diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/60138-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60138-0.txt | 2661 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 2661 deletions
diff --git a/old/60138-0.txt b/old/60138-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 474580a..0000000 --- a/old/60138-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2661 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Edith and her Ayah, and Other Stories, by A. -L. O. E. - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Edith and her Ayah, and Other Stories - Edith and Her Ayah; The Butterfly; The Penitent; The Reproof; The Vase and the Dart; The Jewel; The Storm; The Sabbath-Tree; The White Robe; Crosses; The Two Countries; Do You Love God?; The Imperfect Copy; A Story of the Crimea; ? Have a Home, a Happy Home? - - -Author: A. L. O. E. - - - -Release Date: August 19, 2019 [eBook #60138] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDITH AND HER AYAH, AND OTHER -STORIES*** - - -E-text prepared by Richard Hulse and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 60138-h.htm or 60138-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60138/60138-h/60138-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/60138/60138-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/edithherayahothe00aloe - - - - - -EDITH AND HER AYAH, - -And Other Stories. - - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration: A · L · O · E - -EDITH and her AYAH - -AND OTHER STORIES - -T. NELSON AND SONS. LONDON, EDINBURGH AND NEW YORK.] - - -[Illustration: WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP] - - -EDITH AND HER AYAH, -AND OTHER STORIES. - -by - -A. L. O. E. - -Author of “Exiles in Babylon,” “Triumph over Midian,” -“The Young Pilgrim,” etc. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - - -London: -T. Nelson and Sons, Paternoster Row; -Edinburgh; and New York. -1872. - - - - -Contents. - - - I. EDITH AND HER AYAH, 7 - - II. THE BUTTERFLY, 20 - - III. THE PENITENT, 29 - - IV. THE REPROOF, 37 - - V. THE VASE AND THE DART, 40 - - VI. THE JEWEL, 49 - - VII. THE STORM, 57 - - VIII. THE SABBATH-TREE, 65 - - IX. THE WHITE ROBE, 76 - - X. CROSSES, 84 - - XI. THE TWO COUNTRIES, 93 - - XII. DO YOU LOVE GOD? 102 - - XIII. THE IMPERFECT COPY, 106 - - XIV. A STORY OF THE CRIMEA, 112 - - XV. “I HAVE A HOME, A HAPPY HOME,” 119 - - - - -[Illustration: BLESSINGS ARE UPON THE HEAD OF THE JUST. PROV. 10:6] - - - - -I. - -EDITH AND HER AYAH. - - -“Mamma,” said little Edith, looking up from the toys with which she was -playing at the feet of her mother—“mamma, why does Motee Ayah never come -in to prayers?” - -Mrs. Tuller was seated at her desk in the large room of her bungalow -(house) in India. The day was hot; the blazing sun shone with fiery -glare; but the light came into the room so much softened by green blinds -and half-closed shutters, that the place was so dark that the lady could -scarcely see to write. The punkah, a kind of huge fan, moving gently -to and fro above her, made a refreshing air which would have sent her -papers fluttering in every direction had not weights been placed to keep -them down. - -Mrs. Tuller paused in her writing, but did not reply to the question -asked by her child regarding her ayah, or native nurse. - -“Mamma,” said little Edith again, “does not Motee Ayah love the Lord -Jesus?” - -“Alas, my child, she does not know him!” - -“But will you not teach her, mamma?” and the fair-haired girl looked up -in her mother’s face with such a pleading look in her soft gray eyes, -that, touched by her interest in the poor heathen, Mrs. Tuller bent down, -kissed fondly the brow of her child, and whispered, “My love, I will try.” - -Nor did Mrs. Tuller forget her promise. Again and again she spoke to -Motee of the Christian’s faith and the Christian’s God. It saddened -the heart of the lady to feel that to seek to teach Motee religion -was like trying to write upon water. The ayah joined her dark hands -together, listened, or seemed to listen, said, “Very good, very good,” to -everything that the beebee (lady) told her, but always returned to her -idol, a hideous little wooden image, and performed her poojah (worship) -to Vishnu, as if she had never heard of a purer religion. Mrs. Tuller -grew quite disheartened about her. Sometimes the lady blamed her own -imperfect knowledge of the language, and sometimes she felt almost angry -with the ayah for her blindness and hardness of heart. - -[Illustration: TEACHING THE AYAH.] - -Poor Motee had been brought up from infancy amongst idolaters; she had -never been taught truth when a child, and now error bound her like a -chain. Motee had actually been led to think it honourable to her family -that, many years before, there had been a suttee in it; that is to say, -a poor young widow had burnt herself with the dead body of her husband. -Happily, our Government has forbidden suttees—no widow can thus be burnt -now; but still the cruel heathen religion hurts the bodies as well as -the souls of the Queen’s dark subjects in India. Motee’s own father had -died on a pilgrimage to what he believed to be a holy shrine. Travelling -on foot for hundreds of miles under a burning sun, the poor idolater’s -strength had given way, and he had laid himself down by the roadside, -sick, faint, and alone, to die far away from his home. Poor Motee had -never reflected that the religion which had thus cost the lives of two -of her family could not be a religion of heavenly love. She worshipped -Vishnu, for she knew no better; and when her lady spoke to her of the -Lord, the ayah only said to herself, that the God of the English was not -the God of the Hindu, and that she herself must do what all her fathers -had done. - -Mrs. Tuller’s _words_ had little power, but her _example_ and that of her -husband were not without some effect upon the ignorant ayah. Motee knew -that the sahib (master) who prayed with his family, never used bad words, -nor was unkind to his wife, nor beat his servants, nor took bribes. Motee -knew that the beebee who read her Bible was gentle, generous, and kind. -The ayah could not but respect the religion whose fruits she saw in the -lives of her master and mistress. - -But it was not only the lady’s words and the lady’s example that were -used as means to draw the poor Hindu to God. Little Edith had never heard -the beautiful saying, that “the nearest road to any heart is through -heaven,” and she would not have known its meaning if she had heard it, -but the English child had been taught that the Saviour listens to prayer. -Every night and morning Edith, at her mother’s knee, repeated the few -simple words, “Lord Jesus, teach me to love thee!” and now, of her own -accord, she added another short prayer. Mrs. Tuller caught the soft -whispered words from the lips of her darling, “Lord Jesus, teach poor -Motee Ayah to love thee!” The mother took no outward notice, but from her -heart she added “Amen” to the prayer of her child. - -The hot season passed away; the time had come when Mr. Tuller and his -family could enjoy what is called “camp life,” and move from place to -place, living not in a house but a tent. The change was pleasant to the -party, most of all to little Edith. She delighted in running about and -playing with the goats, pulling the ropes, watching the black servants -taking down the tents, or in riding on her little white pony. Edith’s -cheeks, which during the hot weather had grown quite thin and pale, -became plump and rosy once more; and merry was the sound of her childish -voice as she gambolled in and out of the tent. - -One day, as Edith was playing outside, near the edge of a jungle or -thicket, her attention was attracted by a beautiful little fawn, that -seemed almost too young to run about, and which stood timidly gazing at -the child with its soft dark eyes. - -“Pretty creature, come here,” cried Edith, beckoning with her small white -hand; “have you lost your mother, little fawn? Come and share my milk and -bread,—come, and I will make you my pet, and love you so much, pretty -fawn!” - -As all her coaxing could not lure the timid creature to her side, Edith -advanced towards it. The fawn started back with a frightened look, and -fled into the jungle as fast as its weak, slender limbs could bear it. - -The merry child gave chase, following the fawn, and calling to it as she -ran, pushing her way as well as she could between the tall reeds and -grass, which were higher than her own curly head. - -Motee soon missed her charge, and quickly hurried after Edith. So eager, -however, was the child in pursuit of the fawn, that she was some distance -from the tents before the ayah overtook her. - -“O Missee Baba,” cried the panting nurse, “why you run away from your -Motee?” - -“I want to catch the pretty fawn; I want to take it to mamma; it is too -little to be by itself,—I’m afraid the jackals will get it!” - -“I am afraid that the jackals will get Missee Baba,” cried the ayah, -catching the little girl up in her arms. “Missee must come back to the -beebee directly.” - -Edith was a good little child, and made no resistance, though she looked -wistfully into the bushes after the fawn, and called out to it again and -again in hopes of luring it back. Motee attempted to return to the tents, -but did not feel sure of the way,—the vegetation around grew so high that -she could scarcely see two yards before her. She walked some steps with -Edith in her arms, then stopped and looked round with a frightened air. - -“Motee, why don’t you go on?” asked Edith. - -“O Missee Baba, we’re lost!” cried the poor Hindu; “lost here in the -dreadful jungle, full of wild beasts and snakes!” - -Edith stared at her ayah in alarm, yet at that moment the little child -remembered her mother’s lessons. “Don’t be so frightened, Motee,” said -the fair-haired English girl; “the Lord Jesus can save us, and show us -the way to mamma.” - -There was comfort in that thought, which the poor heathen could not -have drawn from calling on Vishnu and the thousand false gods which the -ignorant Hindus adore. The little child could feel, as the woman could -not, that even in that lonely jungle a great and a loving Friend was -beside her! - -Again Motee tried to find her way, again she paused in alarm. What was -that dreadful sound, like a growl, that startled the ayah, and made her -sink on her knees in terror, clasping all the closer the little girl in -her arms! Motee and Edith both turned to gaze in the direction from which -that dreadful sound had proceeded. What was their horror on beholding the -striped head of a Bengal tiger above the waving grass! Motee uttered a -terrified scream,—Edith a cry to the Lord to save her. It seemed like the -instant answer to that cry when the sharp report of a rifle rang through -the thicket, quickly succeeded by a second; and the wild beast, mortally -wounded, lay rolling and struggling on the earth! Edith saw nothing of -what followed; the shock had been too great for the child; senseless with -terror she lay in the arms of her trembling ayah! - -Edith’s father, for it was he whom Providence had sent to the rescue, -bore his little darling back to the tent, leaving his servants, who had -followed his steps, to bring in the spoils of the tiger. It was some time -before Edith recovered her senses, and then an attack of fever ensued. -Mrs. Tuller nursed her daughter with fondest care, and with scarcely less -tenderness and love the faithful Motee tended the child. The poor ayah -would have given her life to save that of her little charge. - -On the third night after that terrible adventure in the woods came the -crisis of the fever. Mrs. Tuller, worn out by two sleepless nights, had -been persuaded to go to rest, and let Motee take her turn of watching -beside the child. The tent was nearly dark,—but one light burned -within it,—Edith lay in shadow,—the ayah could not see her face,—a -terror came over the Hindu,—all was so still, she could not hear any -breathing,—could Missee Baba be dead! Motee during two anxious days had -prayed to all the false gods that she could think of to make Missee Edith -well; but the fever had not decreased. Now, in the silence of the night, -poor Motee Ayah bethought her of the English girl’s words in the jungle. -Little Edith had said that the Lord could save them,—and had he not saved -from the jaws of the savage tiger? Could he not help them now? The Hindu -knelt beside the charpoy (pallet) on which lay the fair-haired child, -put her brown palms together, bowed her head, and for the first time in -her life