; and have finally decided, after a careful +survey, that no more desirable spot can be found +<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>for a summer residence. They have accordingly +commenced building, not more than two feet from +the mansion of the robins. Their house is much +smaller—a cottage—but quite large enough for +them. It nestles so lovingly in the shadow of the +vines, that I am sure domestic comfort must be +found there. Discord and contention could not +abide in so peaceful a retreat.</p> + +<p>The song-sparrows will be pleasant neighbours. +They are exceedingly fond of vocal music, and their +clear melodious voices fill the new settlement with +harmony. In that terrible snow-storm which occurred +in the middle of April, I often saw a sparrow +alight on a bough of a tree near the house, and send +up to heaven such a strain of full, gushing melody, +as melted my heart with pity and admiration. It +reminded me of a child of God in the midst of trials +and afflictions, yet rejoicing in faith, and trusting +continually in the care of a Father in heaven. Was +the cold little sparrow singing itself away, as it was +once believed the swan sung its own death-song? +Or may the new neighbour of the robin be the very +one whose voice rang out so clear and loud, above +the howlings of the storm? I trust no rude blast +nor chilling frost will mar the pleasure of our feathered +friends, but that they may prosper in their +plans, and never forget seeking a home in the vine +which winds so gracefully around the porch of Mrs. +Dudley's cottage.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>The song sparrow is not the only neighbour of +the robin. A pair of cat-birds have a nest in a lilac +near the honeysuckle, and one of them sings hour +after hour on the walnut-tree opposite to the window +and often comes near enough to the house to +look through the open casement. These birds have +lived for several summers in that same lilac, and +annually make all the repairs necessary to render +their dwelling habitable. They have raised several +broods of birdlings, much to their own enjoyment, +and of Mrs. Dudley's bird-loving family.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>HOME DUTIES AND HOME PLEASURES.</h4> + + +<p>Our robin has been a keeper-at-home ever since +those four bluish-green eggs demanded her attention. +She has occasionally left, for a few minutes +at a time, to procure food and drink, or to take a +little exercise; but she has never forgotten her quiet +abode, and the duties which there require her almost +constant presence. She loves the green fields, the +leafy trees, and the clear blue sky, and delights to +hop about with her mate over the fresh grass and +the clean gravel-walks; but better than all she loves +those pretty eggs, which lie so cozily in the bottom +of her straw-built nest.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>Before she commenced house-keeping, she was +very fond of travelling, and many a mile has she +wandered, over hill and valley, in company with her +friends. She assisted at concerts, and was universally +admired; but she had the good sense to give +up these enjoyments without a murmur, when higher +claims called for her undivided care. Whatever is +worth doing at all is worth doing well; and the +robin will doubtless be repaid for the unwearied +patience with which she performs her unostentatious +duties. Some people are inclined to think domestic +labour dishonourable, and the cares of house-keeping +a burden; but our feathered friend is wiser than +they. She does with her might what she finds to +do, and she does it heartily. Every act of duty, +faithfully and cheerfully performed, is acceptable to +God; and his children do his will when they endeavour +to attend to their various occupations in such a +way as he can approve. If all house-keepers felt +that, in attending to the different departments of +their work as they should be attended to, they were +honouring Him who has made this care necessary +for the comfort of families, it would be a blessing to +themselves, and to who all who dwell under the same +roof with them. We cannot consider any thing +which we do to please our heavenly Father of small +importance, and no favour can be degrading which +he requires of us.</p> + +<p>We may all learn a lesson from the robin who +<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>lives in the honeysuckles, and we shall see how she +was rewarded for her devotion to the employment +which Providence assigned her. The wisest of men, +in describing the character of an excellent woman, +says: "The heart of her husband doth safely trust +in her." "She will do him good, and not evil, all +the days of her life." Our feathered friend's husband +is absent much of his time (as most gentlemen +are obliged to be) from his well-ordered home; but +he always thinks of it with pleasure, and hastens to +it whenever he can find time to do so. Sometimes +he only stops a moment, but it is a precious moment +to them both, for their hearts and interests are one. +They are cheered, in their separation, by the pleasant +memories of these brief interviews, and by +bright anticipations of future enjoyment.</p> + +<p>I have observed, Mr. Robin thinks it of importance +to look nice at home, as well as when he is +abroad. I have seen him alight on the walnut-tree, +and carefully arrange his toilet, before going into +the presence of his wife. She must feel complimented +by this delicate attention, indicating so high +a regard for her, and such anxiety to preserve her +esteem. I should not wonder if she was a little +proud of her handsome husband. However this +may be, I am sure it is her greatest happiness to +deserve his respect and love, and honourably to +perform all the duties which devolve upon her in +her married life.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>Madam Robin was sitting one day in her vine-shaded +home, looking out through the slender +branches of the honeysuckle, which were gently +swayed by a refreshing breeze, when she heard a +slight tap. She listened eagerly. Another tap—presently +another. How her heart fluttered! It +proceeded from one of those highly-prized eggs, and +she knew it was the timid knock of a birdling, who +was in that little chamber, and was waiting to have +the door opened. Of how small consequence all +her self-denial and her seclusion from general society +seemed, when that thrilling tap sounded on her ear! +She continued to listen, and within those four tiny +chambers she heard the same rapping repeated; and +more than that, the sweet word, Mother, might seem +faintly to greet her ear. How she longed for her mate +to return, that he might enjoy, with her, this new +happiness! When husband and wife love each other, +as they should, all pleasure must be shared, or it +will still be imperfect. She waited, almost impatiently +for his coming; and when he alighted on +the honeysuckle, she looked so full of grateful joy, +that he knew that something more than usual must +have occurred. He affectionately kissed her bill, +and then, in a low tremulous voice, she told him +the glad news. He was quite as much pleased as +she, although he did not appear so excited. Had +employment in the open air given a firmness to +his nerves, which her sedentary occupations had not +<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>done for her? Yet beneath that calm exterior, his +sparkling eye plainly revealed the full tide of emotion +within.</p> + +<p>It was pleasant music to their ears to hear those +four new voices in their secluded home; and though +they knew it would increase their labour to provide +food for those gaping mouths, what cared they for +their own comfort, if they could nurture their precious +charge, and rear them to be an honour and a +blessing?</p> + +<p>When the doors of their chambers were quite +open, out came the baby-birds, with a few downy +feathers covering them!</p> + +<p>"How very little they are!" said Eddie, with one +breath; and, "How big their mouths are!" with +the next. To be sure, they do look very small, and +their mouths are very large for such diminutive +bodies, and they open them so wide that it almost +seems as if one of them could jump down another's +throat.</p> + +<p>The robin now often comes home, and brings food +to his family. It is gratifying to see how attentive +he is to his dear children and their mother; and I +hope I may be able, some day, to tell you that they +repay his attachment, by growing up fine, obedient +birds. It will not be long before their education +will be commenced, and I will tell you whether they +are taught at home, or are sent away to school, and +<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>what progress they make in acquiring their accomplishments.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>HOME LIFE AND HOME EDUCATION.</h4> + + +<p>The birdlings still live in the honeysuckles.</p> + +<p>"How they do grow!" Eddie exclaims, when he +looks at them. "I shouldn't think they could ever +have lived in those little eggs."</p> + +<p>They are now almost half as large as the old +birds. They are well covered with feathers, and +their mottled breasts are very pretty.</p> + +<p>"They don't have to dress as we do," said Eddie. +"Their clothes grow." And he thinks it would be +a great convenience if his clothes grew too, for then +they would always be large enough for him, and his +mother would not have so much sewing to do.</p> + +<p>Sometimes these little birds lie in the bottom of +the nest, quietly sleeping, while their father and +mother are both away, getting them food. At other +times they feel wide awake. Then they stretch +their wings, stand upon their feet, and peep over +the side of the nest. From the parlour-window, +the children can look up directly at their secluded +home, and can see them amusing themselves and +practising their lessons. The honeysuckle grows +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>almost as fast as the birds, and the tender, overhanging +branches make a roof which keeps off all +the rain.</p> + +<p>The old birds are mindful of their children, but +do not consider it necessary to be with them all the +time. So other parents endeavour to implant good +principles in the hearts of their children, and then +leave them to their self-control; ever keeping a +watchful eye on the influences which surround +them, and using their proper authority, when it +becomes necessary, to restrain from evil, and guide +in the way of virtue. The child that has never +learned to depend upon himself, or to control his +own passions, and to do right because it is right, +will hardly be able to sustain himself when the presence +of his parents is withdrawn.</p> + +<p>The robins know very well that children grow +weary of long lectures; so they give them here a +little and there a little instruction, as occasion +demands.</p> + +<p>They are decided in their family government, but +not severe. Their children are taught to obey +promptly and cheerfully, but they have no slavish +fear of their parents. Their presence is not regarded +as a restraint; for, at all suitable times, they +have freely permitted their little ones to laugh and +frolic to their hearts' content. They willingly listen +to all the plans of the birdlings, and lend an attentive +ear to the story of their joys and their sorrows. +<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>Their sympathy is never withheld; their griefs are +never considered as of no consequence because they +are brief and soon forgotten.</p> + +<p>The parent birds do not leave their young alone +but a little while at a time. They often fly home +to see them, and sometimes perch on the walnut-tree, +and talk with them. Their musical chirpings +are pleasant to hear. We don't understand the +bird-language; but we judge, by the soft tones, that +it is something kind and agreeable they are saying. +Perhaps they are talking about their plans for the +future, when they all know how to use their wings, +and can fly about together.</p> + +<p>Very often, during the day, the robins bring +worms to fill the gaping mouths. It is surprising +how much they eat. No wonder they have grown +plump and large, for they eat and sleep as much as +they please. We expect soon to see them flying +about from tree to tree, and hopping along the +ground. We hope that great cat, which steps about +so softly, will never find them. She is welcome to +all the rats and mice she can put her paws on, but +we never like to see her climb a tree, for we fear +she will destroy some of our cheerful friends, who +build near the house in full confidence that they +shall not be disturbed.</p> + +<p>The young robins are not lonely in their rural +home. The plainly-dressed sparrows and the brilliant +yellow-birds look in upon them, and, now and +<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>then, their cousin, the oriole, comes, clad in the +richest golden plumage, and sings them a song. If +he had dipped his feathers in the gorgeous sunset +he could not be more beautiful. The delicate +little humming-birds sip nectar from the deep horns +of the honeysuckle; and the red-winged starling, +in his glossy black coat, and his dashing scarlet +epaulette, occasionally comes from his home in the +meadow, to make them a call. He does not like +Honeysuckleville quite as well as his dwelling in +the grass, just above the water. If he was not +so confirmed in his habits, I think he would be +strongly tempted to become a neighbour of the +robins. A few weeks ago, when his favourite resort +was five or six feet under water, he and his friends +seemed to be in great uncertainty what course to +pursue. They had several mass meetings on the +quince-bushes, in full sight of Honeysuckleville, and +a great many speeches were made. It sounded to +me like incessant chattering, and as if all were talking +at the same time. I could not understand a +word they said, and I cannot tell you the result of +their deliberations. Whatever it may have been, +when the water subsided, they returned to their old +haunts by the river-side.</p> + +<p>These I have mentioned are not the only visitors +whose society our friends enjoy. The swallows gracefully +skim through the air, and greet them with +their merry voices. The wren often favours them +<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>with one of his sweetest melodies, and the blue-bird +flies around the corner to sing a song on the walnut-tree. +He has a curious little nest of his own, +hidden away under the eaves. The cat-birds, of +course, are always near, as they live in the lilacs. +The oriole has suspended his nest, like a basket, +from a limb of the great pear-tree; and when the +robins know how to fly, they can return some of +his visits.</p> + +<p>The old robins, now and then, play peep with the +young birds. They fly almost up to the nest, and +poise themselves for an instant on the wing, just +long enough to say, "Bo-peep!" and then away! +almost before they can be seen. Pretty soon they +return again, generally bringing some nice morsel +with them. They often first alight on a small +branch of the vine, below the nest, and then hop +up to it.</p> + +<p>What a chirping the birdlings keep up with their +mother! They like to talk as well as Eddie Dudley +and some other children, whom I have heard pleasantly +called little chatter-boxes. Children have +much to learn, and must ask many questions. The +world is new and strange to them, and is a constant +source of surprise and wonder. I do not suppose +people ever learn faster than before they are six +years old, or ever learn more in the same length of +time. They are constantly observing, and in this +way the stock of their ideas is continually increasing.<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> +I once heard a gentleman say he did +not like to go through the world with his head +in a bag. He wished to see what was taking +place around him, and it was this seeing, and +thinking upon what he saw, that, among other +things, made him a distinguished man.</p> + +<p>The young birds are now seeing and thinking, as +well as birds can. Their time for action has not +come. Like dear children in their happy homes, +they are preparing for the responsibilities of life; +and, if they honour and obey their parents, as far +as birds are expected to do, and as all children +should, I doubt not they will faithfully perform +the duties which will hereafter devolve upon them.</p> + +<p>From observations I have made, I conclude the +robins neither send their children to school nor employ +a governess for them. They have so made +their arrangements that either one or the other has +time to attend to their education. Sometimes the +father, and at other times the mother, assumes the +labour of teaching, and their dearly-loved pupils are +quite as attentive to their instructions as any +children I have ever seen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a></p> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>GOING ABROAD.</h4> + + +<p>It was on a bright, warm, breezy morning in +early June, that our friends at Honeysuckleville +decided that the home education of their children +had been attended with such success as to encourage +the hope that they would "come out" creditably to +themselves, and their parents. Arrangements were +accordingly made, and I assure you there was much +talking and no little excitement and bustle upon +the occasion. It was proposed to spend some weeks +in travelling, that the young people might enjoy +themselves, and acquire much useful information, +which could be obtained no other way.</p> + +<p>The weather was delightful. A few light, fleecy +clouds were floating in the blue sky, continually +changing from one form of beauty to another. The +sun shone forth in his splendour, cheering the tender +grass and the up-springing seeds, and drawing them +nearer and nearer to his bosom. They stretched toward +him their feeble blades and diminutive leaves, +as if they would gladly be clasped in his arms; but +their growing roots were striking deeper and deeper +into mother earth, and binding them closer and +closer to her.</p> + +<p>The gentle, cooling zephyrs were playing among +<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>the leaves, and winning sweet music from the tiny +voices, which responded in glee to their salutations. +Often they lifted the soft hair from the brows of the +children, and frolicked amid their curls, and fanned +their sun-burnt cheeks. It was a morning which +all nature enjoyed. There could not have been a +finer day to start upon a journey. As birds do not +need a change of dress, there was no trunk to pack, +and no travelling-bag to be laden with comforts. All +the preparation necessary was the usual attention to +the toilet, and the instruction and advice which the +exigency required.</p> + +<p>The hearts of the young adventurers fluttered +with excitement. There was a mingling of curiosity +to visit the great world of which they had heard +such glowing descriptions, and of fears to trust +themselves to the power of their wings to bear them +from their pleasant, happy home, and keep them +out of harm's way. They had seen Pussy, as she +walked about in her white and black robe, and +though she seemed so gentle, they had been warned +against her as one of their most deadly enemies. +They knew she was often prowling about, with +stealthy tread, to prey upon the unwary. They +feared that, instead of flying to the walnut-tree, as +was the plan, they should fall upon the grass, where +she could pounce upon them and destroy them, +notwithstanding the screams and agonizing entreaties +of their parents. Puss is a full believer in +<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>the doctrine that "might makes right;" and she is +as unmoved by the cries and appeals of her victims +as if they had no hearts to suffer, and were made +merely for her own use.</p> + +<p>Many words of encouragement were addressed to +them by their parents. They told them how they +themselves had suffered from similar fears; how +difficult it was for them to trust implicitly in the +wisdom of their own father and mother; and how they +stood, tremulous and fearful, on the top of the nest, +wishing they had sufficient resolution to obey, and +yet fearing to venture; but how easy and pleasant +they found it to spread their wings in the air, and +be borne up by it, when they fully determined to +make the attempt.</p> + +<p>Our little birdlings still hesitated, just as I have +seen children hesitate and quiver with terror when +for the first time they go into the water to learn to +swim. They know their father tells them the truth, +for he has never deceived them. He has bound a +life-preserver beneath their arms, and has promised +to remain near, to catch them, if they begin to sink; +yet they are afraid, and draw back. They lack +faith. When at last they timidly push from the +shore, and find themselves buoyed up on the water, +their delight is almost unbounded, and they are +as unwilling to leave as they were reluctant to +enter it.</p> + +<p>The old robins stood on one of the branches of +<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>the walnut-tree, and endeavoured to persuade their +timid brood to come to them. They were not stern +and severe, for they had not forgotten their own youth, +and they sympathized deeply with these children; +but the father found he must be decided, so he told +them, (as it seemed,) authoritatively, that they must +hesitate no longer. He would count one—two—three; +and when he said three, they must spread +their wings and do as well as they could. The +mother smiled lovingly upon them, and they determined +to obey, whatever effort it might cost. "One—two—three," +counted the robin, in his full, musical +tones. The birdlings fluttered their wings, +and strained every nerve to alight by the side of +their parents. With what joy they felt their feet +clinging round the branch! How elated they were +with their success! They chirped continually, and +merry and brisk was the conversation. "What is +this?" one asked, and "What is that?" said +another, till it seemed as if the old birds would +be weary of their questions; but they never lost +their patience; they thought the little folks remarkably +intelligent.</p> + +<p>When they were rested, away flew the birds to +the elm, and called to their young. Grown courageous +by success, they quickly followed, and, +through the whole day, they were flying about from +tree to tree, enjoying themselves highly.</p> + +<p>At sunset, I saw them on the locust-tree, near the +<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>cottage, inhaling its delicious perfume, with their +faces toward the west, wondering, perhaps, what +occasioned all that glorious beauty, as the sun +escaped from their view.</p> + +<p>Presently they flew to a great cherry-tree, and, +from the chirping and calling, we concluded they +spent the night in its shelter. How strange it must +have been to them, this first night of their perching! +The sky was clear, the stars twinkled, and the half-moon +shed her silvery light on the earth, and +gleamed through the cherry-leaves, as it had done +through the honeysuckles; but it was not home, +that cherry-tree, and they sighed as they thought +of their birthplace. They sat close to their mother's +side, and felt that, after all, where she was, was the +best place for them. They curled up one foot into +the soft down, and turned back their heads till their +bills were beneath their wings. The lids slowly +closed over their eyes, and they slept quietly and +sweetly, till wakened in the morning by the warbling +of songsters who welcomed the rosy dawn.</p> + +<p>A new sense of responsibility filled their hearts. +They were no longer mere children, their every +want supplied by others; but they were youth, and +must begin to provide for themselves, and depend +upon their own energies. We frequently hear the +young robins among the trees, but we seldom see +them. We really miss them, and think of them as +<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>pleasant visitors who have been spending a few days +with us.</p> + +<p>We hope that Honeysuckleville will not be forsaken; +but that every year the birds will return, +and rear their young beneath its fragrant shade, +making hearts of the little Dudleys glad, and teaching +them to love.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"All things, both great and small;</span> +<span class="i2">For the dear God who loveth us,</span> +<span class="i2">Hath made and loveth all."</span> +</div></div> + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 148px;"> +<img src="images/image004.png" width="148" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a></p> +<h2><a name="MAY_I_POP_SOME_CORN" id="MAY_I_POP_SOME_CORN"></a>"MAY I POP SOME CORN?"</h2> + + +<p>"May I pop some corn?" asked Eddie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered his mother; and laying down +her work, she went to the closet and got for him +several small ears—some red and some white—the +kernels of which where not half so large as those +of common corn.</p> + +<p>Eddie took a white bowl and sat down on the +carpet by his mother with the tiny ears in his apron. +He worked away for some time, shelling first one ear +and then another, till every little kernel was in the +bowl, and nothing but cobs left. These he thought +would help to build a "log-house," so he put them +in his play-box, with those he had treasured before, +and took his bowl to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Kate, the cook, was a coloured woman, and she +loved children. When he said to her, "Mother +told me I might pop some corn," she cheerfully +placed the iron pan on the stove, and when it was +hot enough, told him he might put in the corn. +Pretty soon it went Pop! pop! pop! till the pan +was filled with snow-white kernels. Eddie always +wondered how they could turn inside out and suddenly<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> +grow so large. He did not understand that it +was because of the expansion or swelling of the air +within the hard case, which then burst open to find +more room.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="Eddie_popping_corn" id="Eddie_popping_corn"></a> +<img src="images/image005.png" width="468" height="580" alt="Eddie popping corn." title="Eddie popping corn." /> +<span class="caption">Eddie popping corn.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Eddie was very busy for some time in the kitchen +attending to his corn. When it was all done, he +separated that which was popped from that which +was only parched, and put it in different dishes. He +gave his dog Philo some of the brown kernels, and +he seemed to like them as well as Eddie himself. +Eddie enjoyed hearing him crack them with his +sharp teeth, and would stroke his great head, and +say kindly, "Poor Philo! you are a good Philo;" +and the dog would wag his tail as much as to say, +"Dear Eddie! you are a good Eddie."</p> + +<p>After giving Philo his share, and Kate hers, +Eddie carried up a large dishful to his mother and +the children. He did not wish to eat it all himself +for he was a generous boy and always liked +to have others partake of his pleasures, whatever +they might be. He reserved some of the +nicest of it in a tumbler, which he placed on his +mother's work-table. Mrs. Dudley took a little, +saying to him,</p> + +<p>"If you miss your corn, Eddie, you will know +what has become of it."</p> + +<p>He looked up from his play quite soberly, and +said slowly, "Mother, if <i>you</i> wish to eat more you +may, but <i>I</i>am not going to."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>"Why not, my child?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to save it for father."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley was pleased to see Eddie willing to +deny himself to give to others, so she said to him, +"That is right." When his father came home from +his business, Eddie placed the tumbler beside his +plate on the tea-table. After the blessing was +asked, Mr. Dudley, looking at the children, inquired, +"Where did this come from?" "I popped it," +answered Eddie. And his father thanked him with +a kind and loving smile.</p> + +<p>Eddie was much happier than if he had eaten all +the corn himself, for he had made others happy by +his generosity. "It is more blessed to give than to +receive," the Bible tells us; and Eddie had been +learning this truth in the great pleasure he felt in +dividing his popped corn with others. I hope you +who read this story know how to sympathize with +him. If you do not, will you try the experiment, +and see if you are not far happier to share your +corn, or your candy, or whatever else you may have, +with your brothers and sisters, and those around +you, than you are to devour it yourself? I have +seen little chickens seize their favourite morsel and +run away and hide where they could eat it all alone; +but I should be sorry to think that any child would +do so.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></p> +<h2><a name="WHICH_WOULD_YOU_RATHER_I_SHOULD_DO" id="WHICH_WOULD_YOU_RATHER_I_SHOULD_DO"></a>"WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER I SHOULD DO?"