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diff --git a/16185.txt b/16185.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c7ccd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/16185.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4967 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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. + + + + + + + + + + +Frontispiece. + + +[Illustration: Mrs. Dudley stood by her little boy, looking from the +window.] + + + + +THE + +Nest in the Honeysuckles, + +AND OTHER STORIES. + + +[Illustration] + + +WRITTEN FOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION. + + +Philadelphia: +AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, +No. 316 CHESTNUT STREET. +_NEW YORK:_ No. 147 NASSAU ST. +_BOSTON:_ No. 9 CORNHILL...._CINCINNATI:_ 41 WEST FOURTH ST. +_LOUISVILLE_: No. 103 FOURTH ST. + +_Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by the +AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of +Pennsylvania._ + + * * * * * + + _No books are published by the_ AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL + UNION _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._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE + +THE NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES. 7 + +"MAY I POP SOME CORN?" 33 + +"WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER I SHOULD DO?" 36 + +THE BIRDS AND THE SNOW-STORM. 40 + +THE FIRST STRAWBERRY. 43 + +"I PRAYED ALL DAY FOR HELP." 44 + +"EVER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS." 47 + +LILY AND HER DUCKLINGS. 51 + +PRAYING FOR RAIN. 56 + +THE GRAPE CLUSTERS. 62 + +"IT ALMOST MAKES ME CRY." 65 + +THE BOY WHO STEALS. 68 + +LOOK AT THE BIRDS. 73 + +THE LOST CHILD. 78 + +THE UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOUR. 83 + +THE BOY WHO KEPT HIS PURPOSE. 87 + +MARY'S STORY. 91 + +THE SUNNY FACE AND THE SHADY FACE; OR, JUNE AND NOVEMBER. 93 + +"IT ISN'T FAIR--I PEEPED." 96 + +THE CHRYSALIS. 99 + +CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE. 102 + +I WILL CONQUER MYSELF. 106 + +SELFISH ELLA. 110 + +"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN." 114 + +HATTIE AND HERBERT. 117 + +THE TWO WILLS. 119 + +"BLESS GOD FOR THIS DOLL." 122 + +BESSIE HARTWELL. 126 + +"MARY'S GREAT TREASURE." 131 + +"SUSAN WILL BE HAPPIER IF I GO WITH HER." 133 + +THE NEWS-BOYS' BANK. 135 + +IDA'S DRESS. 144 + +WHAT MADE WILLIE HAPPY. 148 + +DO YOU INTEND TO BE A GENTLEMAN? (A QUESTION FOR BOYS.) 150 + +GENEROUS NELLY; OR, THE WILLING MIND. 153 + +LOVEST THOU ME? 155 + +MY LITTLE BAG. 158 + +DO YOU LIKE YOUR SEAT? 160 + +THE LITTLE BEGGAR. 164 + +LITTLE CHARLEY. 170 + +DARLING WILLIE. 173 + +WIDOW CAHOON AND HER GRANDSON. 178 + + + + +THE + +NEST IN THE HONEYSUCKLES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +[Illustration] + + +"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." + +Mrs. Dudley laid aside her book, and stepped cautiously forward, Eddie +leading the way back to the window. "What is it?" she inquired. + +"It is a bird with straw in its mouth, and I do believe it is going to +build a nest." + +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 honeysuckle 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Mrs. Dudley told Eddie God taught the birds where to build their +nests, and that he took care of them, and provided food for them. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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 _heart_ 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. + +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. + +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? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PLEASANT NEIGHBOURS. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOME DUTIES AND HOME PLEASURES. + + +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. + +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. + +We may all learn a lesson from the robin who 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. + +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. + +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 done for her? Yet beneath that calm exterior, his +sparkling eye plainly revealed the full tide of emotion within. + +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? + +When the doors of their chambers were quite open, out came the +baby-birds, with a few downy feathers covering them! + +"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. + +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 what +progress they make in acquiring their accomplishments. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOME LIFE AND HOME EDUCATION. + + +The birdlings still live in the honeysuckles. + +"How they do grow!" Eddie exclaims, when he looks at them. "I +shouldn't think they could ever have lived in those little eggs." + +They are now almost half as large as the old birds. They are well +covered with feathers, and their mottled breasts are very pretty. + +"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. + +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 almost as fast as the birds, and +the tender, overhanging branches make a roof which keeps off all the +rain. + +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. + +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. + +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. Their +sympathy is never withheld; their griefs are never considered as of no +consequence because they are brief and soon forgotten. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +GOING ABROAD. + + +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. + +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. + +The gentle, cooling zephyrs were playing among 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The old robins stood on one of the branches of 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. + +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. + +At sunset, I saw them on the locust-tree, near the 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. + +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. + +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 +pleasant visitors who have been spending a few days with us. + +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. + + "All things, both great and small; + For the dear God who loveth us, + Hath made and loveth all." + +[Illustration] + + + + +"MAY I POP SOME CORN?" + + +"May I pop some corn?" asked Eddie. + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: Eddie popping corn.] + +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." + +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, + +"If you miss your corn, Eddie, you will know what has become of it." + +He looked up from his play quite soberly, and said slowly, "Mother, if +_you_ wish to eat more you may, but _I_ am not going to." + +"Why not, my child?" + +"I am going to save it for father." + +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. + +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. + + + + +"WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER I SHOULD DO?" + + +"Which would you rather I should do?" asked Eddie of his mother, his +large blue eyes filling with tears. + +"I should rather you would stay with me," was the answer. + +"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. + +Eddie, you know, is a little boy, five years old. He 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. + +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 _rather_ 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. + +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 to bear them, and they had a pleasant walk above the +hidden grass and stones. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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? + + "If at first you don't succeed, + Try, try again." + + + + +THE BIRDS AND THE SNOW-STORM. + + +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. + +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. + +What is to become of the birds? They can find neither food nor +shelter. It is painful to see them 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 who have not even +heard of him; and many of those who have, do not know he is their best +friend. + +Do _you_ 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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE FIRST STRAWBERRY. + + +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. + +"Here is something for you, mother," she said, holding up the rosy +treasure. + +"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. + +How much more Mary enjoyed that look of love, and that approving +smile, than she would have enjoyed eating that luscious strawberry +herself! + +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. + +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. + +God will bless those who honour their parents. + + + + +"I PRAYED ALL DAY FOR HELP." + + +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. + +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. + +"How happy I am this evening!" he said to her. She put her arm around +him, and drew him towards her. + +"What makes you so happy?" she inquired. + +"Because I have been trying to control my temper, I suppose"--was his +answer. + +"You have not been angry to-day, have you?" + +"No, mother." + +"Did you pray about it, Willie?" + +"Yes, mother. I prayed all day for help." + +"How did you pray?" + +"I said, Forgive my sins, and give me a new heart." + +"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-- + + "So cool, so calm, so bright." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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!" + +"An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in +transgression." + +"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that +ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." + +"He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a city that is +broken down, and without walls." + + + + +"EVER SO MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS." + + +"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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +I often think, as I look abroad, how wonderful it is that God has made +every thing so beautiful. We 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." + +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." + +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 the silence by repeating that beautiful hymn +of Addison's, commencing with these lines-- + + "The spacious firmament on high, + With all the blue ethereal sky, + And spangled heavens, a shining frame, + Their great Original proclaim." + +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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +LILY AND HER DUCKLINGS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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 the pretty things of which they could now +and then catch a glimpse, as they peeped through the cracks of the +rabbit-house. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +PRAYING FOR RAIN. + + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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." + +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 did not lose the reward promised to those who give a +cup of cold water to the friends of God. + +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?" + +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. + +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 had forsaken the +commandments of the Lord, and worshipped Baalim. + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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." + +"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. + +The next Sunday Mrs. Dudley was not well, and could not attend +church. When her children returned she asked Mary if they prayed for +rain. "No, mother!" she answered; "but I did." + +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. + +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." + +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. + + + + +THE GRAPE-CLUSTERS. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: The lady was sitting at her desk writing, when the boys +entered.] + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +"IT ALMOST MAKES ME CRY." + + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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." + +"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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +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." + + + + +THE BOY WHO STEALS. + + +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. + +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, + +"What is the matter?" + +"John won't let me go home." + +"How does he prevent you? What does he do to you?" asked Mrs. Dudley. + +"He won't let me alone." + +"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. + +Mary Dudley now came near her mother, and, speaking in a low voice, +said to her, "That is the boy who steals." + +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. + +"Why, what has he done?" asked one of the group which surrounded him. + +"He has been stealing the children's dinners. He stole yesterday, and +he has been stealing to-day." + +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. + +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! + +The superintendent of the school talked with Jimmy, who said he would +never steal again; but, alas! he soon forgot his good resolution. +Although he carried a dinner for himself in his tin pail, he took +whatever he liked from the baskets of his companions. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +I could tell you several very sad stories of people who have stolen +when they were children, and who 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. + +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. + +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! + +[Illustration] + + + + +LOOK AT THE BIRDS! + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +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. + +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 "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. + +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. + +"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." + +Not one of that immense number of birds, which 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. + +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 + + "Fill" our souls "with trust unshaken + In that Being who has taken + Care for every living thing, + In Summer, Winter, Fall and Spring." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LOST CHILD. + + +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, + +"Have you seen any thing of a stray child?" + +"No, we have not; whose child is lost?" + +"Mr. McPherson's." + +"How old is the child?" + +"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." + +It is sad to hear that a child is lost, and all the family sympathized +with the anxious parents. "How 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. + +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?" + +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. + +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 miles. Just before dark an old gentleman and his +grandson were walking on the road, and they observed this little boy +crying. + +"What do you suppose he is crying about?" said the child to his +grandfather. + +"I don't know. Perhaps he has been sent to the grocery, and does not +like to go." + +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, + +"What are you crying about?" + +"I want to go home!" + +"Where is your home?" + +The boy could not tell. + +"What is your name?" + +"William Hudson." He did not say, as he should have done, William +Hudson McPherson. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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! + +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. + +Every human heart is grieved when a child like William strays from +home. We do not wonder that 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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOUR. + + +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. + +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. + +At one time Eddie had been thinking about Mr. Morrison,--for by that +name I shall call the unpleasant neighbour,--and he said very +seriously to his mother, + +"Mother, can Mr. Morrison go to heaven if he dies." + +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. + +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. + +"Does he love Mr. Morrison?" he inquired. + +"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." + +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 thought! How it encourages us to trust him at all times! + +God does not willingly afflict, nor grieve, nor punish any one. All +that he does, he does from the truest love. + +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. + +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, + +"Shan't I pray for Mr. Morrison, now?" + +"Yes, dear, if you wish to," she answered. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE BOY WHO KEPT HIS PURPOSE. + + +"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. + +[Illustration: "I wouldn't be so mean."] + +"You have no right to call me mean," replied Reuben Porter, "because I +don't spend my money for candy." + +"You never spend it for any thing," continued George, tauntingly. + +It was true. Reuben did not spend his money. Do you suppose it was +because he loved it more than other boys do? + +Reuben turned slowly away, meditating upon what had occurred. + +"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 shall soon have enough_," 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, "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." + +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. +_Reuben had almost enough._ + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 +_miser_ 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. + +"Filial love will never go unrewarded." + +[Illustration] + + + + +MARY'S STORY. + + +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, + +"Now you can tell me about Jesus." + +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. + +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. + +Eddie is too young to realize much about the 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. + +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. + +Even now, as I am writing, I hear children singing + + "There is a happy land + Far far away." + +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." + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SUNNY FACE, AND THE SHADY FACE; +OR, JUNE AND NOVEMBER. + + +"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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +"I suppose it is because I have been trying to be good," he answered. + +"That always makes people happy," his mother replied. + +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. + +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." + +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 cannot be so happy. Sometimes he +pouts out his lips, when his mother wishes him to do something which +he does not exactly like. + +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. + +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. + +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? + + + + +"IT ISN'T FAIR. I PEEPED." + + +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. + +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. + +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 in this instance, but when he reflects, he is always sorry. + +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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." + + + + +THE CHRYSALIS. + + +"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. + +"Isn't it pretty, mother?" "How did it get here?" and many more +questions were rapidly asked, while the little folks carefully +examined it. + +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 +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. + +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. + +"Here it is, mother!" he shouted in the most joyous tones, and his +eyes sparkled with delight. + +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 children examined it with a microscope, which made it appear even +more beautiful and wonderful than before. + +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. + +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 _we_ 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. + + + + +CHRISTMAS AT THE COTTAGE. + + +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. + +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. + +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 and happy if they had some new books to read, and +would be perfectly willing to lay aside other gifts till Monday. + +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. + +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. + +When all these arrangements were completed to their satisfaction, +they left the room. Mrs. Dudley remained some time longer. When she +left, the door was locked. + +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. + +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 made for him with her own hands, and that he kissed his +thanks with great fondness. + +Most valuable of all to the little folks, and most gladly welcomed, +were the books. How eagerly they looked them over. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +I WILL CONQUER MYSELF. + + +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. + +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. + +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, "I WILL CONQUER MYSELF! I WILL CONQUER +MYSELF!" + +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. + +Helen did for herself what no earthly friend could do for her. By the +power of her will she 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. + +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. + +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." + +All habits grow stronger by indulgence. If you 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. + +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. + + "On yourself and God relying, + Try, keep trying." + +[Illustration] + + + + +SELFISH ELLA. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 his plump, +brown cheek, and thanked him for his gift. + +[Illustration: His mother kissed his plump, brown cheek.] + +Which should you prefer to be like--selfish Ella, or this generous +little boy? + +The selfish person is always willing to receive favours, but to the +generous "it is more blessed to give than to receive." + +[Illustration] + + + + +"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN." + + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +HATTIE AND HERBERT. + + +"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. + +"Oh yes!" answered little Herbert, in a solemn tone, "there is one a +great deal better." + +"Why, Herbert! what do you mean?" exclaimed Hattie, who knew Herbert +loved his mother as dearly as she did. + +"I mean God. He is better than mother." + +"But God is a Father. He is our Father in heaven," continued Hattie. + +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. + +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. + +Do you, dear children, when you realize something 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? + +"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. + +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!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE TWO WILLS. + + +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. + +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. + +A few hours before his death, he looked up to his mother and said: + +"Do you remember my gold dollar?" + +"Yes, my son; but we had better not think of that now." + +"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." + +George died, and I trust has gone to heaven. His desire to do good was +no doubt acceptable and 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +"BLESS GOD FOR THIS DOLL." + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +It was just what she had long wanted, and her heart was full of +happiness and gratitude. After 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +BESSIE HARTWELL. + + +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. + +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. + +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 about over +the fields, raking the new-mown hay, and riding on the top of the +load. + +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. + +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." + +It was in the gray twilight of the morning that the steamboat arrived +at the wharf. When they 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. + +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. + +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 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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +"MARY'S GREAT TREASURE" + + +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. + +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. + +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 NEW HEART--a heart that loved her +heavenly Father, that loved to pray to him and ask him to keep her +from sin. + +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 had, like Mary, a new heart. How happy they were together! How +much the Saviour loved them! + +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? + +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. + +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 _little_ 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." + +[Illustration] + + + + +"SUSAN WILL BE HAPPIER IF I GO WITH HER." + + +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. + +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. + +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 +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." + +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. + +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? + +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. + +Will you not pray, dear children, for a kind, unselfish heart? + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE NEWS-BOYS' BANK. + +PART I. + + +"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. + +[Illustration: First interview with the news-boy.] + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 earnings for a time of need. The superintendent keeps the key +of the drawer. + +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. + +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. + +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, "You know +Simpson, the pawnbroker?" "Yes." "He is a friend in need, but _here_ +is a friend indeed!" and the bright silver dropped, jingling, into his +bank. + +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 _men_, and to exert an influence +in the world. + +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. + + +PART II. + +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 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. + +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. + +The boys were delighted with their wealth. "No hard times here!" they +cried. "Money isn't tight with us. There is plenty of it." + +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. "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. + +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. + +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. + +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 hospital to see him. The door-keeper said he +never knew a boy who had so many cousins! + +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. + +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 _he shook hands with me too_," 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. + + "Speak gently, kindly, to the poor; + Let no harsh term be heard; + They have enough they must endure, + Without an unkind word." + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +IDA'S DRESS. + + +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. + +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. + +The room was neat and tidy. There was a little fire in the stove, but +not enough to thoroughly warm the room. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It will always be a pleasant recollection to Mary 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. + +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." + +[Illustration] + + + + +WHAT MADE WILLIE HAPPY. + + +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. + +"You were very happy the evening they were given to you," said his +mother. + +"But no happier than I was last evening," he replied. + +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. + +Every evening Willie came to his mother, and 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +DO YOU INTEND TO BE A GENTLEMAN? + +(A QUESTION FOR BOYS.) + + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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 +careful instruction at home, than others; but no boy of intelligence +need fail to be a gentleman if he tries. + +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!" + +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 _gentle_-man. + + + + +GENEROUS NELLY; OR, THE WILLING MIND. + + +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. + +Her father is obliged to live on a small salary. + +Nelly is a favourite with her father's friends, and often receives a +present from them. + +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." + +At another time, her father was obliged to take a journey on business. +Nelly brought forth her 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. + +[Illustration: Nelly brought forth her purse.] + +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. + +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. + + + + +LOVEST THOU ME? + + +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. + +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. + +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 replied, "Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love +thee." + +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." + +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. + +If you should be asked, "Do you love your heavenly Father?" could you +as readily answer, "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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +MY LITTLE BAG. + + +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. + +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. + +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 is the fulfilling of the law." We must love our neighbour as +ourselves. + + "Little deeds of kindness, + Little words of love, + Make our earth an Eden, + Like the heaven above." + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +DO YOU LIKE YOUR SEAT? + + +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! + +"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 +compels you to make your abode in the hot, crowded, feverish city. + +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. + +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 cars were entirely within the depot, +he went out upon the platform to escape from observation. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LITTLE BEGGAR. + + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: The elder held out her hand.] + +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-- + +"Where does your mother live?" + +They named the street. + +"Will you take me there?" + +"Yes, ma'am. We must go this way;" and they turned off in the +direction of their home. + +"What is your name?" I inquired of the elder child. + +"Mary Ann ----." + +"And what is your's?" + +"Ellen ----," answered the younger. + +"Have you any brothers and sisters?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"We save our money to pay the rent." + +"How much does your mother pay?" + +"Three dollars." + +"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. + +"I don't know whether it is a month, or a week, or how long; I only +know it is three dollars. + +"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. + +"What did you do?" + +"A woman took us in her house." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +After the children came in, they combed their hair, and braided it, +and washed their hands and faces. + +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. + +"I can," replied Mary Ann. "I can write my name, or I could your's if +I knew it." + +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. + +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. + +In some of our cities benevolent people have 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. + +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. + +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. + + "Have pity on them, for their life + Is full of grief and care; + You do not know one half the woes + The very poor must bear; + You do not see the silent tears + By many a mother shed, + As childhood offers up the prayer, + 'Give us our daily bread.'" + + + + +LITTLE CHARLEY. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"I hope, mother," said he, "the apostles will not get him." + +"Why, my child?" + +"Because they did not want little children to go to Jesus," was his +artless reply. + +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 and +the birds, and he wishes that "God would take him right up to heaven +to play with Charley." + +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? + +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. +_When_ He will come, you cannot know. Be always ready, and then He +will not find you unprepared. + +[Illustration] + + + + +DARLING WILLIE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The winter passed away, and every month the 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. + +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, + +"See, grandmother," said he, "what a beautiful home Charley has!" + +[Illustration: Willie was one day sitting with his grandmother by the +open window.] + +Charley was Willie's little brother, whom the angels had taken from +earth, and carried to live with Jesus. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +At one time, a cousin of his called to see him. He brought a basket +with him. Raising the cover, he said-- + +"Willie, come, look in my basket." + +Willie came as requested. + +"Oh! I know what it is! It is a rabbit for me!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +Dear children, who read about Willie, are you 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, "_of such is the kingdom of heaven_?" + +[Illustration] + + + + +WIDOW CAHOON AND HER GRANDSON. + + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Does Mrs. Smith live here?" we inquired. + +"No, ma'am." + +"Is there an old lady, who is almost blind, and who has a little +grandson, in the house?"--we further asked, thinking Mrs. Smith might +not be known by name. + +"No, ma'am. There is no such person here." + +"Does she live in the neighbourhood?" + +"She may be in No. ----." + +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. + +At length we came to a grocery, and, stepping in by the mackerel +barrels which stood at the door, we repeated our inquiry-- + +"Can you tell us where Mrs. Smith lives? She is an old lady, almost +blind, and has a little grandson." + +"Oh, yes! I know her well. She is a deserving, needy woman." + +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, + +"You know where Mrs. Smith lives--the old lady who is almost blind, +and who has a little grandson?" + +"Yes." + +"Will you show these ladies the place?" + +"Yes." + +She walked on with us till she came to a large 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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-- + +"Have you ever been in the country?" + +"Oh, yes. I was there a month, when we buried mother." + +"Where were you?" + +"We were with Elek, grandma's son." + +"Why doesn't your grandmother live with him?" + +"He isn't kind to her." + +"Was his wife kind?" + +"No; she said she wouldn't live with him if grandma did." + +"What did you see in the country?" + +"I saw the fields, and the trees, and horses, and cows." + +"Did Elek have a cow?" + +"Yes; and she went away every day, and at night she came home, and +they milked her." + +"Did you see any birds?" + +"I saw birds no bigger than that," said he, putting 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." + +"And had you apples or peaches?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + + "Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is + To have a thankless child." + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. 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!" + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +[Illustration: Finis] + + + + + + + + + +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.txt or 16185.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. Simms, Diane Monico, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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