breathed a prayer to the Christian’s God: “Lord Jesus, save -Missee Baba!” - -[Illustration: THE AYAH PRAYING.] - -“O Motee! Motee!” cried little Edith, starting up from the pillow with -a cry of delight, and flinging her white arms round the neck of the -astonished Hindu, “the Lord has made you love him,—I knew he would,—for -I prayed so hard. And oh, how I love you, Motee—more than ever I did -before!” The curly head nestled on the bosom of the ayah, and her dark -skin was wet with the little child’s tears of joy. - -Edith, a few minutes before, had awoke refreshed from a long sleep, -during which her fever had passed away. And from that hour her recovery -was speedy; before many days were over the child was again sporting about -in innocent glee. And from that night the ayah never prayed to an idol -again. Willing she now was to listen to all that the beebee could tell -of a great and merciful Lord. Of the skin of the tiger that the sahib -had slain a rug was made, which Edith called her praying-carpet. Upon -this, morning and night, the white English girl and her ayah knelt side -by side, and offered up simple prayers to Him who had saved them from -death. Mrs. Tuller’s words had done less than her example in drawing a -poor wandering soul to God; but the prayer lisped by her little lamb had -had greater effect than either. - -Oh, if, in our dear land, all the little ones who have no money to give -to the missionary cause, who have never even seen an idolater, would lift -up their hands and hearts to the Lord, saying, “Teach the poor heathen to -love thee!” how rich a harvest of blessings would be drawn down by such a -prayer on those who know not the truth, and still sit in darkness and the -shadow of death! - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT. Prov. 23:23.] - - - - -II. - -THE BUTTERFLY. - - -A party of boys had been playing in the fields on a sunny afternoon in -the bright month of June. They had been chasing a gay butterfly, which, -in its uncertain flight, had led them over hedge and ditch, till at -last the beautiful prize was won, and the brilliant insect remained a -helpless prisoner in the hands of its pursuers. Alas, for the butterfly! -A few moments before so gay and so free, sometimes resting on a blossom, -then fluttering up towards the sky, its lovely wings were rudely torn -away, and it lay quivering in the agonies of death. At this moment Ella -Claremont, a young lady of the village, approached the party; she had -seen the chase and its close, and looked with regret on the poor mangled -butterfly. “Why did you not let it live?” said she; “it had never harmed -you, and it was so happy. You easily took away its little life,” she -added; “but could any of you, could any power on earth, give that life -back again?” - -[Illustration: A HELPLESS PRISONER.] - -The boys looked one upon another, and were silent, till the eldest of -them, Giles, replied, “I am sorry that I killed it, but I did not know -that there was any harm.” - -“Surely,” said Ella, in a very gentle voice, “in a world where there is -so much pain, one would be sorry to add, even in the least degree, to -the amount of it. There is another feeling,” continued she, “that should -make us merciful to every creature; we should look upon it as one of the -wonderful works of God.” - -“Why,” said Anthony, “a butterfly is only a caterpillar after it has -wings.” - -“True; but what human skill could form a caterpillar! It has been -calculated that in a single caterpillar there are _sixty thousand -muscles_!” - -An exclamation of astonishment burst from the boys. - -“They must be finer than spiders’ threads,” cried Giles. - -“I daresay,” replied the lady, “that you are not aware that each separate -spider’s thread is said to be formed of about _three thousand_ joined -together.” - -“The world seems full of wonders,” exclaimed little Robert. - -“It is indeed; the more we search into God’s works, the more wisdom and -skill do we behold.” - -“I’ll not kill a butterfly again,” said Giles. - -“I never see one fluttering in the sun,” continued Ella, “without -thinking of those lines:— - - ‘Thou hast burst from thy prison, - Bright child of the air! - Like a spirit just risen - From its mansion of care!’” - -“That sounds very pretty,” said Giles; “but I don’t understand it.” - -“It is not very difficult to explain,” replied Ella. “The butterfly -teaches us a joyful lesson; it is what is called a _type_ of immortality! -You see the lowly caterpillar crawling over a leaf,—it cannot raise -itself towards the sky,—it cannot leave the earth; in this it is like -what _we are now_. Then, as you know, it seems to die; it is wrapped up -in its little covering, and there it lies without motion or feeling—that -is like what _we must be_.” - -“Ah! I see; when we are in our coffins, dead and buried,” cried Robert. -“But the bright butterfly soon bursts from the dark case, and we do not -rise from our graves.” - -“_We shall_,” replied Ella earnestly; “_we all shall rise again_. No -longer prisoners bound to earth, no longer creeping on amidst trials -and sorrows, but free, happy, glorious, shining in the beams of the Sun -of Righteousness. ‘For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be -raised’ (1 Cor. xv. 52). Why should we fear death—why should we dread -being laid in the cold tomb? When we think of the hope set before us, -well may we cry, ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy -victory?’” (1 Cor. xv. 55). - -There was a deep silence for a few moments; nothing was heard but the -song of a lark high overhead, as it soared towards the sky. - -Then Giles spoke in a tone of awe, “Will _all_ rise again?” - -“Yes, all.” - -“Will all rise to be free, and happy, and glorious?” - -“Alas, no!” replied Ella. - -“How can we tell,” continued the boy, after a little hesitation, -“whether _we_ shall be among the happy ones?” - -“There will be but two classes then,” said Ella, “as there are but two -classes amongst those called Christians now. We may divide all who have -heard of a Saviour into _those who love God, and those who love sin_. -Those who love sin will awake to misery; those who love God will awake to -glory.” - -“But,” said the boy anxiously, “there may be some who love God and really -try to obey him, and yet sin sometimes.” - -“_All_ sin sometimes,” replied Ella. “There is not one human being free -from sin.” - -“Then,” said Giles, “I should be afraid that, when the trumpet sounded, -my sins would be like chains, and keep me down, so that I could not rise.” - -Every eye was turned towards Ella; every ear anxiously listened for her -reply; for every young heart was conscious of some sin, and felt the -difficulty which Giles had started. - -“It would have been so,” replied Ella, “had not the Saviour died for -sinners like us. His blood washes us _quite clean_ from all guilt—that -is, if we really believe on him and love him. Let us look upon our sins -as chains _now_, and struggle hard to burst them, and pray for grace to -help us: then, if we are Christ’s people, we shall rise joyfully in that -great day when ‘the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, -with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God’” (1 Thess. -iv. 16). - -“I think,” said Giles, after a pause, “that sins are like chains, and -very hard to break too. There is temper, now! I know that I’ve a bad -temper; I determine over and over again that I will get rid of it; but -the harder I struggle, the tighter the chain seems to grow.” - -“And mother is trying to cure me of saying bad words,” cried little -Robert; “but it’s no use—they will come; I say them when I’m not thinking -about it.” - -“Have you tried prayer?” inquired Ella. “Do you not know the precious -promises, ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to -all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him’ (James -i. 5). ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, -and it shall be opened unto you’ (Luke xi. 9). These words have often -been such a comfort to me, when I felt how heavy my chain was, and how -weak my efforts to get rid of it. And now, my young friends, I must leave -you; will you think over what I have said?” - -“Yes, miss, and thank you for it,” said Giles, touching his cap. - -Ella paused as she was turning to depart, and gazed upon the sky, all -bright with the evening sun, setting amidst clouds of crimson and gold. - -“How glorious!” she cried, “how beautiful that work of God! He, too, -speaks of the resurrection; he sinks to rise again! - - ‘Just so is the Christian; his course he begins, - Like the sun in a mist, when he mourns for his sins, - Then all in a moment he breaks out and shines, - And travels his heavenly way. - - ‘And when he comes nearer to finish his race, - Like a fine setting sun, he grows richer in grace, - And gives a sure hope, at the end of his days, - Of rising in brighter array!’ - -“Farewell, my children. Whether we shall see each other again on this -earth, who shall dare to say? But we shall meet again when the last -trumpet sounds, and the dead hear the Saviour’s voice, and the saints -awake in his likeness. Let us live now as those who are waiting for the -Lord, and who long for the hour of his appearing.” - - “Oh! when through earth, and sea, and skies, - Th’ archangel’s final summons flies, - May we, through Christ, immortal rise - Towards a heavenly home! - - “They who together life have trod, - May they together burst the sod, - And glorious rise to meet their God! - Come, Jesus, Saviour, come!” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKETH RICH] - - - - -III. - -THE PENITENT. - - -“What is the matter with you, Charley?” said George Mayne, as he returned -home from the factory, and found his little brother crying violently on -the door-step. “What has vexed you, Charley, my boy?” - -“Oh, my father will never forgive me,” sobbed the child. - -“I cannot think that, he is so good and so kind. Come, dry up your tears, -and tell me what has happened; perhaps I may be able to help you out of -your trouble.” - -[Illustration: CHARLEY’S GRIEF.] - -It was some time before, soothed by the kindness of his brother, the -boy became calm enough to explain the cause of his grief. With a voice -half choked with tears he began: “Father had sent me to pay the baker—he -had given me a half-crown to do it—he had _trusted me_; and now it is -all—all gone! Oh, father will never forgive me!” and he burst into a -fresh agony of sorrow. - -“You lost the money, did you? Well, father can ill afford it, but he will -forgive you for an accident, I am sure.” - -“But it was _not_ an accident, that is the worst of it! You see, I met -Jack and Ben; they were playing at pitch-farthing, and they called to me -to join them.” - -“But father has forbidden us to keep company with those idle boys.” - -“I know it—but I disobeyed him—I was very wrong—and I am very miserable.” - -“I hope that you did not join the game?” - -“Not at first—I told them that I had given father my solemn promise -never to gamble; but they jeered me, and laughed at me—and I played with -them—and they got all my money from me—the half-crown that was not mine, -with which I had been _trusted_. Oh, father will never forgive me!” - -“Now, Charley, do you know what I advise you to do?” said George. “Go to -father at once, confess your fault to him, let not one sin lead you to -another.” - -“Confess to him!