</h2> + + +<p>"Which would you rather I should do?" asked +Eddie of his mother, his large blue eyes filling with +tears.</p> + +<p>"I should rather you would stay with me," was +the answer.</p> + +<p>"Then I will, mother!" and the tears remained +where they were, and did not chase each other down +his plump cheeks. A trembling smile played around +his mouth; for he had conquered himself, and had +readily yielded to his mother's wishes. There had +been a struggle, severe, but short, in his mind, and +when he said, "Then I will, mother," he meant he +could be happy to stay at home, and would not ask +again for permission to go with the other children. +Mrs. Dudley could not resist the impulse to clasp +him to her heart, and tell him he was a good +boy; and this made him still happier. He saw +he had pleased her, and her approving smile was +worth more to him than any enjoyment could be +without it.</p> + +<p>Eddie, you know, is a little boy, five years old. He +<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>has brothers and sisters older than himself, and they +have fine sport in sliding and skating. Their teacher +takes them every day to enjoy it, and they come +home in high spirits, swinging their skates by their +sides, and talking loud and fast about it.</p> + +<p>Eddie has watched them many days from the +nursery window, and has longed to be with them; +but his careful mother has feared he would get hurt +among so many skaters, or perhaps be lost in +one of those "air-holes" which are often found in +the most solid ice; so when Eddie asked her if he +might go to the river, she hesitated, for she did not +like to deny him. "Which would you <i>rather</i> I +would do?" then inquired the dear boy; and when +his mother told him, he did not tease her, but +resumed his place at the window.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley resolved to go herself with her little +son to the river, when the children went again. +She did not tell him so, however; but the next day, +when the merry skaters were in the midst of their +enjoyment, she put on her hood, and her warm +blanket-shawl, and thick gloves, and calling Eddie +to her, wrapped him in his wadded coat and +woollen tippet, and placing on his head his "liberty-cap,"—knit +of red and black worsted, with a +tassel dangling from the point—and pulling it +well down over his ears, and covering his fat +hands with warm mittens, they started out on +the white snow. The snow was frozen sufficiently +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>to bear them, and they had a pleasant walk above +the hidden grass and stones.</p> + +<p>Eddie was in great glee. His mother enjoyed it +almost as much as he did, for it was an exhilarating +sight. Some of the boys were sliding, some skating, +and others pushing sleds before them, on which a +mother or sister were sitting. It reminded one of +the pictures we often see of skating in Holland; +and, to make the resemblance more perfect, a Dutchman +was there with his pipe, defiling the pure, fresh +air with its foul odour.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley was invited to take a ride, and, +leaving Eddie in the care of another, she was soon +seated on one of the sleds, and speeding away before +a rapid skater. She found it far more swift and +agreeable than riding in the usual way. Eddie, too, +had a ride, and his little heart was brimfull of happiness. +He walked about on the ice quite carefully +and fearlessly.</p> + +<p>The river, on which these children were, rises and +falls with the tide. Eddie saw other boys sliding +off towards an icy meadow bordering on it, and he +thought he would go too. The ice formed an +inclined plane; his feet slipped on its smooth surface, +and down he went; he jumped up, but the +blood from his nose, flowing over his face and coat, +and staining the snow, frightened him, and he uttered +a loud cry. The skaters were with him before his +mother, though she was but a few steps away, for +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>she could not move as quickly as they. It was +pleasant to see their sympathy, and hear their kind +inquiries. His mother soon comforted him; for he +had not been cut by the ice as they feared. The +blood from his nose testified to a pretty hard bump. +He soon forgot the pain, and was as happy as ever. +He will long remember his first sled ride on the +river.</p> + +<p>Why do you think, dear children, I have told you +this story about a child whom you have never seen? +I wanted to ask you, or rather have you ask yourselves, +if you are willing, as Eddie was, to do as your +mother thinks best? Much as he wanted to go on +the river, he felt satisfied to do as his mother wished. +I hope, when you know what your mother prefers, +you will make up your minds to give up your own +plans, and be happy in doing so.</p> + +<p>I am not one of those who imagine children have +no trials. I know their lives are not all bright and +sunny. I have not forgotten being a child myself. +Many a hard battle has to be fought with wrong +feelings and wrong wishes; but never fear; resolve +to conquer yourselves, and subdue every thing that +is sinful. Every victory will make you stronger, +and render it easier for you to do right. Will +you try?</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"If at first you don't succeed,</span> +<span class="i4">Try, try again."</span> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BIRDS_AND_THE_SNOW-STORM" id="THE_BIRDS_AND_THE_SNOW-STORM"></a>THE BIRDS AND THE SNOW-STORM.</h2> + + +<p>The weather is warm and sunny. The snow of +winter has disappeared. The grass is green, and +growing finely. The early spring-flowers have +opened their blossoms, and we all think summer is +so near, that the cold weather must be over. The +birds have thought so, too; for they are flying from +tree to tree, singing most beautiful melodies, and +peeping about, here and there, making arrangements +for summer, and selecting places where to build +their pretty nests.</p> + +<p>But the wind blows chill again. The sky is +clouded, and people begin to say, "I think we shall +have another snow-storm." It is not long before +the feathery flakes begin to descend. The earth is +so warm that they scarce touch it before they are +melted and absorbed. The snow continues to fall, +the earth grows colder and colder, and soon it cannot +melt the snow, but is itself chilled, and accepts it as +a mantle. For three days the storm rages. The +ground is as white as in mid-winter.</p> + +<p>What is to become of the birds? They can find +neither food nor shelter. It is painful to see them +<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>flying distractedly through the storm, not knowing +where to go; but too cold and too hungry to remain +in the trees, and too fearful to seek comfort in the +many warm houses, that would have opened their +windows, if they would have entered under their +protecting roof.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley's children are all watching them +from the windows, and throwing out hominy and +bread-crumbs for them to eat. How cold the +little sparrows look, as they pick up their food! +Children's hearts are generally tender, and always +so unless they have been hardened by the practice +of cruelty, and Mrs. Dudley's were full of sympathy +for the little sufferers. "Oh! mother!" said +Eddie, the youngest, "if the birds knew how we +loved them, they would come into the house;" but +the birds did not know, and they stayed out in the +snow, and many of them perished.</p> + +<p>The children were sadly grieved, when, after the +storm, they found many of their feathered friends +dead. How much they regretted they could not +have saved their lives! If the birds had only known, +as Eddie said, how much the children loved them, +they would have flown into the house, and been +warmed and fed.</p> + +<p>There are many dear children who do not know +how much Jesus loves them; how much he wishes +them to enter the "ark of safety," and escape the +dangers there are in the world. There are many +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>who have not even heard of him; and many of those +who have, do not know he is their best friend.</p> + +<p>Do <i>you</i> know how much he loves you, and have +you sought his protection amid all the dangers that +surround you? If you have not found refuge in +that "high tower," of which David speaks in the +Psalms, you are no safer than were the birds flying +through the cold snow, and you surely will be lost +if you do not fly to that kind Saviour, who has prepared +a way of escape for you.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 224px;"> +<img src="images/image006.png" width="224" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRST_STRAWBERRY" id="THE_FIRST_STRAWBERRY"></a>THE FIRST STRAWBERRY.</h2> + + +<p>How bright and red it looked, half-concealed as +it was by the green leaves! It was the first strawberry +of the season. Mary gathered it with delight, +and ran with it to her mother.</p> + +<p>"Here is something for you, mother," she said, +holding up the rosy treasure.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my dear!" said Mrs. Dudley, +smiling upon her daughter. She ate it with a +double relish. She was very fond of the fruit, and +she was gratified by this expression of the thoughtful, +unselfish love of her dear child.</p> + +<p>How much more Mary enjoyed that look of love, +and that approving smile, than she would have enjoyed +eating that luscious strawberry herself!</p> + +<p>Every day, Mary, Willie, and Eddie search for +the fruit as it ripens, and almost every evening their +father and mother find a saucer of berries, with +sugar and cream, beside their plates at the tea-table.</p> + +<p>How pleasant it is to see children think so much +of their parents! I hope they will continue obedient +and attentive, for there is no more beautiful +sight than an affectionate, united family.</p> + +<p>God will bless those who honour their parents.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a></p> +<h2><a name="I_PRAYED_ALL_DAY_FOR_HELP" id="I_PRAYED_ALL_DAY_FOR_HELP"></a>"I PRAYED ALL DAY FOR HELP."</h2> + + +<p>It was a beautiful evening early in June. The +air was cool and pleasant. The trees and shrubs +were covered with luxuriant foliage, and the roses +were in their opening beauty. The frogs were +croaking in the pond, and the birds singing on the +trees. The sun had just sunk beneath the horizon. +The clouds which lingered around his pathway received +his parting rays, and were most gorgeously +decorated with the richest of his colouring.</p> + +<p>Willie walked about the lawn, his face lighted up +with a smile, and his dark gray eye bright with +happiness. His heart was attuned to harmony with +all nature around him, and he would frequently +look up to his mother, who sat by the open window, +enjoying the delightful evening. Presently Willie +came, and stood by her side.</p> + +<p>"How happy I am this evening!" he said to her. +She put her arm around him, and drew him towards +her.</p> + +<p>"What makes you so happy?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"Because I have been trying to control my temper, +I suppose"—was his answer.</p> + +<p>"You have not been angry to-day, have you?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>"No, mother."</p> + +<p>"Did you pray about it, Willie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother. I prayed all day for help."</p> + +<p>"How did you pray?"</p> + +<p>"I said, Forgive my sins, and give me a new +heart."</p> + +<p>"God heard your prayers, and he has helped you +to control your temper. God always hears prayer, +and helps those who ask his aid. I hope you will +never forget to pray for what you need," said his +mother. Willie smiled, and kissed her, and went +out of doors again to enjoy the evening—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"So cool, so calm, so bright."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>Willie is generally a good boy, but he has a quick +temper. When three or four years old, he would +sometimes get very angry. I have even known +him to throw things at children with whom he was +playing, if they did any thing to offend him. He +did so one day when his mother was from home. +She was much grieved when she heard it, and talked +seriously with him. It made a deep impression on +his mind. He speaks of it now with great solemnity, +and asks his mother if she remembers it. He feels +that he committed a great sin. He knows it is wrong +to let his temper govern his reason, and he is struggling +to control himself. I think he will succeed.</p> + +<p>I knew his grandfather when I was a little girl, +and I remember hearing him say that he was naturally +quick-tempered; but, although I lived in the +<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>same house with him, and saw him under a great +variety of circumstances, I never heard him speak a +hasty word. I hope Willie will obtain as perfect +control over himself, and, if he lives to manhood, +that his friends will be able to say of him what I +can say of his grandfather.</p> + +<p>Willie was, at one time, playing with some children, +and found he was growing angry. He immediately +left them, and sat down on the stairs alone. +Pretty soon they followed him. He did not feel +entirely good-natured, so he again left them, and +went into the library. He shut the door and prayed +to his Father in heaven for strength to conquer +himself. He remained there alone till he felt he +had obtained the victory.</p> + +<p>Willie is not the only little boy who has a quick +temper, and I tell this story about him for the sake +of the dear children who sometimes get angry. I +hope, like Willie, they will learn to go to God for +help, and then, like his, their countenances will be +radiant with gladness; and they, too, can say, +"How happy I am!"</p> + +<p>"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious +man aboundeth in transgression."</p> + +<p>"He that is slow to anger is better than the +mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that +taketh a city."</p> + +<p>"He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like +a city that is broken down, and without walls."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a></p> +<h2><a name="EVER_SO_MANY_BEAUTIFUL_THINGS" id="EVER_SO_MANY_BEAUTIFUL_THINGS"></a>"EVER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS."</h2> + + +<p>"There are ever so many beautiful things up in +the sky, mother!" said little Eddie, as he sat in his +mother's lap, leaning his head upon her encircling +arm.</p> + +<p>The clouds had gathered about the horizon, and +assumed many beautiful and fantastic shapes. Some +of them were gorgeously coloured with the rays of +the departing sun, and were shaded from the most +delicate rose to the darkest, richest crimson. As +the sun receded farther and farther behind the green +hills, they grew darker and darker, and the imaginative +boy had seen fancied ships with their sails +spread; steam-vessels with clouds of smoke rolling +from their chimneys; mountains piled upon mountains; +trees, birds, and many other wondrous things +which filled his infant mind with admiration.</p> + +<p>Soon the stars twinkled forth, and they awoke a +new interest. At first they appeared one by one, as +if timidly venturing to look down upon our beautiful +planet, and when fully assured that the king of day +had disappeared, they came forth faster and more +numerously, till the whole heavens were bespangled +<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>with their glittering brightness. Then their companion, +the moon, came slowly up, shining with a +soft and mellow light, a new beauty in the "blue +wilderness of interminable air."</p> + +<p>Eddie had long gazed silently before he uttered +the exclamation, "There are ever so many beautiful +things up in the sky!" and I suppose he had +many thoughts which it would have been pleasant +for his mother to know. He did not often sit up so +late that he could see the stars.</p> + +<p>Eddie is not the only one who has been charmed +with the glowing sunset, the gray twilight, or the +starry firmament. David loved to look upon the +works of God. In one of his psalms, he says, +"When I consider the heavens, the work of thy +fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast +ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, +and the son of man, that thou visitest him!" It +was astonishing to David, that God, who was so +infinitely superior to man, and who had given such +proofs of his power and greatness in the creation +of the heavens, should condescend to notice him, to +provide for his minutest wants, and to protect him +from danger. I suppose this psalm was written in +the night, when the sweet singer of Israel had been +looking at just such a sky as drew from Eddie his +exclamation of admiration.</p> + +<p>I often think, as I look abroad, how wonderful it +is that God has made every thing so beautiful. We +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>need never be weary in studying his works. The +more we learn of them, the more we realize his +greatness and perfection. "The heavens declare +the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his +handiwork."</p> + +<p>When you look at the clear blue sky, do you remember +who has spread it out, and who has created +the innumerable worlds which we see, when darkness +covers our earth? "There are," indeed, "ever +so many beautiful things up in the sky," and it was +a Father's hand that placed them there. They are +for us to enjoy, and many a lesson of love and +confidence have they taught God's children. Dear +little Eddie! I hope he will always love nature, and +early learn to "look through nature up to nature's +God."</p> + +<p>I shall never forget a drive with my father, when +I was a child so small that I sat on a little footstool +in the carriage, between him and my mother. We +were returning from a visit to Aunt Harriet, at +whose house we had been spending the day. It +was a fine evening. The air was balmy and pleasant. +I remember how the frogs sung in the low +ground, and how we listened to their quaint music. +We had not ridden far before the moon rose, and +the stars, one by one, appeared. My father had a +true love for nature, and for whatever was beautiful +or grand. We drove on without speaking for a +time, each enjoying the evening. My father broke +<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>the silence by repeating that beautiful hymn of +Addison's, commencing with these lines—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"The spacious firmament on high,</span> +<span class="i2">With all the blue ethereal sky,</span> +<span class="i2">And spangled heavens, a shining frame,</span> +<span class="i2">Their great Original proclaim."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I was awed by the reverence of his manner, and +I felt myself in the presence of my Maker,—a mere +speck amid his vast creations. An ineffaceable impression +was made on my mind, young as I was. +My father died many years ago, while I was still +a child, but the lesson of that hour has not been +forgotten.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 156px;"> +<img src="images/image007.png" width="156" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a></p> +<h2><a name="LILY_AND_HER_DUCKLINGS" id="LILY_AND_HER_DUCKLINGS"></a>LILY AND HER DUCKLINGS.</h2> + + +<p>The white duck, Lily, made a nest on the ground, +in a small enclosure, from which some tame rabbits +had been removed. She gathered the scattered +straw into one corner, and made a much neater nest +than the other ducks did, who laid their eggs under +the wood-pile among the small chips.</p> + +<p>She laid several large, smooth, white eggs, and +when she had as many as she could conveniently +take care of, she began to sit on them to keep them +warm, till the little ducks should be ready to peck +their way out. She plucked the soft white down +from her breast, to line the nest, and to make it of a +more even temperature for the eggs; and, whenever +she left to procure food, or to take a short swim on +the pond, she carefully covered them.</p> + +<p>The duck cannot spread her wings as wide as the +hen, so she has to be much more particular about her +nest. She makes it deeper and warmer than Biddy. +It is wonderful with what skill all animals rear their +young. It shows the great goodness and kindness +of God, that he should thus fit the creatures he has +made for the duties they must perform. His care +is continual, not only over us, but over them all. +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>He hears the young ravens when they cry, and the +ducks and the chickens are not forgotten by him. +To the duck he has not given the brooding wings +of the hen-mother; but he has given her a coat of +down, from which she can make a warm bed for her +cherished eggs.</p> + +<p>It was a very pretty sight to see Lily on her nest, +almost covered by the straw, her head turned back, +and her broad yellow bill partially hidden beneath +her wing. The down lay scattered about like snow-flakes. +She looked patient and hopeful, as she +opened her eyes to see who had intruded on her +solitude.</p> + +<p>When a sitting-duck goes in search of food, she +acts so queerly that you would surely laugh to see +her, if you are not accustomed to her odd ways. +She bends her head back, and draws it close to her +body, and waddles about in the greatest haste, +quacking all the time.</p> + +<p>Lily waited four weeks before the ducklings appeared. +Some of the brood were of a straw-colour, +and some were marked with spots of black. They +were all pretty. When I first saw them, they were +partly hidden beneath their mother. Their glossy +bills and bright eyes were visible, but they were +afraid to venture from their shelter. They were provided +with water and food in the old rabbit-house, +because, if they followed their mother to the pond, +the musk-rats would probably devour some of them.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>While the little ones remained with their mother, +they were safe, but when they became discontented, +and wandered from home, they were sometimes lost. +The rats were their principal enemies, and those +from which they had most to fear. They were constantly +lurking about to catch the ducklings, and +sometimes the defenseless little ones ran directly +into their deep holes, from which there was no possibility +of escape. Quite a number of Lily's family +came to an untimely end in this way.</p> + +<p>When I saw them roving about in the high grass, +seeking in vain to find their way to their mother's +presence, and hearing their calls for help, and her +answering cry of distress, I could but think of the +dear children who forget their mother's counsel, and +leave her protection before they are old enough to +take care of themselves.</p> + +<p>The ducklings, I observed, did not know who were +their friends; for, one day, when the prettiest of the +brood had found a way out of the rabbit-house, I +thought I would catch it, and give it back to its +mother. It was much alarmed, and Lily was in +equal trouble. It ran away from me, thinking, perhaps +that I was a greater enemy than the rats, +against which it had probably been warned. Just +as I was going to put my hand on it, it hid itself in +a rat-hole, from which there was no escape. I +could not rescue it, neither could its mother. The +next morning, when I went to look at the ducks, +<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>and give them their breakfast, there lay the poor +duckling, close by the fatal hole. The rat had +brought it out, and partly devoured it.</p> + +<p>Children often think they know what is best for +them quite as well, if not better, than their parents, +and when told not to do this or that, they are not +satisfied to obey quietly, but ask, "Why not?" +I think children may often be told why they are +bidden to do this, or forbidden to do that; but they +should obey their parents promptly, whether they +know their reasons or not.</p> + +<p>Sometimes there are reasons which children cannot +understand, sometimes there are reasons which it +would not be wise to tell them, and sometimes it is +not convenient to give the why and the wherefore. +Children are commanded to obey their parents,—not +the reasons their parents may give them. The young +ducks could not understand why their mother did +not wish them to go out of that enclosure. They +could not comprehend the dangers which surrounded +them. They saw the birds flying about in the air, +and heard the hum of the bees as they were going +abroad for honey, or returning loaded to the hive, +and they could not understand why they might not +wander about too. The red clover looked very +beautiful, and the white clover was so fragrant, they +longed to ramble in it. They thought their mother +unnecessarily strict, because she wished to keep +them with her, instead of permitting them to see all +<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>the pretty things of which they could now and then +catch a glimpse, as they peeped through the cracks +of the rabbit-house.</p> + +<p>Children sometimes feel unpleasantly because +they are not permitted to play in the street. Ah! +they are as ignorant of danger as the poor ducklings +and they are too young to understand the peril +to which they are exposed. Even if their mother +should explain it to them, they could realize but +little about it. It is by far the better way for +children to feel that their mother knows best, and +to be satisfied that her reasons are good and sufficient +even if they do not know what they are.</p> + +<p>I once heard a distinguished clergyman say he +had always observed that those persons who had +learned to obey their parents promptly, most readily +yielded to the claims of God, and became converted, +while those who had always liked their own way +had generally a long, severe struggle, before they +were willing to give up their sins, and oftentimes +could not make up their minds to do so, and, though +deeply convicted, remained impenitent.</p> + +<p>It is a fearful thought that, if you form a habit +of disobedience to your parents, it may cost you +the salvation of your soul.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a></p> +<h2><a name="PRAYING_FOR_RAIN" id="PRAYING_FOR_RAIN"></a>PRAYING FOR RAIN.</h2> + + +<p>It was the first of July. There had been no rain +for several weeks. Every one feared there would +be a drought. The farmer looked anxiously upon +his fields of corn, whose deep green leaves had not +yet begun to turn yellow, and upon the potatoes, +whose blossoms were still unwithered. They could +not long remain thus beautiful and thriving, if the +refreshing rain was withheld. The ground was so +dry that, in hoeing the garden, no moisture could be +observed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley talked with her children about the +need of rain, and the propriety of praying to our +heavenly Father to water the earth, that it might +"bring forth and bud," and "give seed to the +sower, and bread to the eater." She told them how +Elijah prayed for rain, after there had been none in +the land of Canaan for three years and six months, +and how God heard his prayer, "and the heaven +gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."</p> + +<p>This great drought was a judgment upon the people +of Israel for their sin in departing from God, +and worshipping idols. There had been, in consequence<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a> +of this want of rain, a "sore famine." We +read in the book of Kings of one poor woman, who +had only a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little +oil in a cruse. When Elijah met her, and asked +her for water, and a morsel of bread, she told him +this was all she had, and that she was gathering +two sticks, that she might bake it for herself and +her son, that they might eat and die! She know not +where to find any more food for herself or her child, +and expected to "pine away, stricken through for +want of the fruits of the field," and to die with hunger.</p> + +<p>Elijah bid her not to fear, but go and do what +she had said. He asked her to make him a little +cake first, and bring it to him, and afterwards make +one for herself and son. "For thus saith the +Lord God of Israel, the barrel of meal shall not +waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the +day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."</p> + +<p>It would not have been strange, if this widow of +Zarephath had been unwilling to divide her handful +of meal with Elijah, or if she had doubted the promise +which was made to her, but she did not. She +baked the little cake for the stranger, and afterwards +one for herself and her boy, and there was plenty of +meal and of oil left for another repast. "She, and +he, and her house, did eat of it many days." The +barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of +oil fail, till the Lord sent rain upon the earth, and +her wants could be supplied in the usual way. She +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>did not lose the reward promised to those who give +a cup of cold water to the friends of God.