—I dare not.” - -“I will go with you, Charley; I will plead for you.” - -“But father is so poor; he will be in debt, and he cannot bear that! He -will be so angry. Oh, cannot I say that some one snatched the half-crown -out of my hand?” - -“Charley, Charley!” cried his brother, almost sternly, “the Evil One is -tempting you. He has gained one victory over you; would you be his slave -entirely? Pray to God for strength to struggle against this temptation: -remember that liars have no place in heaven. I will plead for you, I say; -and as for the money, I have been saving up pence for the last six months -to buy a particular book which I have much wished to have—I have just -enough of money, and I will pay the debt.” - -“O George, how good you are! But if the debt is paid, need I confess?” - -“Yes; you have not only lost the money, but broken father’s command, and -broken your own promise. Hide nothing. Take my hand, Charley, and come -with me at once; every moment that we delay doing what is right, we add -to the difficulty of doing it.” - -So hand in hand the two brothers appeared before their father, who was -resting himself after a hard day’s work. George encouraged poor Charley -to confess his fault; he entreated forgiveness for the offender; he -placed in the hand of his father his own hard-earned savings. The parent -opened his arms, and pressed both his sons to his heart! Then making -Charley sit down beside him, the good man thus addressed his repentant -child:— - -“I forgive you, my boy, for the sake of your brother; but there is -another Friend whom you have offended, whose commandment you have broken, -whose forgiveness you must seek.” - -“I know that I have sinned against God,” said Charley sadly. - -“And for whose sake do you hope to be forgiven?” - -Charley looked up in the face of his father, and replied, “I hope for -forgiveness for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.” - -“And if you are grateful to an earthly brother for pitying you, and -pleading for you, and paying your debt, how can you be thankful enough -to that heavenly Saviour who shed his own _blood_ to win for you a free -pardon, and who now is pleading for you at the right hand of God?” - -Charley was silent, but his eyes filled with tears. - -“And now, George, my boy, bring me the Bible,” said his father; “it is -time for our evening reading.” - -“What part shall I read?” inquired George, reverently opening the sacred -book. - -“Oh, let him read of some one who had sinned and was forgiven!” said poor -Charley. - -At his father’s look of assent, George turned to the touching story of -the woman who, weeping and penitent, sought for mercy from the Saviour, -and found it. - -“Behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that -Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster-box of -ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his -feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed -his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee -which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, -if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this -is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering, said unto -him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say -on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors; the one owed five -hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he -frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love -him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave -most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to -the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into -thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my -feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest -me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to -kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman -hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, -which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is -forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are -forgiven” (Luke vii. 37-48). - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED. Prov.] - - - - -IV. - -THE REPROOF. - - -A lady and her young daughter were travelling by train. Two gentlemen -occupied seats in the same carriage, and presently entered into -conversation with each other. Their language was such as pained their -fellow-traveller to hear. The sacred name of the Deity lightly uttered, -the profane oath on their lips, showed how little they regarded that -solemn warning, “_For every idle word men shall speak, they shall give an -account the day of judgment._” Fearful of uttering her thoughts to the -strangers, the lady turned to her daughter, who, after having shown the -fidgety restlessness common to children upon a journey, now sat still -with open eyes and ears, a wondering listener to the conversation. - -[Illustration: IN THE TRAIN.] - -Anxious to divert the attention of Adine, the lady pointed out to her -various objects on the road, and then proceeded to repeat anecdote after -anecdote from the funds of a well-stocked memory. Adine was soon all -attention; and at last even the gentlemen, having worn out their own -subject of conversation, paused to listen to the mother entertaining her -child. - -“Did I ever tell you the story of a great king,” said the lady, “who once -overheard two of his courtiers speaking in a way greatly to displease -him? He gently drew back the curtains of his tent, and uttered this quiet -reproof: ‘_Remove a little further, gentlemen, for your king hears you!_’ - -“Adine,” continued the mother, with a flushed cheek and beating heart, -for she wished, yet feared, to make her lesson plain to the older -listeners, “may not some people yet need such a reproof?” - -“It would be of no use, mamma,” replied the child simply; “for, let us -remove as far as we can, _our heavenly King always hears us_!” - -There was not another oath uttered during the remainder of that journey; -the lesson had not been given in vain. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -V. - -THE VASE AND THE DART. - - -“Not at school again, Harry?” said the teacher, Willy Thorn, as he seated -himself in the little parlour of Widow Brown, and regarded with a kind -but almost sad countenance the flushed face of her grandson. “You have -not been with us for a month, Harry, and I fear that you never go to -church. I had hoped better things of you, my boy.” - -“It’s all from the bad company that he gets into,” said the widow, taking -off her spectacles and wiping the glasses. “He is a good lad at heart, -sir; but you see as how he has no firmness—he can’t say _No_. Harry -intends to do well one hour, and forgets all about it the next; but I’ll -be bound you’ll see him at school and at church too, some day or other.” - -“He knows not how long he may have the _opportunity_ of doing either. -Remember, Harry, the fate of your young companion, Sam Porter, hurried in -one instant into eternity—not one moment given him to repent, to call on -his Saviour!—all his _opportunities_ past for ever!” - -Harry sighed and looked down. - -“Well, my boy,” said Thorn, more cheerfully, “if you have made good -resolutions and broken them a hundred times, _try again_; try with -_faith_ and _prayer_, and God may give you the victory yet! I heard a -little allegory to-day. I thought that it might interest, and perhaps -benefit you; so, as it is too dark at present for reading, I will repeat -it to you, if Mrs. Brown would like to hear it.” - -“I am quite agreeable,” said the old woman, leaning back in her arm-chair. - -“What is an allegory?” inquired Harry. - -“Real truths shown in fiction. You will understand better what an -allegory is when you have listened to this. It is called the story of - - “THE VASE AND THE DART. - -“A young boy entered a beautiful garden, which extended as far as the eye -could reach. Through the whole length of it stretched a narrow avenue, -bordered with overhanging trees. Slowly the boy pursued his way along it, -listening to the songs of the birds, and admiring the green foliage above -him, through which, here and there, streamed the rays of the glorious -sun. He quickly perceived that he was not alone; on either side, all down -the long avenue, stood a line of maidens, beautiful to behold. They were -all robed in white, with wreaths of fresh flowers on their heads, and -greeted the boy with a bright smile of welcome. Each held in her right -hand a vase of gold, in her left a sharp iron dart.” - -“I do not understand this allegory at all,” said Harry. “Did any one ever -see such maidens as these?” - -“These maidens,” replied Thorn, “are well known to _all_—they are called -_Opportunities_. Who has not met with opportunities of doing good, -opportunities of receiving good?” - -[Illustration: THE ROWS OF MAIDENS.] - -“I see, sir. Pray go on.” - -“As the boy approached the first maiden, she held out her vase to him, -and invited him to take the contents. On the golden vase appeared the -word PRAYER, and the sweetest, fairest fruits were heaped up within it; -but the boy scarcely glanced at the proffered gift. ‘It is wearisome!’ he -cried; so pushed it aside and passed on.” - -“Opportunity for prayer!” cried old Mrs. Brown. “Ah, sir, who can count -how many times we have pushed that away from us! God forgive us!” - -“The boy sauntered on,” resumed Willy Thorn, “and soon another fair -maiden stood before him: she also held forth a vase of bright gold, full -of pieces of glittering silver. On it was inscribed the word KNOWLEDGE.” - -“Here is the opportunity of gaining learning at school,” said Mrs. Brown, -who was an intelligent old woman, and had read a good deal in her youth. - -“But the boy scarcely glanced at the proffered gift. ‘It is troublesome!’ -he cried; so pushed it aside and passed on. - -“A short space further on another maiden stopped him, with a bright and -joyous countenance. Her gold vase contained the loveliest flowers, and -on it appeared written, ACTS OF KINDNESS TO OTHERS. The boy looked at it -wistfully for a moment, tempted by the sweet perfume of the beautiful -blossoms. Opportunity smiled, but _selfishness_ stayed the hand of the -boy, half stretched out to empty the vase: he pushed it aside and passed -on. - -“The next maiden who greeted him was calm and fair, with a grave and -earnest look. Her vase was full of refined gold, and this was the motto -which it bore: ATTENDANCE AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. A sound of church-bells -came on the breeze, and the sweet music of a distant hymn; but in vain -they fell on the boy’s listening ear. ‘It is dull!’ he cried; pushed the -rich vase aside, and passed on.” - -“But you said, sir,” observed Harry, “that the maidens held darts in -their left hands, as well as vases in their right. What do you mean by -them?” - -“You shall hear before I end my story. So the boy reached another maiden, -who looked like an angel from heaven. Her eyes shone like stars in the -calm blue sky, and the tones of her voice thrilled deep into the heart. -Her vase was overflowing with sparkling jewels, brighter than those which -monarchs wear. On it shone in glittering letters, THE WORD OF GOD.” - -“Oh, I hope that he put out his hand and took _that_!” cried the aged -woman, resting hers on her Bible. - -“Opportunity cried, ‘Oh, pass me not by! _Search the Scriptures_, that -can make you _wise unto salvation_.’ She held forth her vase with -imploring look, but the boy was intent on pursuing his way. ‘I care not -for it!’ he cried; so pushed it aside and passed on.” - -“Well, he might have the same opportunity of reading the Bible again and -again,” said Harry. - -“Not the _same_,” replied Willy Thorn; “the boy could not retrace -one step of his way. No moment of time can ever be recalled. Every -opportunity of doing good once past, whatever others may arise, _that_ -opportunity is past for ever! - -“‘I shall meet with more maidens,’ said the boy. ‘I see an endless number -before me; doubtless they carry vases as precious as those which I have -rejected.’ But even as he spoke the words, he came suddenly on a black -iron gate, and he could pass on no further. Shuddering, he read on the -gate the solemn word, DEATH! - -“Then would he gladly have turned round: then would he have earnestly -asked for one more _opportunity_ for prayer—one more _opportunity_ of -doing what is right; but _the last had been passed_—he had slighted the -treasure of the _last_! Nor can we despise opportunities, and not suffer -for doing so; if they offer the vase, they also carry the punishment -meet for those who neglect its contents. As the boy stood trembling at -the gate of Death, a dart came hissing through the air, and inflicted on -him a burning wound: then came another and another; every opportunity -despised sent its messenger of vengeance, and the wretched boy, writhing -with the arrows of conscience in his soul, sank down at the gate, _and -perished_!” - -“Alas!” cried Harry, “where can I then find safety, for _I_ have -neglected more opportunities than I can number of _doing good_ and -_receiving good_?” - -“Ask the Lord for pardon through the blood of the Saviour!” exclaimed -Thorn. “‘_Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation_;’ -neglect not _this_ opportunity—_it may be your last_! O my young friend! -no day leaves you as it found you; every day brings its _opportunities_ -of _prayer_, _praise_, _reading the Bible_, and _obeying God’s laws_; -every day you have chosen either the vase or the dart.” - -Dear reader, to you would I address a few words. If this little story -has raised the thought in your heart, “How have _I_ improved my -opportunities?” oh, push it not aside and pass on! Let not the day close -without prayer; seize the golden prize while yet it is offered to you, or -hope not to escape the dart! - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -VI. - -THE JEWEL. - - -As a lady was walking across Hyde Park, rather early in the day, she -happened to take her handkerchief out of her pocket, and drew out with -it, by accident, a little red case. It fell on the path, and rolled -almost to the feet of a poor girl who was standing near. The child was -clad in rags, her hair was rough, her face and hands dirty; she was one -who had no one to care for her, no one to teach her what was right. Half -eager, half afraid, she stretched out her hand to seize the prize, but -first turned round to see that she was not observed, and met the eye of -the lady. - -“Stop!” said Mrs. Claremont, who had heard the case drop on the ground; -“stop, little girl, _you are in danger of losing something_!” and while -the astonished Ann knew not what could possibly be meant by such strange -words, the lady quietly stooped down and picked up the case herself. - -She then again addressed the child; her manner was not angry, but calm -and kind, and Ann, notwithstanding her fear and shame, felt a pleasure in -listening to so gentle a voice. - -“Come beside me while I rest on this bench,” said Mrs. Claremont, “and -tell me what I meant, when I said that you were in danger of losing -something.” - -Ann only stared at her, and made no answer. - -“Do you know that you have a soul?” - -“I know nothing about it,” muttered the girl. - -“Then,” said Mrs. Claremont, “I will show you what you were going to -take, and explain to you what you were in danger of losing.” - -“I’ve got nothing to lose,” thought Ann, but she watched the lady with -some curiosity. - -[Illustration: THE LADY AND THE LITTLE GIRL.] - -“You see,” continued Mrs. Claremont, “this little red case. It has -nothing fine about it,—it looks old and worn. Did you think it worth -stealing?” - -“I thought there was something in it.” - -“You thought right; the most precious part is _within_. So it is with -you, and all people, my child. Your body, which can be seen and felt, is -like the _case_ of the jewel; your soul is the jewel itself.” - -“What is a soul?” said Ann. - -“When I speak to you, you _think_ of what I say—the part of you that -_thinks_ is the soul; if any were kind to you, you would _love_ them—the -part that _loves_ is the soul. You can see that tree; it lives, but it -has no soul in it, it cannot _love_ or _think_. Do you understand me now?” - -“Yes,” answered the girl. - -“You cannot see this jewel, because the case is shut; I am going to open -the case, and show it to you.” - -Mrs. Claremont unclosed the little case, and Ann beheld a very beautiful -jewel, which sparkled like a star in the rays of the sun. - -“This jewel was given to my great-grandmother on her marriage,” said Mrs. -Claremont. - -“Oh, how bright and fine it is!” cried Ann; “it does not look at all old!” - -“It will never look old. When I and my children’s children are in their -graves, it will look beautiful and fresh as ever! And so it is with the -soul. Our bodies must be laid in the tomb, but our souls—those jewels -within—will never, never die!” - -“Where will they be when our bodies are dead?” asked Ann. - -“Either in happiness or in misery, according as we have been God’s -faithful people here or not,” replied Mrs. Claremont. “Now tell me, my -poor child, for which should we care most,—the _case_ or the _jewel_, the -_body_ or the _soul_?” - -“The soul,” answered Ann. - -“And it was your soul which you were putting in danger even now; for -_sin_ is the ruin of the soul. It is written in God’s Word, ‘What shall -it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or -what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?’ To procure a few more -comforts for your weak perishing body, would you throw away the precious -jewel within?” - -Ann looked at the lady very sadly, and then replied, “No one ever spoke -to me in this way before; no one cares for _my_ soul!” - -“O my child, there is One who cares for it, One to whom it is very -precious! The Lord Jesus Christ left the glory of heaven to come and -save poor souls. He bought yours with his life’s blood. He died on the -cross, that it might shine for ever in glory!” - -“Does the Lord really care for me?” inquired Ann anxiously. “Why, then, -am I so wretched and so poor?” - -“He does care for you; he does love you; you are precious to him. And as -for being poor and wretched—look again at this beautiful jewel, and tell -me where you think that it came from first.” - -“I cannot tell.” - -“It came from the dust,—it was dug from the dark earth. It had no great -beauty then; those who did not know its real value would have despised -and thrown it away; but there were those who knew that it was precious. -So we too belong to the dust, fallen sinful creatures; and we would have -lain there for ever, had not the Lord had pity upon us and raised us, and -brought us into the sunlight of his gospel.” - -“If the jewel was not bright at first, what makes it so bright now?” -inquired Ann. - -“It has been _cut_ and _polished_, and so it is with our souls. God -sends them poverty or trials here, to prepare them to shine in his palace -above! If the jewel had been a living thing it would not have liked to -have been cut, but it would never have been bright without it.” - -“I should like to know more about the Lord who cares for my soul, and -bought it with his blood,” sighed Ann. - -“Have you a Bible or Testament, my child?” - -“No, ma’am.” - -“Can you read?” - -“No,” said Ann sadly. - -“There is a Ragged School near, to which you might go and be taught, and -hear about the Lord Jesus, and what he has done for your soul.” - -“I know where the school is,” said Ann. - -“Go, then, and you will be made welcome, my poor little friend. I do not -remain in London myself, but I will leave with the teacher some clothes, -and a beautiful Bible, which shall be yours as soon as you can read it.” - -“Thank you, ma’am,” said the girl. - -“And one little word before we part, perhaps never to meet again in this -world,” continued Mrs. Claremont. “If you cannot read you can _pray_—have -you ever prayed to God?” - -“Never,” replied Ann. - -“Your soul can never be safe until you do. Kneel down, morning and -evening, and at least repeat these few words: ‘_O Lord, forgive my sins, -and make my heart clean by thy Spirit, for Jesus Christ’s sake._’ So -short a prayer you can remember, can you not, if I repeat it over to you -two or three times?” - -“I think so,” said Ann. - -“Pray with your whole heart, my child, and God, for the sake of the -Saviour, will hear and bless you. Love him who first loved you, believe -in his mercy, and obey his holy commandments. Then what matter if for a -few years, or months, or days, you be called upon to wait or suffer here? -Death will soon unclose the worn-out case, and remove the precious jewel -to that glorious place where tears shall be wiped from every eye, and -sorrow and sighing shall flee for ever away!” - - - - -[Illustration: THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. Prov. -ix. 10] - - - - -VII. - -THE STORM. - - -A little vessel was floating over the Sea of Tiberias; the Lord Jesus and -his disciples were within it. “And there arose a great storm of wind, -and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And Jesus was -in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, -and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, -and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still! And the -wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark iv. 37-39). The tossing -waves sank down at his word, and the obedient waters lay like a sheet of -glass, reflecting the blue sky above! “And he said unto his disciples, -Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared -exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of Man is this, that -even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark iv.) - -Dear little reader, are _you_ in trouble or temptation? Then are you like -the disciples on the stormy Sea of Tiberias. Perhaps your relations are -harsh and unkind, or perhaps you are a poor orphan without a friend in -the world, and are ready to say, “No man careth for my soul!” But you -have one Friend, a powerful Friend, a loving Friend, who has led you on -your voyage through life until now, and will lead you to the end! The -Lord Jesus is beside you, though you see him not. Hear what he says to -those who love him: _Can a woman forget her sucking child! yea, they may -forget, yet will I not forget thee_ (Isa. xlix. 15). - -Or are you in great poverty, hungry and weary? You can scarcely earn your -daily bread, you have no comfort, no rest, no home! In the bitterness -of your heart, you cry, “Lord, carest thou not that we perish?” O my -child, the Saviour is _not_ asleep! He knows your trials, he has felt -them all—the Lord of heaven and earth once “_had not where to lay his -head!” Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them -that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep -them alive in famine_ (Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19). _Many are the afflictions of -the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all_ (Ps. xxxiv. -19). Ask the Lord to help you, to feed you, to comfort you, above all, -to give you his Holy Spirit; for if we love and trust in him, then _our -light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more -exceeding and eternal weight of glory_. Then the rough wind of trouble -will but bring you on more quickly towards heaven, and even here below -Jesus may bid the waves of affliction _be still_, and there shall be a -_great calm_! - -Or are you in the storm of temptation? You wish to please God, you wish -to go to heaven, but you feel as though the way were too hard for you. -You think, “I cannot resist that temptation; I can give up all but that -one sin. If I do not join my companions in what is wrong, I shall be -despised; if I do not tell such a falsehood, I shall be beaten; if I -do not work or sell on Sundays, I shall be starved!” In such a storm -of temptation turn to the Saviour still; _for in that he himself hath -suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted_ -(Heb. ii. 18). Cry, “Lord, save me or I perish! Give me thy Holy Spirit, -that I may be ready to follow thee through trouble and temptation. -Whatever I may suffer here, oh, keep me faithful to thee!” - -Think on this one great truth, dear reader. The _comfort of the voyage_ -matters _little_ in comparison to the _place_ where we are going. The -voyage of life cannot last very long; the fiercest storm must soon pass -away! Look at these two different passengers, and think which of them you -would pity. - -See one vessel bounding gaily over the bright water, the wind in her -favour, the sun shining upon her; and look at that man on her deck! He is -a _slave_; he is going to suffering and misery, he dreads to arrive at -the port. _Do you not pity him?_ Yet his case is happy compared with that -of those who forget God—who, caring but for pleasure, living only for -this world, are yet hurrying on to death—_and after death the judgment_! -Poor slaves of sin! do they not know that— - - “The greatest evil we can fear, - Is to possess our portion here!” - -[Illustration: THE MAN AT THE WHEEL.] - -Now look at this other man in a storm-tossed vessel! He is going _home_. -He is going to riches, and honour, and happiness, and _home_! Though the -waves rise high, they will not overwhelm him; though the clouds are so -dark, there is a sunshine in his _heart_! On the shore he knows that all -will be peace, and he can smile in the midst of the storm! _Do you pity -him?_ But far happier is the Christian, however afflicted here; for his -heart, and his hopes, and his home, are in heaven, and he is on his way -to God! His sins forgiven through the blood of his Saviour, his courage -supported by the power of God’s grace! _Blessed is the man that endureth -temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, -which the Lord hath promised to them that love him!_ (James i. 12). - -Think of those who have already landed on the happy shore, but not till -they had passed through the storm. There are saints who have suffered, -and martyrs who have died for the Lord! They do not wish _now_ that their -trials had been less;—sweet is to them the remembrance of the storm! When -holy St. John, banished to Patmos for the sake of the gospel, saw heaven -opened, and its glory appearing, what did he behold there? These are his -words:— - -“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could -number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood -before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and -palms in their hands. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, -What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? -And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they -which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and -made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the -throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that -sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, -neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any -heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, -and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe -away all tears from their eyes” (Rev. vii. 9, 13-17). - - “_Lord, carest thou not that we perish!_” - How oft is the cry of despair, - When affliction’s waves roll, - And the agonized soul - Scarce can utter its anguish in prayer! - - Yet the Saviour is watching beside us, - His eye cannot slumber nor sleep; - The bark which he guides, - Where his presence abides, - Can never be wrecked on the deep! - - Oh! how soon would our inward fears vanish, - Our souls smile at perils without, - Could we hear his mild love - Thus our terrors reprove,— - “_Ye of little faith, why did you doubt!_” - - Lord, make us trust ever in thee, - Though our frail bark by tempests be driven; - Till thy sovereign will - Bid the rude waves “_be still!_” - And we rest in the haven of heaven! - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: HE THAT LOVETH PLEASURE SHALL BE A POOR MAN. Prov. 21] - - - - -VIII. - -THE SABBATH-TREE. - - -It was on a bright Sunday afternoon that the teacher, Willy Thorn, on -returning from church, met three of his scholars sauntering towards one -of the London parks. They perceived his approach at some little distance, -and instantly began to conceal in their pockets something that they had -been carrying in their hands. Their nearness to a very tempting stall, -upon which fruit and sweetmeats were sold, made Willy guess too truly the -cause of the hasty movement. He thought it better, however, at first to -take no apparent notice of the fact that the boys had been breaking the -Fourth Commandment by buying upon God’s holy day. - -“Well, my lads,” said Thorn, when he came up to them, “you are going, I -see towards the park. I will go with you; we will enjoy the fresh air and -bright sunshine together, and perhaps have a little discourse, which may -be profitable as well as pleasant.” - -The boys were usually very fond of the society of Willy Thorn; but just -now, with their pockets full of cakes and nuts, they would have preferred -being without it. However, no objection was made; they reached the park, -and seated themselves under the shade of a large tree, for the sun was -hot, and the shelter of the foliage was pleasant on that sultry afternoon. - -Willy Thorn looked upwards at the leafy boughs which hung above him, -through whose screen a long bright ray, here and there, pierced like a -diamond lance. “This tree has put an allegory into my mind,” said he. -“Boys, are you in the mood for a story?” - -A story was always welcome, and in the expectation of being amused, the -scholars half forgot that their teacher’s presence was delaying their -intended feast. - -“Methought,” began Thorn, “that I had a dream; and in my dream I beheld -a large and venerable tree. It was several thousand years old—so you -may imagine its size; but it showed no signs of age; its leaves were as -fresh, its fruit as abundant, as when the Israelites of old encamped -under its refreshing shade. This tree was called the SABBATH-TREE. It was -given by its Lord as one of the richest blessings which was ever bestowed -upon man. Freely might all partake of its fruit; but all were forbidden -by a voice Divine to break even the smallest bough from the sacred tree. - -“I saw in my dream that many thronged to the spot where the Sabbath-tree -rose, like a beautiful green temple, in the midst of the plain; and I -stood aside to mark the effect of its fruit on those who came to gather -it. It strewed the ground in some places so thickly, that it shone like a -carpet of gold.” - -“I suppose,” said Bat Nayland, one of the boys, “that the fruits of the -Sabbath-tree are,—going to church, praying, praising, and reading the -Bible?” - -Thorn smiled in assent, and continued: “I saw one haggard man come, faint -with hunger, to the spot. He threw himself down on the soft grass, and -fed eagerly on the nourishment freely provided. And I marked joy on his -pale face as he ate of the fruit of the Sabbath-tree, and I remembered -the holy words, _Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after -righteousness, for they shall be filled_. - -“I saw an aged woman reach the tree. She was so feeble that she had -hardly power to stoop to gather the fruit; but as she tasted it, her -strength returned, her bent form became more erect, she walked with a -firmer step, and I remembered that it is written, _They that wait upon -the Lord shall renew their strength_. - -“Next, a miserable sufferer approached; on his countenance was an -expression of pain. He was sick—grievously sick of the malady of sin, -fatal to all who cannot find a cure. But he knew the healing powers of -the tree. He fed, and even as he fed health returned to his faded cheek, -the anguish of his soul passed away, and the sufferer found himself -whole.” - -“I thought,” said the eldest of the boys, “that there was but _one cure_ -for sin!” - -“True, most true,” replied Thorn, with an approving look; “but in due -observance of Sabbath duties, we learn how to seek and where to find that -cure. - -“I had watched in my dream, with a rejoicing heart, thousands gathering -the precious fruit, and receiving nourishment, strength, and healing; -but now, alas! my attention was attracted by yet greater multitudes, who -thronged to the spot only, as I became painfully aware, to break and -injure the beautiful tree. Some enemy had hung up a hatchet on its trunk, -with _Disobedience_ marked on the handle, and of this numbers made very -free use to cut down large boughs from the tree. - -“‘I am going on a jovial merry-making in the country,’ cried one; ‘I and -my family shall have a treat. I want some wood to mend up my broken car.’ - -“‘Hold!’ exclaimed the youth who had been healed, attempting to stay -the hand of the Sabbath-breaker; ‘are there not _six_ groves nigh at -hand?—had you not better cut what you want from them?’ - -“‘No!’ cried the man impatiently, swinging the hatchet aloft; ‘there is -no tree so convenient as this!’ and for the sake of a little pleasure in -the country with merry companions, he cut a branch from the Sabbath-tree! - -“Then came a woman with a face full of care. She had not faith to trust -in him who clotheth the lilies, and provideth for the ravens. ‘I want -wood for a stall,’ said she, ‘whereon to sell my sweetmeats. I must earn -some more pence for my living; necessity owns no law;’ and taking the -hatchet of Disobedience, she also brought down a leafy bough, treading -under foot as she did so a quantity of the ripe, precious fruit. Not -content with thus breaking the Sabbath herself, she demanded that those -who bought at her stall should each bring, in addition to their money, a -fagot stolen from the holy tree!” - -When Thorn came to this part of his story, his scholars glanced -consciously at each other. They all now felt convinced that their teacher -was aware that they had been buying from a stall on Sunday. - -“It was grievous,” continued Thorn, “to see what multitudes trampled on -the Sabbath fruit, broke away twigs, snapped branches, to help on their -business or aid their amusements. Some wanted wickets for cricket, one -man required a handle for his spade; and though a very little delay would -have enabled them to procure wood from a lawful quarter, they were too -thoughtless, too covetous, or too impatient to reverence the Sabbath-tree. - -“But soon I beheld in my dream, that while none could faithfully -partake of the fruit without benefit, none without injury could break -off a single branch. As I watched, much did I marvel to see how -disobedience brought down punishment! The man who had repaired his car by -Sabbath-breaking, had little pleasure from his intended treat. As he was -driving from a public-house, suddenly a wheel of the vehicle came off, -he and his party were flung out on the road, and sorely bruised by the -fall. In some cases, the wood so unlawfully taken appeared to turn at -once into dust! The man digging with his Sabbath spade, found it suddenly -snap asunder, and the splinter ran into his hand, inflicting a terrible -wound.” - -“Oh, but how could that be?” exclaimed one of the boys. “Many a fellow -goes larking on Sunday, and the wheel of his car never comes off! I don’t -know what this part of your story can mean.” - -“It means,” replied Willy gravely, “that disobedience to God, the -wilful breaking of his holy commandment, unless the sin be repented of -and _renounced_, is certain to bring punishment in another world, and -_very frequently also in this_. There are multitudes of lost, miserable -sinners, who may trace their first steps on the path of ruin to _breaking -the Sabbath of God_. No one ever yet, on his death-bed, could say that he -_really profited_ by money so gained, or that he had no reason to regret -a pleasure gained by disobeying his Maker’s command. - -“The poor woman who sold sweetmeats, I found in my dream, was not long in -suffering the penalty of disobedience. In one of the fagots so sinfully -laid upon her stall, the serpent Remorse had lain coiled, unnoticed, -unseen! As she was counting her unholy gains, made by not only sinning -herself, but causing others to sin, the fierce reptile darted at her -breast!—with difficulty was the serpent torn from its hold, and the poor -sufferer sank on the ground, bleeding, fainting, trembling at her danger, -and weeping for her sin! It was some time before she was able feebly to -creep to the spot where comfort and healing might yet be procured by a -proper use of the fruits of the Sabbath-tree. - -“While the poor woman was in sorrowful penitence, doing all that lay in -her power to show her regret for the past, the boys who had purchased at -her stall—who had wilfully broken the Sabbath, not to supply real wants, -but to indulge their own greedy inclinations—” - -“I’ll tell you what _one_ of them did, sir!” exclaimed Bat Nayland, -springing up from the ground: “he just emptied his pockets of what he had -bought, said that he was heartily ashamed, and seeing an old lame beggar -near, he gave every crumb of his purchases to him!” - -[Illustration: THE LAME BEGGAR.] - -And suiting his action to his words, off darted the boy, and astonished -a ragged old man on crutches, by bestowing upon him at once all his cakes -and his nuts! - -Dear young readers! if any of you have been tempted to disobey your -Master’s commandment, by buying on the day which the Lord hath set apart -for himself, oh, consider it not as a trifling transgression. - -Resolve with prayer henceforth never to break the smallest twig from the -Sabbath-tree, but to feed on its sacred fruits with faith, and hope, and -love. Be assured, then, dear children, that they will become sweeter and -sweeter to your taste, and prepare you for the enjoyment of that _Tree of -Life which is in the midst of the paradise of God_. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY WALKETH SURELY. Prov. 10:9] - - - - -IX. - -THE WHITE ROBE. - - -“What was that noise in the street?” exclaimed Mrs. Claremont, laying -down the pen suddenly. Ella sprang to the window. - -“O mother, something must have happened! some accident! there is a crowd -collecting round a poor little girl!” - -“We may be of some use!” cried Mrs. Claremont, and she and her daughter -were at the street door in a few seconds. - -“What is the matter? is any one hurt?” inquired the lady of a milk-woman -who was standing looking on. - -“A child knocked down by a horse, I believe, ma’am. They should take the -poor thing to the hospital.” - -Mrs. Claremont waited to hear no more; the crowd made way for her, and -she was soon at the side of a young girl who was crying violently, and -the state of whose crushed bonnet and soiled dress showed that she had -been down on the road. - -“I don’t think there’s any bones broken, only she’s frightened,” observed -a baker among the spectators; “I saw the horse knock her down as she was -crossing the road.” - -“Come this way, my poor child, out of the crowd,” said Mrs. Claremont, -leading the little girl towards the house; “we will soon see if the -injury is severe.” - -The weeping child soon stood in the hall; hartshorn and water was brought -to her by Ella, but on tasting it, the girl pushed it away in disgust, -in a peevish and irritable manner. In vain Mrs. Claremont sought for -any trace of injury; the road had been soft after much rain, and not a -scratch nor a bruise appeared; yet still the girl cried as if in agony of -pain or of passion. - -“Where are you hurt?” inquired Ella soothingly; the child only answered -by a fresh burst of tears. - -“I am thankful that no harm seems done,” said Mrs. Claremont. - -“There is harm!” sobbed the girl; “all spoiled, quite, quite spoiled!” - -“What is spoiled?” - -[Illustration: THE SPOILED DRESS.] - -“My dress, my beautiful new dress!” and the ladies now observed, for the -first time, the absurd and unsuitable manner in which the child had been -clothed. Now, indeed, her finery was half covered with mud; but the pink -bonnet, though crushed, the white dress, though stained and torn, the gay -blue necklace, and hair in curl-papers, showed too plainly the folly of -the wearer. - -“What is your name?” inquired Ella. - -“Sophy Trimmer.” - -“Where does your father live?” - -“He lives just round the corner.” - -“You should be very thankful that your life has been spared,” said Mrs. -Claremont. - -Sophy did not look at all thankful, she only glanced sadly down on her -torn dress, and whimpered, “Just new on to-day.” - -“You remind me,” said the lady, “of a story which I read in the papers -some years ago. A lady was going in a vessel to Scotland, and carried -with her a quantity of jewels to the value of a thousand pounds. She -thought so much of these jewels, that she was heard to say, that she -would almost as soon part with life itself as lose them. An accident -happened to the vessel on the way to Scotland; the water rushed into the -cabins, and the poor lady was taken out drowned.” - -“That is a shocking story,” said Sophy. - -“She could not carry her jewels with her to another world. But there is -one ornament which even death itself has no power to take away.” - -“What can that ornament be?” - -“An ornament more precious than the crown of the Queen, ‘the ornament of -a meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price’ -(1 Pet. iii. 4). The poorest may wear this—the rich are poor without it. -O my child, care not to appear fair in the eyes of your fellow-mortals, -but in the sight of God; your ‘adorning, let it not be that outward -adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on -of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is -not corruptible’” (1 Pet. iii. 3, 4). - -“What do you mean by ‘corruptible?’” said Sophy. - -“That which time can destroy. Nothing in this world lasts for ever: -flowers bloom and decay; the fruit which was delicious one week, the -next is only fit to be thrown away; the loveliest face grows wrinkled; -the finest form must soon turn to dust in the tomb.” - -“I don’t like to think of such things,” said Sophy; “they make me sad.” - -“They would make us sad, indeed, were this world _our all_. But we look -forward, in faith, to a place where there is no corruption, no change, no -death, because _no sin_; we hope to wear white robes in heaven which will -never be defiled with a stain. Do you know, Sophy, what makes them so -white?” - -Sophy shook her head. - -“We are all weak and sinful, less fit to appear before a holy God in our -own righteousness, than you are to enter the Queen’s palace in those -soiled garments. It is ‘_the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanseth from -all sin_;’ through his merits, and his mercy, you may appear spotless -before the judgment-seat of God, if you believe in him now, and ‘_keep -yourself from idols_.’” - -“I have nothing to do with idols,” said the girl peevishly. - -“More perhaps than you think. _Anything that you love better than the -Lord_ is an idol. The miser loves money best; that is his idol.” - -“Like old Levi, who half starves himself to scrape up pence,” interrupted -Sophy. - -“The ambitious man makes power his idol—some make their children their -idols.” - -“Like Mrs. Porter, who—” - -“Hush,” said Mrs. Claremont, “you have nothing to do with the idols of -your neighbours; try and find out what is your own.” - -“I do not think that I have any.” - -“Do you then love God with all your heart? Is it your chief business to -serve him; your greatest delight to do his will?” - -“No; of course, I like to amuse myself like other people.” - -“Have you ever given up _any one_ thing to show your love to him who made -you?” - -Sophy looked vexed, but made no reply. - -“Whom do you like best to please? Whom do you like best to serve? Have -you no idol which you decked out this very morning in all the finery -which you could collect?” - -“I suppose that you mean _myself_.” - -“Yes; _self_ is the idol of the vain, their hopes and joys are bound -up in self, therefore their hopes and joys are amongst the corruptible -things which must pass away. O my young friend, the foolish pleasures -which you felt this morning in these fanciful clothes, in one moment was -changed to pain; and but for the mercy of God, your own poor body might -now have been lying crushed and lifeless. Why rest your happiness upon -that _which cannot last_, and which may, any hour, be taken away from you -for ever?” - -“Gay, gaudy clothing always gives me a feeling of pain when I look upon -it,” observed Ella; “I believe that with so many it has been the first -step to misery here and hereafter.” - -“It is like the gay bait on the hook,” said her mother, “not in itself -deadly, but covering a fatal snare. Oh, ‘love not the world, neither the -things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the -Father is not in him. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: -but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever’” (1 John ii. 15, 17). - - - - -[Illustration: WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP] - - - - -X. - -CROSSES. - - -There was unusual silence in the little Sunday school when Ella -Claremont, its gentle teacher, entered it for the first time in deep -mourning. All had known of her sorrow; all had heard that her brave young -brother had died of wounds received in battle in a far distant land. They -thought of him whom they had seen some few months before so bright and -happy, with a smile and a kind word for all, now lying cold in his bloody -grave; and there was not a heart in the school-room which did not feel -sorrow and sympathy. - -Ella could not at first address her school; her words seemed choked; -the tears gathered slowly in her eyes; but she found strength in silent -prayer, and spoke at length to her pupils, but in a trembling voice. - -“Dear children, I have had much sorrow since we last met and talked of -the joys of heaven—a beloved brother has, I trust, through Christ’s -merits, joined the bright hosts rejoicing there. But should not I meekly -bear the cross which my heavenly Father sees good to send me? To every -one passing through this life is given a cross—a trial to bear. To some -it is so light that they scarcely feel it; with others so heavy that it -bows them to the dust. Each of you knows, or will know, its weight. But -let none be afraid nor cast down. The cross prepares for the crown. There -is something from God’s Word inscribed on every cross; and if we have -but faith to read it, it makes the heavy, light; and the bitter, sweet! -‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord’ (Rev. xiv. 13), is the -inscription on mine.” - -Every one passing through life has some cross to bear! Yes; amongst those -young girls assembled in the school-room there were some whose trials -were deep, who had much need to read the inscription to make them endure -the burden. - -Dear reader, are you in trial? Have you known what it was to weep when -you had none to comfort you—to wish that the weary day were over, or the -more weary night at an end—to wonder why God sent you such sorrows? For -you I now write down what were the crosses of some of the children in -Ella’s school; for you I write down what were the inscriptions upon them. -Perhaps you may find amongst them the same trial as your own, and feel -strengthened to bear your cross. - -Mary Edwards was very poor—hers was a heavy cross. One of seven children, -and her father blind; often and often had she come to school faint with -hunger and sick at heart. But for the kindness of friends, the family -would have been half-starved. Mary had never known what it was to have -a blanket to cover her; very seldom had she been able to eat till she -was satisfied; her clothes had been mended over and over again, to keep -them from falling to pieces; ill did they protect her when the cold wind -blew through the broken pane, or found its way through the crevices in -her miserable hut. Yet Mary had comfort in the midst of her poverty; she -remembered him “who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became -poor.” She had read the inscription on her cross: “Hath not God chosen -the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which -he hath promised to them that love him?” (James ii. 5). And Mary would -meekly repeat the hymn of good Bishop Heber:— - - “The cross our Master bore for us, - For him we fain would bear; - But mortal strength to weakness turns, - And courage to despair. - Then pity all our frailty, Lord, - Our failing strength renew; - And when thy sorrows visit us, - Oh, send thy patience too!” - -Amy Blackstone never spoke of her cross; she bore it in silence without -complaining. Her father was a drunkard—her mother never entered the house -of God. If she heard the name of the Holy One uttered in her home, it was -but in an oath or a profane jest. She never complained, as I have said; -for, while others would have been complaining, she was praying. Fervently -did she pray for her unhappy parents—fervently for herself, that evil -example might not draw her from God. Many a silent tear she shed over -her cross; and this was the inscription upon it: “I reckon that the -sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the -glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. viii. 18). - -All pitied Ellen Payne, for her cross was sharp. A lingering, painful -disease had taken the strength from her limbs, the colour from her cheek. -She never rejoiced in one waking hour free from pain, and often the night -passed without sleep. The doctors gave no hope, medicine no relief. -She had nothing to look forward to but pain, increasing pain, till she -should sink into an early grave. This was her cross; and this was the -inscription upon it: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a -crown of life” (Rev. ii. 10). - -Jane White had been a deserted child; she had never known a parent’s -care. She seemed one of the neglected, despised ones of earth, with none -to love her, and none to love. She felt lonely and desolate. This was -her cross; and this was the inscription upon it: “When my father and my -mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Ps. xxvii. 