</p> + +<p>God does not willingly afflict the creatures he has +made. He is a gracious God, merciful, and of great +kindness, and has compassion even on the beasts of +the field. When Jonah complained that he spared +Nineveh, because its inhabitants humbled themselves +before him, and turned from their evil way, +after having sent him to prophesy to them that in +forty days it should be overthrown, he said to Jonah, +"Should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, +wherein are more than six-score thousand persons +that cannot discern between their right hand and +their left; and also much cattle?"</p> + +<p>In this long drought in the land of Canaan, the +cattle must have suffered greatly, and many of them +probably perished. Indeed, we read that Ahab, the +king of Israel, and Obadiah, the governor of his +house, searched the land for the fountains and +brooks, to find grass to save, the horses and mules +alive, that they might not be all lost.</p> + +<p>God is a Father, and, like a tender, loving father, +he removes his chastisements so soon as they have +produced the effect designed. He was "grieved +for the misery of Israel." He told Elijah he would +send rain. The prophet went to Ahab, who, when +he saw him, asked, "Art thou he that troubleth +Israel?" Elijah answered, it was Ahab, and his +father's house, who troubled Israel, because they +<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>had forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and +worshipped Baalim.</p> + +<p>Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel, and +earnestly prayed for rain. God had promised that +he would send it, and Elijah no doubt pleaded this +promise, as he interceded with him. He directed +his servant to go where he could look towards the +sea. He went and looked, and said, "There is +nothing." Elijah was not discouraged. He knew +God would remember his promise, and he sent +him seven times more. The seventh time the +servant returned, and said, "Behold, there ariseth +a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." +It grew rapidly larger and larger, till the sky +was black with clouds and wind, and there was a +great rain.</p> + +<p>James, in his Epistle, says, "The effectual fervent +prayer of the righteous man availeth much," +and he mentions this instance of prevailing prayer +in Elijah, as an encouragement to all Christians to +ask for needed blessings. "Elijah was a man +subject to like passions as we are," he tells us, +and if he prevailed with God, so may others. +God is the "same yesterday, to-day, and forever." +He does not change. He is always a +hearer of prayer.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley also told her children that God hears +the cry of all who are in distress. She referred to +one of the psalms of David, where he describes a +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>storm at sea, and the great terror of the sailors. +"Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and +he delivers them out of their distresses."</p> + +<p>God does not forget any creature he has made. +He provides the springs and the streams to give +drink to the beasts of the field, and to the birds +which sing among the branches. He causes the +grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service +of man. He feeds the fowls, and clothes the flowers +with beauty. He has taught us to ask for our daily +bread, and as this must depend upon fruitful seasons +it is proper we should ask for rain, whenever +it is needed.</p> + +<p>The children were quite interested in what their +mother had told them. They knew that she earnestly +desired rain, and that she often asked God +to send it, before vegetation perished for want of it. +They watched the sky with great anxiety, and when +it became cloudy, and continued so from day to day, +they thought surely a storm was near. After several +days, there was a slight shower, but not enough +to refresh the plants. Mary was greatly disappointed +"I thought," (she said to her mother,) +"it was going to rain in answer to your prayer."</p> + +<p>"I thank God for that little rain," said Eddy, as +he talked about it. Mrs. Dudley told him that was +right, but they ought to pray for more, it was so +much needed.</p> + +<p>The next Sunday Mrs. Dudley was not well, and +<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>could not attend church. When her children returned +she asked Mary if they prayed for rain. +"No, mother!" she answered; "but I did."</p> + +<p>The sky continued cloudy for some time, and +then the rain gently fell for a day and a night, and +all nature was refreshed and cheered.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards I left Mrs. Dudley's family. +When I had been absent about a fortnight, I received +a letter from Mary. She told me about the +bantams, and the flowers, and many other things in +which I was interested. She wrote that it had +"rained on Sunday, and all day Monday. I cannot +help thinking," she continued, "how good God is +to send us rain when we most need it, and what +cause we have for thanksgiving."</p> + +<p>I hope Mrs. Dudley's children will never forget +that God is the giver of every good gift, and that +he likes to have people ask him for what they need. +Children should think of God as their best friend, +and should go to him in prayer, feeling as sure he +can and does hear them, as they are that their +mother does. In a season of drought they should +ask him for rain, and when he sends it to make +vegetation grow, they should thank him for that +evidence of his loving-kindness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_GRAPE-CLUSTERS" id="THE_GRAPE-CLUSTERS"></a>THE GRAPE-CLUSTERS.</h2> + + +<p>Very beautiful were the grape-clusters as they +hung on the graceful vine, and very tempting to the +hand that was near enough to pluck them.</p> + +<p>Two little boys came on an errand to the lady who +lived in the house which the grape-vine shaded. It +was reviving to come out of the city's heat and dust, +and enter that pleasant parlour, screened from the +fiercer rays of the summer's sun by its green curtain +of leaves. The hot pavement and the glaring +walls of the city seemed far distant, for the charm +of the country was spread over that retired room. +All city sights were shut out, and peace and quiet +reigned within.</p> + +<p>The lady was sitting at her desk, writing, when +the boys entered. She spoke to them kindly, +for they were objects of her kind care, although +they did not live with her. They handed her a note +which required an answer. She gave them permission +to play in the yard, while she should write it. +They were very happy, for it was an unusual pleasure +for them. They examined the flowers which +grew in the narrow bed by the high, close fence, and<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a> +then they began to look wistfully at the rich bunches +of grapes, which were within their reach. The lady +had not told them that they might gather any, and +they felt that they ought not to do so. But the +tempter was near, and they listened to his suggestions.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="The_lady_was_sitting_at_her_desk_writing_when_the_boys_entered" id="The_lady_was_sitting_at_her_desk_writing_when_the_boys_entered"></a> +<img src="images/image008.png" width="468" height="580" alt="The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys entered." title="The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys entered." /> +<span class="caption">The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys entered.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Looking towards the house to see if they were observed, +they cautiously went up to the vine, and +each gathered a bunch of grapes. They ate them +secretly, that they might avoid detection; but although +they knew it not, there was an eye in the +house that saw them, and there was another eye +from which their act was not hid—the eye of the +all-seeing God.</p> + +<p>When the note was written, the boys were recalled +to the parlour, and pleasantly dismissed. I +think they must have felt somewhat ashamed, that +they had abused the confidence reposed in them, +and had been guilty of stealing from their kind +friend.</p> + +<p>After they left, the lady was informed what they +had done. When she visited "the home," where +they lived, she mentioned the fact to their teacher, +although she did not allude to it to them.</p> + +<p>The teacher took occasion to talk with her scholars +about being honest and trustworthy, and asked +them what they should think of children who, when +sent on errands and permitted to go into the yard +to enjoy themselves, should stealthily take the fruit +<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>which grew there. They, of course, condemned +such conduct. She gave them the instruction they +needed, and endeavoured to impress its importance +upon their minds.</p> + +<p>Soon after the close of the school, the two boys +who had taken the grapes went to her and told her +what they had done. She talked with them kindly. +They seemed truly penitent. She asked them if +they would like to go to the lady and acknowledge +their fault. They said they should, and immediately +they put on their straw hats, and their clean +sacks, and went cheerfully to make all the reparation +in their power for the fault they had committed. +Confession is always pleasant to the truly penitent.</p> + +<p>Again they stood in that shaded parlour. They +were affectionately welcomed as before. They confessed +freely and fully, what they had done on their +previous visit, and asked forgiveness, which was +readily granted. Just as they were leaving, they +turned and inquired, "Can you ever trust us again?" +The lady assured them that she could, and they +went away happy and strengthened in their good +purposes.</p> + +<p>From that time there has been a marked change +in the children. Their characters have much improved +and they have been, in all respects, more +conscientious and trustworthy. One of the boys +has, I think, found a Christian home, and the other +is waiting for one.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a></p> +<h2><a name="IT_ALMOST_MAKES_ME_CRY" id="IT_ALMOST_MAKES_ME_CRY"></a>"IT ALMOST MAKES ME CRY."</h2> + + +<p>"It almost makes me cry to think of the heathen," +said Willie Dudley, as he was standing by his mother's +work-table, with his elbow leaning upon it, +and his head resting upon his hand. "I don't wonder +missionaries go to them." His face was thoughtful +and sad, and the tears stood in his eyes.</p> + +<p>He had just been looking at two hideous idols, +which had been brought from Africa, and his mother +had been telling him that the heathen thought they +were gods, and prayed to them.</p> + +<p>Little Eddie wondered that any people could +think these stone images were God. His large, blue +eyes looked larger and rounder than ever, they were +so filled with amazement at what he heard. He +could only say, "Oh, mother! oh, mother!" in +tones which indicated surprise, pity, and horror.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley told her children that the heathen +had not been taught, as we have, that God is a +spirit, and that they had never learned the commandment, +"Thou shalt not make unto thee any +graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is +in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, +or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt +<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; +for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting +the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto +the third and fourth generation of them that hate +me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that +love me, and keep my commandments."</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder that the missionaries go to +them," was the sentiment on the mind of Willie, as +he thought of the ignorance and degradation of the +heathen. He loved, himself, to hear about God, +and our blessed Saviour, and he knew that God +required a pure and spiritual worship. He knew +God was the Creator of the world, and that his +power and glory could not well be represented or +conceived by man. He had often heard of the +heathen, and had read about their idols, but to see +and handle a stone head which had been actually an +object of religious worship, made it seem much +more real to him than ever before, that there are +many people who have never learned to worship the +true God.</p> + +<p>Willie has always had a great reverence for his +heavenly Father. Several years ago, he was reading +a description of one of the idols of the Hindoos. +The picture was disgustingly repulsive. He went +to Mrs. Dudley with his book, saying, "Mother, I +don't like to call g-o-d God here; I want to call it +d-o-g, for I don't think it is right to call such a thing +by that great name."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>Perhaps Willie will some day be a missionary, +and preach the glad tidings of salvation to those +who are now sitting in darkness, and in the shadow +of death. But if he is not a missionary himself, I +trust he will never forget to do what he can for those +who, far from their homes and their friends, are +fulfilling Christ's last command, to "go into all the +world, and preach the gospel to every creature."</p> + +<p>All Christians cannot be missionaries, but they +can all do something to spread a knowledge of true +religion throughout the world. They can contribute +of their property to this noble purpose. Our +heavenly Father accepts the smallest gift, offered in +love. We, surely, who live in comfortable homes, +and are surrounded by so much that is pleasant, +should never forget those who, in foreign lands, are +preaching the "unsearchable riches of Christ."</p> + +<p>If our Saviour were now upon the earth, I suppose +dear children, you think it would be a great +pleasure to minister to his wants, and provide him +with food or clothing, or any thing he might need. +It is delightful to know that what we do for those who +love him, he accepts as done to himself. In his +Holy Word he says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it +unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye +have done it unto me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BOY_WHO_STEALS" id="THE_BOY_WHO_STEALS"></a>THE BOY WHO STEALS.</h2> + + +<p>Mrs. Dudley was sitting at her dining-table. +The dessert was before her. There were fine, red +water-melons, rich and juicy, with glossy black +seeds peeping out from their hiding-places, and +musk-melons, fragrant and luscious, which grew in +her own garden. They had been gathered early +in the morning, by George and Willie, and placed +in the cellar, that they might be cool and refreshing. +The boys had assisted in planting them in the +spring, and with their little hoes they had worked +about them during the summer, and subdued the +weeds. They had watched their growth, and every +day they examined the vines to find those that were +ripe. They carefully gathered them, and sometimes +there were so many that their wheelbarrow was +quite full. Then they had the pleasure of carrying +some to their neighbours. Mrs. Dudley did not +consider good ripe fruit injurious, but much more +healthy, in summer, than meat, puddings, and +pastries, so that melons formed quite an important +part of the family dinner. The children enjoyed +them particularly, because they had raised them, in +part, by their own industry.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>George asked to be excused from the table. Not +long after he left, Mrs. Dudley heard a cry, as if +some child was in trouble. She looked around. +Mary, and Willie, and Eddie were there. The +sounds of distress could not come from George, for +he never cried in that way. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley +immediately arose and went out upon the lawn. +The children followed. They looked here and there, +and soon saw a boy near the house. He had a +small bundle in his hand, and a little tin pail. I +should think he was ten or eleven years old. He +was crying, and calling to a boy who stood at the +gate. Mr. Dudley inquired of him,</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"John won't let me go home."</p> + +<p>"How does he prevent you? What does he do +to you?" asked Mrs. Dudley.</p> + +<p>"He won't let me alone."</p> + +<p>"Does he try to make you fight?" she again inquired,—for +she had frequently seen that large boys +often love to tease and torment smaller ones, and she +thought perhaps this little fellow was abused by a +tyrannical companion. She thought of going to +speak to the boy at the gate, but Mr. Dudley made +further inquiries, and the child's answers were not +very satisfactory.</p> + +<p>Mary Dudley now came near her mother, and, +speaking in a low voice, said to her, "That is the +boy who steals."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>While they were talking with him a larger boy +came up, and said his teacher had sent him and the +boy at the gate to take Jimmy back to school.</p> + +<p>"Why, what has he done?" asked one of the +group which surrounded him.</p> + +<p>"He has been stealing the children's dinners. +He stole yesterday, and he has been stealing to-day."</p> + +<p>This was a sad account to hear. Jimmy begged +to be permitted to go home, but Mr. Dudley told +him he had better return to the school. He then +very reluctantly walked down to the gate with the +largest boy, and I suppose was led back to his +teacher.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley had never heard of this child before, +but Mr. Dudley said he had known him as a very +bad boy. She asked Mary how she happened to +know any thing about him. Mary told her that he +attended Sunday-school, and that, a few Sundays +before, one of the children could not find his cap. +A thorough search was made for it, but it could not +be found. The superintendent thought some one +must have taken it. He suspected Jimmy, because +his reputation was so bad, and followed him on his +way home. Jimmy had it on his head, and his own +cap was hidden under his sack!</p> + +<p>The superintendent of the school talked with +Jimmy, who said he would never steal again; but, +alas! he soon forgot his good resolution. Although +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>he carried a dinner for himself in his tin pail, he +took whatever he liked from the baskets of his companions.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley has seen this boy several times since +she heard him crying on the lawn. She says it +always makes her feel sad to meet him, for she cannot +avoid thinking,—"that is the boy who steals." +She has learned that he has no father or mother, +but lives with his grandparents. I fear he "will +bring down their gray hairs with sorrow to the +grave." He has allowed himself to steal small +things, and as he grows older he will probably take +articles of more value. He may become a housebreaker +or a murderer.</p> + +<p>It is dangerous to indulge in the least sin. It +hardens the heart, and stifles the whisper of that +still, small voice, which so often tells children, when +they are tempted to do wrong, "That is not right; +you should not do that."</p> + +<p>In some Catechism the question is asked, "What +is my duty to my neighbour?" and a part of the +answer is, "To keep my hands from picking and +stealing." I suppose "picking" must mean, secretly +taking little pieces of cake, or sugar, or +any thing of the kind, of small value. I presume +Jimmy was in the habit of "picking," at his grandmother's +before he ventured to steal at school.</p> + +<p>I could tell you several very sad stories of people +who have stolen when they were children, and who +<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>have grown more and more wicked, as they have +advanced in years, till they became a curse to +society and themselves. "The way of transgressors +is hard." These people have no true enjoyment. +There is always a fearful looking forward to the +future.</p> + +<p>It is not pleasant to me to write about bad children, +and I should not do it if it were not to warn +the dear children I so much love against the formation +of wrong and sinful habits.</p> + +<p>How much better it would be for Jimmy if he +had learned to "touch not, taste not, handle not," +that which does not belong to him!</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 160px;"> +<img src="images/image009.png" width="160" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a></p> +<h2><a name="LOOK_AT_THE_BIRDS" id="LOOK_AT_THE_BIRDS"></a>LOOK AT THE BIRDS!</h2> + + +<p>October, with its golden and crimson hues, its +"gentle wind," and its "fair sunny noon," has +passed away. November has come. The sun +shines brightly, and the sky is almost clear of +clouds; but the chill wind blows roughly, and the +leaves are rudely torn from the trees where they +have gladdened us through the spring and the summer +by their refreshing shade, their modest beauty, +and their sweet music, as they sung to the gentle +breeze which played amid the branches. They lie +now, most of them, beneath the trees, wrinkled and +faded, or scattered here and there, far from their +fellows, wherever the cold blast has wafted them.</p> + +<p>The birds have been taught by their unfailing +instinct that summer has departed, and winter is +near. They no more warble their rich melodies, or +flit in and out of the bowery recesses of the honeysuckles +or peep with knowing look under the eaves, +or into the arbour. Other purposes prompt to other +acts, and they are taking their farewell of the +pleasant summer haunts, where they have built their +nests and reared their young.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>This morning, soon after sunrise, Willie was +standing on the lawn, contemplating the beauties of +nature, and thinking, I suppose, of the changes of +the seasons, when all at once I heard him shout, +"Look at the birds! Look at the birds!" We threw +open the window, and there were thousands and +thousands of them almost over our heads. Their +wings made a noise like the rushing of a steam-engine +as it cleaves the air in its speed. They were +calling to each other with a short, quick sound. It +seemed as if they were giving and receiving orders. +We watched them till they disappeared over the +tree-tops.</p> + +<p>"There are more! There are more!" shouted +Mary. We again looked towards the rising sun, and +up over the eastern hills came another immense +flock, calling to each other as the first, and they too +disappeared behind the western hills.</p> + +<p>"There is another flock!" and so indeed there +was. Up from the meadows and over the hills they +came, swaying up and down in their flight, and so +near that we could see each bird distinctly. Almost +simultaneously they alighted on Clover Hill +to rest for a moment. I can never forget their motion +so full of grace and beauty, waving and undulating +like the gentle swell of the ocean. Soon, +another company followed in the same direction, +and when they were over Clover Hill, up flew the +others, and away they went with them beyond our +<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>sight. Flock after flock appeared, each taking the +same general direction, and some of them so large +that they stretched from the hills which bounded +our view on one side, as far as our eye could see on +the other. They looked, as Willie said, like bees +swarming, only they were much larger. Occasionally +a few stragglers could be seen, hurrying on to +join their party, which was in advance of them. +Perhaps they had delayed to take a last farewell of +their pleasant summer homes, or, may be, they +were dilatory in their habits, and did not make +their morning toilet in season. I hope they will be +more prompt in future, for it is a bad habit to be +late, and occasions, often, much vexation and inconvenience.</p> + +<p>I never before saw so many birds together, +although I have frequently been startled by the +peculiar sound made by large numbers flying in +company, and have looked at them with wonder and +admiration.</p> + +<p>The migration of birds is one of the most remarkable +phenomena in natural history. "The stork in +the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the +turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the +time of their coming," and so do all birds of passage. +Their Creator has endowed them with a wonderful +instinct, which, in some way, unknown to us, +teaches them to guard against the severity of the +season by seeking a warmer climate, and when +<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>"winter is past," and "the flowers appear on the +earth," and "the vines, with the tender grape, +give a good smell," then "the time of the singing +of birds is come," and their voice is heard in our +land. Some of them return, not only to the same +country, but to the same place, where they have +previously built their nests, and, year after year, +raise their broods in the same friendly tree.</p> + +<p>It is said that, to enable birds to fly with ease, +and to continue long on the wing, they must fly +against the wind. I observed, this morning, that +there was a brisk wind from the west, while the +birds were flying a little south of west. Perhaps +they had been waiting several days for a favourable +wind, and that may have been the reason of the +great number of flocks we saw.</p> + +<p>"Behold the fowls of the air," said our Saviour, +in his sermon on the mount; "for they sow not, +neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet +your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not +much better than they?" At another time, when +he was talking with his disciples about the persecutions +they should endure for his sake, he said to +them, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? +and one of them shall not fall on the ground without +your Father. But the very hairs of your head +are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore; ye are +of more value than many sparrows."</p> + +<p>Not one of that immense number of birds, which +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>we saw flying to a warmer country, can perish +without God's knowledge. He sees every one of +them. During the summer, he has fed them on +the meadows near the sea-shore, and now that +winter is approaching, he has taught them to seek +other localities, where their appropriate food can be +found.</p> + +<p>Whenever God's children are tempted to yield to +despondency, and to fear that they shall suffer from +want, let them remember that they are of more +value than many sparrows, and that if they trust +their heavenly Father, their bread shall be given +them, and their water shall be sure. He who feeds +the birds will feed them. May he</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Fill" our souls "with trust unshaken</span> +<span class="i2">In that Being who has taken</span> +<span class="i2">Care for every living thing,</span> +<span class="i2">In Summer, Winter, Fall and Spring."</span> +</div></div> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 219px;"> +<img src="images/image010.png" width="219" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_LOST_CHILD" id="THE_LOST_CHILD"></a>THE LOST CHILD.</h2> + + +<p>It was a Sabbath morning in November, clear, +bright and frosty. Mrs. Dudley's family were preparing +for church. They heard Carlo bark violently, +and knew a stranger must be near. Carlo is a faithful +watch-dog, but his habit of barking at visitors is +so disagreeable, that he is usually kept chained in +the day-time. On Sunday, as no company is expected, +he is permitted to go at large. When Mr. +Dudley heard Carlo, he immediately threw open the +window, and spoke to him. He saw a gentleman, +who was evidently much alarmed. None of the +family knew him. The stranger soon made known +the occasion of his call, by inquiring,</p> + +<p>"Have you seen any thing of a stray child?"</p> + +<p>"No, we have not; whose child is lost?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. McPherson's."</p> + +<p>"How old is the child?"</p> + +<p>"About six years old. His mother sent him +from home, yesterday, about two o'clock, and she +has heard nothing from him since. He had a small +tin pail with him to get some yeast."</p> + +<p>It is sad to hear that a child is lost, and all the +family sympathized with the anxious parents. "How +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>badly you would feel if I was lost!" said Eddie, and +he looked sober and grieved, as he thought of the +little boy about his own age, who had wandered +from home, no one knew where. There was much +fear that he had fallen into the river, as he had +been seen on the dock.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock the family started for church. +They met people who were searching for the child, +and who asked them, as the gentleman had done at +the house, "Have you seen any thing of a stray +child?"</p> + +<p>Notice was given in the churches that a boy was +lost, and many a mother's heart beat quicker as she +thought of her own dear little ones, and imagined +one of them sleeping, perhaps, through that cold +November night on the ground, or (fearful thought!) +buried deep in the chill water.</p> + +<p>After church, you could hear one and another +inquiring anxiously, "Has the child been found?" +But no favourable answer was received. In the +afternoon, however, many hearts were gladdened by +learning that he was safe. He had gone to the +village, and got his pennyworth of yeast, and then, +instead of returning immediately, he stopped to +play with some boys. He had gone with them to a +part of the village with which he was not acquainted +and when he wished to go home, he did +not know what direction to take. He chose a road +leading him from home, and wandered at least five +<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>miles. Just before dark an old gentleman and his +grandson were walking on the road, and they observed +this little boy crying.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose he is crying about?" said +the child to his grandfather.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Perhaps he has been sent to the +grocery, and does not like to go."</p> + +<p>They watched him and found he did not stop, +but passed on with his tin pail, crying grievously. +They waited for him to come up to them, and +asked him,</p> + +<p>"What are you crying about?"</p> + +<p>"I want to go home!"</p> + +<p>"Where is your home?"</p> + +<p>The boy could not tell.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"William Hudson." He did not say, as he +should have done, William Hudson McPherson.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman kindly took him by the hand, +and led him to his own home. William's tears +were soon dried, and he became quite contented. +It was too late to attempt to find his parents that +night, as he could not tell where they lived, and the +name of Hudson was not familiar to the good people +who had given him shelter.</p> + +<p>When Sabbath morning came, William was questioned +again and again, till at length some clue was +obtained of his father's place of residence. The +horse was harnessed, and William, with lame and +<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>blistered feet, was placed in the wagon. About +noon he safely reached home, and was clasped once +more to his mother's heart. The father had not +returned from his search, and he afterwards said, it +had seemed to him that he never could go home +without his child, on account of the terrible and +almost frantic distress of the mother. As he approached +his house, borne down with grief, he saw +a wagon at the door. His heart leaped with joy, +for he thought the lost one was found. He opened +the door hopefully, and there, indeed, was William +gathered once more with his brothers and sisters +around the great cooking-stove, tears of joy flowing +down the grateful mother's cheeks.</p> + +<p>All this great grief which William's father and +mother endured—all the anxiety felt throughout +the town—and all the sufferings of the boy himself, +were occasioned by William's stopping to play, when +he ought to have gone directly home!</p> + +<p>Children often think they are quite as capable of +judging for themselves, as their parents are for +them. Sooner or later this opinion will lead them +into trouble. William thought it was safe to stop +and see the boys play marbles, but he found, to his +sorrow, that it would have been far better to have +resisted temptation and denied himself the short +pleasure he enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Every human heart is grieved when a child like +William strays from home. We do not wonder that +<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>his mother should be fearfully anxious in regard +to his fate. But, oh! how much more bitter tears +a loving mother sheds, when her dear ones stray +from the path of virtue, and become disobedient and +wicked! I hope none of the children who read +about William will go astray from the right path, +but will ever choose that which is pure and lovely +and of good report, and which, through the grace +of God in Christ Jesus, will safely lead them home +to heaven.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 210px;"> +<img src="images/image011.png" width="210" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_UNPLEASANT_NEIGHBOUR" id="THE_UNPLEASANT_NEIGHBOUR"></a>THE UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOUR.</h2> + + +<p>Eddie's father has a disagreeable neighbour. In +one way or another he is a constant source of annoyance. +Sometimes his pigs will creep through +the fence, and root up the smooth green lawn. His +part of the fence he will not keep in repair, and the +hungry cows, in search of food, will break into the +garden, and make sad havoc among the cabbages +and other vegetables. His fine bay horse, whom he +knows will jump over any ordinary fence, is permitted +to run in a pasture, where he can eke out his +scanty meal by a hearty lunch among Mr. Dudley's +corn. All these aggressions, and many more, have +been borne with the greatest patience.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dudley has often been advised to resort to +the law as a means of defence, yet he has been reluctant +to do so. The children have sometimes felt +very indignant when they have been obliged to +chase the pigs or the cows out of the yard or field, +but their parents have endeavoured to teach them +Christian forbearance.</p> + +<p>At one time Eddie had been thinking about Mr. +<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>Morrison,—for by that name I shall call the unpleasant +neighbour,—and he said very seriously to his +mother,</p> + +<p>"Mother, can Mr. Morrison go to heaven if he +dies."</p> + +<p>She hesitated a moment how to answer him, for, +she had taught him that it is wicked to lie and to +swear, and that if a person loves God he will not be +in the habit of committing such sins; so she told +him, that unless Mr. Morrison repented he could not +go to heaven.</p> + +<p>At another time Eddie and his mother were talking +about God's love for the beings he has made. +She told him that God loves every one.</p> + +<p>"Does he love Mr. Morrison?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, God loves Mr. Morrison. He is grieved +and offended by his wickedness, but he loves him. +You know I love you, when you have done wrong, +although I am sorry that you have been naughty. +I do not cease to love you. The Bible tells us that +while we were sinners, God so loved us as to send +his Son to die for us. He loves all, and wishes all +to repent and believe in Christ, and be happy. He +has provided a way for all who believe to be saved, +and it is only because people love sin more than they +love holiness, that they are lost."</p> + +<p>Nothing can give us a higher idea of God's love, +than the thought that he loves every one—even his +enemies. "God is love." What a blessed, glorious<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a> +thought! How it encourages us to trust him +at all times!</p> + +<p>God does not willingly afflict, nor grieve, nor punish +any one. All that he does, he does from the +truest love.</p> + +<p>The knowledge that God loves us should lead us +to love him. We are naturally disposed to love +those who love us, and always do, unless there is +something repulsive about them. There can be +nothing repulsive about God, for he is love, and we +who love him, love him because he first loved us.</p> + +<p>One night, after little Eddie had repeated the +Lord's Prayer and his usual evening petitions, he +raised his head, and said to his mother,</p> + +<p>"Shan't I pray for Mr. Morrison, now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, if you wish to," she answered.</p> + +<p>He bowed his head again, and uttered a simple +prayer for the man who was the occasion of so +much trouble and perplexity to his father's family. +He prayed that God would forgive his sins for +Jesus' sake, and make him a good man. It was +very pleasant to hear Eddie pray thus, and to witness +his kind and forgiving spirit.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have often regretted that +the children should have their early memories saddened +by such a neighbour, but perhaps their heavenly +Father wishes to teach them a lesson of forbearance +and love for those who injure them, which +they could not so well learn in any other way.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>Our Saviour, when dying on the cross, taught us +practically the duty of forgiveness. He prayed +even for those who put him to death. "Father, +forgive them, for they know not what they do." +Do you not suppose he was pleased to hear Eddie +ask his Father in heaven to forgive Mr. Morrison +and make him a good man?</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 233px;"> +<img src="images/image012.png" width="233" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BOY_WHO_KEPT_HIS_PURPOSE" id="THE_BOY_WHO_KEPT_HIS_PURPOSE"></a>THE BOY WHO KEPT HIS PURPOSE.</h2> + + +<p>"I would not be so mean," said George Ward +to a boy who stood by, while he put the candy he +had just bought in his pocket.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="I_wouldnt_be_so_mean" id="I_wouldnt_be_so_mean"></a> +<img src="images/image013.png" width="468" height="580" alt=""I wouldn't be so mean."" title=""I wouldn't be so mean."" /> +<span class="caption">"I wouldn't be so mean."</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"You have no right to call me mean," replied +Reuben Porter, "because I don't spend my money +for candy."</p> + +<p>"You never spend it for any thing," continued +George, tauntingly.</p> + +<p>It was true. Reuben did not spend his money. +Do you suppose it was because he loved it more +than other boys do?</p> + +<p>Reuben turned slowly away, meditating upon +what had occurred.</p> + +<p>"I will not care for what George thinks," he at +length said to himself; "I have four dollars now, +and when I have sold my cabbages, I shall have +another dollar. <i>I shall soon have enough</i>," and his +heart bounded joyfully, his step recovered its elasticity +and his pace quickened, as the pleasant thought +removed the sting which the accusation of meanness +had inflicted on his sensitive spirit.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>Enough did not mean the same with Reuben as +it means with grown people. It had a limit. He +hastened cheerfully home, or to the place he called +home. He had no father or mother there, but kind +and loving friends in their stead. His father had +died two years before, leaving a wife and four +children without property to sustain them. Reuben +was the eldest, and as he was old enough to assist +in the labours of a farm, it was thought best he +should leave his mother. Mr. Johnson, a neighbour +took him into his family, where he soon became a great favourite.</p> + +<p>There was one thing about the child, however, +which good Mrs. Johnson regarded as a great fault. +It was what she called "a spirit of hoarding." She +said she never gave him an orange, or an apple, that +he did not carry it to his room, instead of eating it. +Perhaps his sisters at home, or dear little brother +Benny, could tell what became of them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Johnson had noticed, too, in his drawer, a +box, which was quite heavy with money. She did +not believe he had bought so much as a fish-hook, +since he had been in their family. If he should go +on in this way he will grow up to be a miser. Mr. +Johnson smiled at his wife's earnestness, and remarked +that with such an example of generosity as +Reuben had constantly before him, he could not +believe the child was in much danger from the fault +she feared. "It must be remembered," he said, +<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>"that Reuben has his own way to make in life. +He must early learn to save, or he will always be +poor. There are his mother and sisters, too, who +need his aid."</p> + +<p>In various ways Reuben added to his store. +When the snow came, he made nice broad paths +about the house, which so attracted the notice of a +neighbour, that she asked if he might be allowed to +make paths for her. He rose early that he might +have time for this extra work, and was well paid for +his efforts. The box grew heavier from week to +week. <i>Reuben had almost enough.</i></p> + +<p>One day there was a barrel of flour left at Mrs. +Porter's. She thought there must be a mistake +about it; but the man said he was directed at the +store to take it to that house. Mrs. Porter went +immediately to learn about it, and what was her surprise +on finding her son had been the purchaser. +How could he pay for a whole barrel of flour? +"The money," said the merchant; "he brought in +a box. It was in small bits, which took me some +time to count, but there was enough."</p> + +<p>The mother called, with a full heart, at Mrs. +Johnson's, and related what had occurred. Reuben +wondered why his mother should cry so. He thought +she would be happy. He was sure he was happy. +He had been thinking two years of that barrel of +flour, and now he felt more like laughing than +crying.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>Those tears, noble boy, are not tears of sorrow, +but of the deepest, fullest joy. You are more +than repaid for your self-denial. You have persevered +in your determination. You have resisted +every temptation to deviate from the course which +you marked out as right. You have borne meekly +the charge of meanness so galling to your generous +spirit, and now you receive your reward. You are +happy, and so is your mother, and so are your kind +friends, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.</p> + +<p>That night, Mr. Johnson remarked to his wife, as +they sat together before the cheerful fire, that he had +some idea of keeping the little <i>miser</i> and educating +him. "A boy who could form such a purpose, and +keep it, will, in all probability, make a useful man." +After-years proved the correctness of this conclusion. +Reuben is now a man of intelligence and +wealth. He is one whom the world delights to +honour; but among his pleasantest memories, I +doubt not, is that of the barrel of flour he bought +for his beloved mother.</p> + +<p>"Filial love will never go unrewarded."</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 231px;"> +<img src="images/image014.png" width="231" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a></p> +<h2><a name="MARYS_STORY" id="MARYS_STORY"></a>MARY'S STORY.</h2> + + +<p>Mary and Eddie had retired to their little beds. +Their mother had said "good night," and had given +them both a kiss. She was just leaving the room, +when Eddie said to his sister,</p> + +<p>"Now you can tell me about Jesus."</p> + +<p>This simple remark revealed to Mrs. Dudley the +subject of their conversation after she left them for +the night. It gave her great pleasure, for she desires +nothing so much as that her children may +love the Saviour, and she knows the more they think +about him, and the more they learn of his life, +the more they will find him worthy of love. Mrs. +Dudley offered up a silent prayer to her heavenly +Father that the Holy Spirit would teach them and +guide them into all truth.</p> + +<p>She did not remain with the children to hear +them as they talked together, but a few days afterwards +she asked Eddie what Mary told him about +Jesus. He repeated the history of his birth, of the +cruel persecution of Herod, of his blameless life, +and his death upon the cross.</p> + +<p>Eddie is too young to realize much about the +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>great love of Christ, and how much he has done +for us that we may be happy, but he is not too +young to love him.</p> + +<p>I hope he will never forget the sweet story Mary +told him. Jesus loves little children. He is their +best friend, always ready to forgive them when they +are sorry for doing wrong, and to help them when +they try to do what is right.</p> + +<p>Even now, as I am writing, I hear children singing</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"There is a happy land</span> +<span class="i2">Far far away."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>The sound grows fainter and fainter—eyelids +are drooping—sleep is near—the voices are hushed—the +little ones are slumbering. May "holy +angels guard their bed."</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 298px;"> +<img src="images/image015.png" width="298" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SUNNY_FACE_AND_THE_SHADY_FACE" id="THE_SUNNY_FACE_AND_THE_SHADY_FACE"></a>THE SUNNY FACE, AND THE SHADY FACE;</h2> +<h3>OR, JUNE AND NOVEMBER.</h3> + + +<p>"How happy I am to-night! I love you so +much I want to be with you all the time," said +Willie to his mother, as he followed her from the +dining-room to the nursery, one stormy evening.</p> + +<p>What made Willie so happy? It was not because +the day had been pleasant, and he had been permitted +to enjoy himself out of doors, for a chilling +snow had been falling, and Willie had been obliged +to remain in the house. It was not because he was +well, for many hours of the day he had been lying +on the bed too ill to sit up all the time. It was not +because he had received a handsome present, for +none had been given him.</p> + +<p>There had been nothing unusual to make him so +happy, excepting a thought hidden in the secret +recesses of his heart. Shall I tell you what that +thought was, that made his face so bright and +sunny, that made his eyes sparkle, and wreathed his +lips with smiles? I will tell you in his own words, +<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>and I hope you will treasure it in your heart. If +you do, your face, too, will be cheerful and smiling, +and your friends will love to look upon you.</p> + +<p>When Willie told his mother how happy he was, +she put her arm around him, and drew him lovingly +to her side. "What makes you so happy?" she +inquired.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it is because I have been trying to be +good," he answered.</p> + +<p>"That always makes people happy," his mother +replied.</p> + +<p>Willie is generally a good boy, but he sometimes +does wrong, and wrong-doing always makes him sad. +It was a great pleasure to him that he had tried +to be good, and had been enabled to overcome +temptation.</p> + +<p>All children are sometimes tempted to do wrong, +and it often requires a severe struggle to decide to +do right. But every child who overcomes evil +feels a conscious happiness and self-respect in so +doing. I hope you will "try to be good." If you +do, and look to Christ for strength, he will aid you, +and through his grace you will be able to become +conqueror over the sins that "so easily beset you."</p> + +<p>Henry Maxwell lives in the same town with +Willie, and is of the same age. These boys often +play together. I regret to be obliged to say that +Henry is not so good a child as Willie. He does +not so promptly obey his mother, and of course he +<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>cannot be so happy. Sometimes he pouts out his +lips, when his mother wishes him to do something +which he does not exactly like.</p> + +<p>I one day heard his mother talking to him about +his teeth. She wished him to brush them again, as +he had not done it thoroughly the first time. It +was astonishing to see how that fair, round face was +disfigured by that ugly pout, and it was sad to hear +his dissatisfied "I don't want to." When his mother +insisted on obedience, Henry reluctantly complied +with her wishes, closing the door behind him with +great violence.</p> + +<p>His face was not sunny and bright like Willie's, +when he had tried to be good, but was dark and +shady, like a clouded sky. It was not pleasant to +look upon, and it made the heart of his mother +heavy and sad to see it. I hope Henry will learn +to be cheerful and prompt in his obedience to his +mother, for, if he should not, the expression of his +face will grow more and more disagreeable, till, when +he is a man, it will look more like a chilly day in +November, than a sweet, gladsome day in June.</p> + +<p>I do not wish you should tell me, but I should +like to have you ask yourself, when you have read +about these two boys, which of them you are most +like. Is your face sunny, or shady?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></p> +<h2><a name="IT_ISNT_FAIR_I_PEEPED" id="IT_ISNT_FAIR_I_PEEPED"></a>"IT ISN'T FAIR. I PEEPED."</h2> + + +<p>Willie and Eddie were playing Hide the Button. +After they had played some time, and it was Willie's +turn to find it, he came into the nursery with his +face flushed, and evidently much excited. "It isn't +fair," said he, and the tears gathered in his eyes, and +his lips quivered with emotion, "I peeped. Eddie +must hide it again;" and he went out of the room, +for Eddie to put the button in another place.</p> + +<p>Willie had been overcome by temptation. He +had done a dishonourable act, but his conscience +was quick to reprove him, and he had listened to its +admonitions. There had been a short but severe +struggle in his mind, and truth and honour had +conquered. He was brave enough to confess his +fault, and to do what he could to make amends +for it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley was not at home, but a friend who +had charge of the children told her the circumstance. +It rejoiced her greatly that her dear boy +should have had the manliness to acknowledge his +error; and it encouraged her to hope that he would +never be guilty of a similar fault again. Willie is +a conscientious boy. He sometimes does wrong, as +<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>in this instance, but when he reflects, he is always +sorry.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley did not say any thing to Willie +about the occurrence; but a few evenings afterwards +as she was sitting at the tea-table alone, the +others having all left, he came to her and stood +by her side, leaning his elbow upon the table, and +resting his head upon his hand. She knew by his +manner and his serious look that he had something +in particular to say to her. She put her arm around +him and drew him close to her.</p> + +<p>"Mother," said he, "the other day, when you were +gone, I peeped while Eddie hid the button;" and +then went on and told her all about it. Mrs. Dudley +talked with him a short time, and said he had done +right in confessing his fault, and in refusing to +profit by his wrong act. She knew he was much +happier than he could have been if he had done otherwise. +"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; +but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have +mercy." Willie found the happiness of an approving +conscience; and I doubt not that Jesus looked +down with love upon him, as he does upon all true +penitents. "There is joy in heaven over one sinner +that repenteth."</p> + +<p>If Willie had not confessed his fault, and been +sorry for it, his conscience would have been hardened +and he would probably have "peeped" +another time, when the children played the same +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>game. But now, if he should be tempted in this +way again, he would remember how much he suffered +in consequence of having once yielded to a +similar temptation, and would not allow himself to +commit the wrong.</p> + +<p>It is very important that children should early +learn to confess their faults, and not form the habit +of endeavouring to hide them from others. If they +have injured any individual, they should apologize +to that individual. Sometimes it is only necessary +to confess to God, but we should not be satisfied +with doing it in a general manner. Each wrong +act, so far as we remember it, should be mentioned.</p> + +<p>If we really love our heavenly Father, we shall +wish to tell him all about ourselves. We shall have +no desire to conceal any thing from him, and it will +be a pleasure to us to think that he knows every +thought and feeling of our hearts.</p> + +<p>Willie had no wish to conceal from his mother +the wrong he had done; he preferred to tell her +about it; and I have no doubt he had previously +told his Father in heaven.</p> + +<p>"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just +to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all +unrighteousness."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CHRYSALIS" id="THE_CHRYSALIS"></a>THE CHRYSALIS.</h2> + + +<p>"O mother, look here! What is this?" exclaimed +Eddie, as he was in the garden with his +mother and Mary and Willie. He was standing +by a tall pole, around which a Lima bean-vine had +wound itself. He had been gathering the great dry +pods in a basket to preserve them for winter, when +his grandmother would come to Clover-Hill to see +her dear grandchildren. His attention had been attracted +by something peculiar, and he immediately +called his mother to come and see it. Mary and +Willie ran to look. Mrs. Dudley found it was a +beautiful green chrysalis, suspended by its silken +cords to the vine. The colour was soft and delicate, +and it was ornamented with a black line, and with +bright golden spots.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it pretty, mother?" "How did it get +here?" and many more questions were rapidly +asked, while the little folks carefully examined it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley told them what it was, and that if they +preserved it, they would in a few days see a butterfly +escape from it. Eddie looked up astonished. She +also told them that it was once a worm, crawling +<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>about upon the earth; that it had climbed up, and +suspended itself under the shelter of the leaves, to +await its change into a new and more attractive +form of being.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley took the chrysalis from the vine and +carried it to the house, and put it on the mantle in +her room. Every day the children looked at it to +ascertain if there was any change. Soon the colour +began to fade, and the delicate pea-green became an +ashen white. Then it opened slightly, where there +had from the first seemed to be lines of division, and +they could peep in at the imprisoned insect. The +opening became wider and wider, and one day, when +Eddie came into the room and went as usual to look +at the chrysalis, the shell was empty! The butterfly +had escaped. He uttered an exclamation of mingled +surprise and disappointment. As he turned +his head, he saw, on the little cotton muff of +Mary's doll, the butterfly for which he had so patiently +watched.</p> + +<p>"Here it is, mother!" he shouted in the most +joyous tones, and his eyes sparkled with delight.</p> + +<p>Eddie and his mother observed it for some time. +Its long, slender legs rested on the muff, and ever +and anon it would open and close its brilliant +wings, as if to try their power, or to dry the miniature +feathers which adorned them. Its colour was a +rich orange, shaded from the lighter tints to the +deeper, and variegated with stripes of black. The +<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>children examined it with a microscope, which +made it appear even more beautiful and wonderful +than before.</p> + +<p>It remained on the muff several hours, and then +flew to the window, and alighted on the curtain. +At evening, it was found on the cushion of a spool-stand, +and there it passed the night. The next day +it disappeared, and the children saw it no more. It +probably flew away through the open window, to +enjoy its brief life under the smiling sun.</p> + +<p>The children talked much about the transformations +which had taken place in the life of that caterpillar. +Their mother told them that the butterfly +was sometimes considered a type of immortality. +In this world we are, like the worm, in an inferior +state of existence. Our bodies are laid in the grave, +but <i>we</i> are not dead, any more than the unmoving +chrysalis—which remained so long on the mantel +just where it was placed—was dead. The spirit +still lives, and, after it has freed itself from the imprisoning +flesh, is more beautiful than before, and +is susceptible of more perfect enjoyment in the pure +atmosphere of heaven.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a></p> +<h2><a name="CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_COTTAGE" id="CHRISTMAS_AT_THE_COTTAGE"></a>CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE.</h2> + + +<p>Mrs. Dudley's children look forward to Christmas +with many anticipations of pleasure, for several +weeks before it comes. They are quite busy in preparing +for it. Their mother is the repository of +their secrets, and assists them by her advice in making +their arrangements. Many important deliberations +take place about mats, pin-cushions, and bookmarks.</p> + +<p>As the day approached, the children often expressed +the wish that it was here. A few days was +a long time for them to wait. But time did not +hasten. The hours were just sixty minutes, and +the minutes just sixty seconds. The clock ticked on +as usual. It was unmoved by all the excitement, +and never, for an instant, quickened its pace.</p> + +<p>When Saturday came, their mother proposed that +the presents should be distributed that evening. +She did not like to have the children wish the Sabbath +past, and on Monday morning there would be +but little time to make their arrangements before +the hour for school. She knew they would be quiet +<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>and happy if they had some new books to read, and +would be perfectly willing to lay aside other gifts +till Monday.</p> + +<p>Mary wished to decorate the parlour with evergreens. +Mrs. Dudley sent a man to get some for +her. She and Willie arranged them in bunches and +wreaths. Eddie helped all he could, and was as +happy as any of them. In the afternoon their +mother assisted them. She put the bunches made +of the delicate, feathery hemlock, and the dark +glossy laurel, over the windows, and suspended the +wreaths where the bay-windows projected from the +room. Small branches of cedar and spruce were +tastefully arranged in vases, relieved by the rich, +green leaves of the ivy, and the bright, lively twigs +of box.</p> + +<p>The children wished for a Christmas tree, but the +evergreens they had were all too small for that purpose +Mrs. Dudley suggested that the hat-stand +might be substituted. They were delighted, and +immediately busied themselves in adorning it with +garlands. It proved quite ornamental, and the +pegs served a very useful purpose. Mary arranged +on some strips of white paper the words, "A merry +Christmas." The letters were made of the small +leaves of the box, and were fastened on with gum-arabic. +These were placed amid the wreaths on +the transformed hat-stand.</p> + +<p>When all these arrangements were completed to +<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>their satisfaction, they left the room. Mrs. Dudley +remained some time longer. When she left, the door +was locked.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dudley returned from the city, where he had +been spending the day, bringing some friends with +him. Tea was speedily despatched, and then all +the family were summoned. The parlour door was +unlocked. There were various toys, baskets, and +reticules suspended on the hat-stand. There was a +nice little felt hat for one of Mary's dolls, and a +looking-glass for the baby-house, and an embroidered +cushion, which Willie's industrious fingers had made +for Minnie Dudley, as the doll is called—a far better +employment for him, I think, than throwing it +about and treating it roughly, as I have sometimes +heard of boys doing. There were humming-tops, +which reminded me, by their music, of the great +spinning-wheel that whirred away in my mother's +kitchen when I was a child. There were graces, +and battle-doors, and jack-straws for the amusement +of the children when it was too cold or stormy to +play out of doors.</p> + +<p>On a table was an array of slippers, which Mary +and her mother had wrought for father and the boys. +There was merry capering when they were transferred +to the feet of their owners. I shall not tell +you whether Mr. Dudley so far forgot his dignity as +to partake of the excitement, but I am quite sure +he was much gratified by the present Mary had +<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>made for him with her own hands, and that he +kissed his thanks with great fondness.</p> + +<p>Most valuable of all to the little folks, and most +gladly welcomed, were the books. How eagerly +they looked them over.</p> + +<p>There was a present to Mrs. Dudley from her +children, which I must not forget to tell you about. +It was a plain gold pin, in which, neatly plaited, +were six bunches of hair. One of them was dark, +streaked with gray—the others were auburn, flaxen, +and brown. She knew whence the treasures came +to unite in that beautiful mosaic, and the tears were +ready to start from her eyes as she received that +precious token of family love.</p> + +<p>When I was a child, I heard little about Christmas. +It came and went without my knowledge. +But I enjoy the return of it very much now, and +sympathize with children in the interest with which +they regard it. I like to think they are treasuring +up such cheerful memories to make their early home +attractive to their age.</p> + +<p>The little Dudley's will always like to look back +to this pleasant evening, and wherever they are, +their hearts will warm more fondly on account of +it to their father's cottage, nestled in the valley, and +they will be in less danger of forgetting the lessons +of love and kindness they have learned there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></p> +<h2><a name="I_WILL_CONQUER_MYSELF" id="I_WILL_CONQUER_MYSELF"></a>I WILL CONQUER MYSELF.</h2> + + +<p>In one of the oldest towns of New-England there +lived, many years ago, a little girl, whom I shall +call Helen Earle. Her father had been engaged in +the East Indian trade, and had accumulated great +wealth. Her mother was a sweet, gentle woman, +who most tenderly loved her children, and endeavoured +to correct their faults, and develop their excellencies. +In Helen's home there was every comfort +and every luxury that heart could desire, but +she was not always happy. She had one fault, which +often made herself and her friends very unhappy. +It was the indulgence of a violent temper. She +would allow herself to become exceedingly angry, +and her usually beautiful face was then disfigured +by passion. Her mother was greatly grieved and +distressed by these outbreaks of ill temper, and did +all in her power to restrain them. She talked with +her daughter earnestly in regard to the sin of such +a temper. Helen would weep bitter tears, and express +much regret for the past, but she could not +quite make up her mind to determine to overcome +temptation. The task seemed too difficult, and she +shrunk from the attempt.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>Mrs. Earle shed many tears in secret over this +sad failing in her beloved child, and most fervently +pleaded for help from Him who had given her the +care of this immortal spirit to educate for eternity. +She knew that God alone could change Helen's +heart, and give her power to overcome sin, even +though assaulted by the fiercest temptation.</p> + +<p>One day, when Helen was very angry at something +which had occurred, her mother led her up +stairs to her own room and left her alone. For a +time she cried violently, then she grew calm and +quiet, and her mother could hear her walking back +and forth across the room, talking to herself. She +listened. How her heart rejoiced when she heard +her repeating, again and again, "<span class="smcap">I will conquer +myself! I will conquer myself!</span>"</p> + +<p>And Helen did conquer herself. She had come +to the determination, not that she would try to conquer, +but that she would conquer, and, by the gracious +help which is always given to those who ask,—she +nobly succeeded. From that hour she was able +to overcome the temptation, and was not overcome +by it. She grew up to womanhood remarkable for +the evenness and gentleness of her temper. None, +who had not known her in childhood, would have +suspected that she was not always thus mild and +lovely.</p> + +<p>Helen did for herself what no earthly friend +could do for her. By the power of her will she +<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>controlled her impulses, and this triumph was of far +more value to her than all the wealth of her father. +It made her a blessing to her friends, strengthened +all her good purposes, and enabled her to perform +the duties of life without the friction which a bad +temper always occasions. It gave her that true self-respect +which elevates the character, and which none +can feel who are not conscious of the power to rule +their own spirits.</p> + +<p>No child is blamed for having a quick temper, +but he is blamed if he allows himself to be overpowered +by it. If he really determines, as Helen +did, to conquer himself, he will succeed. The old +proverb, "Where there is a will, there is a way," +will never fail in such a case as this. "God helps +those who help themselves," and he is ever ready +to assist us in subduing what is wrong in our own +spirits.</p> + +<p>The Bible contains many passages which condemn +anger: "He that is soon angry, dealeth foolishly." +"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger +resteth in the bosom of fools." "Make no friendship +with an angry man, and with a furious man +thou shalt not go." "He that is slow to wrath is +of great understanding, but he that is hasty of +spirit exalteth folly." "Let every man be swift to +hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of +man worketh not the righteousness of God."</p> + +<p>All habits grow stronger by indulgence. If you +<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>allow yourself to become angry to-day, you will +more easily become so to-morrow. If you control +your temper to-day, it will be less difficult to control +it to-morrow. Helen's victory was obtained by +decision. To form the determination to conquer +herself required more effort of will and more +strength of character than any subsequent struggle +with her besetting sin could possibly require.</p> + +<p>If you have any fault which you wish to correct, +you must fully make up your mind to succeed. You +must resolve that you will conquer. If you should +occasionally be overcome, yield not to despair, but +with renewed courage try again.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"On yourself and God relying,</span> +<span class="i2">Try, keep trying."</span> +</div></div> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 144px;"> +<img src="images/image016.png" width="144" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></p> +<h2><a name="SELFISH_ELLA" id="SELFISH_ELLA"></a>SELFISH ELLA.</h2> + + +<p>Ella Russell is a little girl with soft, flaxen +hair, bright eyes, and a complexion fair and clear. +She is neat and orderly in her habits, and is very +gentle and mild in her manners. Her musical +laugh sometimes rings through the house like a +sweet melody. It is so contagious that you would +laugh yourself to hear it.</p> + +<p>Ella is obedient, and needs as little care as any +child I ever knew. Her father is living, but she has +no mother, and Ella lives with a Mrs. Lindsley, who +has three daughters, two of them older and one +younger than Ella. She is much attached to this +lady, and feels perfectly at home in her house.</p> + +<p>Ella's mother was in feeble health several years +before her death. Ella was her constant companion, +and nothing gave her more pleasure than to +wait upon her and do all in her power to relieve her +sufferings and make her more comfortable. Mrs. +Russell said her daughter was an excellent nurse, +although she was not more than seven or eight +years old. It shows how much even small children +can do for the comfort of their invalid friends, if +they really try. It is very gratifying to a mother +<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>to have a child so careful and thoughtful, and Ella +and her mother loved each other more and more +every day. Mrs. Russell's disease was consumption, +and she could not be restored to health. Poor Ella, +how lonely she felt when her mother died! She +was young to know so much sorrow.</p> + +<p>Ella's home is not far from the city. Her father +often goes there, and frequently sends her some +delicacy which he knows she would relish—a box +of early strawberries, or a basket of plums or +peaches, or whatever fruit may be in season. Mr. +Russell is exceedingly generous, and he expects his +little daughter to divide the fruit with the family +where she has found so excellent a home.</p> + +<p>Ella, good child as she is in most respects, has +one sad fault. She is selfish. When she receives +any rarity she would prefer to eat it herself, just as +the chickens do when they have found a nice tit-bit. +It is really a trial to her that she cannot eat a whole +basket of peaches before they would spoil! Indeed, +one day, after receiving such a present, she said to +a person in the family, "I wish my father would +not send so many. I like it better when I have +only a small basket, and can keep it in my own +room."</p> + +<p>At one time Mr. Russell sent a basket of peaches +to Mrs. Lindsley. Ella was not at home. She had +gone out to make a call on some of her friends. She +heard this basket had been sent, and hastened back +<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>as soon as she could. "I hope they haven't eaten +up all my peaches!" was her first exclamation. She +was quite indignant to find the basket had been +opened.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lindsley gave her all she considered it +safe for her to eat; but Ella was not happy. She +felt as if they all ought to be hers, and she really +cried about it. A day or two after Ella saw her +father, and he told her the peaches were designed +for the family. Ella was somewhat mortified, and +afterward told Mrs. Lindsley what her father said +about the basket of fruit.</p> + +<p>It seems very strange that Ella should be so +selfish, for her father is not at all so, and I know +it must grieve him to have a child of his so forgetful +of the enjoyment of others. This selfishness does +not make her happy. It occasions her much trouble, +and it always will.</p> + +<p>I know a little boy, six years old, who is very +fond of fruit, and who is much delighted when his +father brings him an apple; yet I have seen him, +when he had but one, divide it between his brothers +and sisters, and reserve no part of it for himself. +He seemed entirely happy in doing so.</p> + +<p>One day he heard his mother say, "I have not +even a penny in my purse." He went up-stairs to +his money-box, and brought down a handful of pennies, +and gave them to her. His mother kissed +<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>his plump, brown cheek, and thanked him for +his gift.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="His_mother_kissed_his_plump_brown_cheek" id="His_mother_kissed_his_plump_brown_cheek"></a> +<img src="images/image017.png" width="468" height="580" alt="His mother kissed his plump, brown cheek." title="His mother kissed his plump, brown cheek." /> +<span class="caption">His mother kissed his plump, brown cheek.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Which should you prefer to be like—selfish Ella, +or this generous little boy?</p> + +<p>The selfish person is always willing to receive +favours, but to the generous "it is more blessed +to give than to receive."<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 326px;"> +<img src="images/image018.png" width="326" height="300" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a></p> +<h2><a name="OUR_FATHER_WHO_ART_IN_HEAVEN" id="OUR_FATHER_WHO_ART_IN_HEAVEN"></a>"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN."</h2> + + +<p>"Father is coming, father is coming!" shout a +merry group of children, as Mr. Wilmot appears +around a little knoll, on his return from his business.</p> + +<p>"Let us run and meet him,"—and away they +scamper over the lawn to see which will get to him +first. They are laughing gaily, and their feet trip +lightly, as hatless and bonnetless they hasten to +him. Mary's brown curls are streaming in the +wind, and it is a beautiful sight to look upon these +children, so full of life and joy and love.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilmot greets them with a smile, and stoops +to kiss each of them, as they put up their arms +to give him a loving welcome to his home. One +of them takes his basket, and another his cane, +and then the unoccupied hands are claimed by the +tiny ones who love to walk by his side.</p> + +<p>Why do these children hasten so eagerly to +meet their father? It is just because he is their +father. He has provided them with a home, and +with food and clothing, and has given them many +<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>pleasant things to enjoy. He loves them, and his +love and approbation are very precious to them. +They obey his wishes, and strive to please him, +and this is one source of the happiness which fills +their hearts.</p> + +<p>I think most of you, dear children, have kind +parents, to whom you are warmly attached, and +that you do not hear the name of father without +emotions of pleasure. Some of you have no +earthly father, but you all have one in another and +better world.</p> + +<p>Most of you, in your infancy, have learned to +repeat the Lord's Prayer. How beautiful and expressive +are the words with which it commences, +"Our Father who art in heaven." God, then, +is your father, and you may go to him as his +children. You may tell him all your wants, all +your sorrows, and all your joys. You may pour out +your heart to him with perfect freedom. You need +not fear to do this as you would to a stranger, for +he is your Father, and knows all about you. He +knows every time you suffer, and he sees every +thought of your heart. God loves you more than +any earthly friends can, and he has enabled them +to bestow upon you all the comforts which surround +you.</p> + +<p>When you kneel down to pray, will you not remember +that it is to a father you are speaking, and +will you not love him as truly and warmly as you +<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>do the dear father who takes you on his knee, and +speaks so kindly and affectionately to you. Your +father in heaven has given you this earthly parent, +and you should surely love him for all he has done +for you.</p> + +<p>Do not let the precious words, "Our Father who +art in heaven," be unmeaning ones to you; but +strive to realize the great goodness and condescension +of God in permitting you to call him by so +sweet a name, and give him the only thing you can +in return,—your young and grateful hearts.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/image019.png" width="390" height="300" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></p> +<h2><a name="HATTIE_AND_HERBERT" id="HATTIE_AND_HERBERT"></a>HATTIE AND HERBERT.</h2> + + +<p>"Was there ever so good a mother as you are?" +said Hattie Atherton, throwing her arms around +her mother's neck, and kissing her with great affection.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes!" answered little Herbert, in a solemn +tone, "there is one a great deal better."</p> + +<p>"Why, Herbert! what do you mean?" exclaimed +Hattie, who knew Herbert loved his mother as +dearly as she did.</p> + +<p>"I mean God. He is better than mother."</p> + +<p>"But God is a Father. He is our Father in +heaven," continued Hattie.</p> + +<p>Herbert was quite satisfied with Hattie's correction, +and was then ready to agree with her, that his +mother was the best mother in the world.</p> + +<p>Herbert was a very little boy, but he had been +taught that God was more worthy of love than even +his father or mother could be. He was too young +to understand much about the being of God, and +when he called him a mother a great deal better +than his own mother, it was an expression of his +love and reverence.</p> + +<p>Do you, dear children, when you realize something<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a> +about the love which your mother feels for +you, and which enables her cheerfully to do so +much for your comfort, remember that God loves +you even more than she does, and that He is far +more deserving your strongest affections?</p> + +<p>"He that loveth father or mother more than me," +the Saviour said, "is not worthy of me." God +should occupy the first place in your heart, and next +to Him you should love your parents.</p> + +<p>Happy is that child who is so willing to be governed +by her mother's wishes that she is at all +times ready to exclaim, "Was there ever so good a +mother as my mother!"</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 235px;"> +<img src="images/image020.png" width="235" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_TWO_WILLS" id="THE_TWO_WILLS"></a>THE TWO WILLS.</h2> + + +<p>When a man of wealth dies, there is always +much interest felt in regard to the disposition he +has made of his property by will. Sometimes large +bequests are made to benevolent societies, and the +donor is generally considered a very generous man. +Many bless his memory, and his name is cherished +with grateful respect. It is right that it should be +so. God loves the cheerful giver.</p> + +<p>I have just read the last "will and testament" +of a little boy nine years old, who lived in Ohio. +Not very long ago he was taken ill with fever. +The disease was violent, and he suffered much. At +length it became evident that he must die.</p> + +<p>A few hours before his death, he looked up to his +mother and said:</p> + +<p>"Do you remember my gold dollar?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my son; but we had better not think of +that now."</p> + +<p>"But mother," said George, "I want you to give +it to the missionaries, and my shillings too, and all +the pennies. Give it all to the missionaries."</p> + +<p>George died, and I trust has gone to heaven. +His desire to do good was no doubt acceptable and +<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>pleasing to God. He could not receive here the +reward God has promised to those who give to the +poor, but in another world his heavenly Father can +most richly recompense him. The sum contributed +by the dying child was not large, but it was all he +had.</p> + +<p>In the same town lived a little girl, whose father +was a clergyman. One after another of his dear ones +were taken from him. A precious babe of seventeen +months, a sweet prattler of three years, and another +of five, were called to leave this world and grow up +with the angels in heaven. Then this child of eleven +must go too—the fourth out of that family circle +within one short month! She had been a follower +of the Saviour for three years, and had thought +much of the condition of the heathen, who have no +knowledge of the way of salvation through Christ. +She hoped, if she lived, to become a missionary +herself, and teach them about the true God and his +son Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>She was ill nearly three weeks, but she was not +unhappy. She did not fear to die. The Saviour, +whom she loved, was near her, to walk with her +through the valley of the shadow of death, and his +rod and staff—they comforted her. She knew that +her beloved parents would soon join her in the heavenly +world, when they all together should enjoy the +immediate presence of their Lord. She looked forward +cheerfully and joyfully, to the glorious immortality<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a> +upon which she was so soon to enter. When +dying, she exclaimed, "It is all dark here, but I +shall soon be where it is light. I shall be with my +heavenly Father, and the blessed Saviour, and all +the good people."</p> + +<p>One of this child's last requests was, that her dollar—the +only money she possessed—should be sent +to a missionary society to buy Testaments for heathen +children.</p> + +<p>These children's offerings, small though they are, +are yet precious gifts cast into the treasury of our +Lord. Their influence will never cease. Many +souls may be converted through the truth these +"two mites" may be the means of teaching.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 210px;"> +<img src="images/image021.png" width="210" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a></p> +<h2><a name="BLESS_GOD_FOR_THIS_DOLL" id="BLESS_GOD_FOR_THIS_DOLL"></a>"BLESS GOD FOR THIS DOLL."</h2> + + +<p>When Mary Wilson was about five years old, +her aunt Ann came from a distant place to make +her mother a visit. She was fond of children, and +often talked and played with her little niece, and +assisted her in making dresses for her doll. This +gratified Mary, and made her love her more and +more, as we always love those who are kind to us.</p> + +<p>Mary's doll was not pretty, but she liked it very +much, and took good care of it. She always undressed +it at night, before she went to bed, and put +on a nice white night-gown her mother had made +for it; and in the morning she would dress it again +for the day. She named it Louisa, but her younger +brother always called it Quesa, and, after a time, all +the family spoke of it by that name.</p> + +<p>Mary often wished she could wash Quesa's face, +as her own was washed; but she had tried it once, +and found it would not answer, for the colour came +off its cheeks, and it looked more than ever as if it +needed a good rubbing with a sponge.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, when passing the shop-windows, and +seeing the new dolls so temptingly displayed, Mary +would ask if she might stop and look at them, and +<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>would, perhaps, say, "I should like that doll." +Mrs. Wilson would gladly have purchased one of +them for her, but she was obliged to be economical, +and could not gratify all her wishes. Mary had +early to learn many lessons of self-denial, and I +must do her the justice to say she was always +satisfied with her mother's decision.</p> + +<p>Mary would occasionally go to walk with her +aunt Ann, who observed with what delight she +looked at the porcelain dolls, so bright and fresh, +and she thought she could not make her a more acceptable +present than one of them.</p> + +<p>One day, when Mary was not with her, she bought +a doll with rosy lips and cheeks, blue eyes, and +short curling hair, and dressed it in clothes which +could be taken off and put on easily, as all little +girls like to have them. It was indeed very pretty, +and its face could be washed without injury as +often as Mary pleased to do it.</p> + +<p>Mary knew nothing about the present she was to +receive, till all this was done; and then her aunt, +going into the nursery, put it in her arms as she +was sitting in her low chair playing with Quesa. +Mary looked at the new doll, and then at her aunt, +and then at the doll again, as if to say, "What does +all this mean?" Aunt Ann answered the look by +saying, "The doll is for you, Mary."</p> + +<p>It was just what she had long wanted, and her +heart was full of happiness and gratitude. After +<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>holding it a moment, she laid it carefully in her +chair, and kneeling down, put her little hands together +and closing her eyes, said, "Bless God for this +doll." Mary had been taught that God was the +giver of every good gift, and she felt, that although +aunt Ann gave her the doll, her heavenly Father +had put it into her heart to do so, and she wanted to +thank him for making her so happy.</p> + +<p>Perhaps you think that God is too great a being +to care about your little wants, and that he does not +put the thought into any body's heart to buy dolls +for children, as Mary Wilson did. Nothing which +concerns the happiness of the creatures he has made, +is too small for his attention. Nothing escapes his +notice. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." +So small a bird as a sparrow, the Bible +tells us, cannot fall to the ground without his knowledge. +If he cares for the birds, he certainly does +for children, and wishes them all to be good and +happy.</p> + +<p>God has given you all many gifts, for which you +ought to thank him. If I should look into your +play-rooms, how many things I should see which +add to your enjoyment! In one there is a pasteboard +house, with windows and doors, and partitions +to divide it into rooms. It is furnished with +tables and chairs, and the dolls can sit in them. In +another, are blocks with which to build houses, +castles, and railways, or any thing the fancy of the +<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>young architect may dictate; and here is Noah's +ark, in miniature, containing himself and family, +and many animals. Countless other toys are distributed +among my young friends, which make their +bright eyes sparkle, and wreathe their lips with smiles.</p> + +<p>Other treasures, more valuable than these, are +not wanting. How many books I see! and as I +open them, one after another, at the fly-leaf, I read +your own names and the names of those friends +and relatives who have given them to you.</p> + +<p>Have you ever thanked your heavenly Father, as +Mary Wilson did, for these pleasant things which +make you so happy, and for all the blessings he +confers upon you?</p> + +<p>Your parents provide you with food and clothes, +and many other comforts which you need; but it +is God who enables them to do so, and who fills +their hearts with such love for you as to make it a +pleasure to watch over and care for you. You +should be grateful to them for all their kindness, +but you should never forget that to your Father in +heaven you owe your gratitude for such loving friends.</p> + +<p>God himself has taught you to ask him, day by +day, for your daily bread. That prayer shows who +provides for your wants, and whom you should +thank for the pleasant things you enjoy.</p> + +<p>There is one gift of exceeding great value which +the Lord has bestowed upon us—greater than all +others—but I will tell you about it another time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a></p> +<h2><a name="BESSIE_HARTWELL" id="BESSIE_HARTWELL"></a>BESSIE HARTWELL.</h2> + + +<p>Children who are called obedient children are +often not so prompt in their obedience as they +should be. Instead of doing directly as they are +bidden, they stop to ask "Why?" and seem to wish +some other reason for compliance with a command +than the word of a parent. It is often proper to tell +children why they should do or should not do certain +things; but children should be careful to remember +that they must obey, whether they know +the reason of the requirement or not.</p> + +<p>Bessie Hartwell is about eleven years old. She +is generally a good child, but, like all others whom +I have known, she has some faults. Although she +always intends to obey, she does not always obey +instantly. I will tell you a sad accident which +befell her in consequence of this tardiness, and you +will see it would have been much better for her if +she had learned to be prompt.</p> + +<p>She was travelling with an aunt on a steamboat. +She was very happy, for she was going to visit her +grandfather and grandmother, and she knew she +should enjoy herself on the fine farm, scampering +<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>about over the fields, raking the new-mown hay, and +riding on the top of the load.</p> + +<p>Bessie always liked to go to the country. Her +home was in the city, where she had only a small +yard, not much larger than her grandmother's capacious +kitchen, to play in, and that was surrounded +by a high, close fence, so that she could see only the +tiny patch of grass beneath and the beautiful blue +sky above.</p> + +<p>Children in the country do not know how to +prize their freedom. If they could be penned +up in the city for a few months, as Bessie +was for the greater part of the year, they would +learn to appreciate it, and they would look upon +every tree and every blade of grass as a friend. +The chirping of the crickets, the singing of the +frogs, and the warbling of the birds would be thrice +welcome music to them. No wonder Bessie was so +happy when she thought of the wide lawn studded +with trees, the orchard rich in apples and pears, +the hills down which she and her sisters could run, +and up whose steep sides they must scramble when +the horn sounds for dinner. The country is rich in +its treasures of happiness, and they are bestowed +freely and profusely upon every one "who in the +love of nature holds communion with her visible +forms."</p> + +<p>It was in the gray twilight of the morning that +the steamboat arrived at the wharf. When they +<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>went home, Bessie was awakened, and was soon +ready, with her travelling-bag on her arm, to leave +the boat. Her aunt took her by the hand, to lead +her across the gangway. They had but just stepped +upon it, when she started forward to reach her +uncle, who, with an infant in his arms, had just +preceded her. Her aunt called to her to stop. +She paid no attention, but passed rapidly on. A +car, laden with baggage, was drawn across the gangway. +It frightened her. She stepped quickly aside, +and fell into the water.</p> + +<p>Oh! the agony of that moment! Her uncle and +aunt could not aid her. He besought the people +near him to take the infant from his arms, that he +might leap into the water to attempt the rescue of +the child; but they would not do it. They held +him back, that he might not expose himself to the +danger of immediate death; for he could not swim, +and of course he could not render the assistance +which was needed. He and her aunt were both +obliged to stand and look on, in unutterable anguish, +while strangers attempted to save her.</p> + +<p>Bessie fell in such a way that she did not sink +under the water. Her clothes spread out, and +buoyed her up like a life-preserver. A man let +himself down as soon as possible; but the rope +was not long enough for him to reach Bessie. +He could only touch her with his foot. She took +hold of it, and he slowly raised her till he grasped +<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>her bonnet. In this way they were both pulled +up, and Bessie once more stood by the side of her +aunt. How freely they all breathed once more, +when the terrible suspense was ended, and she +was safe!</p> + +<p>Bessie seemed scarcely aware of the danger she +had been in. She had been perfectly calm, and did +not lose her presence of mind; and it was owing +to this, probably, that she was so easily rescued. +She tried to save her travelling-bag, but, as she +told her aunt, she could not hold it any longer than +she did.</p> + +<p>It was wonderful that Bessie was not drowned. +If she had not been supported by her clothes, she +would have sunk beneath the water, and when she +arose would very probably have come up under the +boat, so that it would have been impossible to +save her.</p> + +<p>If Bessie had been in the habit of obeying so +soon as she was spoken to, she would not have met +with this fearful accident, and her uncle and aunt +would have been spared the mental suffering they +endured. I should think she never again would +forget to obey at the first word from those who +have the care of her.</p> + +<p>I hope, dear children, you will profit as much +by Bessie's accident as I trust she will; and that +you will aim not only to be obedient, but promptly +obedient. You may not suffer the same mishap +<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>that she did, even if you allow yourself to form +the same habit; but it may lead you into as +great danger, and even greater, for it may peril +the purity and peace of your soul, and that is +of far more consequence than the safety of your +body.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 327px;"> +<img src="images/image022.png" width="327" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a></p> +<h2><a name="MARYS_GREAT_TREASURE" id="MARYS_GREAT_TREASURE"></a>"MARY'S GREAT TREASURE"</h2> + + +<p>More than twenty years ago, there was a little +blue-eyed, curly-haired child playing about one of +the pleasant homes in the West. She was happy +and kind, and every one loved her. She was only +six years old, yet she had a great treasure in her +possession—greater than many of the kings and +queens of the earth can claim.</p> + +<p>What do you suppose this treasure was? Was it +a valuable diamond? Was it an immense amount +of silver and gold? Something better than diamonds +or silver and gold, was in this little girl's +keeping—something which will be safe when these +have all perished.</p> + +<p>I will tell you what this treasure was, because I +want you to be as rich as Mary, and, through the +great goodness of God, you may all have just such +a precious gift. It was a <span class="smcap">new heart</span>—a heart that +loved her heavenly Father, that loved to pray to him +and ask him to keep her from sin.</p> + +<p>Mary often talked with her companions about +Jesus, and before she was ten years old several of +them had been brought to love and obey him, and +<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>had, like Mary, a new heart. How happy they were +together! How much the Saviour loved them!</p> + +<p>Mary is now dead, and has gone to heaven. Do +you suppose she is sorry she so early went to Christ +and asked him for a new heart?</p> + +<p>How pleasant it must have been to her to be able +to say, as she looked back over her past life, that +she could not remember the time when she did not +love the Saviour; and she surely does not now +regret, that when she was a little child—less than +most of you who are reading about her—she went +to Jesus and asked him for a heart to love him.</p> + +<p>Our heavenly Father will give you a new heart, +if you really wish to have it and feel your great +need of it. Jesus died that you might be saved +from sin, and he loves <i>little</i> children. Will you not +go to him, as did Mary, and ask him for a new +heart? If you are sorry for your sins, tell him so; +and if you are not, ask him to help you to feel how +wicked sin is, that you may have the "great treasure."</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 290px;"> +<img src="images/image023.png" width="290" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></p> +<h2><a name="SUSAN_WILL_BE_HAPPIER_IF_I_GO_WITH_HER" id="SUSAN_WILL_BE_HAPPIER_IF_I_GO_WITH_HER"></a>"SUSAN WILL BE HAPPIER IF I GO WITH HER."</h2> + + +<p>Mary Wilson is a little girl only nine years old. +She loves her mother very dearly, and she is always +happy to be with her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wilson lives in the country, not far from a +pretty village, to which she occasionally goes to +make a few purchases or call on a friend. She +sometimes takes Mary with her, who always enjoys +such a walk. She trips along by her mother's side, +sometimes taking her hand, and sometimes stooping +down to gather a wild-flower which blossoms by the +roadside; and then perhaps she runs on and watches +the brook that trickles down the hill, on its way to +the river. Her smiling face and sparkling eyes +show she is happy.</p> + +<p>One day when she was all ready, with her white +sack and blue sun-bonnet on, to accompany her +mother along the bank of the river to the village, +Susan Grafton called for her to go with her in +another direction, on an errand for Mrs. Grafton. +Mary was greatly tried. She wished very much to +go with her mother, but Susan did not like to go +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>alone. What to do she did not know. Tears were +in her eyes, as she told her mother her trouble and +asked her what she should do. Mrs. Wilson left +the decision entirely to Mary. After a short struggle +she smiled through her tears, and said, "I should +rather go with you, mother, but Susan will be happier +if I go with her. I think I had better go with +her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wilson kissed the quivering lip of her +daughter, and told her she had done right in thinking +of Susan's happiness. Her heart ascended in +prayer to God for his blessing on her dear child, +that she might ever be unselfish and self-sacrificing.</p> + +<p>Would not most children be happier than they +now are, if, like Mary, they tried to make others +happy, and were willing to deny themselves for the +sake of their companions?</p> + +<p>Although Mary was so much grieved to lose her +walk with her mother, she was far happier that +afternoon than she would have been without an +approving conscience.</p> + +<p>Will you not pray, dear children, for a kind, +unselfish heart?</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 170px;"> +<img src="images/image024.png" width="170" height="125" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_NEWS-BOYS_BANK" id="THE_NEWS-BOYS_BANK"></a>THE NEWS-BOYS' BANK.</h2> + +<h3>PART I.</h3> + + +<p>"How much money have you in the bank?" +I heard a gentleman inquire of a boy. "A dollar +and a half," he replied. I looked up, and saw before +me a slender, bright-looking lad, about fourteen +years old. The pantaloons he wore had evidently +belonged to a full-grown man, and were rolled up at +the bottom to make them short enough for the present +wearer. His coat had been cut short in the +skirts, and the sleeves hung loosely about his hands. +His shirt was not particularly clean, neither was it +very dirty. His face, however, had been nicely +washed, so that there was nothing repulsive about +the fellow. The gentleman talked with him a few +moments. I was quite interested in the conversation +and learned from it that he was one of the +news-boys of New York.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="First_interview_with_the_news-boy" id="First_interview_with_the_news-boy"></a> +<img src="images/image025.png" width="468" height="580" alt="First interview with the news-boy." title=" First interview with the news-boy." /> +<span class="caption">First interview with the news-boy.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Patrick—for by this name I shall call the boy—sleeps +at the lodging-house for news-boys, and is +there learning to read. I concluded that I would +go there, and see for myself what had been done for +the improvement and salvation of these energetic, +<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>active boys. I found the building to which I had +been directed, but could not readily find the entrance +which led to the room I was seeking. I +inquired of some poorly-dressed children where it +was. A boy about ten years old guided me. He +asked if I wanted a boy. I was sorry to say "No," +for he looked so bright and active that it seemed a +pity not to give him some employment.</p> + +<p>I ascended one flight of stairs, and another, and +still another and another, before I came to the right +door. I knocked, and was admitted by a gentleman +who has the oversight of these boys. The room +which I entered was nicely painted and whitewashed. +There were many seats with desks as in a +a schoolroom, and there were books and slates on +them. Maps and pictures hung on the walls, and +there was a library for those who could read.</p> + +<p>The room was neat and tidy, and quite inviting +in its appearance. At the farther end of it was an +office for the caretaker, and a bathing-room, where +water can be used without stint or measure. The +boys enjoy the free use of the water, though probably +many of them never bathed in their lives, +before they came to the lodging-house. If "cleanliness +is next to godliness," much has been already +accomplished.</p> + +<p>The school or sitting-room opens into the dormitory. +This is a large and well-ventilated apartment, +and, being in the sixth story, overlooks most of the +<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>buildings in the vicinity. There were accommodations +for fifty boys, and the room is large enough +for eighty. Each boy has a separate bed. They are +arranged in two tiers, as in a steamboat. The beds +were all neatly made, and looked quite comfortable. +Many of these boys have never slept in a bed except +in this room. The remarks which they make to +each other, when comparing their beds, with their +clean sheets and pillow-cases, with the boxes, areas, +and crannies where they have been accustomed to +sleep, are very amusing.</p> + +<p>I am happy to know that there has been a constant +improvement among the boys. They grow +more orderly, and are more easily restrained, and +some of them give promise of making useful men. +They are not allowed to use profane language, to +fight, nor to smoke in the rooms, and generally +manifest much kindness of feeling toward each +other.</p> + +<p>There was a table in the room, which interested +me greatly. It was of black-walnut. In the top +there were one hundred and ten different holes, +large enough to admit a half-dollar. Each of them +was numbered. This was the bank in which Patrick +had deposited his money. There were one hundred +and ten little divisions in the drawer, corresponding +with one hundred and ten openings in the top. The +boys each have a certain number for their own use, +and if they choose, can safely secure their day's +<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>earnings for a time of need. The superintendent +keeps the key of the drawer.</p> + +<p>Several weeks ago, the boys voted not to take +their money from the bank till November, that they +might then have the means of purchasing warm +clothes for the winter. I had quite a curiosity to +look into the bank, to see how much the boys had +saved. In some of the divisions there were only a +few pennies, while in others there were several +dollars.</p> + +<p>I never looked upon any bank with so much +pleasure, as I did upon this simple one of the news-boys. +It was teaching them a lesson of economy +and forethought, which I trust they will never forget. +When they enjoy their comfortable coats and +warm pantaloons in the cold weather of winter, +they cannot avoid remembering, that it was by +taking care of the pennies, that they were enabled +so nicely to clothe themselves. The news-boys have +never been taught the true value of money. They +have not hesitated to gamble it away, or to spend it +for segars and tobacco, and other unnecessary and +hurtful things. They have been exceedingly improvident +and have had no idea of laying up any +thing for the future.</p> + +<p>One evening, as the boys were gathered in their +sitting-room, one of them was leaning on the bank. +He held up a quarter of a dollar between his thumb +and finger, and, looking at his companions, said, +<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>"You know Simpson, the pawnbroker?" "Yes." +"He is a friend in need, but <i>here</i> is a friend +indeed!" and the bright silver dropped, jingling, +into his bank.</p> + +<p>Those news-boys all of them possess more than +ordinary intelligence and energy of character. +"Every one of them," as a gentleman said, "is +worth saving." They are sure to make <i>men</i>, and +to exert an influence in the world.</p> + +<p>After my return from my visit to their rooms, +I told some children about the necessities of these +news-boys, and how much they need better clothing. +A little girl, whom I know, has determined to make +a shirt for one of them. I am sure it will be acceptable; +for, frequently, when they first go to the +lodging-house, they are so filthy that something +must be given them to make them decent. Perhaps +other children may like to do something to benefit +those needy ones, who have no father nor mother to +take care of them and provide for their wants.</p> + + +<h3>PART II.</h3> + +<p>When the bank was opened, the first of November +it was found to contain seventy-nine dollars +and eleven cents! This sum of money had been +saved in seven weeks, by twenty-four boys. They +<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>were quite astonished at their own success. They +learned the lesson by personal experience, that if +they took care of the pennies, the shillings would +take care of themselves. Some of them had saved +enough to buy a new suit of clothes, others enough +for pantaloons, and others for a cap or shoes. They +were advised not to spend their money hastily; but +a few were too impatient to wait, and the same +evening they received it they went out to make +their purchases. Others laid by their money till +morning.</p> + +<p>The news-boys found it was so much better for +them to put their money in the bank, than to spend +it in gaming, or for cigars, or in other useless ways, +that they voted to close it again, not to be opened +till December. During the month of November, +nineteen boys saved sixty-three dollars and forty-seven +cents. One of them had put in thirteen +dollars. He did not spend it all for himself, but +gave a part of it to his mother to pay her rent.</p> + +<p>The boys were delighted with their wealth. "No +hard times here!" they cried. "Money isn't tight +with us. There is plenty of it."</p> + +<p>One of the boys purchased an entire suit of +clothes; and when he made his appearance among +the others, in his nice blue jacket, with bright buttons, +his pantaloons to match, and his blue navy-cap, +he was greeted with cheers. One and another +examined his wardrobe, and all enjoyed his success. +<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>"Who are you? Who'd think this was Charley ——? +Is this a news-boy? Who'd believe this +was a news-boy?" and various other exclamations +escaped from them. "Charley has done well this +time." Yes, Charley did well, and he will not +soon forget the lesson he learned that month. He +knows more of the true use of money than ever +before.</p> + +<p>The first of December the boys voted to keep the +bank closed till the third of January. They decided +not to have it opened on the first, because +there are so many temptations to spend money that +they feared, if they had it in their pockets, they +should part with it foolishly.</p> + +<p>One of the news-boys has been recently run over +by a stage. I inquired about him, and learned that +he is the very boy whom I met in a friend's office, +and my interest in whom led me first to visit the +lodging-house. This is the third time he has narrowly +escaped death. The omnibus passed directly +over his body. When he was taken up, his companions +thought him dying. He was conveyed +immediately to the hospital.</p> + +<p>The boys at the lodging-house were saddened by +Patrick's troubles. They expected he would die. +They recounted his excellencies of character. His +cheerfulness and ready wit were not forgotten. +Patrick is not a boy of many words, but when he +speaks, it is to the purpose. The boys called at the +<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>hospital to see him. The door-keeper said he never +knew a boy who had so many cousins!</p> + +<p>The next day Patrick was better. It was found +that he was not so much injured as was at first supposed. +There was great rejoicing in the evening at +the lodging-house. A heavy load had been lifted +from their hearts. Patrick would soon be among +them again. They were cheerful and full of life +and spirits. "Patrick must be half made of India-rubber!" +they exclaimed, gleefully.</p> + +<p>This sympathy with each other is one of the +most beautiful traits of their character, and shows +a nature that may be nobly developed. They cannot +but learn much that is good in the hours spent +in their reading-room, as they listen to the instruction +of those interested in their welfare. Many of +them have already found good situations, and give +promise of becoming useful men. They appreciate +kindness and civility. "Mr. —— spoke to me in the +street, when he was walking with another gentleman +and <i>he shook hands with me too</i>," said one of +them triumphantly, as if he had risen in the scale +of being, and was more worthy of respect, in consequence +of the respect with which he had been +treated. Few can estimate the power of sympathy.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;</span> +<span class="i4">Let no harsh term be heard;</span> +<span class="i2">They have enough they must endure,</span> +<span class="i4">Without an unkind word."</span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>"I have never forgotten your words of kindness, +when I was poor and almost discouraged," wrote +one lady to another, and no more will any child +of want forget the utterance of a warm, generous +heart.</p> + +<p>I should have told you, that besides the money +the boys put in the bank, they earn enough to pay +for their lodging, six cents a night, and to purchase +their food, and, sometimes, various articles of clothing. +They are obliged to be very active, and to be +up early in the morning. They may be found in +all parts of the city, crying their papers with loud, +piercing voices, and running at full speed from +street to street, stopping only to sell papers to any +who may buy.</p> + +<p>It would be well if they had some occupation +which would expose them less to bad company and +unsteady habits; but a news-boy can be honest, +virtuous, and temperate, as well as any other boy,—if +he will take the right way to be.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 219px;"> +<img src="images/image026.png" width="219" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a></p> +<h2><a name="IDAS_DRESS" id="IDAS_DRESS"></a>IDA'S DRESS.</h2> + + +<p>At one time, when Mrs. Dudley was spending a +few days in the city, she went with a friend to call +upon a poor woman whom she heard was in great +need. This woman had sent a daughter, about +eight years old, to school for one day, and then +found that she could not spare her; she felt obliged +to keep her at home to take care of the baby.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carter—for by this name I shall call her—occupied +a house back from the street. The ladies +ascended the steps leading to the first floor, and +inquired if she lived there. "She is in the basement," +was the answer. They descended into the +area. It was neatly swept, and in perfect order. +"It must be a genteel woman who lives here," +remarked Mrs. Benton. They knocked. A voice +bade them come in. They opened the door and +entered. Mrs. Carter was sewing by a table. +By her side stood Georgianna, her oldest child, +plainly and neatly dressed. At the other end of +the table was a little girl about four years old, whose +name I forget, and in the rocking-chair before the +stove was a dark-haired babe, quietly sleeping.</p> + +<p>The room was neat and tidy. There was a little +<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>fire in the stove, but not enough to thoroughly +warm the room.</p> + +<p>The ladies inquired of Mrs. Carter in regard to +her circumstances. They learned that her husband +left her last spring, and had gone she knew not +where. He was a carpenter by trade, and could +earn two dollars a day. She had always done what +she could with her needle, and had earned a few +dollars a month by binding shoes or doing other +sewing. They had lived very comfortably, renting +good apartments for eight dollars a month, and +knew nothing of want or suffering.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carter was obliged to give up her pleasant +rooms, to remove to the basement. She has laboured +industriously, whenever she can procure work, to +pay her rent, three dollars a month, and to provide +food for her children. She has known what it is +to be both cold and hungry. She has bought coal +by the bushel, and has sometimes been without +fire in the dead of winter. Her family have lived +principally upon bread and water, and the little +ones have cried for food when she had none to +give them.</p> + +<p>Little Ida is too young to know her mother's sorrow. +She is a babe of only a few weeks old, and +she sleeps as sweetly in that great rocking-chair as +any babe ever slept in a cradle. She is warmly +wrapped in a blanket, and does not suffer, although +she has scarce a change of dresses.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>When Mrs. Dudley returned to her happy home, +she told her children about this family, and particularly +about the poor babe, who so increased her +mother's cares and labours, yet repaying it all by +the wealth of maternal love her coming had developed. +It was pleasing to see Georgianna lay her +face so softly on the infant's, and so gently rock her +when her slumbers were disturbed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley's children listened to her story with +great interest, and wished to do something for the +family. Mary repaired some garments which her +mother gave her, and when this was done, she went +to her drawer and took out a small piece of calico, +which had been given to her to make her doll a +dress. She asked her mother if there was enough +to make Ida a dress. Mrs. Dudley examined it, +and told her there was. So she cut it out for her +daughter, and showed her how to make it. This +work occupied her several days, for Mary goes to +school, and has not much time for sewing. The +dress looked very pretty when it was completed. +She had embroidered the tiny sleeves with a neat +scollop, and had taken great pains to make it strong +and neatly.</p> + +<p>The next time Mrs. Dudley went to the city, she +took several small parcels for Mrs. Carter, who was +much pleased with them. None gratified her more +than the dress for the baby.</p> + +<p>It will always be a pleasant recollection to Mary +<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>that she made the heart of this suffering woman +happy by sending a dress to her infant. She learned +the pleasure of giving, and of exerting herself to do +good to others.</p> + +<p>If Mrs. Dudley had had the dress made by a +seamstress, it would have been equally useful to +Mrs. Carter; but Mary would have lost the reward +which she now enjoys in the consciousness of relieving +the sufferings of the destitute. I hope +Mary will always be benevolent, and never grow +"weary in well-doing."</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 320px;"> +<img src="images/image027.png" width="320" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></p> +<h2><a name="WHAT_MADE_WILLIE_HAPPY" id="WHAT_MADE_WILLIE_HAPPY"></a>WHAT MADE WILLIE HAPPY.</h2> + + +<p>Willie was looking at the slippers which his +mother had wrought for him, and admiring the +freshness of the colours. They were a Christmas +present to him, and had afforded him much pleasure.</p> + +<p>"You were very happy the evening they were +given to you," said his mother.</p> + +<p>"But no happier than I was last evening," he +replied.</p> + +<p>I will tell you what made him so happy on the +evening to which he alluded. At Christmas, two +little books had been added to his library, and +another had been lent him by one of his companions. +When he had read these books, he was +very desirous to get still another. He began to +inquire how he could earn money enough to buy it, +for he thought he should like to purchase it himself. +He could think of nothing which could be done in +the house, by which he could replenish his purse; +so his mother told him, if he would control his temper +for a week, she would get the book for him. If +he did get out of patience, and immediately checked +himself, he was to receive it.</p> + +<p>Every evening Willie came to his mother, and +<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>told her how he had succeeded through the day. +She observed him very carefully, and she knew that +he really tried to conquer himself. She encouraged +him in his efforts, and Willie was very happy—happy +because he was succeeding in correcting what +was wrong—and happy in the anticipation of the +reward promised him.</p> + +<p>The last day of the week came, and passed away. +Willie's father returned from the city. He brought +with him a parcel done up in soft white paper, and +tied with a small red and white twine. His mother +opened it, and there was the book for which she had +sent. She wrote Willie's name in it, with the day +of the month, and then wrote "A Reward of Merit." +She thought those few words would remind him of +the way in which he earned the book, and would +encourage him to persevere in overcoming any bad +or sinful habit.</p> + +<p>All these things together made Willie quite as +happy as on "Merry Christmas." It always makes +people happy to endeavour to subdue what is wrong +in themselves,—such efforts being their own reward. +The consciousness of the approval of our +heavenly Father must always occasion the truest +pleasure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a></p> +<h2><a name="DO_YOU_INTEND_TO_BE_A_GENTLEMAN" id="DO_YOU_INTEND_TO_BE_A_GENTLEMAN"></a>DO YOU INTEND TO BE A GENTLEMAN?</h2> + +<h3>(A QUESTION FOR BOYS.)</h3> + + +<p>As I sat at the table a few evenings since, a gentleman +called. He was invited to take a seat with us. +As he had already supped, he declined. This person +is a man of talent and education, but as I turned +to look at him, in the course of conversation, I observed +a habit which so disgusted me, that it was +with an effort I could finish my tea.</p> + +<p>This circumstance impressed on my mind the importance +of forming correct habits in boyhood. +"The child is father of the man," Wordsworth says +in one of his poems. The habits and character you +form now will, in all probability, be the habits and +character you will retain when you are a man. I +suppose the individual to whom I have alluded was +entirely unconscious of doing any thing disagreeable. +If not, perhaps he did not consider it of much +consequence. He may have grown up with the +opinion that little things are of small importance. +Now, that this is not always so, you may easily see +<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>if you drop a spark of fire in a pile of shavings: +the whole will be immediately in flames, and will +do as much injury as if it had been kindled by +a large coal.</p> + +<p>Our happiness depends quite as much on little +things as on great. Small trials are as difficult to +bear as any. People often lose their patience when +a dress is torn, or a pitcher broken, who would be +quiet and calm if some serious misfortune had befallen +them.</p> + +<p>I hope, boys, you intend to be gentlemen. I do +not mean fops and dandies, but true gentlemen. +You have perhaps seen the remark made, that +"dress does not make the man, but after he is +made, he looks better dressed up." Neither do +gentlemanly habits and manners make the man, but +they certainly improve him after he is made, and +render him agreeable and prepossessing.</p> + +<p>A farmer, or a cabinet-maker, or a blacksmith, +are no less gentlemen because they are engaged in +these useful and honourable employments, than are +judges, or merchants, or ministers. To be a gentleman +is to be a man of gentle manners; and who +would not desire to be distinguished for such +a trait?</p> + +<p>If you intend to be gentlemen, you must begin +now, by always conducting, under all circumstances, +just as well as you know how. Some of you, I +suppose, have better advantages of society, and more +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>careful instruction at home, than others; but no boy +of intelligence need fail to be a gentleman if he +tries.</p> + +<p>A true gentleman is always courteous. He answers +respectfully when spoken to—no matter by +whom. Do you remember the anecdote of General +Washington, who raised his hat and bowed politely +to a coloured man he met, who had previously +saluted him with the usual civility of the race? A +friend with him expressed surprise. "Do you +think," said he, "I would be less polite than a +negro?" I hope, when you are tempted to be uncivil +to those whom you consider beneath you, you +will not forget the good example of the Father of +his Country. I suppose the secret of Washington's +politeness and greatness was, as his mother proudly +said of him, that "George was always a good boy!"</p> + +<p>He was a gentleman—such a gentleman as I +should be glad to believe every boy who reads this +book will one day be. If you would be polite to +all, you must cultivate kind feelings towards all. +A gentleman is not a rough man. He may have +great energy and power of character, as had Washington, +but still he is a <i>gentle</i>-man.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a><a name="GENEROUS_NELLY" id="GENEROUS_NELLY"></a>GENEROUS NELLY;</h2> +<h3>OR, THE WILLING MIND.</h3> + + +<p>Nelly Wallace is about six years old. She +has a pleasant, attractive face. Her long hair curls +in ringlets over her neck. She is one of the neatest +and most gentle children I ever saw, and gives her +mother but little trouble. Indeed, she is so orderly, +and active, that she is quite an assistance to her. +She sings like a lark, and is patient as a lamb. She +is very generous, too.</p> + +<p>Her father is obliged to live on a small salary.</p> + +<p>Nelly is a favourite with her father's friends, and +often receives a present from them.</p> + +<p>One day, she heard her mother say to her father +that they needed some particular article very much, +but he told her he had not money enough to purchase +it. She quietly left the room, and went up +stairs. Presently she returned, and placed a five-dollar +gold-piece, which had been given to her, in +her mother's hand. "Please use my money, mother," +she said; "I should rather you would use it +for what you need, than keep it to buy something +for myself."</p> + +<p>At another time, her father was obliged to take a +journey on business. Nelly brought forth her +<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>purse, and offered its contents to him to defray his +expenses. Dear child! she knew nothing about the +cost of travelling, nor the value of money. She +thought her three-cent pieces would be all he would +need.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="Nelly_brought_forth_her_purse" id="Nelly_brought_forth_her_purse"></a> +<img src="images/image028.png" width="468" height="580" alt="Nelly brought forth her purse." title="Nelly brought forth her purse." /> +<span class="caption">Nelly brought forth her purse.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Paul, when exhorting the Corinthian church to +liberality, says, "If there be first a willing mind, it +is accepted according to that a man hath, and not +according to that he hath not." Nelly had a willing +mind, and her father was as much gratified by her +thoughtful consideration as he would have been if +she had been able to furnish him all that he needed. +So our heavenly Father is pleased with his children +when they do what they can to provide for the +wants of the needy; and the smallest gift, offered in +love, is not forgotten by him.</p> + +<p>You recollect that our Saviour, when he saw the +rich men casting their gifts into the treasury and +the poor woman casting in her two mites, said that +she had cast in more than they all. They had +given of their abundance; it had cost them no +self-denial—but she, of her penury, had cast in all +the living that she had. God looks not only on the +outward act, but at the heart. He sees the motives +which actuate us. He saw Nelly's heart, and he +approved her generosity. He gave her an approving +conscience, which made her very happy—far +happier than she could have been if she had been +selfish, and thought only of her own enjoyment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a></p> +<h2><a name="LOVEST_THOU_ME" id="LOVEST_THOU_ME"></a>LOVEST THOU ME?</h2> + + +<p>Jesus, after his resurrection from the dead, appeared +at various times to his disciples. Once, when +Peter, John, and a few others were fishing in the +Sea of Tiberias, he stood on the shore, and inquired +of them, "Have ye any meat?" They answered, +"No." Then he directed them to cast their net on +the right side of the ship, and they should find fish. +They did so, and caught one hundred and fifty-three. +The disciples then knew it was Jesus who +had spoken to them. After they had secured the +fish by drawing the net to the shore, Jesus invited +them to dine with him.</p> + +<p>The disciples had observed, so soon as they came +to land, a fire of coals, and "fish laid thereon, and +bread." This was the refreshment our Lord had +prepared for them, and he, himself, gave them the +simple repast.</p> + +<p>After they had dined, our Saviour said to Peter +three times, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou +me?" The first and the second time Peter answered, +"Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love +thee." Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto +him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" and he +<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>replied, "Thou knowest all things; thou knowest +that I love thee."</p> + +<p>How did Peter know that he loved Jesus? It +was not because he always did right, for a short +time before he had denied his Lord, and had more +than once said that he did not know him! Yet, +notwithstanding this, when he was now asked, +"Lovest thou me?" he could unhesitatingly answer, +"Thou knowest that I love thee."</p> + +<p>If you should be asked, "Do you love your +parents?" you would immediately answer, "Yes." +You know you love them. How do you know it? +It might not be so easy for you to answer this question +as the other, but at the same time you are +conscious that you do love them. You feel that +they are your best friends. They provide for all +your wants. They furnish you with food and +clothes and the means of education. They take +care of you when you are well and when you are ill. +You feel grateful to them for what they do for you, +and you enjoy being with them, and talking with +them. You like to please them, and it makes you +sad when you have grieved them. Children who +love their parents very dearly sometimes do what +they do not approve; but they are always sorry +for it, as Peter was when he went out and wept +bitterly.</p> + +<p>If you should be asked, "Do you love your +heavenly Father?" could you as readily answer, +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>"Yes?" Do you like to hear about him and his +wonderful works? Is the story of Jesus' love for +lost man one that interests you? Is it pleasant to +you to think of living forever with the Lord when +you leave this world?</p> + +<p>If you love your Father in heaven, you do not +love to do what is wrong. If you are overcome by +temptation, and sin against him, you are sorry, as +you are when you sin against your earthly parents.</p> + +<p>Children, and grown people too, sometimes seem +to think that religion is to be kept by itself, separate +and distinct from our daily duties, and that it consists +in praying, going to church, hearing sermons, +and wearing a sober face. It is true the Christian +often feels sober, but there is no one who may be so +cheerful as he, for there is none that can be so truly +happy. True piety extends to all the acts of our +lives, and influences them all. It does not forbid +our doing any thing that it is right for us to do. +A Christian child enjoys play quite as well as any +other child.</p> + +<p>If Jesus should say to you to-day, as he did to +Peter, "Lovest thou me?" could you answer, +"Yes, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee?" It +is just as easy for you to know whether you love +him as it is for you to know whether you love your +father and mother. I trust there are many children +who do love the Saviour, and who wish to live to be +good and to do good.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a></p> +<h2><a name="MY_LITTLE_BAG" id="MY_LITTLE_BAG"></a>MY LITTLE BAG.</h2> + + +<p>On my table lies a little bag. It has no beauty +to render it valuable. It is not made of silk or velvet. +The material is plain muslin, and that by no +means of the finest texture. It is not very neatly +made. The stitches are irregular. Sometimes they +are piled one above another, and again they are +scattered far apart. The hemming shows that no +skilful seamstress held the needle. And yet this +bag has afforded me much pleasure. Every stitch +was made by the hand of love, and with a desire to +gratify me and add to my happiness. It was a work +of toil, for the fingers were unused to such labour. +Patient industry and persevering effort were required +to accomplish it. Self-denial, too, was practised, +for play was forsaken on its account.</p> + +<p>It was a gift to me from a dear child; a token of +his purest and warmest affection; and that has made +this coarse muslin more precious than the richest +material could be, which had no such extraneous +value.</p> + +<p>What a blessing is love! How it enriches us! +Without it we must ever be poor. "God is love," +and he has taught us to love one another. "Love +<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>is the fulfilling of the law." We must love our +neighbour as ourselves.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Little deeds of kindness,</span> +<span class="i2">Little words of love,</span> +<span class="i2">Make our earth an Eden,</span> +<span class="i2">Like the heaven above."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>No offering of true love is valueless, however +small or imperfect it may be. My little bag is rich +in pleasant associations, and I never look upon it +but with a full heart.</p> + +<p>God does not accept what we do for him because +of any peculiar excellence in our devotion, but because +it is the result of our love to him.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 287px;"> +<img src="images/image029.png" width="287" height="250" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a></p> +<h2><a name="DO_YOU_LIKE_YOUR_SEAT" id="DO_YOU_LIKE_YOUR_SEAT"></a>DO YOU LIKE YOUR SEAT?</h2> + + +<p>On the day after one Fourth of July, I was +obliged to go into the city. The cars were crowded +with those who were returning, after spending our +national anniversary in the country. How much +they must have enjoyed that day of release from +city labour, and dust, and close streets bounded by +high brick houses! How beautiful to them the +green fields, the shady trees, and the soft-flowing +river! How they gazed on the hills luxuriating in +verdure, and the valleys rich with their treasures of +wealth and beauty!</p> + +<p>"God made the country," and all his works +are perfect. I pity those who are pent up in a +large prison-city with nothing but a dwarf-maple +before their windows which at all resembles the +country, and who have to look up, up, up, before +they can get a glimpse of the blue sky, and the +fleecy clouds which sail majestically along, ever +varying from one form of beauty to another. Thank +God, my young friends, that he has given you a +country home, and never leave it, unless stern necessity<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a> +compels you to make your abode in the hot, +crowded, feverish city.</p> + +<p>The cars, on the morning of the fifth, were, as I +have told you, crowded, and it was difficult to find +unoccupied seats. A gentleman and his wife +entered a car, near the door of which were two +seats with only one person in each. The first was +occupied by a boy about fifteen. The gentleman +politely asked him if he would sit with another +gentleman, that he and the lady who was with him +might not be separated. The first impulse of the +boy was a civil one, and he started to rise; but the +second thought was ungentlemanly, ungenerous, +and extremely selfish. "I like my seat very well," +he muttered, and drew back to the window and +looked out. Perhaps even then he began to feel +ashamed of such rudeness.</p> + +<p>The gentleman behind him immediately arose, +and offered his seat. It was accepted with a bow, +and a "thank you, sir." The lady was immediately +behind the boy, and, as she seated herself, she +said to him, in a low, kind voice, "I fear you will +never be a gentleman." He made no reply, nor +did he move his face from the window, but his +very ears blushed. He was evidently ashamed. +During the whole ride he kept nearly the same +position, not being willing to meet the eyes of his +fellow-passengers, for he must have observed their +disapprobation of his ill-manners; and before the +<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>cars were entirely within the depôt, he went out +upon the platform to escape from observation.</p> + +<p>I hope the boy will never be rude in this way +again, for he evidently was made unhappy by it. +There is only one reason why I fear he will not profit +by the well-merited rebuke he received, and that +is, because I saw one of his cheeks puffed out with +a quid of tobacco! I confess I do not expect so +much improvement from a boy who indulges in such +a filthy habit, as from one who does not.</p> + +<p>A gentlemanly boy must always be happier than +one who is rough and selfish. The boy in the car +did not enjoy his ride, although, as he said, he liked +his seat very well. His impoliteness made it unpleasant +and the remembrance of it will never afford +him gratification. I hope none of you, who read +about him, will be guilty of a similar error.</p> + +<p>Always try to be accommodating to those about you. +If you are asked to do a favour, do it as if it gave +you pleasure. You will never have occasion to regret +it. Be civil to those in your father's employment. +Their love and respect is of value to you. +There are very few sunk so low as not to appreciate +true politeness. Above all others, be polite to your +parents, and your brothers and sisters. Do not +indulge in harsh words.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the boy of whose history I have given +you a single incident never read Peter's instruction +to the early Christians, in his epistle to them, +<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>and did not know that the apostle considered +politeness of sufficient importance to be worthy +of the attention of those to whom he wrote. +"Be courteous," is his direction to them, and +I cannot give you better advice on the same subject.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/image030.png" width="250" height="296" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a></p> +<h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_BEGGAR" id="THE_LITTLE_BEGGAR"></a>THE LITTLE BEGGAR.</h2> + + +<p>As I was walking up street, a few days since, I +met two little girls who looked very much alike, +and were nearly of the same age. They wore gingham +sun-bonnets, which came far over their good-natured +faces. Their calico dresses were neatly +made. Their blue woollen stockings looked warm +and comfortable, but their shoes were old and much +worn.</p> + +<p>As I passed, the elder held out her hand in a way +which I could not mistake, but I thought I would +ask her what she wanted. She replied, "A penny +to get mother some sugar for her tea." I talked +with the children a few minutes about their mother, +and inquired if she sent them out to beg. They +said she was obliged to do it, for their father was +dead, and she was not able to work.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="The_elder_held_out_her_hand" id="The_elder_held_out_her_hand"></a> +<img src="images/image031.png" width="468" height="580" alt="The elder held out her hand." title="The elder held out her hand." /> +<span class="caption">The elder held out her hand.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The children had such good, honest faces, and +gave such evidence, in their general appearance, +of more care than most of this class of children usually +receive, that I thought I would go home with +them, that I might better judge of the correctness of +their story, and of the necessities of their mother. +So I said to them—</p> +<p><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a></p> +<p>"Where does your mother live?"</p> + +<p>They named the street.</p> + +<p>"Will you take me there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am. We must go this way;" and they +turned off in the direction of their home.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" I inquired of the elder +child.</p> + +<p>"Mary Ann ——."</p> + +<p>"And what is your's?"</p> + +<p>"Ellen ——," answered the younger.</p> + +<p>"Have you any brothers and sisters?"</p> + +<p>"We have one sister and one brother. Her +name is Joanna, and his is Michael. A man took +Michael away the fifth of July—the day after the +Fourth—and we haven't seen him since. Mother +thinks we shall never see him again."</p> + +<p>They told me that their father was a stone-picker, +and while he lived, they did very well, and +went to school; but since he died, their mother had +been ill, and had bled at the lungs, and was not +strong enough to work.</p> + +<p>I was pleased to see the children take each other +by the hand, and walk along quite lovingly by my +side. They appeared kind and polite to each other, +and seemed to think that in me they had found a +friend. They talked very fast, and told me many +things about themselves and their way of life.</p> + +<p>"We save our money to pay the rent."</p> + +<p>"How much does your mother pay?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>"Three dollars."</p> + +<p>"Three dollars a month!" I said, thinking how +much it was for a poor woman, who had herself and +three children to feed and clothe.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it is a month, or a week, +or how long; I only know it is three dollars.</p> + +<p>"Once we were turned out in the snow. Oh! +how cold my feet were!" The remembrance of her +sufferings seemed almost to make her shiver.</p> + +<p>"What did you do?"</p> + +<p>"A woman took us in her house."</p> + +<p>"It is a long walk for you," said Mary Ann, as we +crossed one of the broad avenues, "and we live in +the top of the house."</p> + +<p>When we reached the house where the children +lived, Mary Ann and Ellen ran up before me so fast +that I lost sight of them. The hall was so dark +that I could not see the stairs, but I could hear +their feet pattering quickly on, and I followed as +best I could. The last flight of stairs I could see +distinctly, for the sky-light was just over them. +They were brown with age, but they were evidently +often swept and washed. I entered a room in which +I saw the children. The woman there they introduced +as their mother. She did not receive me with +much cordiality. I suppose she wondered why I had +come there. Her room was small and scantily furnished. +It was heated by a small furnace. The +great gray cat was dozing in the corner.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>I seated myself on a clean wooden chair, and began +to talk with the mother about her children. +She told me of her only son, "as fine a boy as ever +stood on two feet," and her anxiety in regard to +him. I attempted to encourage her to hope that so +soon as navigation closed, he would return to her, +for he had been employed on a coal-boat; but she +refused to be comforted. She wished to find a place +for Joanna in the city.</p> + +<p>Mary Ann, who is nine years old, said she should +like to go to the country. She thought she could +wash dishes, set the table, and sweep, and I thought +so too, for she seemed to me one of the smartest +little girls I ever saw. She would have been +quite willing to accompany me to the country, +if her mother had consented, and I could have +taken her.</p> + +<p>The children's mother came to this country when +she was quite young, and lived for several years as +a servant in different families. She showed me +several papers which she carefully preserved in a +basket. One was a certificate from a physician—another +from the person who had employed her +husband. As she opened her trunk I observed its +contents were nicely folded and arranged, as if she +had a love of order. She told me she was able to +do nothing but sew and could not procure much +of that.</p> + +<p>After the children came in, they combed their +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>hair, and braided it, and washed their hands and +faces.</p> + +<p>I inquired if the children could read. Ellen got +her "Easy Lessons," and came and stood by my +side while she read in it. Mary Ann read very well +in her geography, and Joanna in some "Reading +Lessons" which she had used at school. I asked +them if they could write.</p> + +<p>"I can," replied Mary Ann. "I can write my +name, or I could your's if I knew it."</p> + +<p>I gave each of the children a piece of silver. +They immediately handed it, with a bright smile, to +their mother. I told them I would call again and +see them some time, but I could not do it often. +When I bade them good-by, they all followed me +to the door, and looked so pleased and happy that I +felt amply repaid for my long walk. I had gone +but a few steps, when Mary Ann came bounding +along, and asked, "When will you come to see us +again?" I took her hand, and we walked together +to the next street.</p> + +<p>There are many children as destitute as these +little girls, and many, very many, who have not +even a feeble mother to care for them. Many poor +children are sent out to gather the coal from the +streets, or bits of wood where new buildings are +being erected, and their bread they beg from door +to door.</p> + +<p>In some of our cities benevolent people have +<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>opened schools for these miserable children, where +they are taught to sew and read, and to observe to +some extent the decencies and proprieties of life. +In some, a dinner is given to its pupils, and, where +it is possible, a home for the homeless in the +country.</p> + +<p>Children often save a part of their money for +missionary or other benevolent purposes. I cannot +conceive a more suitable object for their benefactions +than other children who are poor and destitute. +"It is more blessed to give than to receive," the +Bible tells us.</p> + +<p>I hope you do not forget to thank God for the +comforts and happiness of home, which you enjoy; +and I hope, also, that you will not forget that we +have the poor with us always, and must do them all +the good in our power.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Have pity on them, for their life</span> +<span class="i4">Is full of grief and care;</span> +<span class="i2">You do not know one half the woes</span> +<span class="i4">The very poor must bear;</span> +<span class="i2">You do not see the silent tears</span> +<span class="i4">By many a mother shed,</span> +<span class="i2">As childhood offers up the prayer,</span> +<span class="i4">'Give us our daily bread.'"</span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a></p> +<h2><a name="LITTLE_CHARLEY" id="LITTLE_CHARLEY"></a>LITTLE CHARLEY.</h2> + + +<p>Charley was a sweet little babe. It was a pleasure +to kiss his plump cheek, and pat his fat and +dimpled arms. He was a dear babe, and we all +loved him, and our blessed Saviour loved him even +more than we did.</p> + +<p>Before Charley was two years old, he became ill. +All that physicians could do was done for him, but +he daily grew more and more feeble. The bright +blue eyes lost their brilliancy, and became faded and +dim. The plump and rosy cheek became hollow +and pale. The fat and rounded limbs grew thin +and weak, and we all felt that little Charley would +soon be taken from us.</p> + +<p>The same sweet smile lingered about his mouth, +although pain and suffering had saddened that baby-face. +He no longer tottered about the floor, but +was confined constantly to his bed. Not there even +was he to remain more than a few short weeks. +The angel of death came, and bore him to the +Saviour's bosom. His friends looked at the beautiful +casket, and felt that the spirit which had inhabited +it, and made it precious, was no more there. +They committed it tearfully to the grave, and, lonely +<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>and sorrowing, returned to their desolate home. +The crib was vacant—the tiny shoe had no owner—the +rattle lay neglected. There was no need of the +noiseless step lest the sleeper should be awakened. +Little Charley slept in death.</p> + +<p>How sad and broken those loving hearts! Those +parents were Christian parents, and they sorrowed +not as those without hope. Jesus, their Saviour, +had wept, and they knew their tears were not forbidden. +One of the cords which bound them to earth +was snapped asunder. They had one child in +heaven, there to be a pure and sinless spirit in the +immediate presence of his Father—God. There +was comfort in the thought that Charley's tiny bark +had safely passed over the sea of life, and was securely +anchored in the haven of eternal rest.</p> + +<p>Charley had a brother, Willie, two years older +than himself. Little could he know of death—but +he knew he had no baby-brother now, and his mother +told him Charley was in heaven.</p> + +<p>"I hope, mother," said he, "the apostles will +not get him."</p> + +<p>"Why, my child?"</p> + +<p>"Because they did not want little children to go +to Jesus," was his artless reply.</p> + +<p>This little boy has recently removed, with his parents, +to the city. He does not like it as he did the +green grass and shaded fields of the country. He +feels lonely without the companionship of the trees +<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>and the birds, and he wishes that "God would take +him right up to heaven to play with Charley."</p> + +<p>How is it with you, my dear child? Are you +ready to be taken "right up to heaven?" Do you +love your Saviour? Do you obey your parents? +Are you truthful and conscientious? Do you study +your Bible to learn all you can about God, and what +he would have you be and do? Do you pray to him +daily for His blessing, and ask Him to keep you +from sin? Do you seek His forgiveness for all you +have done that is wrong?</p> + +<p>So live, that when the angel of death comes for +you, he may carry you where Charley is, into the +blessed home prepared for all who love God. <i>When</i> +He will come, you cannot know. Be always ready, +and then He will not find you unprepared.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 190px;"> +<img src="images/image032.png" width="190" height="150" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></p> +<h2><a name="DARLING_WILLIE" id="DARLING_WILLIE"></a>DARLING WILLIE.</h2> + + +<p>Willie was an active little boy, just large +enough to be dressed in frock and pantaloons. He +was very affectionate, and everybody who knew him +loved him.</p> + +<p>When he left the green fields in the country, to +come with his parents to the city, he did not feel so +happy as in his pleasant home by the river side, +where the wild birds sung to him, and where he +could watch the branches of the old elm swaying in +the breeze.</p> + +<p>It was autumn when he came to town, and there +were no flowers in the yard attached to his city +home. The grass was brown and frost-bitten, and +soon the white snow came and covered it. The +stone walks were swept, and when it was not too +cold, Willie could ride around the little square, +seated on his velocipede. In his mother's parlour, +he could make houses with his blocks, or stables for +his tin horses, and often he went out to walk or +drive with his mother, who always enjoyed taking +him with her.</p> + +<p>The winter passed away, and every month the +<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>strong cords of love were binding him still more +closely to the hearts of his friends. Spring came—the +fresh grass sprung up, and the dandelions opened +their blossoms in Willie's playground. How he +loved to look at them! Those blades of grass, and +the yellow flowers, filled his heart with gladness. +His eyes sparkled, and he could scarcely stand still +as he talked about them.</p> + +<p>Willie was, one day, sitting with his grandmother +by the open window. The sun had just sunk below +the horizon, and the clouds were gorgeously tinted +with his parting rays. Some of them were of a rich +golden hue, and others were dyed with rosy light. +It was an exceedingly beautiful sunset, and Willie, +who loved all nature, gazed for some time in silent +admiration. Then, looking up to his grandmother's +face, and pointing to the west,</p> + +<p>"See, grandmother," said he, "what a beautiful +home Charley has!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<a name="Willie_was_one_day_sitting_with_his_grandmother_by_the_open_window" id="Willie_was_one_day_sitting_with_his_grandmother_by_the_open_window"></a> +<img src="images/image033.png" width="468" height="580" alt="Willie was one day sitting with his grandmother by the open +window." title=" Willie was one day sitting with his grandmother by the open +window." /> +<span class="caption">Willie was one day sitting with his grandmother by the open window.</span> +</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Charley was Willie's little brother, whom the +angels had taken from earth, and carried to live +with Jesus.</p> + +<p>He thought Charley must have felt lonely when +he first went to heaven; but, as he would say, "now +he has got acquainted, he is very happy."</p> + +<p>Sometimes Willie would ask his mother, "Would +you be lonesome without me, mother?" It was +always a pleasant thought to him that he might +early die and go to Jesus.</p> +<p><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a></p> +<p>Willie liked to look at the blue sky. Perhaps it +was because he thought it was Charley's home. He +watched every evening for the moon, with her silvery +light, and for the twinkling stars.</p> + +<p>At one time, a cousin of his called to see him. +He brought a basket with him. Raising the cover, +he said—</p> + +<p>"Willie, come, look in my basket."</p> + +<p>Willie came as requested.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I know what it is! It is a rabbit for me!"</p> + +<p>So it was. George opened the basket, and out +jumped a white rabbit, with pink eyes. It was +a beautiful animal. Willie capered with delight. +He had a live plaything, and it pleased him more +than the velocipede, or his blocks, or any of his +toys.</p> + +<p>Willie said he loved his cousin George for bringing +him the rabbit, and his cousin Walter for sending +it to him. They were happy because they had +made him so happy.</p> + +<p>Not long after this rabbit was added to Willie's +amusements, very sad tidings came to the home +of George and Walter. It was said that Willie +was dead. It seemed scarcely possible—for it was +only a few days since he had sent a message of +love to them.</p> + +<p>Some member of the family immediately went to +town, and called on Willie's father. It was indeed +true that Willie was not there! He had gone +<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>to be with the angels. God had heard his prayer. +Heaven was a better, safer, happier place for him +than even his pleasant home, with his fond parents, +and he was taken "right up there," as he wished, +to be with Charley.</p> + +<p>Saturday evening Willie went to his bed in apparent +health. Sabbath morning he complained +of not feeling entirely well, and on Wednesday he +laid aside his garment of mortality, and put on the +beautiful robes made white in the blood of the +Lamb, in the spirit-world. He was a lovely child +when he dwelt with us here below; how very +lovely he must be in the bright world to which +he has gone!</p> + +<p>His mother often weeps when she thinks of him, +and she misses him more than any one but a +mother can. There is no one to play with his +blocks, or his tin horses, or his pretty rabbit. Yet +Willie is very happy, and his mother has no wish to +recall him to earth, lonely and desolate as is their +once cheerful home.</p> + +<p>Willie will shed no more tears. He will never +feel sad or lonely. He will suffer neither pain, nor +hunger, nor weariness. But we, who love him, +may weep, as did Jesus when Lazarus lay in the +grave; and we shall never forget the sweet child, so +full of life and love, who was given us for a little +while, and then taken home to glory.</p> + +<p>Dear children, who read about Willie, are you +<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>prepared to follow him and Charley, where they +are gone to dwell with that Saviour who, when +he was on earth, took little children in his arms, +and blessed them, and said, "<i>of such is the kingdom +of heaven</i>?"</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 254px;"> +<img src="images/image034.png" width="254" height="200" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a></p> +<h2><a name="WIDOW_CAHOON_AND_HER_GRANDSON" id="WIDOW_CAHOON_AND_HER_GRANDSON"></a>WIDOW CAHOON AND HER GRANDSON.</h2> + + +<p>"I wish to make a call in —— street," said +a lady to me, as we together were visiting some of +the poor of the city. "There is a Mrs. Smith +living there, a poor old woman nearly eighty years +old. She is infirm and partially blind. She has a +little grandson, and she has no means with which to +take care of him. We hope to persuade her to give +him to us, and let us find a good home, by adoption, +for him."</p> + +<p>It was a warm winter's morning. Snow had +fallen the day before, but it was rapidly disappearing. +The foot sank in the melting mass at every +step. The crossings were muddy, and it required +some skill to pick our way along dry-shod.</p> + +<p>We turned into the street, and sought for the +number which had been given us. We found it on +the door of a low, shed-like building, old and out +of repair.</p> + +<p>"Does Mrs. Smith live here?" we inquired.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Is there an old lady, who is almost blind, and +<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>who has a little grandson, in the house?"—we +further asked, thinking Mrs. Smith might not be +known by name.</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. There is no such person here."</p> + +<p>"Does she live in the neighbourhood?"</p> + +<p>"She may be in No. ——."</p> + +<p>We made inquiries at several doors, dodging in +quickly to avoid the great drops which came pattering +down on the pavement from the gutterless +eaves, but we could learn nothing of the object of +our search.</p> + +<p>At length we came to a grocery, and, stepping in +by the mackerel barrels which stood at the door, we +repeated our inquiry—</p> + +<p>"Can you tell us where Mrs. Smith lives? +She is an old lady, almost blind, and has a little +grandson."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I know her well. She is a deserving, +needy woman."</p> + +<p>The man followed us to the street to point out +the house where she lived. As he was telling us, a +woman passed by. He spoke to her, saying,</p> + +<p>"You know where Mrs. Smith lives—the old +lady who is almost blind, and who has a little +grandson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Will you show these ladies the place?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>She walked on with us till she came to a large +<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>tenement building, and then directed us to a room +in the upper story. We thanked her, and entered +the narrow hall, and passed up the still narrower +staircase.</p> + +<p>We knocked at the door, and were bidden to +enter. The old lady was not there. We inquired +for her again, and learned that she had just gone +out. The woman said she would send for her. A +boy, ten or twelve years old, went to find her. +While he was gone, we talked with his mother,—a +round-faced, good-natured, intelligent Irish woman. +We asked her where Mrs. Smith lived, and she +said she was most of the time with her. Poor +woman! she had only a living-room and a bed-room +for herself and four children, yet she was willing to +share them with another as poor and more helpless +than herself.</p> + +<p>She was a widow, too, and had no one to depend +upon. Her husband died last spring. During +the summer she had provided for her family by +washing and cleaning, but this winter she finds +it almost impossible to get work. One of the +children is a babe, who was lying on a rough, unpainted +board-cradle, rudely put together by some +unaccustomed hand. This infant had been taken +care of during the summer by his brother, not more +than ten or twelve years old, while his mother was +absent at work. There was a little girl, about eight +years old, who attends the Industrial School. She +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>was quite unwell, and had not been able to go out for +several days. She sat in the great rocking-chair, +looking sad and disconsolate, as most sick children +do. She was comfortably clothed. Her dress she +had received at the school, and had sewed on it herself +doing all her little fingers could do to make it. +Her hair was neatly combed. She was feverish +and very thirsty. Sometimes she went to the pail +herself for a cup of water, and sometimes her +brother would get it for her. He seemed kind, +gentle, and sympathizing—a good example for +some more favoured boys.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon the door opened, and an aged woman, +bent with years and breathing hard and painfully, +entered the room. A boy, with a complexion fair +and transparent, through which the blue veins +showed themselves, immediately followed her. She +greeted us kindly, and took a chair by my side, +bending towards us that she might hear more +easily, for she was almost deaf. She told us that +since her daughter's death she had been entirely +dependent on charity.</p> + +<p>After talking with her a short time, Mrs. B——, +the lady accompanying me, gave her little grandson +a penny to buy some candy. She did so, because +she wished to talk with his grandmother about him, +and thought he had, perhaps, better not be in the +room. So soon as he left, she asked the old lady +if she had made up her mind to part with the +<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>child. She had been spoken to a fortnight previously +in regard to it by another lady, and seemed +then unwilling that he should leave her. She said +she had come to the conclusion that she must give +him up, for she was too old and feeble to take care +of him, and she was constantly anxious about him. +She could not do for him all that he needed, and +she knew it would be much better for him to be +adopted in some kind family, where he could be +brought up as a son. She spoke of him most tenderly +and affectionately. He was her earthly all. +She had taken care of him from his infancy. She +came from Ireland for that very purpose. His +father had died before he was old enough to remember +him, and his mother had supported him by her +own industry.</p> + +<p>The grandmother's name was not Smith, as we +called her. It was, as she said, widow Cahoon. +The daughter's name was Smith, and the sunny-haired +boy was David. Last May, Mrs. Smith died +of cholera, leaving her aged mother homeless, and +her beautiful boy an orphan.</p> + +<p>When David returned with a great piece of molasses-candy, +he did not keep it all himself. He +divided it among the other children without being +told to do so. This showed that he was a generous +child, and loved to make others happy. When he +had eaten his portion, his grandmother washed his +face, neck, and hands, and put on his best clothes, +<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>which his mother had made for him before her death. +He looked very tidy and comfortable in his brown +overcoat and his new boots—a New-Year's present.</p> + +<p>The grandmother tied up a pair of shoes and a +few socks in a little bundle. When she handed it +to David, he burst into tears. He felt that he was +really going from his dearest friend. She wept +aloud for a few minutes, but when she saw how +much it affected him, she wiped away her tears, and +attempted to cheer him. He summoned his resolution +and became once more calm.</p> + +<p>Mrs. B—— took him by the hand, and led him +down stairs. As he left the room, I gave mine to +his grandmother, who uplifted it in both her's, as if +pleading, in silent agony, for strength to bear this +new trial. I shall never forget the expression of that +wrinkled, up-turned face. Dear old grandmother! +Who will comfort her now? David will not forget her, +but he cannot put his arms around her neck, nor +cheer her with the sunlight of his bright face. She +is alone—none of her kindred near. The lady who +took charge of David will do what she can for her, +but her heart must yearn for the dear boy that +poverty and age compelled her to give to the fostering +care of strangers.</p> + +<p>When David reached the street, the tears were +tracing their way over his round, plump cheek, but +soon a smile played around his mouth. Mrs. B—— took<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +him into a toy-shop, and purchased for him a +tin horse suspended in a wheel, which he could roll +about the room. He selected this himself, and it +was delightful to see with how much pleasure he +looked at it, as he carried it in his hand.</p> + +<p>We concluded to make no more calls that day, +but to take David directly to Mrs. B——'s. When +his coat and cap were taken off, he began to roll +the horse across the floor. Sometimes he would +come and stand by my side, and examine it closely. +I said to him—</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been in the country?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I was there a month, when we buried +mother."</p> + +<p>"Where were you?"</p> + +<p>"We were with Elek, grandma's son."</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't your grandmother live with him?"</p> + +<p>"He isn't kind to her."</p> + +<p>"Was his wife kind?"</p> + +<p>"No; she said she wouldn't live with him if +grandma did."</p> + +<p>"What did you see in the country?"</p> + +<p>"I saw the fields, and the trees, and horses, and +cows."</p> + +<p>"Did Elek have a cow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and she went away every day, and at +night she came home, and they milked her."</p> + +<p>"Did you see any birds?"</p> + +<p>"I saw birds no bigger than that," said he, putting<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> +his hand over his horse so as to hide more +than half of it, "and they sang all the time. And +there were some chickens, that laid eggs, and then +Elek's wife sold the eggs to the baker to pay for +bread."</p> + +<p>"And had you apples or peaches?"</p> + +<p>"I used to throw small stones at the apples, and +knock them off. The peaches I could reach with +my hand. I had just as many as I wanted."</p> + +<p>The little orphan's month in the country had been +a sunny spot in his memory, clouded only by the +unkindness of Elek towards the grandmother he +loved so much.</p> + +<p>How strange it is that children can ever forget +how much they owe their parents! When the +widow Cahoon was young, she had watched over +his infancy. She had carried him in her arms, +unmindful of her own weariness, and had done +all for him that his helplessness required. But +now she is old; her eyes are dim; her hearing is +impaired; her hands are tremulous, and she is unable +to provide for herself. Yet Elek's heart is hard. +He has forgotten all her love, and will not even give +her a home. He cannot prosper.</p> + +<p>I well remember, when a child, what a fearful +impression a passage from the "words of Agur" +made on my mind: "The eye that mocketh at his +father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens +of the valley shall pick it out, and the young +<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>eagles shall eat it." "Honour thy father and +mother, (which is the first commandment with +promise,") Paul writes to the Ephesian children, +"that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest +live long on the earth."</p> + +<p>I should fear to hear Elek's future history. It +must be dark and sorrowful. His poor old mother +uttered a groan, when, as she was talking about +David's mother, I asked if she had any other children. +"He isn't kind to her," explained its meaning.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is</span> +<span class="i2">To have a thankless child."</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I left David with Mrs. B——, who will find him +a home in some family where they wish to adopt a +little son. "He will make friends for himself,"—she +said, confidently, and I felt so also, for his sweet, +intelligent face is too attractive and winning not to +find its way to some loving heart.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. B—— talked with him about his +mother, he wept. She soon comforted him, and +told him that God would provide for him. He +seems to possess a sensitive nature, with, at the +same time, the power of self-control.</p> + +<p>Who of you would like this orphan for an adopted +brother? He is only five years old. I have written +to a kind lady of my acquaintance, who has +adopted two little girls, to inquire if she does not +wish to add David to her household treasures. +<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>There are many such homeless children in New +York, and it is an act of Christian charity to adopt +and educate them, and one which is rich in blessings +to every heart that is open to receive the fatherless +and motherless.</p> + +<p>Mrs. B—— would like to have adopted David herself +but she has so much to do for so many orphan +children, that she concluded she had not the time to +devote to him. She sent him to a place known as +the Home of the Friendless. This is a large brick +house, built on purpose to shelter those who have +no home of their own. There are always many +children there, who are kindly taken care of till +homes can be obtained for them. Those who are +large enough attend school.</p> + +<p>I was so much interested in David that I often +called to see him. The first call was made one day +just before dinner. I looked about for my little +friend, and found him in the wash-room. He was +standing by a great towel, and wiping his fair, +plump face as nicely as he could. I kissed his +clean, rosy cheek, and inquired if he remembered +me. He smiled, and said, "Yes, ma'am." He +appeared quite happy and contented. His teacher +told me that he was a remarkably good boy.</p> + +<p>Several applications were made for David by +those who heard his story, and found room in their +hearts and houses for the fatherless and motherless +boy. His grandmother, knowing that she was +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>too aged and feeble to take care of him, gave +him to the Home. It was a great trial to do +so, but she loved him too well not to seek his +best interests. She was willing to live alone, +uncheered by the presence and affection of her +darling grandchild, if she could only feel that he +would be kindly treated and educated by Christian +people.</p> + +<p>A lady in Illinois wrote that she had a dear little +son in heaven, and wanted David to come to her +to supply his place in the home circle, where he +would find those whom he might call "father, +mother, and grandmother." A clergyman in Connecticut +proposed to adopt him, and was coming to +New York the first of May to take him home, if it +should be thought best.</p> + +<p>While David was at the Home for the Friendless, +his grandmother occupied a room not far from Mrs. +B——'s. It was on the lower floor, so that she was +no longer exhausted by going up so many flights +of stairs. Several ladies united, and each sent her +a dinner one day in the week, and saw that she +was provided with breakfast and tea. They furnished +her with comfortable clothing, for which +she manifested much gratitude.</p> + +<p>It was always pleasant to call upon "Widow +Cahoon," and hear her talk about herself and her +previous charge. She told us about his parents +and grandparents. His father's father was a Methodist<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> +clergyman, and his grandmother, Smith, was +a most devout woman. She loved to talk of their +excellencies of character, and the good they had +accomplished. I never heard her without being +reminded of God's faithfulness in showing mercy +unto thousands of them that love him and keep his +commandments.</p> + +<p>One day, when I was at Mrs. B——'s, "Widow +Cahoon" was ushered into her private room—a back +parlour on the second story. She was much out of +breath, and it required some time for her to recover +herself sufficiently to talk. At length she spoke +of her children, some of whom she hoped were +living. Two sons and a daughter had come to +America long before she did, and had gone to +Pennsylvania. She had not heard from them for +twelve years. She had often prayed that she might +see them before she died, and she hoped still that +she should. She had been the mother of eleven +children, and here she was entirely alone,—no relative +near her to care for her in her age and helplessness. +She was very desirous Mrs. B—— should +write to Pennsylvania to make inquiries about her +children. It seemed almost a hopeless effort, but, to +gratify her, Mrs. B—— wrote to the postmaster +of the town where her sons were last heard from. +In about a week an answer came from the postmaster +saying that he was well acquainted with +James, and had seen him a short time previously. +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>He spoke highly of him, as an industrious and +respectable man, and one who would be happy to +provide for his mother. In regard to her other +son, he said he did not know him personally. His +reputation was good, and his circumstances were +such that he could assist in the care of his mother. +From James the "Widow Cahoon" afterwards +learned that her daughter had married and moved +farther west, but she had not been heard from +for ten years. When Mrs. B—— read the letter +to her, she was much overcome, and the tears +chased each other down her furrowed cheeks. +"Glory be to God!" she exclaimed. "He has +lifted a load off my heart. I shall see my sons +before I die. Bless the Lord that I ever saw the +like of you! I have been trying seven years to get +that letter written!"</p> + +<p>I had the pleasure of carrying to her a letter +from James, and reading it to her myself. As +I entered the room she was sitting by the little +stove in a large rocking-chair, looking as comfortable +as one could wish. She seemed very happy, +and told me about the prospect of seeing her sons. +"They will send for me, and I shall go to them," +was a cheering and delightful thought. She said +she was expecting every day a letter from James. +When I told her I had brought it, her face lighted +up, and she uttered expressions of thankfulness, +evidently from a full and overflowing heart. She +<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>spoke of David, and of being once more with him, +if "the boys should send for him." She wished +to do what was best for the child, and was still +willing he should be adopted, if it was thought +desirable. She expressed the utmost confidence in +Mrs. B——, and was willing to leave it all to +her judgment. This was the last time I ever saw +the "Widow Cahoon," and we shall probably never +meet again. She had no earthly treasure to confer +upon me, but she gave me her blessing, and, I +doubt not, will remember me in her prayers so long +as she remains upon earth; and when the spirit-world +is our home, I shall expect her face, unwrinkled +by sorrow or age, to beam upon me a +heavenly welcome. It was but little I did for this +poor widow, and yet that little has been rich in +blessings to me, and may be to mine, for whom +she fervently prayed.</p> + +<p>James, in his second letter, sent a check to his +mother to pay her fare from New York to Pennsylvania +with a request that David might accompany +her. He will provide for them both in +future.</p> + +<p>So soon as arrangements could be made, the +now happy widow and her little grandson started, +under the protection of a friend, for her new +home in the country where, I suppose, they now +are. What a pleasure it must be to James to +have his mother once more with him, and to be +<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>able to do something for her who has done so +much for him! Little David will again see the +birds and the chickens, and be surrounded by +kind and loving friends. The ladies of the Home +will occasionally inquire about him, and if he +needs their care they will provide for him, as +his grandmother made them his legal protectors. +If I ever hear more about David which I think +will interest you, I shall write you again in regard +to him.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/image035.png" width="385" height="350" alt="Finis" title="" /> +</p> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Nest in the Honeysuckles, and +other Stories, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES *** + +***** This file should be named 16185-h.htm or 16185-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/8/16185/ + +Produced by Bethanne M. 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