10). - -[Illustration: ANN BROWN.] - -Ann Brown lived with her aunt. Few of the girls were better dressed, or -seemed more comfortably provided for, than she. Had she, then, no cross -to bear? Yes; for she dwelt with a worldly family, who laughed at her -for being “righteous overmuch.” When she would not join in profaning -the Sabbath—when she showed that she cared not for gay dressing or -ill-natured gossip—she became the object of ridicule and scoffs, more -painful to bear than blows. This was her cross; but sweet was the -inscription upon it: “If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: -and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled” (1 Pet. iii. 14). - -Mary Wade’s cross was in the depth of her own heart—the struggle to -conquer a passionate, violent temper. She desired to obey God, she wished -to live to his glory; but sin seemed too strong for her; she yielded -to temptation again and again, until she was almost in despair. Her -health had been bad when she was an infant; much of her peevishness and -impatience were owing to the effects of this. But no one seemed to make -allowance for natural infirmity; her companions did not like her; and, -worst of all, she felt that she was sinning, and bringing discredit on -the Christian name. Poor child! hers was an unpitied cross; but there -was hope in the inscription upon it: “There hath no temptation taken you -but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer -you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation -also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. x. 13). - -Elizabeth Brown was a sad little girl, but none knew the cause of her -sadness. She had once been the most thoughtless child in the school, full -of mischief, full of gaiety, never thinking of God. Her heart had been on -earth—her only wish had been to enjoy herself. Much trouble and sorrow -had she given to her gentle teacher, much grief to her pious parents; for -she had laughed at good advice, and cared little for punishment. But now -the gay child had grown thoughtful: a text heard at church had struck -her, and sunk deep into her heart: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: -for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth -to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth -to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. vi. 7, -8). What had she been sowing for eternity? She thought of her neglected -Bible, her broken Sabbaths, words of untruth and of unkindness, her -mother disobeyed, her teacher disregarded! Could God forgive her after -all that she had done? Would he ever admit her to heaven? She feared -that her sins were too many to be pardoned. This fear was her cross. Oh! -praised be God for the precious inscription upon it: “The blood of Jesus -Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John i. 7). Jesus said, “Him -that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John vi. 37). - -Blessed are they who thus mourn for sin, _for they shall be comforted_. -Blessed is the sorrow that worketh repentance! Blessed are they who so -bear the cross that they shall inherit the crown! - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT. Prov. 23:23.] - - - - -XI. - -THE TWO COUNTRIES. - - -When walking through the streets of London, have you not sometimes met -a party of strangers, and felt sure that they belonged to another land, -because they spoke not the English tongue? Had you listened to them, you -would not have understood them; they conversed in the language of their -own country. - -My young friend, _what language do you speak_? If I knew but that, I -should soon guess to what country you belong. - -Perhaps you answer, “I am English. I know no language but my own.” True, -in one sense you are English, and you may thank God for it! You were -born in England, and here may spend all the years or days of your mortal -life. But your real country is in another world, where you will _live for -ever_! Thousands and millions of years may pass, but you will be still -remaining in the country which you have chosen. So, again I ask, What -language do you speak? To what country do you belong? - -[Illustration: FOREIGNERS.] - -The one is a bright and glorious place, where sorrow and pain are -unknown. Its citizens are angels and redeemed saints, who, with shining -crowns and harps of gold, rejoice before the throne of God. The language -which they speak is TRUTH. - -The other country is too terrible to describe. Happiness never enters -there, but pain, grief, and remorse abide for ever! Its inhabitants are -the tempter and his evil ones—hardened sinners who would not repent, who -chose the broad way that leadeth to destruction. And what is the language -which its citizens have learned? The language of Satan is FALSEHOOD. - -O my dear young reader, with anxious love would I once more repeat my -question—let your heart answer it—_What language do you speak—to what -country do you belong?_ - -Yet, mistake me not. There are some whose lips were never stained with -falsehood, who yet cannot be counted among the citizens of heaven. The -proud, the self-righteous, who trust to their own merits, who love not -the Saviour who suffered for all,—these may have learned the language -of truth, even as foreigners may learn the tongue of our land; but they -belong not to the country of holiness and joy. - -And others there are who have fallen into sin, whom the “father of lies” -has tempted and deceived; yet God’s mercy may prepare a heavenly home -even for them, if, believing and repenting, they turn to the truth. Thus, -St. Peter thrice uttered a terrible falsehood, but repented with bitter -tears, and, through the atoning blood of his Lord, was received into -heaven a glorious martyr. - -But oh, dread a falsehood as you would dread a serpent; it leaves a stain -and a sting behind. If you have ever been led into this deadly sin, -implore for pardon, like St. Peter. Like St. Peter, when _next_ placed in -temptation, speak the truth firmly, faithfully, fearlessly; for truth is -the language of heaven. - -There are four chief causes which lead to the guilt of lying—_folly_, -_covetousness_, _malice_, and _fear_. Examine your own life, and see if -any one of these has ever tempted you to utter a falsehood. - -It was _folly_ which made Richard tell a traveller the wrong road when -asked the way to the next village. He thought little of the _sin_ of his -lie—it seemed to him but an excellent jest; but the jest cost a neighbour -his life! The stranger was a doctor, travelling in haste to attend a -patient who had been taken with a fit. Richard’s falsehood made the -medical man lose half an hour, when every minute was precious. Oh, what -anxious hearts awaited his arrival! But he _came too late_; he found the -sufferer at the point of death, with his desolate family weeping around -him! - -It was _covetousness_ which made Sally declare that her fruit had -only been gathered that morning, when she knew it to be the refuse of -yesterday’s market. Did she forget that God’s eye was upon her—that her -words could not pass unnoticed by him—that she would have to answer for -them at the day of judgment? - -It is _covetousness_ that makes Nelly stand begging in the streets, -telling to passers-by her pitiful tale of a father in hospital and -a family starving. Will the money which she gains by falsehood and -hypocrisy bring with it a blessing or a curse? Oh, “What is a man -profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or -what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. xvi. 26). - -It is _malice_ that makes Eliza invent strange stories of her neighbours. -She delights to spread a slander, or to give an ill name. She mixes a -little truth with a great deal of falsehood, and cares not what misery -she inflicts. Whom does she resemble? _Not_ the citizens of Zion. What -language does she speak? _Not_ the language of Heaven. - -It was _cowardice_ which drew Peter into falsehood when asked who had -broken the china vase: he dreaded a blow; he _dared not_ speak the truth. -Do you not blush for him, little reader, who feared _man_ rather than -_God_? - -How different is Margaret Lacy! Neither covetousness nor cowardice could -ever make her pollute her lips with a lie. She serves a God of truth; she -is learning on earth the language of heaven. - -She was met one day returning, with a sorrowful step and tearful eye, -from a house to which she had gone to try for a place. “Well, Margaret,” -said Mrs. Porter, “why so sad? I fear that you have not succeeded.” - -“No, indeed,” sighed the poor girl. - -[Illustration: MARGARET AND MRS. PORTER.] - -“And how was that? I thought that you were pretty sure of being settled -there comfortably.” - -“Why,” replied Margaret, “the lady asked me why I had left my last place; -so I told her that both I and the cook had been sent away because a -bank-note had been lost in the house.” - -“You were not so mad as to tell her that?” - -“It was _the truth_,” calmly answered Margaret. “What else could I have -told?” - -“Well,” said Mrs. Porter, “at that rate you will never get a place.” - -“God help me!” said poor Margaret, meekly. “He will not let me starve for -obeying his word. I never touched the bank-note.” - -“I believe you,” answered her neighbour; “for I do not think that you -ever spoke an untruth in your life.” - -And Margaret _did_ get a place. Carter, the butcher, engaged her the next -day. “Say nothing against her to me,” he cried. “I know the girl; she -would sooner touch red-hot iron than money that was not hers. And as for -_truth_, I’d take her word against the oaths of a dozen!” - -Once, as Margaret was cleaning out the parlour, not perceiving her -master’s new watch, which lay on the table concealed by a newspaper, -she threw it by accident down to the ground. Startled and alarmed, she -raised it and put it to her ear, longing to hear the regular beat, which -might show that it was unhurt. Alas! all was quite still—what mischief -she had done! Margaret dreaded her master, who was a passionate man; she -dreaded, perhaps, losing her place. She might have replaced the watch on -the table, and said nothing; its stopping might be thought accidental. -But Margaret would not stoop to _hide the truth_ any more than to tell a -lie. With a beating heart and a trembling hand she carried the watch to -her master, and confessed the whole truth. Was she dismissed or struck, -as she had feared that she might be? No; Carter, vexed as he was, could -not but admire her honesty and candour. - -“Well, Margaret,” he cried, “were your life to depend on it, I don’t -believe you would buy life itself with a lie.” - -Can this be said of you, reader? If not, oh, pray for forgiveness of your -sin, and for grace from _this hour_ to forsake it. May God enable you to -speak the truth from your heart, and to learn upon earth the language of -heaven! - - - - -[Illustration: THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKETH RICH] - - - - -XII. - -DO YOU LOVE GOD? - - -The following anecdote was given as _a fact_ by a clergyman at Hampstead, -in a sermon to children:— - -A gentleman, travelling on a railway, was much struck by the vivacity -of a lovely little girl about five years of age, who, with her mother, -happened to be travelling in the same carriage, and he took a great deal -of notice of the child. About ten minutes before the train reached the -station at which the lady and her daughter were to alight, the little one -went up to the gentleman, and putting her lips close to his ear, asked -softly, “Do you love God?” - -[Illustration: THE CHILD’S QUESTION.] - -The traveller, who apparently was not a devout man, was so startled by -the unexpected question, that he coloured to the roots of his hair; and -the child, seeing his confusion, and probably frightened at her own -boldness, retreated, and hid her face on her mother’s bosom until the -train stopped at the station. - -But her solemn question had sunk deep into the mind of the traveller. “Do -you love God?” he repeated to himself again and again. For a long period -the words haunted him, till at length he was able to give to them the -only reply which a true Christian can give. - -About two years afterwards, the gentleman happened to be in the -town at which he had left his little fellow-traveller on that -never-to-be-forgotten day. While passing along it, he fancied that he -saw at a window the face of the mother of the child. His desire to see -the little one to whom he owed so much was so great, that he could not -refrain from knocking at the door and introducing himself to the lady. -Upon seeing her, he inquired after her lovely child. The lady was dressed -in mourning. God had sent her heavy affliction; her sweet girl now slept -in the silent tomb. The mother took the stranger to a room, in which were -laid out various trifles which had belonged to her darling. - -“It may interest you to see these,” she said; “these are all that remain -of my child.” - -“Oh no!” exclaimed the traveller; “here am I!” and he related to the -wondering parent how the word spoken in season by those infant lips had -been the means of leading him to his God. - -Even that feeble child had done her work for her Master before he called -her to her rest; even that feeble child had been given a soul to be her -“joy and crown of rejoicing for ever.” - -O dear young reader! how would you now answer that whispered question, -“DO YOU LOVE GOD?” Could your heart give the reply, “_I love him because -he first loved us_”? - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration: ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED. Prov.] - - - - -XIII. - -THE IMPERFECT COPY. - - -“Always busy at your drawing, Edwin?” said his elder brother Henry, as he -entered the school-room one morning. - -Edwin looked up for a moment with a smile, and then went on tracing with -evident pleasure the outline of a face. His brother came behind him, and -looked over his shoulder; Edwin listened for his remarks, though without -ceasing to draw. - -“You are taking pains, I see,” said Henry at last in a kindly tone; “but -I am afraid that you will have to use your india-rubber here, and here; -these lines, you may perceive, are not in good drawing.” - -“I don’t see much wrong in them,” replied Edwin, suspending his pencil, -with something of vexation in his tone, for he had expected nothing but -praise. - -“If you compare them with your study, you will perceive that all this -outline is incorrect. Where is the study?” asked Henry, looking in vain -for it on the table. - -“Oh, it’s somewhere up-stairs,” said Edwin. “I remember very well what it -is like, and can go on without looking at it every minute.” - -“Would you oblige me by bringing it?” said his brother. - -Edwin went up-stairs, rather unwillingly, and soon brought down a -beautiful study; a face most perfect in form and expression. - -Henry silently put the two pictures together. Edwin gazed with bitter -disappointment on his own copy, which but a few minutes before he had -thought so good. - -“I shall never get it right!” Edwin exclaimed, in a burst of vexation; -and snatching up the unfortunate drawing, he would have torn it asunder, -had he not been prevented by his brother. - -[Illustration: THE BROTHER’S CRITICISM.] - -“My dear Edwin, you have doubly erred; first in being too easily -satisfied, and then in being too easily discouraged.” - -“I shall never make it like that beautiful face!” cried the disheartened -boy. - -“You need patience, you need help, you need, above all, often to look at -your copy.” - -Edwin took up the pencil which he had flung down, and carefully and -attentively studied the picture. He found very much in his copy to alter, -very much to rub out; but at last he completed a very fair sketch, which -he presented, with a little hesitation, to his brother. - -“I shall have this framed, and hung up in my room,” said Henry. - -“Oh, it is not worth that!” exclaimed Edwin, colouring with pleasure and -surprise. - -“Not in itself, perhaps,” replied Henry; “but it will serve often to -remind us both of an important truth which was suggested to me when I saw -you labouring at your copy.” - -Edwin looked in surprise at his brother, who thus proceeded to explain -his words:— - -“We, dear Edwin, as Christians, have all one work set before us: to copy -into our lives the example set us by a heavenly Master. It is in the -Bible that we behold the features of a character perfect and pure. But -how many of us choose rather to imagine for ourselves what a Christian -should be like! We aim low; we are content with little progress; we -perhaps please ourselves with the thought of our own wisdom and goodness, -while every one but ourselves can see that our copy is wretched and -worthless.” - -“What are we to do?” asked Edwin. - -“We must closely examine the study set us in the Bible; we must compare -our lives with God’s law; and we shall then soon find enough of weakness -and sin to make us humble ourselves before God. When we read of the -meekness and gentleness of Christ, we shall be ashamed of our own passion -and pride; when we find how holy was our great Example, we shall be -grieved to think how unlike to him we are.” - -“We can never make a good copy,” sighed Edwin; “we may just give up the -attempt at once.” - -“You judge as you did when you wished to tear up your picture in despair, -as soon as you saw how imperfect it was. No, no, my dear boy; I say to -you now, as I said to you then, you need _patience_, you need _help_, -help from the good Spirit of God; and, above all, you need to look often -at your study, to keep the character and work of your Lord ever before -your eyes.” - -“But if I do my best, I shall still fall so short!” - -“I know it,” said Henry gravely; “but feeling that you never can reach -perfection here, should not prevent your aiming at it. God will complete -his work in the hearts of his servants, not on earth, but in heaven. -There the copy, feebly commenced below, shall be made a likeness indeed! -For what says the Word of God: _We know that when he shall appear we -shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is_!” - -“To see the Lord, and to be made like him; it seems too much to hope -for!” cried Edwin. - -“It is not more than God has promised,” replied Henry, “to those who come -to the Saviour by faith. Worthless as our copy is in itself, it will be -glorified, made beautiful, made perfect; and will be raised to a place of -honour in the mansions of our heavenly Father!” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - -XIV. - -A STORY OF THE CRIMEA. - - -I daresay that you have heard of the war in the Crimea. Perhaps you have -a father or a brother in the army, and have often listened to stories -of the brave and noble conduct of our soldiers on the terrible field of -battle. I am going to tell you of one of the bravest and noblest actions -that happened during the whole course of the war, though my hero never -drew a sword nor fired a musket at the Russians. - -After the fearful battle of Alma, when the victory had been won by the -English and the French, after the cannon had ceased to roar or the foe -to fight, a long painful task remained for the victors—to attend to the -wounded and to bury the dead. - -At last our poor sufferers were removed to the ships, and only mounds of -earth showed where hundreds of the killed lay in their bloody graves; and -the army was ready to move on to attack the enemy in another place. - -But more than seven hundred poor fellows were still stretched on the -ground—not, like the dead, beyond reach of earthly pain, but covered with -wounds and gore—some with their legs and arms shot away, some unable to -move, groaning in terrible agony, and wishing in vain for death to put an -end to their misery. - -And who, do you think, were these wounded men? They were Russians, and -our enemies! Their bayonets had been red with the blood of our brave -soldiers; they had fired the shots which made so many widows and orphans -in England. And now, what was to be done with all these miserable -sufferers? Our army could not carry them along with it; they must be left -behind. Poor helpless Russians! if none dressed their wounds, they must -perish; if none gave them food, they must starve. - -There was a British surgeon, of the name of Thomson, who resolved to -separate himself from all his friends, to stay behind to take care of his -wounded enemies. We may fancy that he had a long struggle in his mind -before he could decide upon this generous act. Selfishness might whisper -to him many reasons for leaving the poor Russians to their fate. - -“What!” we can imagine some friend saying to the surgeon, “would you -remain here alone in the midst of enemies, some of whom, it is said, have -even fired at Englishmen who were bringing them relief. If the Tartars -should attack you, who will defend you? You cannot depend upon these -wounded Russians. Then think of the labour which you are undertaking. No -one man can possibly dress the wounds of seven hundred; you can only help -a few, or die yourself of fatigue. No, be wise; leave these wretched men -to the chance of some of their own people coming to assist them; you know -that there is not one amongst them who would not have willingly killed -you, had it been in his power.” - -Dr. Thomson may have heard words such as these, but they did not change -his generous resolution. The British army marched away; he and his -soldier-servant remained behind, saw their friends and comrades all -disappear in the distance, and then turned to their noble but sickening -work,—binding up the ghastly wounds of their enemies. - -[Illustration: NOBLE WORK.] - -Do you not think that Dr. Thomson deserved a rich reward for all this? -I do not doubt that he has received a reward, but not from man, for -his labours of love shortened his life. In a few days the generous, -self-devoted surgeon followed to the grave the brave soldiers who died -fighting for their Queen. And shall not his name be honoured as well as -theirs? We trust that he died prepared for the great change, full of -faith and hope as well as charity; and we may also trust that some of -those whose lives he had been the means of saving lived to know their -Saviour, and to serve God upon earth, and that they will one day meet -their generous friend in heaven. - -But it is not of Dr. Thomson that I would speak to you now, but of One of -whose mercy and love all the noblest deeds of his servants are but as a -faint, dim shadow. - -And first let me ask you, dear child, Do you know what _sin_ is, that -from which all sorrow comes? It is sin that causes cruelty and strife -in the world. It is _sin_ that gives a worse wound than any sword or -cannon-ball; for they may destroy the body, but _sin destroys the soul_. - -And now let me ask you another question: Do you know that we are all by -nature wounded by sin; that we are all unable to help ourselves, even -like those poor Russians; that if left to ourselves we must all die—I -mean, _lose the everlasting life of heaven_? - -Yes; this was the state of the whole world. It was all lying in -wickedness, therefore lying in danger; and not one of us could have been -saved—_no, not one_—had not the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, taken -pity on our sad state, and left heaven and all its glory, its light, and -its joy, to come and labour to help miserable sinners. Not only did he -labour, but he _died_ to save us; he suffered himself to be nailed to -the cross, that he might heal the wounds which sin had made, and give us -health and life never-ending! - -But perhaps you will say: “I do not think that I am among the wounded. I -do not think that I need any one to save me.” - -Oh! my child, have you ever thought over your life, or recalled your -actions, words, and thoughts, during _one_ day? Have you never been -disobedient to a parent, or unkind to a companion? Has your mouth never -spoken words that were ill-natured or false? Have you never been proud, -discontented, or selfish? Does not your conscience tell you that you have -been wounded by sin? Now, let me tell you how you may find healing. - -And, first, you must _believe on the Lord Jesus Christ_; you must believe -that he _died for sinners_, and that he is willing to save all who ask -him for pardon and mercy. - -Then you must be sorry for and leave off your sins, praying to God to -help you to amend. A child who says that he repents, and then goes and -sins just as readily as before, is like a wounded man who, when the -surgeon has dressed the injured place, tears off the bandage and will not -let it heal. - -And oh! you must love the Saviour with your whole heart. Can you help -loving him who has loved you so much? Think of the glory which he left; -was it not left for you? Think of the blood which he shed; did it not -flow for you? Think of the death which he endured; was it not borne for -you? - - - - -[Illustration: THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. Prov. -ix. 10] - - - - -XV. - -“I HAVE A HOME, A HAPPY HOME!” - - - I have a home, a happy home, - And friends to love me there; - With daily bread - I still am fed, - Have still warm clothes to wear; - I’ve health and strength in every limb,— - How grateful should I be! - How shall I show my love to Him - Who shows such love to me! - - Many are blind, or deaf, or lame,— - I hear the sweet birds sing, - Can bound along - With joyful song, - Can watch the flowers of spring. - No wasting pain my eye to dim, - From want and sickness free; - How shall I show my love to Him - Who shows such love for me! - - And blessings greater still than these - A gracious God has given,— - The precious word - Of Christ our Lord, - To guide my feet to heaven. - Among the shining cherubim - I trust my home shall be; - How shall I show my love to him - Who shows such love to me! - - My God! I am a feeble child, - Oh, teach me to obey; - With humble fear - To serve thee here, - To watch, and praise, and pray! - My love is weak, my faith is dim, - But grace I ask from thee, - That I may prove my love to him - Who loved and died for me! - -[Illustration: FINIS] - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EDITH AND HER AYAH, AND OTHER -STORIES*** - - -******* This file should be named 60138-0.txt or 60138-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/0/1/3/60138 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |