ft "i i / C i? oj T.Y. 1 "K2S27I °, F N. C .:. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022228965 ~>~" g ^^^ A^-^s szfy' ' /?£* rfc. o ***** /&~*e&«r *J ( 4 • u ••••.■•- Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://archive.org/details/selectstoriesforOOalba ^.^tm^Lz^z o^r^^m^^ csft See pa^e 44. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN: DESIGNED FOR THEIR MORAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT. ALBANY: PUBLISHED BY E. H. PEASE & CO. At the Sabbath School Depository, No. 82 State Street. 1S48. JOEL MUNSELL, PRINTER, ALBANY. PREFACE. " Give me the making of a country's ballads/' said a Scottish sage and patriot, " and I care not who may make its laws." He believed that popular songs have more influence than legislation in moulding national character. There is, perhaps, a little exaggeration in this opinion; but what he said of ballads, may be most justly said of books for children. If by works at once attractive, instructive and scru- pulously pure, we can engage the attention and form the principles of boys and girls, we lay the only sure foundation for good government, both in the family and the state. For law, apart from a love of order, rectitude and kindness, is VI. PREFACE. a feeble thing, and easily evaded; but with these preparatory dispositions it is efficient and harmonious in its operation. Our country's stability and prosperity depend on the right education of our children — an education of right principle, and not of mere knowledge which, without such principle, is powerful ge- nerally for evil and not for good. The following compilation has been carefully made. From it every thing objectionable in thought and expression has been sedulously excluded. The prose stories it contains are amusing, well told, and of most salutary ten- dency; the pieces in verse, are of a similar kind. It will be found of such a character as to interest young people, while it inculcates lessons of piety, benevolence and justice. It will conduce to the bringing of them up in such a way as to render them worthy members of the household and the community; and as it appeals in all things to God's law and testimo- PREFACE. Vll. ny, there is no clanger of its substituting the maxims of more human wisdom, for the higher and better maxims of divine revelation. It is respectfully commended to the attention of parents, sabbath school teachers, and all who are concerned in the training of the rising generation. For a considerable number of the articles here presented, the compiler is indebted to the Youth's Companion, a Boston weekly paper distinguished both for the excellence and the arrangement of its matter. COxNTENTS. Affectionate Children, 33 Anecdote with a Moral, 36 Be Active, 32 Benevolence, 51 Blacksmith's Boy, 62 Boyhood's Days, 87 Best Boy in School, 93 Be kind to each other, 96 Beautiful Swiss Custom, 126 Careless Girl, 62 Destroyer, 84. Disappointment, 8-5 Dignity of Labor, 115 Earth and Heaven, » . . . 39 Example for Youth, 52 Eyes of Insects, 60 Experiment, 99 Early Rising 127 Early Morning Ramble, 151 Flowers, < 41 X. CONTENTS. Faint-Hearted Youth, 66 Forest Funeral, 76 Fisherman, 82 Fly, 92 First Theft, 133 Fun, 144 Freely Give, 167 Garden, The 152 Girl, Careless 61 Honesty, . . . . 35 Honest Boy, 43 Hindoo Superstition, 59 How a Rogue feels when caught,. ....... 90 Incident, Pleasant 97 Incident, Thrilling 132 I Have Lost It, 162 Jordan River, Visit to 49 Kindness,, . . ., 23 Looking for a Place, 19 Life, 55 Lesson, . . . > 76 Little Ann, 100 Little Match Girl, 136 Lesson at Hop-Skotch, 175 Magnetic Telegraph, Something More Wonderful than the 13 CONTENTS. XI. Mischevious Boy, 112 My Brother on the Sea, 121 Never Associate with Bad Children, 165 Orphan Boy, 24 Old Man's Reminiscence, 29 Old Jack the Favorite Horse, 46 Oriental Water Carrier, 107 Poor Shepherd Boy, 45 Party, The 72 Pleasant Incident, 97 Promise, The 161 Robin's Nest, 18 River Jordan, Visit to. . 49 Reward of Disobedience, 63 Sabbath Class 5Q Story with a Moral, 83 Samuel and Robert, 108 Samuel and Ely, or the First Blush, 118 Stones, 123 Singing of Spring Birds, 140 Sacrifices, 141 Tie your Shoe Strings, 54 Tardiness, 88 Two Clouds, 106 Thrilling Incident, 332 To a Little Girl Gathering Flowers, 360 Xll. CONTENTS. The Promise, 161 The Little Busy Bees, 166 Visit to the River Jordan, 49 Vegetable Compass, 105 Value of Labor in a Watch, 120 Wanton Cruelty, 37 Wrinkles, 53 Wasps, Paper Makers, 98 Washington's Remarkable Deliverance, . . 116 Wish, 131 Willy Graham, 154 Youthful Example, 38 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. SOMETHING MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. George and Thomas Bates had often expressed a desire to visit the telegraph office. They had heard of the strange doings of this wonderful machine, and had often stood and looked at the wires stretched along from one high post to another, something like cobwebs in the air. One day as they were thus occupied, George asked Thomas how it could be that on those wires unseen messages were passing to and fro. " I don't know how it is," replied Thomas, " father says it is by means of electricity, and lightning is electricity, and that is the reason news travels so quickly by the magnetic tele- graph." One day after school, these boys went into their father's store, which was just opposite the telegraph office, and asked him if he would be 2 14 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. so kind as to take them to see this wonderful invention. Their father assented, always glad to gratify his children, and to add to their stock of useful information, and at once they were by the side of the agent, looking at the performance of the little instrument that noted down intelligence like a living thing. The boys asked their father to send a mes- sage to their uncle in Washington, but the lit- tle machine was so busy, that the agent could not gratify them for some time. Tic, tic, tic, dot, dot, click, click, click, went the little pointer. By and by it ceased for an instant, but just as the agent was going to put in his claim, it began again. " That is B for Buffalo," said the agent; " we must wait till the message is finished." As soon as that sentence was written, there was an A U for Auburn, and then a U for Uti- ca ; and the boys were almost out of patience, as little boys are apt to be, when their wishes are not immediately gratified. After a while their turn came. The agent hurried to put in a W for Washington, and " aye, aye," was the reply, to let him know that his wish was at- tended to, and the message was sent. Eeturning home the boys could talk of no- thing but the wonders of the telegraph. " Is it not the most wonderful thing you ever heard of, father?" said Thomas. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 15 " No," replied his father, " I have heard of things more wonderful." "But, father," said George, "you never heard of any message being sent so quickly as by this means, have you?" " Yes, I have my son." "And receiving an answer as quickly]" add- ed George. "Yes, much sooner," replied his father. "Are you in earnest, father?" said Thomas, looking eagerly in his face. "Is it possible you know of a more wonderful way of commu- nication than by telegraph?" " I never was more in earnest, my son, than I am when I say yes to your question." " Well, father," said George, " do tell me what it is, and in what respect it is better than the telegraph." "In the first place," said his father, "you do not wait to have to send your message while others are attended to ; for your message can go with others, without any interruption or hin- drance." " So that is an improvement," said George, " for we had to wait a long time you know." "And in the next place," continued his father, "there is no need of wires, or electricity, or ma- chinery, to aid the mode of communication of which I speak; and what is more wonderful than all is the fact that you need not even ex- press the nature of your communication, as, be- 26 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. fore you do so, your answer may be returned, though it is quite necessary that you truly and sincerely desire a favorable reception for your request. " Besides all this, the plan of communica- tion of which I speak is superior to all others, from the fact that you need no resort to any particular place to send your request. In the lonely desert — in the crowded city — on the mountain top — by night or by day — in sickness and health, and especially in trouble and afflic- tion, the way of communication is open to all. And the applicants can never be so numerous that the simplest desire of the feeblest child, properly presented, shall not meet with imme- diate attention." "Is there any account published of this wonderful manner of communicating your wish- es ?" inquired Thomas. a Yes, there is, my son ; it is to be found in the Bible." " In the Bible, father !" exclaimed the boys. " Certainly, my sons ; and if you will both of you get your Bibles, I will tell you where to find the passages." The children opened their Bibles, and found as their father directed them, the 24th verse of the Ixv. chapter of Isaiah, which Thomas read as follows : " And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 17 Next George found and read the 9th verse of the lviii. chapter of Isaiah : " Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer ; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." " Now turn," said their father, " to Daniel ix. chapter, 20, 21, 22, 23 verses." " And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my peo- ple Israel, and presenting my supplication be- fore the Lord my God ; . . . yea, while T was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, . . being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he in- formed me, and talked with me and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee," &c. " I see, father, from these passages," says Thomas, " that you refer to prayer." " And I am sure you will both agree with me, that this mode of communication with hea- ven is more wonderful than any other, for by this means our desire can be immediately known to our heavenly Father, and we receive an 1& SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE ROBIN'S NEST. Beside a stream, whose limpid breast Revealed the shining sand below, A simple robin built her nest, And waited for her young to grow. Her artless song was often heard As homeward to her brood she flew, And when the rosy daylight stirred Her music filled the welkin blue. A reckless boy at last espied The nest, and made the prize his own; And when the mother homeward hied, 'Twas but to find herself alone. 'Twas pitiful to see her grief, And listen to her mournful cry; She sought in vain to find relief, And folded up her wings to die. I marked the boy. He grew apace, And was at last in years a man, Yet ever covered with disgrace, That followed some discovered plan. I watched him with a curious eye, Expecting some sad fate to see; He was at last condemned to die, A wretch, upon the gallows tree. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 19 LOOKING FOR A PLACE. " Well, Johnny, how have you succeeded to- day, my son?" u Nothing good to-day, mother; I have been all over almost, and no one would take me. The book stores, and dry goods stores and gro- ceries, have plenty of boys already — but I think if you had been with me, I should have stood a better chance." " Why so, my son?" "Oh, you look so thin and pale, mother, somebody would have felt sorry, and so taken me : but nobody knew me, and nobody saw you." A tear stole down the cheek of the little boy as he spoke, for he was almost discouraged; and when his mother saw the tear, not a few ran down her's also. It was a cold, bleak night, and Johnny had been out all day looking for " a place" He had persevered, although constantly refused, until it was quite dark, and then gave up, thinking his mother must be tired waiting for him. His mother was a widow, and a very poor one. She had maintained herself by needle- work till a severe spell of sickness had confined her to the bed, and she was unable to do more. She told her little son to sit down by the fire while she prepared his supper. The fire and the supper were very scanty, but Johnny 20 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. knew they were the best she could provide, and he felt that he would rather share such a fire and such a supper, with such a mother, than sit at the best filled table with any body else, who did not love him as she did, and whom he did not love as he did her. After a few moments of silence, the boy looked up into his mother's face with more than usual seriousness. " Mother," said he, " do you think it would be wrong to ask my new Sunday school teacher about it on a sabbath?" " No, my son, not if you have no other op- portunity; and I think he would be a very suitable person, too; at least I should think that he would be interested in getting you a good place." " Well, to-morrow is Sunday, and when the class breaks up, I believe I will ask him." After reading a portion of God's holy word, the mother and her little boy kneeled down to- gether in their loneliness, and prayed the Lord most earnestly to take care of them and pro- vide for them. They were very poor, but they knew that God cared for the poor. They knew also that God would do what was best for them. Oh, it's a sweet thing to the soul, to be able to say sincerely, " Thy will be done." " I feel happier now," said John, " I was so tired when I came in, that I felt quite cross, I know I did — did I not look so, mother?" SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 21 The mother's heart was full, and she, gave her boy one long, affectionate kiss, which was sweeter to him than many words. Next morning was the sabbath. Johnny's breakfast was more scanty than ever, but he said not a word about that, for he saw that his mother ate very little of it. But one or two sticks of wood were left outside the door where it was kept ; and he knew that both food and fire might all be gone before night. They had had no money to buy any with for several days. The sabbath school bell rang. The sun was shining bright and clear, but the air was ex- ceedingly cold. The child had no overcoat, and was still wearing a part of his summer clothing. He was in his seat just as his super- intendent and teacher entered. " Who is that little pale-faced boy in your class r' asked the superintendent of the teacher. " His name is Jones, he lives on Stone street, and I must visit him this very week. He is very regular, and a well-behaved boy." " I should like to know more about him, and I will see him after school." The superintendent did not forget him, and when the classes broke up, seeing him linger behind the -other scholars, went up and took him by the hand kindly. " You have been here to school several sab- baths, have you not, my boy?" said he. " Yes, sir, I came just a month ago to-day." 22 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Had you ever been to school before?" "Yes, sir, before mother was taken sick I used to go to a school, which was a great way off, and when mother got better, and you opened this new school, she advised me to come here, as it is so much nearer." " Well, did I not see you yesterday, looking for a place on Water street?" " I was down there, sir, looking for a place." " Why did you not take that place which the gentleman had for you, in the large grocery store?" " Do you mean the store where the great copper worm stood on the sidewalk?" " Yes." "Ah, sir, I didn't know they sold rum there when I first went in, and when I saw what kind of a store it was, I was afraid." " Have you a father?" " No, sir, father is dead ; " and the little boy hung down his head. " What did your father do, my son — what business was he in?" " Sir, he once kept a large store like that" and the child shuddered when he answered. " Why did you not keep the piece of gold money that you found on the floor, as you were coming into the store?" " Because it was not mine, and I thought that the gentleman would find the owner sooner than I should." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 23 " He did, my boy, it was my money. Did you get a place yesterday?" "No, sir, all the places were full, and no- body knew me." " Well, m y boy, you may go now and tell your mother that "you have a place. Come to see me early in the morning — your teacher will tell yo u w here I live." «J° n nny went home with his heart and his e J es so full, that he could hardly see the street or any thing else, as he went along. He knew that it would cheer his dear mother very much, a °d so it did. His superintendent procured a g°°d place for him, and they were made com- fortable and happy. KINDNESS. A little word in kindness spoken, A motion or a tear, Has often healed the heart that's broken, And made a friend sincere. A word, a look, has crushed to earth, Full many a budding flower, Which, had a smile but owned its birth, Would bless life's darkest hour. Then deem it not an idle thing, A pleasant word to speak; The face you wear, the thoughts you bring-, A heart may heal or break. 24 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE ORPHAN BOY. The bustle of the fight was over ; the prison- ers had been secured, and the decks washed down, the watch piped, and the schooner had once more relapsed into midnight quiet and re- pose. I sought my hammock, and soon fell asleep. But my slumbers were disturbed by wild dreams, which, like the visions of a fever, agitated and unnerved me ; the late strife, the hardships of my early life, and a thousand other things mingled together as figures in a phan- tasmagoria. Suddenly a hand was laid on my shoulder, and starting up I beheld the surgeon's mate. " Little Dick, sir, is dying," he said. At once 1 sprang from my hammock. Little Dick was a sort of protege of mine. He was a pale, delicate child, said to be an orphan, and used to gentle nature ; and from the first hour I joined the schooner, my heart yearned to- wards him, for I too had once been friendless and alone in the world. He had often talked to me in confidence, of his mother, w T hose me- mory he regarded with holy reverence, while to the other boys of the ship he had little to say, for they were rude and coarse — he was delicate and sensitive. Often when they jeered him for his melancholy, he would go apart by himself and weep. He never complained of SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 25 liis lot, though his companions imposed on him continually. I took a strange interest in him, and had lightened his task as much as possible. During the late fight I had owed my life to him, for he rushed in just as a sabre stroke was levelled at me, and by interposing his feeble cutlass had averted the deadly blow. In the hurry and confusion since I had quite forgotten to inquire if he was hurt, though at the time I inwardly resolved to exert all my little influence to pro- -cure him a midshipman's warrant in requital for his service. It was with a pang of re- proachful agony, therefore, that I leaped to my feet. "My God!" I exclaimed, "you don't mean it ? He is not dying ?" " I fear sir, " said the messenger, shaking Ills head sadly, " that he cannot live till morn- ™g- " . . " And I have been lying idle here !" I ex- claimed with remorse. " Lead me to him !" "He is delirious, but in the intervals of lu- nacy he asks for you, sir," and as the man spoke we stood beside the bed of the dying The sufferer did not lie in his usual hammock, for it was hung in the very midst of the crew, and the close air around it was too stifling; but he had been carried under the open hatch- way, and laid there in a little open space of 3 26 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. about four feet square. From the sound of the ripples I judged the schooner was in motion, while the clear, calm blue sky, seen through the opening overhead, and dotted with myriads of stars, betokened that the fog had broken away. How calm it smiled down on the wan face of the dying boy. Occasionally a light current of wind — oh, how deliciously cool in that pent up hold — eddied down the hatchway, and lifted the dark chestnut locks of the suffer- er, as with his head reposing in the lap of an old veteran, he lay in an unquiet slumber. His shirt collar was unbuttoned, and his childish bosom, white as that of girl, was open and exposed, he breathed quick and heavily. The wound of which he was dying had been intensely painful, but within the last half hour had somewhat lulled, though even now his thin fingers grasp- ed the bed clothes, as if he suffered the greatest agony. A battle-stained and gray-haired seaman stood beside him, holding a dull lantern, in" his hand, and gazing sorrowfully down upon the sufferer. The surgeon knelt with his fino-er on the boy's pulse. As I approached, they all looked up. The veteran who held him shook his head and would have spoken, but the tears gathered too chokingly in his eyes. The sur- geon said : "He is going fast, poor little fellow — do you see this?" As he spoke, he lifted up a SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 27 rich gold locket, which had lain upon the boy's breast. " He has seen better days." I could not answer, for ray heart was full. Here was the being to whom, but a few hours before, I had owed ray life — a poor, slight, un- protected child — lying before me, with death already written on his brow — and yet I had never known his danger, and never sought him out after the conflict. How bitterly my heart reproached me in that hour. They noticed my agitation, and his old friend — the seaman that held his head — said sadly, "Poor little Dick, you'll never see the shore you have wished for so long. But there'll be more than one when log's out," he spoke with emotion, " to mourn over you." Suddenly the little fellow opened his eyes, and looked vacantly around. " Has he come yet ?" he asked in a low voice. " Why won't he come?" " I am here," said I, taking the little fellow's hand ; " don't you know me, Dick ?" He smiled faintly in my face. He then said, "You have been kind to me, sir — kinder than most people are to a poor orphan boy. I have no way to show my gratitude, unless you will take the Bible you will find in my trunk. It's a small offering, I know, but it's all I have." I burst into tears : he resumed, "Doctor, I am dying, ain't I?" said the little fellow, " for my sight grows dim. God bless you, Mr. Danforth." 28 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Can I do nothing for you, Dick ?" said I; "you saved my life — I would coin my blood to buy yours." "I have nothing to ask — I don't want to live — only, if it's possible, let me be buried by mother — you will find the name of the place, and all about it, in my trunk." "Anything — everything, my poor lad," I answered chokingly. The little fellow smiled faintly — it was like an angel's smile — but he did not answer. His eyes were fixed on the stars flickering in that patch of the blue sky overhead. His mind wandered. " It's a long, long ways up there, but there are bright angels among them. Mother used to say that I would meet her there. How near they come, and I see sweet faces smiling on me from among them. Hark! is that music?" and lifting his finger, he seemed listening for a moment. He fell back, and the old veteran burst into tears. The child was dead. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 29 AN OLD MAN'S REMINISCENCE. I had quarrelled with my little brother Willy, who had not passed his sixth year. I was two years his senior, and he was the only being I ever loved. Willy was a frail and affectionate little fellow, not meant to struggle long through this dark and weary existence. The little golden locks fell upon his slender and beautiful neck, and his large blue eyes wore a soft and confiding expression which called forth irre- sistibly your love and protection. I went to the corner of the garden, and continued build- ing a house we had begun together. The evening was fast coming on, and I still required about a dozen bricks to finish it; I therefore stalked up to one which, after great trouble, he had just completed, and pulled down part of the walls for that purpose. The little fellow could not bear it, and he snatched them back from me ; I in a rage struck him violently on the breast, and he fell to the ground. In a short time he recovered his breath, and said: "Jamie, tell Annie to come and carry me in. I cannot walk ; my breast is very, very sore." I slunk quietly in at the back of the house. In a few moments, I heard a low and mournful whisper go through the dwelling ; my little 3* 30 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. Willy had broken a blood vessel. The next evening about sun-set I went to the door of the room where he lay, and as I looked in he beck- oned me to him. The setting sun fell full upon his golden hair, and as he reclined upon his snowy pillow methought he seemed like a little angel floating on a fleecy cloud ! I crept up slowly to the side of his bed, and held the little hand which lay upon the coverlet within my own. " Jamie," said he, " Jamie, I am going to die." I hid my face among the bed clothes and sobbed aloud. " Don't cry," said the little fellow ; " you? know I love you dearly. Come, Jamie, let me play with your hand again, as I used to when we sat together on the little grass plat in the warm sunshine, and don't cry my dear little brother Jamie. You will be kind to my little pussy when I am gone, and fill her saucer with new milk, won't you brother V Pussy lifted up her head, as she heard her name, and purring, smoothed her sleek and glossy coat against the pallid face of the young sufferer, as though to thank him for his kind- remembrance. " I am going to heaven," he continued,. " and that is a happy place, you know, for God, our Father, whom we say our prayers to- every night lives there, and you know how SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 31 often we have wanted to see him, Jamie ; and there is Jesus, whom we love so much, and who loves little children, too, so dearly ; he will be there, and he will carry me to his Fa- ther, for he will be like a big brother, and take care of me, you know, Jamie ! And then there is little Harry Bently, he is gone to heaven too, and I shall see him there, and we will have two little wings, and a little golden music book, be- tween us ; but we will leave a corner for you, Jamie, so that when you come, we will all bow down together before the throne of God our Father, and sing his glory for ever and ever." The little fellow lifted up his bright blue eyes to heaven, and his countenance seemed to grow brighter and brighter. I gazed upon his face for some minutes in silent anguish ; but as 1 gazed, his face appeared to wax brighter and yet more bright ; a smile still lingered upon his parted lips and his little soul winged its flight to a sure and glorious eternity. And now when the hurricane of riotous and irresistible passion sweeps over my soul, tearing down all distinctions of right and wrong and dethroning reason, their cherub voices seem to come wafted on the gale; and as these two little angel forms, with their little golden music book and my empty and unmerited corner, rise up, as it were, in a vision before me, my pas- sion vanishes, my frame shudders, and I burst into tears." 32 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. BE ACTIVE. Be active — be active — Find something to do, In digging a clam-bank, Or tapping a shoe. Don't stop at the corners, To drag out the day — Be active — be active — And work while you may. 'Tis foolish to falter, Or lag in the street — Or walk as if chain-shot Were bound to your feet. Be active — be active — And do what you can; 'Tis industry only That maketh the man. 'Tis industry makes you — Remember — be wise — From sloth and from stupor Awake and arise. You'll live and be happy, And never complain Of the blues or the dumps, Or a dull heavy brain. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 33 THE AFFECTIONATE CHILDREN. It is a beautiful sight when children treat each other with kindness and love, as is related in the following little narrative. I once had occasion to take supper with Lydia s father and mother. Before supper, Lydia, her parents and myself were sitting in the room together, and her little brother Oliver was out in the yard drawing his cart about. 1 he mother went out and brought in some peaches, a few of which were We red- cheeked rare-ripes — the rest small, ordinary peaches. The father handed me one of the rare-ripes, gave one to the mother, and then one of the best to his little daughter, who was eight years old. He then took one of the smaller ones, and gave it to her brother. He was four years old. Lydia went out and was gone about ten minutes, and then came in. "Did you give your brother the peach I sent him?" asked her father. Lydia blushed, turned away, and did not answer. "Did you give your brother the peach I sent him? asked her father again, a little more sharply. " No, father," said she, " I did not give him that. ° " What did you do with it," he asked. 34 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " I ate it," said Lydia. " What ! Did you not give your brother any?" " Yes, I did, father," said she, " I gave him mine." " Why did you not give him the one I told you to give?" asked the father, rather sternly. " Because, father," said Lydia, " 1 thought he would like mine better. I did not mean to be disobedient," said she, and her bosom began to heave and her chin to quiver. " But you were, my daughter," said he. " I thought you would not be displeased with me, father," said Lydia, " if I did give my brother the biggest peach," and the tears be- gan to appear in her eyes. " But I want you to have the biggest," said the father; " you are older and larger than he is." " I want you to give the best things to bro- ther," said the noble-hearted girl. " Why V 9 asked the father, scarcely able to contain himself. " Because," answered the generous sister, "I love him so — I always feel best when he gets the best things." " You are right, my precious daughter," said the father, as he fondly and proudly folded her in his arms. " You are right, and you may be certain your happy father can never be dis- pleased with you for wishing to give up the SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 35 best of every thing to your affectionate little brother. He is a dear and noble little boy, and I am glad you love him so. Do you think he loves you as well as you do him V 9 " Yes, father," said the little girl, " I think he does, for when I offered him the largest peach, he would not take it, and wanted me to keep it ; and it was a good while before I could get him to take it." HONESTY. That " honesty is the best policy," was illus- trated some years since, under the following cir- cumstances : A lad was proceeding to an un- cle's, to petition him for his sick mother and her children, when he found a wallet containing fifty dollars. The aid was refused, and the distressed family was pinched with want. The boy re- vealed his fortune to his mother, but expressed a doubt about using any portion of the money. His mother confirmed his good resolution, the pocket book was advertised, and the owner found. Being a man of w T ealth, and uniting with that a generons heart, upon learning the condition of the family he presented the fifty dollars to the sick mother, and took the boy into his sevice, and he is now one of the most suc- cessful merchants in the state of Ohio. Hon- esty always brings reward — to the mind if not to the pocket. 36 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. A foolish servant girl, in Boston, being about to leave her place and get married, forgot her honesty and stole a large number of articles, which she was likely to want on starting in life. She was detected, and it turned out that most of the outfit had actually been purchased by her kind mistress as a present to the girl when she should leave her house for her new home. Behold in the above a fair picture of the want of faith, and trust in well-doing. If this girl had trusted in the word, that the reward is sure to those that hold out faithful to the end, she would have received these things from her kind mistress, and with the things a good character. And her happiness could only have been im- agined by the faithful; but she trusted in self, and her peace has fled, and joy she has not. ANECDOTE, WITH A MORAL. When Charles the Second chartered the Royal society, it is narrated of him that he was disposed to give the philosophers a royal, but at the same time a wholesome lecture. "Why is it, my lords and gentlemen," said he, " that if you fill a vessel with water to the very brim, so that it will not hold a single drop more, yet, putting a turbot into the wa- ter, it shall not overflow the vessel ?" Many were the sage conjectures: that the fish would drink as much water as compensated SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 37 for his own bulk ; that he condensed the water to that amount ; that the air-bladder had some- thing to do w 7 ith the phenomenon, and a hundred others, which were propounded and abandoned in their turn, much to the amusement of the merry monarch. At length, Christopher Wren, the architect, modestly asked, "But is your majesty sure that such would be the case?" "Ah, there," exclaimed his majesty, laugh- ing, " you have it ! Always, gentlemen, find out whether the thing be true before you proceed to account for it; then I shall not be ashamed of the charter I have given you." WANTON CRUELTY. Hateful are the beginnings of cruelty, whe- ther practised against mankind, or against the unoffending creatures of the inferior orders. How insensibly they spread their influence over the heart of a child, and set his hands to work in doing evil ! The fly is caught on the win- dow pane, and torn to pieces. The painted butterfly is pursued and crushed ; the frog and toad are stoned to death ; the cat and dog are tormented ; in the course of time the fish-hook and the fowling-piece become favorites. The love of war follows ; and thus he who began by impaling a fly, is able to end by helping to sack a city. Sad are both the beginnings and endings of cruelty. 4 38 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDEFN. YOUTHFUL EXAMPLE. What if a little drop should say, So small a drop as I Can ne'er refresh these thirsty fields, I'll tarry in the sky? What if a shining beam of noon Should in its fountain stay, Because its feeble light alone, Cannot create a day? Doth not each rain-drop help to form The cool, refreshing- shower; And every ray of light to warm, And beautify the flower? Then let each child its influence give, Lord, to truth and thee; Then shall its power by all be felt, However small it be. EARTH AND HEAVEN. If God through every change can keep This earth so good and fair, We turn our eyes towards heaven and say, What beauty must be there. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 39 THE LITTLE SUNDAY SCHOLAR. A very little boy was playing one day near the hearth, when his clothes took fire : and, as he had on an apron which was tied close around his neck, his throat was dreadfully burned before the fire could be put out. After some time the wound healed, but it left his mouth and lower jaw drawn sideways, quite down towards his neck, so that he could scarce- ly shut his mouth, and it was quite impossible for him to raise his head. As he began to grow, it became very painful for him to hold his head always in this manner ; and he was often laughed at, and mocked by cruel and thoughtless children in the streets. This, how- ever he bore without complaining, and was al- ways anxious to attend his Sunday school, where he was very attentive to all that was taught him. His parents finding that, as he grew older, his head and neck grew more and more painful, at last consented that the doctors should try, whether they could not cut off part of the flesh which held his jaw down to his neck, as it was thought nothing else would relieve him. The little boy was told of this, and though he knew it would give him a great deal of pain, and that the doctors thought it might possibly cause his death, he soon became willing to do as his pa- 40 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. rents wished. He told his mother he thought he had given his heart to God, and now he did not much wish to live. As soon as he was allowed to speak, after the operation was performed, he said, that when the doctor first began to cut him, he thought he could not bear it and live ; but that he prayed to God that he would be pleased to help him to bear it, and, after that, he did not feel near so much pain. His teacher had missed him from the school for two Sundays, but, as he did not know what had been done, he thought the boy had stayed at home on account of the weather, which was then very cold. The next Sunday, a little girl came into the school room and told the teacher that her brother was very ill; that the doctors had cut a large swelling from his neck ; that he would like to see his teacher, and often w T ept when he spoke about it. The littl girl added, "he says, too, he thinks he has got religion." Accordingly, as soon as the school was over, the gentleman went to see him; and, when he entered the room, he found the suffering boy lying on his little bed. His face was bound up, but all that could be seen of it was very pale. The color came into his cheek, and his eye looked brighter as he took the hand of his teacher. He said but little, for it was painful for him to speak, but what he did say was very pleasing. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 41 By the great mercy of God, this poor little boy got quite well again, and was able to raise his head without any pain. THE FLOWERS. A little girl was passing by a garden in which she saw some very pretty flowers. She wished exceedingly to have some of them; she could easily have put her hands between the rails and have taken them, and perhaps nobody would have seen her. But she knew she must never take other people's things without their leave; for that would be very wicked; it would be stealing. So, after thinking a little while, she resolved what to do. She went up to the door of the house and knocked ; when the mistress of the house came to the door, she asked her very prettily, to give her some of the nice flow- ers that grew in her garden. The mistress was glad she had not taken any of the flowers without leave ; and gave her some of those which she asked for. She then took the little girl into another garden, that was larger and prettier than the one she had seen at first, and showed her the flowers that grew in it, and gathered a fine large nosegay for her, made up of a great many kinds of pretty flowers. If the little girl had taken the flowers she first saw, she would have been frightened while 4* 42 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. she was getting them; when she had got them, she would have been afraid lest any body should see her with them ; and if she had been asked where, or how she had got them, she would most likely have told a lie to hide her first fault. And how uncomfortable she would have felt at night, when she lay down and thought on what she had been doing in the day-time ; and how afraid she would have been to pray to the great God who has said, " Thou shalt not steal," and has said too, " Thieves shall not inherit the kingdom of God." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 43 THE HONEST BOY. Some time ago the Duke of Buccleugh, in one of his walks, purchased a cow from a per- son in the neighborhood of Dalkeith, and left or- ders to send it to his place the following morn- ing; according to agreement the cow was sent, and the Duke happened to be in dishabille, and walking in the avenue, espied a little fellow in- effectually attempting to drive the animal for- ward to its destination. The boy, not knowing the Duke, bawled out to him — " Oh, I say mun, come here an' gie's a han' wi' this beast." The Duke saw the mistake, and determined on having a joke with the little fellow; pre- tending, therefore, not to understand him, the Duke walked on slowly, the boy still craving his assistance; at last he cries, in a tone of ap- parent distress, " Come here, mun, an' help us, an' as sure as ony thing I'll gie ye half I get ! " This last solicitation had the desired effect. The Duke went and lent a helping hand. "And now," said the Duke, as they trudged along, " how much do you think ye'll get for this job?" " Oh, I dinna ken," said the boy, " but I'm sure o' something, for the folk up by at the house are good to a' body." 44 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. As they approached the house, the Duke darted from the boy, and entered by a different way. He called a servant, and put 'a sovereign in his hand, saying, " Give that to the boy that has brought the cow." The Duke returned to the avenue, and was soon rejoined by the boy. " Well, how much did you get?" said the Duke. "A shilling," said the boy, "an' there's the half o' it e ye." " But you surely got more than a shilling," said the Duke. " No," said the boy with the utmost earnest- ness, " as sure's death that's a' I got, an' d'ye no think it's plenty ! " "I do not," said the Duke; "there must be some mistake, and as I am acquainted with the Duke, if you return, I think I'll get you more." The boy consented; back they, went; the Duke rang the bell, and ordered all the servants to be assembled. "Now," said the Duke to the boy, "point me out the person that gave you the shilling." " It was that chap there with the apron," pointing to the butler. The delinquent confessed, fell on his knees, and attempted an apology, but the Duke inter- rupted him, indignantly ordered him to give the boy the sovereign, and quit his service instantly. " You have lost," said the Duke, " your mo- ney, your situation, and your character, by your SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 45 learn, henceforth, that honesty- is the best policy." The boy by this time recognized his assistant in the person of the Duke, and the Duke was so delighted with the sterling worth and honesty of the boy, that he ordered him to be sent to school, kept there, and provided for at his own expense. THE POOR SHEPHERD BOY. The Rev. John Brown, when a poor shep- herd boy, conceived the idea of learning Latin and Greek, and having procured a few old books, actually accomplished the task while tending his cattle on the hills. So successful was he, that some of the old and superstitious people in the neighborhood concluded that he must have been assisted by the " evil spirit." On one occasion he went to Edinburgh, plaided and barefoot, walked into a bookseller's store, and asked for a Greek Testament. " What are you going to do with a Greek Testament?" said the bookseller. "Read it," was the prompt reply. " Read it ! " exclaimed the skeptical bookseller, with a smile, " ye may have it for nothing if ye'll read it." Taking the book he quietly read off a few verses, and gave the translation ; on which he was permitted to carry off the Greek Testament in triumph. 46 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. OLD JACK, THE FAVORITE HORSE. My father had a horse, when I was a little be-}', that was quite a pet with the whole family. We called him Jack, and he knew his name as well as I did. The biography of the old vete- ran would be very interesting, I am sure, if any body were to write it. I do not mean to be his biographer, however, though my partiality for him will be a sufficient apology for a slight sketch. Old Jack was a very intelligent horse. He would always come when he heard his name called, let him be ever so far distant in the pas- ture ; that is, if he had a mind to come. Of course, being a gentleman of discernment, he sometimes chose to stay where he was, and en- joy his walk. This was especially the case when the grass was very green, and when the person who came for him chanced to be a little green also. Jack had his faults, it cannot be denied, and among them perhaps, the most pro- minent, was a strong aversion to being caught by any body but my father, whom he seemed to regard as having the sole right to summon him from the pasture. I used occasionally to try my hand at catching him. In fact, I suc- ceeded several times, by stratagem only. I carried a measure containing a few gills of oats with me into the field, and his love for oats was SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 47 so much stronger than his dislike of the catch- ing process, that I secured him. But after a while the old fellow became too cunning for me. He came to the conclusion that the quan- tity of his favorite dish was too small to warrant him in sacrificing his freedom. He had some knowledge of arithmetic you see. Certainly he must have cyphered as far as loss and gain. One day I went into the pasture with my bridle concealed behind me, and just about enough oats to cover the bottom of my measure, and advanced carefully toward the spot where old Jack was quietly grazing in the meadow. He did not stir as 1 approached. He held up his head a little, and seemed to be thinking what it was best to do. I drew nearer, encouraged, of course. The cunning fellow let me come within a few feet of him, and then suddenly wheeled around, threw his heels into the air, a great deal too near my head, and then started off at full gallop, snorting his delight at the fun, and seeming to say, " I am not so great a fool as you suppose." Still Old Jack was kind and gentle. My father never had any trouble with him, and many a long mile have I rode after him, when he went over the ground like a bird. I loved him, with all his faults, I loved him dearly, and when he was sold, we all had a long crying spell about it. I remember the time well, when the man who purchased our old pet came to 48 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. take him away. I presume the man was kind enough, but really I never could forgive him for buying the horse. He was rather a rough- looking man, and he laughed a good deal when we told him he must be good to Jack, and give him plenty of oats, and not make him work too hard. I went out with my sister, to bid our old friend a last sad good bye. We carried him some green grass; we knew how well he loved grass, he had given us proof enough of that ; and while he was eating it, and the man was preparing to take him away, we talked with old Jack with tears in our eyes; w T e told him how sorry we were to part with him, and he seemed to be sad too, for he stopped eating his grass, and looked at us tenderly, while we put our arms around his neck and caressed him for the last time. I have had a great many pets since — cats and dogs, squirrels and rabbits, canary birds and parrots — but never any that I loved more than I did old Jack ; and to this day 1 am ashamed of the deception I practised upon him in the matter of the oats, w T hen trying to catch him. I don't wonder he resented the trick, and played one on me in return. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 49 DR. OLIN'S VISIT TO THE RIVER JORDAN. Every thing was quiet, but wide awake, watching for the morning. Groups were as- sembled, standing or sitting on the ground, in all directions through the camp and grove, either silent or conversing in low tones. Between two and three o'clock in the morning I sallied forth again, and was surprised to find every one upon his feet, by the side of his horse or don- key, ready equipped for a start. There had been no bustle for preparation ; the camp was still covered with darkness, and we had received no information that so unsea sonable a movement was to be made. I soon fell in with a gentleman of our parly, who was beset with the prevailing tendency of watchful- ness, and we walked together to the north side of the camp. A moment after, a man at a lit- tle distance from us, mounted a horse, and lift- ing a blazing flambeau on high, shouted at the topof his voice, "Yellah!" "Go!" A hundred torches were blazing in an instant, and the whole field was illuminated, as by a flash of lightning. In the same breath, as if moved by a single volition, the whole pilgrim army were mounted, and in motion towards Jordan. In five minutes more, the governor and his suite followed, attended by a band of music, which struck up a lively air. 5 50 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. Whether this simultaneous movement was the result of previous concert, or of the univer- sal eagerness and excitement. I know not, but it had almost the appearance of enchantment. It was now after three o'clock when I returned again to my tent, and sought with better suc- cess a short season of repose. Not being aware that it was the intention of the pilgrims to set out at so early an hour, our party had fixed on six o'clock as the time for leaving the camp. I had sufficient reason to fear we should be too late for the religious spectacle, when I saw the early movement of the host. Our muleteers, with their animals, were out of the way, and a detachment of mounted men which the governor had left behind for our protection, and to accompany us during the re- mainder of our excursion, were not likely to be in readiness before the hour appointed. An unusual spirit of drowsiness seemed to have fallen upon us all, and it was six before we got under way. We passed by the village, making, however, but little delay, and hastened toward Jordan, with a slight expectation only of arriving in time to witness the ceremony. We rode at a quick step for half an hour or more, and were full two miles from the river when we met the head of the returning cavalcade. The religious service and ablution in the sacred river had been performed a little after day-break, and the multitude were now on their way back to the camp, where their tents had been left standing. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 51 We halted to observe the train, which moved slowly by us, while the rear still rested on the bank of the Jordan. All were engaged in singing hymns, and I thought I had never seen so many happy faces. They had attained the summit of earthly bliss, an indescribable air of satisfaction, the beaming forth of heartfelt joy, rested upon every countenance. Nearly every one of the vast multitude exhibited some me- morial of his visit to the holy waters. Some had long branches of the Jordan willow, with tufts of foliage left upon the extremity, waving about their heads. Almost all had walking- sticks of the same material, and several, less affected by the prevailing enthusiasm than the desire of gain, had their beasts loaded w T ith trunks of trees, to be wrought into crucifixes, caskets, and toys, or articles of small furniture, and thus to become the basis of profitable traf- fic. BENEVOLENCE. A disposition to grasp, and keep entirely for their own use, money, toys, or any other arti- cles, is always odious in children ; while, on the other hand, it is delightful to see young persons liberally dividing with their brothers, sisters, and companions, any good things which fall to their share. A fine anecdote, exemplary 52 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. of this species of liberality, is told of two boys, the sons of the Earl of Elgin, who were per- mitted by their father to associate with the poor boys in the neighborhood. One day the Earl's sons being called to dinner, a lad who was playing with them said that he would wait till they returned. " There is no dinner for me at home," said the poor boy. " Come with us, then," said the Earl's sons. The boy refused ; and when they asked him if he had any money to buy a dinner, he answered (i No ! " When the young gentlemen got home, the eldest of them said to his father, " Papa, what was the price of the silver buckles you gave me?" " Five shillings," was the reply. " Let me have the money, and I'll give you the buckles again." It was done accordingly, and the Earl enquiring privately, found that the money was given to the lad who had no dinner. AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUTH. A little boy in destitute circumstances was put out as an apprentice to a mechanic. For sometime he was youngest apprentice, and of course had to go upon errands for the appren- tices, and not unfrequently to procure for them ardent spirits of which all but himself partook, because, as they said, it did them good. He, however, used none ; and in consequence of it, SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 53 was often the subject of severe ridicule from the older apprentices, because, as they said, he had not sufficient manhood to drink rum. And as they were revelling over their poison, he, under their insults and cruelty, often retired and vent- ed his grief in tears. But now every one of the older apprentices, we are informed, is a drunkard, or in a drunkard's grave ; and this youngest apprentice, at whom they used to scoff, is sober and respectable, and worth a hundred thousand dollars. In his employment are about one hundred men, who do not use ardent spirits; he is exerting upon man}' thousands an influence in the highest degree salutary, which may be transmitted by them to future generations, and be the means, through grace, of preparing mul- titudes not only for usefulness and respectability on earth, but for an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. WRINKLES. Young woman, would you have wrinkles on your face?" " Not for the world," you reply. Then cease fretting, and murmuring, and re- pining. Rise at early dawn, take the broom, sweep the floor, make the beds, and get break- fast yourself. Such employment, with a cheer- ful heart, will keep you from growing prema- turely old, and having your face lined with wrinkles and scowls. 5* 54 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. TIE YOUR SHOE-STRINGS. I knew a little heedless boy, Who seldom thought or cared, If he could get his cake and toy, How other mailers fared. No malice in his heart was there; And scarce a fault beside, t So great as that of wanting care, To keep his shoe-strings tied. You'd often see him on the run, To chase the geese about, While both his shoe-strings were undone, With one perhaps slipp'd out. He'd tread on one, then down he'd go, While round the welkin rings With bitter cries, and sounds of woe, " Why don't he tie his strings?" Then home he'd hasten through the street, To tell about his fall; While on the little sloven's feet, The cause was plain to all. For, while he shook his aching hand, Complaining of the bruise, The strings were trailing through the sand, From both his loosen'd shoe" SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 55 One day, his father thought a ride Would do the children good, But Jemmy's shoe-strings were untied, As on the stairs he stood. In hastening down to take his place, With clothes all nice and clean, Wide sprawling on his hands and face, Poor Jemmy soon is seen. The dragging string had made him trip, And bump! bump! went his head, He bruis'd his nose, and cut his lip; And tears and blood were shed. His aching wounds he meekly bore; But with a swelling heart, He heard the carriage from the door, With all but him, depart! This grievous lesson taught him care, And now he says, or sings: " No more shall Jemmy Johnson wear A shoe with untried strings." LIFE. Life is real, life is earnest, And the grave is not its goal: "Dust thou art — to dust relurnest Was not spoken of the soul. 56 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE SABBATH CLASS. Miss Carter had a class of little boys in the Sabbath school. The name of one was Robert Wood, of another William Brown, of another John Noys, and of the youngest Charles Ten- ney. Miss Carter was a very good teacher, and her scholars loved her much. One morn- ing she said, " I am going to ask you all a ques- tion, and I hope you will give me a good an- swer. I wish you all to think before you speak." " What is the question?" said Robert. " I wish to ask you all, what you come to Sunday school for?" " I come to learn to do good," said Robert. " I learn about the Bible," said William. " I think we come to please ourselves, that is what I come for," said Charles. " I think we come to please our fathers and mothers," said John. " Which has given the right answer?" said William. "You have all told the truth," said Miss Carter. "I think you come to learn to be good, to learn about the Bible, to please yourselves, and to please your fathers and mothers." "Then has not one given a better answer than the other?" said Robert. " Yes, I think your answer is the best, Robert; because it is the reason why you all ought to come to Sunday school." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 57 "I should think learning about the Bible was a good reason." " It is, my dear; but it is not the most impor- tant one. Don't you think a boy may know a great deal about the Bible, and yet be a bad boy." " Yes, I am sure I do — " '•And I," said Robert, "know a boy who can repeat several chapters in the Bible with- out missing a word, who is so proud that none of the boys like him ; and a girl who is only six years old, who knows all the stories in the Old Testament, and yet frits so much at her brothers and sisters, that none of them love her at all." " What you have said, shows that you may know a great deal about the Bible, and yet be bad boys. As for your answer, John, of ccming to please your father and mother, it is a good reason for coming ; but yet, you may come from that motive, and not improve your time while you are here." " Is not my reason a good one," said Charles? "I said we come to please ourselves." " That may be a good reason, and it may be a bad one." " How can it be a bad one?" " It's being good or bad depends on what it is which pleases you." " Going to Sundav school is what pleases me." 58 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Yes, I know it pleases you to go to Sunday- school, but why does it please you?" " I don't exactly know. There are a great many things which please me at meeting and Sunday school." " I have seen some boys and girls spend a great deal of their time while in the Sabbath class, in laughing and playing. Do you think that they come to school from a good motive?" " I think they had better stay at home, than come to laugh and play." " Don't you think these children love to come to Sunday school?'* " Yes, I know some who like to come very much, who don't learn any thing good, and who push the other boys, and make all play that are near them." "Then you think as I do, that a boy may like to come to Sunday school, and yet be a bad boy. I wish you all to come to Sunday school to learn to be good boys — learn as much about the Bible as you possibly can. Always look at your teacher when she is talking with you. Try to remember what she says to you, and re- peat it to your parents when you go home." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 59 HINDOO SUPERSTITION. It may seem incredible, says a writer in the Christian Reflector, but it is undoubtedly true, that there now exists at the Marmadilla Fank, in the middle of the city and island of Bombay, British India, a human being who has inhabited a summer-house, and held on the palm of his left hand a heavy flower-pot for twenty-one years without intermission. The narrator of this circumstance actually saw the hermit, (for such he is called.) The arm is completely sinew-bound and shrivelled, the nails of his fin- gers nine inches long, and curved like the talons of a bird. His beard nearly reaches to the ground when standing erect. Whilst sitting, the man rests his elbow on his knee, and when walking he supports it with the other hand. His countenance indicates intelligence, and he once had very extensive possessions. All he now possesses, is a few rags round the middle of his body, and a servant who is allowed to attend to his immediate wants, the pecuniary part of which is supplied by vi- sitors. Twenty-one years ago he lost caste by eat- ing mutton ! an indulgence in totally forbid- den food, and consequently condemned to hold for thirty years a large flower-pot, filled with earth, in which grows a sacred plant. To lose 60 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. caste, and not be able to take it up again, ac- cording to the superstition of these deluded idolaters, is to incur the penalty of everlasting misery in a future state. What an example does this poor deluded creature afford, of per- severance, zeal, courage, and devotion, worthy even of the highest cause. If he live to redeem his caste, most likely he will hereafter be set apart to be worshipped as a god. THE EYES OF INSECTS. How wonderfully constructed is this beautiful organ of insect vision ! How admirably adapt- ed to the necessities of insects ! The gaudy dragon fly, presenting as he does such a con- spicuous tempting show of colors to the active swallow, eludes the feathered enemy by su- perior agility of flight. More agility, however, would avail nothing without the aid of power- ful eyes. Accordingly, nature has given him somewhat more than 12,000 bright and piercing eyes; some looking upwards, some downwards, some backwards, and some on either side. In the ant, there are fifty of these faces or eyes ; in the horse fly, four thousand : in butterflies, upwards of seventeen thousand three hundred and fifty-five have been counted — nay, in some coleopterous or scaly-winged insects, there have been numbered no less than twenty-eight thou- sand and eighty- eight. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 61 THE CARELESS GIRL. The careless girl is always unfortunate. If she goes into the kitchen, to assist about the work, she splashes the water upon the wall ; drops oil on the floor ; spills fat in the fire ; scorches her clothes ; burns her cakes ; breaks the crockery ; or cuts her fingers with the carv- ing knife. If directed to sweep the keeping room, she oversets a lamp, or brushes ofF a table cover, and sends Bibles and hymn books sprawl- ing on the floor. Or, if passing through the parlor, she swings her dress against the centre table, and brushes off costly books, bruising the fancy binding, and soiling their edges. Every where she goes, something is found in ruins.- The trouble is, she does not think — she does not observe — or else her thoughts and obser- vations are on something besides what is before her. She does not mind what she is doing — she does not look to see what she steps on, or whether her hands have firm hold on the article she takes up. If she passes through a door, she does not mind whether it was open ; on a warm summer's day, she will close it ; but if she finds it carefully shut on a freezing day in mid- winter, she will leave it wide open. By indulging such habits as these, an ami- able girl, who may otherwise be beloved, be- comes the dread of all her acquaintances. 6 62 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE BLACKSMITH'S BOY. Some years ago, we were traveling through the interior of Pennsylvania, and had occasion to stop for the night in a small town. During the evening we went into a store for the pur- pose of purchsing some articles of which we stood in need, and whilst there, our attention was attracted by a little boy whose clothes w T ere begrimed with soot and coal from work- ing in the blacksmith's shop, (for he was a blacksmith's apprentice.) He brought to the merchant a small hammer which he had made out of small pieces of iron given to him by his master. Said he, " Sir, will you be so kind as to give me a spelling-book for this hammer ? I want to read, and I have not the monev to buy a book." The merchant was so pleased that he gave him the book and allowed him to keep his hammer too. This was an example of perseverance worthy the imitation of every boy in the land. We took down the name of that boy in our memorandum book, expecting to hear of him again, and we have heard of him since, for we were told but lately, that he has made wonderful proficiency in his studies, and we believe that a high position is in re- servation for that humble blacksmith's appren- tice, and those who live long enough will surely hear of him in time to come. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 63 THE REWARD OF DISOBEDIENCE. " It blew a tremendous gale last night," ex- claimed Mr. Thompson to his son, as he entered the breakfast room: " I fear we shall hear that it has done great damage to the shipping." "Thomas has just told me," replied Lewis, *' that there are two brigs on the sands, near the Goodwin Light ; and only think, papa, the large vessel that sailed with the evening tide is totally wrecked. She, too, was driven on the sands, but succeeded in getting off; however, she was so much injured that before she could put back again into the harbor she went to pieces, and almost all on board perished." " Put on your hat," said Mr. Thompson, " we will walk to the pier ; we shall be back before mother is ready for breakfast." Lewis readily obeyed ; not that it was his custom to do so, for, like many other little boys, he was very headstrong, and preferred his own gratification to complying with the wishes of his parents, but curiosity now prompted him, and he eagerly accompanied his father. They soon beheld a dreadful spectacle. The sea was still agitated in a frightful manner, and the wind continued to blow verv strong. All was bustle and anxiety among the sailors and fishermen ; and the bodies of several persons lay extended on the pier head. Lewis shud- 64 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. dered. " pray let us go back," he exclaim- ed. But before his father could make any re- ply, the attention of both was attracted by the piercing lamentations of a poor woman who was kneeling by the side of a boy apparently about twelve years old, and wringing her hands in an agony of distress. " 0, Ned !" she sobbed, " and is it come to this ! 0, he would always have his own way ;" an expression which she repeated several times. Mr. Thompson turned to one of the specta- tors, and asked the cause of her words. " Why, sir," replied the fisherman whom he addressed, " that poor boy who lies there was always a sad, wilful lad ; he was very anxious to go to sea, but neither his father nor mother was willing, for he was their only child, and not very strong ; all they said, however, was of no use ; nay, perhaps, it made him still more determined to have his own way ; so last night he got on board the Resolution, and sailed be- fore any one knew any thing about the matter. His mother was looking for him the whole of the night, almost wild with distress, his dead body has just been hauled up with those other poor fellows. " Dreadful," murmured Mr. Thompson. Unable to endure the scene longer, Lewis grasped his father's hand, and drew him away. He did not attempt to speak a single word as they walked home; and when seated at the SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 65 •breakfast table, his looks showed so much dis- tress that his mother anxiously inquired if he were unwell? Lewis returned no answer, but rising from the table, threw his arms around her neck, and for some minutes wept violently. u 0, mother," at length he cried, " I have seen such a sight — I have heard such cries— 0, I shall never forget them ! forgive me for being so bad and obstinate as I have often been ; and never, never. I think, will I disobey you again." Mrs. Thompson looked at her husband for an explanation, which he in a few words gave her. " Thus," said he, as he concluded his distress- ing narrative, " thus has God thought fit to punish this breach of his holy commandment, which enjoins us to ' honor our father and mo- ther, that our days may be long in the land." The sea, at his word, has opened her mouth, and swallowed up the disobedient child almost in sight of his home ; and made his fate an aw- ful warning to all who, like him, are tempted to forget the great and sacred duty they owe to their parents." 66 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE FAINT-HEARTED YOUTH. Chap. 1. — Can't is a paltry word to use. " What is the matter now, Frank ?" said John Williams, seeing a boy next to him crying. " I can't do this sum," he replied, looking "with a dismal face at a sum in multiplication. Frank had been gazing at it for ten minutes, but he had not made one stroke with his pen- cil towards beginning the task. " How do you know you can't do it," John asked : " why don't you try." " I know I can't ; there is no use in trying : see how many figures there are ; it is too hard for a little boy to do." " I shall not help you, Frank, I have my own lesson to learn. You had better go to work." Frank cast a glance at his teacher, and after a minute's study whispered, " Tell me for once how much is eight times seven ?" " Fifty-six ; make haste, your turn comes next" said John, as he went with his class to recite his lesson. W T hen Frank was called, his master said, " I shall punish you, not so much for doing your sum wrong, as for not trying to do it." " How often Frank Norris is punished," said one of the boys, as they were playing during the recess ; " if I were he I would tell my fa- ther." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 67 " It is his own fault," another observed, " he won't try to learn." Frank leaned gloomily against the fence, while the rest were playing. One cried out to him, " Frank, why don't you run away V 9 He replied, "I can't." They all laughed. " Come and play, your pockets are full of marbles." " No i I can't play," he answered. " Get out of our way then," said John, "you are not good for any thing, in school or out." When blackberries were ripe, and the Mag- nolia trees in blossom, the boys went for a frolic in the w r oods. Provided with baskets, the mer- ry party set out, promising their mothers to bring back fruit enough to keep them in black- berry pies for a week. They had not walked far, when they saw a large wagon, used for hauling brick, drawn by four mules. "That's Uncle Sambo driving," said Frank ; " I know him. " Then ask him to give us a ride in his emp- ty wagon," cried the boys. Frank drew back. " No, I can't, there are so many of us." But they all shouted, " Uncle Sambo," and when he stopped they surrounded the wagon ; some climbed on the wheels, others jumped in two or three sprung on the backs of the mules, all so full of fun that the good natured driver laughed, as he stowed them away some thing as he did his load of bricks. 68 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. They soon reached Cypress swamp, and fill- ed their baskets with fruit. Then they went in search of Magnolia blossoms. " Here is a tree," said John, " full of flowers. Frank, you are nimble, climb up and pick them." Frank cast a frightened look at the tall tree; " it is too high, I can't go up." " You need not go to the top, there are plen- ty of flowers on the lower limbs ; we will help you." So saying, John winked to the others, and before Frank knew it five or six of them lifted him; and whether he would or not he had to climb the tree. The first effort made, he was soon seated on one of the branches, pluck- ing and throwing down on the heads of his companions the beautiful flowers. " Well done for Frank," said John, as he saw him descend the tree without asking help. " Think of the Magnolia, next time you have a hard sum, and don't be afraid." John and Frank remained at the same school several years ; and though John was often out of patience with the faint hearted boy, yet he could not help assisting him sometimes. One day, when Frank had been in trouble, and his friend had come to his aid, John said, " What will you do when you are older, and have to work for yourself? Yqu will never make out, Frank, unless you forget to say / canH. Frank sighed and said, " Yes !" and there it ended. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 69 If my young readers will follow me in the history of these boys, they will see the differ- ence between those two expressions, J can and / can't. Chap. II. — Try is a great word. Both John and Frank were blest with Chris- tian parents, who endeavored to teach their children how to serve God. Frank's father saw the fault of his son. He knew that nothing but true religion could give that resolution and strong principle which he wanted, and he offered many prayers that God would send his blessed spirit to renew Frank's heart. But Frank did not pray for himself. Their school boy years were now ended. These days of grammar, spelling, books and play, pass swiftly. Happy is the youth who spends them w r ell, for what a boy is in the school, he will most likely be in after life. A lazy, irreligious boy, too often becomes a vicious useless man. John had finished his school terms with cred- it, and was prepared to enter college. Frank, who was only a little younger, was far behind hand in his studies, though John had tried hard to encourage him. " This is my last week," said John to some of his companions ; " the first of next month I am off for college." 70 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. « What will you do after that, John V 9 asked a boy. " Why, then I will study medicine and be a doctor, and ride in a handsome gig, with a med- icine chest." " A long road to run, first," observed one of his friends. " Then the sooner begun the better," he re- plied. " Besides, it has been travelled before ; what one person has done another can do." Are you going to college, Frank ?" " My father says I may," said Frank ; " he said he would work hard to carry me through, but " " Bat what," said John, impatiently. " I am afraid I can't get ready. Now don't look so angry, John, I am not as smart as you are, and when you are gone who will help me." "' Help yourself Frank ; but there is no use in talking, I have been sounding that in your ears this seven years." When John took leave of his teacher he spoke to him of Frank. " I can't help liking him, though he is so lazy." His teacher observed, " Frank is not lazy, he is never idle, but he wants resolution ; the first appearance of a difficulty frightens him." " He was always so," said John, " he says it is natural to him. Is that a good excuse sir 1" " By no means," replied his friend ; " it is the very reason why he should pray and strive SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 71 against his fault. Had Frank begun earlier, or would he begin even now to resist this weak- ness, he would by the help of God, slowly but certainly overcome it." Frank's heart was so sad to part with his friend. He loved him, and leaned on him. The tears filled John's eyes, when he saw Frank's grief. " Make haste," he said, " study hard, I shall look for you." But he looked and waited in vain. Frank was never prepared for college, and as John became occupied with his studies, he forgot for a time his early friend. THE PARTY. '" Mother dear," said Susan, as she came in from the garden with her face in a fine glow from excitement and exertion, " I have com- pleted my house. I have the table set up, and all the seats in order, and now may I go and ask my company to come V " How many do you wish to invite ?" said Mrs. Green. " I don't know ma'am. I have seats for eight. There is Laura, Isabel, and Jane and Eliza I must invite, for they all invited me and there is Margaret who is a stranger almost, and 72 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. I wish to invite her, and then I must have cousins Mary, Eunice and Alice of course." "That makes eight. That is a good number. You may go and ask them to come and see you if you choose." " I should like to invite one more, if you have no objection." " 1 think the number you have named is enough, and unless you have some particular reason for inviting more, I should think you had better not." " I have a particular reason, mother." " Who is the ninth one V " Abby Hurd." " Why do you wish to invite her ?" " Because — because she treated me badly, or I treated her badly. She ran away from me one day, and got some of the other girls to do the same. And then she plagued me, and made me angry, and I told her [ was going to have a party, and that she should not come to it. I am sorry I said so, and I should like to invite her." " I am sorry you got angry, and am glad you are sensible of your fault, and are sorry for it, and are disposed to make reparation to the in- jured. Next to avoiding faults, the best thing" is to confess and forsake them. You will proba- bly do her good as well as yourself by inviting her." " I wasn't thinking about doing myself good." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 73 " So much the better, my daughter; the less we think of benefiting ourselves, and the more we think of benefiting others, the more we are likely to benefit ourselves. You may go now, and give your invitations." Susan took her bonnet, and set out on her pleasing expedition. While she is gone, I will tell you about her house, of which mention was made above. In the grass plat at the end of the garden, there was a clump of lilacs about twenty feet in diameter. Susan's brother cut down those which stood in the centre, and then bent the top of the remaining ones over the opening thus made, and tied them together, so as to form a roof. There was thus a sort of room surround- ed and covered over head with green walls. Turf seats were then made, and a box placed inlhe centre for a table. Susan's house was thus in order for company. Her brother, who was a little older than Susan, having finished the house to her satisfaction, went to help his father in the hay field. Early in the afternoon the company came; all who were named above were there, except cousin Eunice, who was obliged to stay at home to assist her mother. After expressing their admiration of Susan's house, and seating them- selves on the turf seats, which were declared to be far superior to spring-seat rocking chairs, it was proposed that an excursion be made to a 7 74 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. neighboring meadow for strawberries. On the way, Abby fell out with one of the girls, and it was with great difficulty that Susan succeeded in restoring them to good humor. They came to a place where strawberries were very abun- dant, and they were very busy with their heads down, and their sunbonnets over their faces. Suddenly they were startled by a scream from Abby who was a few rods distant from the rest. She thought she had found " the thickest spot," and in her selfishness, she would not call the other girls to share with her. Suddenly she received a heavy blow on her back which over- threw her and caused her to utter a loud scream. The girls looked up, and saw a large sheep, which had been brought up by hand, and was very tame, standing beside her, and looking up- on her, as she lay screaming in the grass. " What is the matter," said one of the girls. " It is only Tom," said Susan " She need not be afraid of him. He goes everywhere, and never hurts any body. Tommy, Tommy, Tommy." " Baa," said the sheep, and he set out upon a run to come to Susan. The other girls soon scampered in all directions, but. Susan stood still, and let him come up and lick her hand. By degrees, the girls overcame their fears, and came back. The sheep kept with them during their stay in the meadow, and conducted himself with great propriety. When they went SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 75 to the house, he went with them ; and wished very much to enter the garden with them, and would have been allowed to do so, but for Ab- by. She protested against it, and was half in- clined to believe that he had been told to as- sault her by Susan or some of the other giris. This certainly was not the case, and why he made the assault is not known. All enjoyed themselves very much, except Abby. When they were gone home, Susan gave to her mother an account of the manner in which the afternoon had passed, repeating a remark of one of the girls, that " she had gained noth- ing by inviting Abby." " She is mistaken," said Mrs. Green, " I think you have gained much, rou set a good exam- ple, you gained in some measure a victory over yourself. You have been happier than you would have been if you hed persevered in your threat not to invite her. Even if you had gain- ed nothing by it, it is enough that you have done right" 76 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. A LESSON. I'll teach thee a lesson, Be active and wise, The deeper the valley, The brighter the skies; The harder the labor, More weary the breast, The sweeter the slumber, When the pillow is pressed. When the fierce storm approaches, Unbend to the blast; Unyielding, look upward, Till the whirlwind has passed; The firm and unshaken, Who never despair, The seal of true greatness, . Forever shall wear. A FOREST FUNERAL We had one long and weary and somewhat unsuccessful expedition last fall. We made our calculations to go through the whole hunt- ing district in the course of six days, and reach the river, ten miles below our cabin, on Satur- day, so that we might attend church there — or rather, hear preaching, in a log school-house, SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 77 from a clergyman who once a month visited the small settlement. We worked hard during the week, and were not sorry, at dusk on Satur- day, to sit down in the comfortable frame house of Col. , who is the owner of some thou- sands of acres in that immediate vicinity. The school-house in which services were to be held, is beautifully situated, in a grove of oaks, on a point around which the river bends and runs rapidly, with a lulling sound. Did you ever notice how different the voice of a river is in passing different scenes? Up in the gorge above, it is wild, and rages as if angry with the rocks it meets, and its voice is like the voice of a roused warrior. But here it goes slowly and sedately by the little " oak school-house," as it is called, and would seem to linger, as if loving the quiet scene. It was nearly midnight of Saturday night that a messenger came to Col. , requesting him to go to the cabin of a settler, some three miles down the river, and see his daughter, a girl of fourteen, who was supposed to be d\ing. Col. awoke me, and asked me to accom- pany him, and I consented, taking with me the small package of medicines which I always car- ried in the forest. But I learned soon that there was no need of these, for her disease was past cure. Leaving the house, we descended to the bank of the river, and stepped into the canoe that lay »7# 78 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. in an eddy, and seizing a pole, flattened at one end for a paddle, Col. ■ pushed the slight vessel out into the current, and we shot swiftly down. I have described so many night scenes, that I forbear giving you this. You may im- agine the scene if you choose, as I lay in the bottom, and he used now his pole and now his paddle, to guide the bark in the rapids. " She is a strange child," said the Colonel ; " her father is as strange a man. They live to- gether alone on the bank of the river. They came here three years ago, and no one know r s whence, or why. He has money, and is a keen shot. The child has been wasting away for a year past. I have seen her often, and she seems gifted with a marvellous intellect. She speaks sometimes as if inspired ; and she seems to be the only hope of her father." We reached the hut of the settler in less than half an hour, and entered it reverently. The scene was one that cannot easily be for- gotten. There were books and evidences of luxury and taste lying on the rude table in the centre. A guitar lay on the bench near the small window, and the bed furniture, on which the dying girl lay, was as soft as the covering of a dying queen. I was, of course, startled, never having heard of these people before ; but knowing it to be no uncommon thing for mis- anthropes to go into the woods to live and die, I was content to ask no explanations, more es- pecially as the death hour was evidently near* SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 79 She was a fair child, with masses of long black hair lying over her pillow. Her eye was dark and piercing, and as it met mine, she start- ed slightly, but smiled and looked upward. I spoke 9 few words to her, asked her if she knew her condition. "I know that my Redeemer liveth," said she, in a "voice whose melody was like the sweetest strain of an iEolian. You may imagine that the answer startled me, and with a few words of like import, I turned from her. A half hour passed, and she spoke in that same deep, richly melodious voice : " Father, I am cold ; lie down beside me ; " and the old man lay down by his dying child, and she twined her emaciated arms around his neck, and murmured in a dreamy voice, " Dear father, dear father." "My child," said the old man, "doth the flood seem deep to thee? " " Nay, father, for my soul is strong." " Seest thou the farther shore? " "I see it, father; and its banks are green with immortal verdure." " Hearest thou the voices of its inhabitants?" " I hear them, father, as the voice of angels - • - • falling from afar, in the still and solemn night time. And they call me. Her voice,|too, fa- ther; oh, I heard it then." " Doth she speak to thee? " "An angel smile. But a cold, calm smile. But I am cold, cold, cold ! Father, there's a 80 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. mist in the room. You'll be lonely, lonely, lonely. Is this death, father? " " It is death, my Mary." " Thank God." I stepped out into the night, and stood long and silently looking; at the rushing river. The wife of a settler arrived soon after, and then the Colonel's excellent lady and her daughter, and we left the cabin. The sabbath morning broke over the eastern hills before we reached the school-house again; but never came sabbath light so solemnly be- fore. The morning service in the school-house I have not room to describe now, for I have taken more time and space than I had any idea of. As evening approached, a slow and sad pro- cession came through the forest to the little school-house. There, with simple rites, the good clergyman performed his duty, and we went to the grave. It was in the inclosure where two of Col. 's children lie, a lovely spot. The sun was setting as we entered the grove. The procession was short. They were hardy men, and rough, in shooting jackets, and some with rifles on their shoulders. But their warm hearts gave beauty to their unshaken faces, as they stood in reverent silence by the grave. The river murmured and the birds sang, and so we buried her. I saw the sun go down from the same spot, and the stars were bright before I left it, for I SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 81 have always had an idea that the grave-yard was the nearest place to heaven on this earth ; and with old Sir Thomas Browne, I love to see a church in a grave-yard, for even as we pass through the place ot" graves to the temple of God on earth, so we must pass through the grave to the temple of God on high. 82 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE FISHERMAN. I was some time since walking upon the wharf where a fishing boat lay, and as I was passing and repassing, the master was uttering the most tremendous oaths. At length I turned to him, and standing beside his boat, said — " Sir, I am unacquainted with your business. What kind o*f fishes are these? " He replied, " They are cod-fish." " How long are you usually out in order to obtain your load? " " Two or three weeks," was the answer. "At what price do you sell them? " He informed me. " Well, have you not hard work to obtain a living in this way? " " Yes, hard work," said he. 1 inquired, " With what do you bait these fish? " " With clams." " Did you ever catch mackerel? " « Yes." "And I suppose you bait them with clams, too? " " 0, no," said he, " they will not bite at clams." " Then you must have different kinds of bait for different sorts of fish? " " Yes." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 83 " Well, now, did you ever catch a fish with- out any bait? " " Yes, said he, " I was out last year, and one day when I was fixing my line, my hook fell into the water, and the fool took hold of it, and I drew him in." " Now, sir," said I, " I have often thought that Satan was very much like a fisherman. He always baits his hook with that kind of bait which different sorts of sinners like best ; but when he would catch a profane swearer, he does not take the trouble to put on any bait at all, for the fool will always bite at the bare hook." He was silent. His countenance was solemn, and after a moment's pause, as I turned to go away, I heard him say to one standing by him, " I guess that's a minister." A STORY WITH A MORAL. A black snake which had discovered the nest of a woodpecker, climbed up the tree, and put- ting his head into the hole, swallowed the wood- pecker. Alas ! when he would have with- drawn, he found his throat so much distended by his supper that he could not get back ; and so he died with his length exposed, dangling from the woodpecker's hole, an admonition to all who passed by, not to get into a scrape, un- til they had contrived how to get out of it. 82 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN, THE DESTROYER. I saw a temple reared by the hands of men, standing with its high pinnacles in the distant plain. The streams beat upon it; the God of nature hurled his thunderbolts against it; and yet it stood firm as adamant. Revelry was in its halls ; the gay, the beautiful were there. I returned, and the temple was not there. Its high walls lay scattered in ruins; moss and wild grass grew wildly there. The young and the gay who revelled there had all passed away. I saw a child rejoicing in its youth, the idol of its mother, and the only pride of his father. I returned, and the child had become old. Trembling with the weight of years, he stood the last of his generation, a stranger amidst the desolation around him. I saw an old oak stand in all its pride on the mountains — the birds were carolling on its boughs. I returned ; the old oak was leafless and sap- less ; the winds were playing at their pastimes through its boughs, " Who is the destroyer? " said I to my guar- dian angel. " It is Time," said he, " when the morning stars sang together in joy, over the new made world, he commenced his course, and when he SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 85 shall have destroyed all that is beautiful on earth, plucked the sun from his sphere — veiled the moon in blood ; yea, when he shall have rolled heaven and earth away as a scroll, then shall an angel from the throne of God come forth, and with one foot on the sea, and one on the land, lift up his hand toward heaven, and swear by Heaven eternal, "Time is, Time was, but Time shall be no more!" THE DISAPPOINTMENT. One pleasant morning, quite late in the sun> mer, Charlie wished very much to go out on an expedition, with his brother Albert, and some of his school-mates. It was vacation, and the excursion had been planned a number of days before. They were to ramble about in the woods, and fields, and each carried a little bas- ket to put their berries in. Charlie looked much disappointed, when he found that he could not get permission to join the merry party. He had been unwell, and his father did not think him strong enough. " Why, father," he said in a tone of remon- strance, " I am very strong now. I wheeled my wheelbarrow full of chips to the barn twice this morning." 8 86 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Yes," said his father, " you are stronger than you were a week ago, but not strong enough to run about and play hard, five or six hours." " I think I am father. I don't feel tired any." His father seemed a litttle disconcerted, and said, half aloud, " I had better have said noth- ing about the reason, why I wished you to re- main at home." The little boy looked perplexed, and said in a surprised tone of voice, " I don't see why, I am sure." " Why, your mind is now employed in try- ing to destroy the force of my reason, when you ought to be trying to obey me willingly and cheerfully." Charlie's countenance wore a thoughtful ex- pression as his father spoke. He had been get- ting considerably out of humor, but he began to think that this would be both foolish and wrong. He was silent for a moment, and then said, " Well, father, I will try to bear it pa- tiently." " I am very glad to hear you say so," said his father, " and I will tell you how you can easily succeed. Try to stop thinking of the ex- pedition altogether, and employ yourself about something that will please and interest you." Charlie resolved to follow his father's direc- tions, and in doing so, he soon became cheerful and happy. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 87 MY BOYHOOD'S DAYS. My boyhood's days, how bright they s-eem, How happy too and gay; Alas! what changes there have been Since ihey have pass'd away ! For then I knew no anxious thought, No trouble filled my breast; Each day its round of pleasure brought, Each night its peaceful rest. Since then my mates once kind to me, Alas! have turned to men; And now no happiness they see, In what was pleasing then! Their childish sports remembered not, They play another game; The prize they sought in youth forgot, They struggle now for fame. Alas ! for us when youth is past, 'Twill ne'er return again, — Then we must all submit at last To live like other men. Still let us hope, that when we die We'll leave this world of pain, And soar to realms above the sky, In happy youth again. 88 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. TARDINESS. One day as Albert and Joseph Page were walking along on their way to school, they ob- served upon one side of the road a. fine looking black dog. It was a hound, and one of the most beautiful of his species. " What a splendid creature," said Albert, and he went towards him, and smoothed his glossy coat, the dog all the while rubbing against him, and seeming much pleased with his attentions. " He is a fine dog certainly," said Joseph, " one of the finest I ever saw." " Yes, that he is," said Albert, " I wonder who owns him. But come, let us have some good play with him." " We must not stop any longer now," said Joseph, " we have only time to get to school in season." " There is no hurry about it. We can play a minute or two, and then run to school." "No," said Joseph, "it does not want quite five minutes of nine, and I am going along. Come, if you do not go with me, 1 fear you will be late." " No danger," said Albert, " I will run at the first stroke of the clock. I can get there in two minutes." The scholars were allowed SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 89 five minutes after the striking of the clock to assemble. Then the teacher fastened the door and no one was allowed to enter. So Joseph walked on toward the school- hcuse, while Albert remained playing with the dog, till he was startled by the village clock striking nine. He then began to hasten to school, but had not advanced more than halfway, when he heard a cry wmich seemed to come from a neighboring field. He looked over the wall which separated it from the road, and saw little Willie Hall lying flat upon his face. Climbing as quickly as possible over the wall, he helped the little boy up, and found that his hands were badly cut by some loose stones upon which he had fallen. He soothed him as well as he was able, and then went with him to his father's house. All this, occupied consid- erable time, and when he entered the school- house entry, and tried the door which led to the school room, he found that it was fastened. Albert felt rather sad at being shut out from school, on account of tardiness. He could not help thinking that it would not have happened had he left playing with the dog at the proper time. He did not like to tell his father exactly how his trouble had arisen. He once thought of saying that helping Willie Hall had been the occasion of his being late at school, but some- how he could not make this seem right. It was kind to help the little boy, but the real cause of Albert's being late, was playing too long with the dog. The kindness did not alter this fault. 90 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. HOW A ROGUE FEELS WHEN CAUGHT. Theodore Thinker tells us that he does not know of any thing calculated to make a boy feel more foolish, than to be detected in a mis- chievous action. He says, suppose we let him tell his own story — " When I was a little boy, as near as I can recollect about nine years of age, I went with my brother one bright Satur- day afternoon, when there was no school, to visit at the house of Captain Perry. The Cap- tain w T as esteemed one of the kindest and best natured neighbors in Willow Lane, where my father lived; and Julian the captain's eldest son, very near my own age, was among all the boys at school, my favorite play-fellow. Cap- tain Perry had two bee hives in his garden, where we were all three at play ; and as 1 watched the busy little fellows at their work, bringing in honey from their fields, all at once I thought it would be a very fine thing to thrust a stick into the hole, which I saw in one of the hives, and bring out some of the honey. My brother and Julian did not quite agree with me in this matter. They thought, as nearly as 1 can recollect, that there was three good reasons against this mode of obtaining honey ; first, I should be likely to get pretty badly stung ; se- condly, the act would be a very mean and cow- ardly piece of mischief; and thirdly I should be found out." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 91 " Still I was bent on the chivalrous under- taking. I procured a stick of the right size, and marched up to make the attack. While I was deliberating, with the stick already a little in the hole, whether I had better thrust it in suddenly, and then scamper away as fast as my legs could carry me, or proceed so deliberately that the bees would not suspect what was the matter, Captain Perry happened to come into the garden ; and I was so busy with my mis- chief, that I did not notice him until he advanced within a rod or two of >the bee hives. He sus- pected what I was about. " Theodore," said he; I looked arounch I am sure I would have given all I was worth in the world, not except- ing my little pony, which I regarded as a for- tune, if, by some magic or other, I t could have got out of this scrape. But it was too late. I hung my head down, as may be imagined, while Ihe captain went on with his speech: "Theodore, if I w 7 ere in your place, (I heartily wished he was in my place, but I did not say so; I said no- thing in fact,) if I were in your place, I would not disturb those poor, harmless bees, in that way. If you should put that stick into the hive, as you were thinking of doing, it would take the bees a whole week to mend up their cells. That is not the w T ay we get honey. I don't wonder you are fond of honey though : children generally are fond of it ; and if you will go into the house, Mrs. Perry will give you as much as you wish, I am sure." 92 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " This was twenty years ago, perhaps more. I have met Captain Perry a hundred times since. Indeed I shook his hand last summer, for he is still living, the same warm hearted, hard-work- ing farmer ; yet even now I cannot look upon his frank, honest countenance, but I distinctly call to mind the Quixotic adventure with the bees, and I feel almost as shamed as I did when I was detected. THE FLY. My merry little fly, stay here, And let me look at you; I will not touch you though you're near, As cruel children do. I see you spread your pretty wings, That sparkle in the sun, I see your legs, what tiny things! And yet how fast they run. You walk along (he ceiling now, And down the upright wall; I'll ask aunt Jane to tell me how You walk and do not fall, 'Twas God that taught you little fly, To walk along the ground, And mount above my head so high, And frolic round and round. I'll near you stand to see your play, But do not be afraid; I would not lift my little hand, To hurt the thing He made. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 93 THE BEST BOY IN SCHOOL. When George returned from school, he ran to his mother, exclaiming with a tone of exul- tation, " Only two more days, mother. I have not had a single mark for bad conduct, and I have had more good marks for perfect recita- tions, than any boy in school. In two more days the month will be out." George expected his mother to be as delight- ed as himself; but for a moment she looked grave, and seemed to be thinking. At length she said, " I am always glad when you have done well at school ; but I do not know that I ought to be particularly glad because you have done better than any other boy. You read this morning the account of the Pharisee who thank- ed God that he w T as better than other men ; you know that God w ? as not pleased with him. We may thank God for keeping us from sin, but we must wish and pray that all other men may be kept also." " But is it wrong, mother, to wish to be praised ? You very often praise me." " no, it is right to love praise ; but we must not do right merely for the sake of being praised. If praise is all we wish for, we shall be likely to neglect our duty, and do very wrong things when we have nobody to praise 94 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. or blame us. There are bad people in the world, who would praise you for doing wrong ; and it is often love of praise which leads per- sons to commit great sins." " So it is," said his mother ; " but I can tell you a motive which will always make us hap- py when we have done what is worthy of praise, even if no person in the world should know it — and this is, the desire to please God. He always knows our motives, and when he sees that we do right for the sake of pleasing him, he looks upon us with favor. This thought will make us happy, even if all the world blame us. Sometimes, you know, people are blamed for doing right ; but that will not make them very unhappy, if they only remember that God who looks upon the heart, is pleased with their conduct." " I should think it was very hard," said George, " to be blamed for doing right." " True, it is not pleasant but we must not mind it. If a bad boy should blame you for wishing to please your father and mother, I hope you would care but little for it." " I do not like to be laughed at," said George. " Neither do I," said his mother, " nor does any one ; and we should avoid doing things which are in themselves ridiculous ; but when any evil-minded person laughs at us for doing right, we must still do our duty in spite of their SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 95 laughing. If we have right feelings, we shall often feel happy in suffering for doing our duty. This is what the Bible means when it says, * Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.' Blessed, means happy, and our Saviour calls them hap- py who suffer for doing right. So we must always do as God commands, whether persons praise or blame us, and even if they treat us very ill. Tn all things we must seek the praise of God more than the praise of men. When- ever we feel it hard to be blamed for doing right, we must think of the Divine Saviour, who all his life was blameless and perfect, and who yet was reviled and persecuted, and even put to a cruel death, for teaching men how they might be saved from their sins. If Christ had not died for us, we must all have been misera- ble for ever. Shall we then think it hard to suffer a little blame or ridicule for the sake of pleasing him ? We must ask God for his sake, to deliver us from the fear of man, which bring- eth a snare." George sat for some time, thinking very se- riously of what his mother had said, and then, taking his little brother and sister into the gar- den, to relieve his mother from care, he devot- ed himself very kindly and patiently to their amusement until dinner time. 96 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. BE KIND TO EACH OTHER. Be kind to each other! The night's coming 1 on, When friend and when brother Perchance may be gone! Then, midst our dejeclion, How sweet to have earned The blest recollection Of kindness returned! When day hath departed, And memory keeps Her watch, broken hearted, Where all she loved sleeps, Let falsehood assail not, Nor envy reprove; Let trifles prevail not, Against those ye love. Nor change with to-morrow, Should fortune take wing, But the deeper the sorrow, The closer still cling! 0, be kind to each other! The night's coming on, When friend and when brother Perchance may be gone ! SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 97 PLEASANT INCIDENT. A very pleasant incident occurred in one of our public schools, a day or two since. It seems that the boys attending the school, of the average age of seven years, had, in their play of bat and ball, broken one of the neighbor's windows ; but no clue to the offender could be obtained, as he would not confess, nor would any of his associates expose him. The case troubled the teacher, and on the oc- casion of one of our citizens visiting the school, she privately and briefly stated the circumstances, and wished him, in some remarks to the school, to advert to the principle involved in the case. The address to the school had reference prin- cipally to the conduct of boys in the streets and at their sports — to the principles of rectitude and kindness which should govern them everywhere, even when alone, and when they thought no eye could see, and there was no one present to ob- serve. The scholars seemed deeply interested in the remarks. A very short time after the visitor left the school, a little boy arost in his seat, and said : "Miss L , I batted the ball that broke Mr. 's window. Another boy threw the ball, but I batted it, and struck the window. I ana willing to pay for it." 9 98 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. There was a death-like silence in the school as the boy was speaking, and it continued a minute after he had closed. " But it won't be right for to pay the whole for the glass," said another boy, rising in his seat ; " all of us that were playing should pay something, because we were all engaged alike in the play ; I'll pay my part." " And I." " And I." A thrill of pleasure seemed to run through the school at this display of correct feeling. The teacher's heart was touched, and she felt more than ever the responsibility of her charge. WASPS, PAPER MAKERS. How surprising is the operation of the wasps, which literally make paper for their hives. The beautifully constructed nests of birds will now furnish themes for many a morning medi- tation on instinct; but spare the young fledg- lings within ! It is an hitherto inexplicable fact, that all lairds of the same species build the nests exactly alike, although the educative pro- cess which has taught Ihem so to do is involved in mystery. The wren, the long tailed tit- mouse, and the magpie cover them in above, with an entrance at the side, the interior bear- ing an exact resemblance to an architectural dome. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 99 AN EXPERIMENT. I once knew a boy who was employed by his father to remove all the loose^ small stones, which, from the peculiar nature of the ground, had accumulated in the road before the house. He was to take them up, and throw them over into the pasture across the way. He soon got tired of picking them up one by one, and sat clown upon the bank to try to devise some bet- ter means of accomplishing his work ; he at length conceived and adopted the following plan. He set up in the pasture, a narrow board for a target, or, as boys would call it, a mark, and then collecting all the boys in the neigh- borhood, he proposed to them as an amusement, which boys are always ready for, firing at a mark. I need not say that the stores of ammu- nition in the street were soon exhausted, the boys working for their leader, when they sup- posed they were only finding amusement for themselves. Here, now, is experimenting upon the mind ; the production of useful effort with rapidity and ease, by the intervention of proper instrumentality ; the conversion by means of a little knowledge of human nature, of that which would have otherwise been dull and fatiguing labor, into a most animating sport, giving plea- sure to twenty, instead of tedious labor to one. 100 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. LITTLE ANN. "Papa," said little Ann Harrison, "when shall I be twenty years old? " " Twenty years old ! " said her father; "how came such a thought as that into my girl's head? " Then, with a graver look, and a deep sigh, (for he had already lost several lovely children,) he added, " You may never live to be twenty, my love." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 101 " I know that," said the prattler, "for poor brother Henry was only seven when he died, and dear little baby Hetty was but a year and a half old. I remember them. And then Ste- phen was only four, and Francis but two; for mamma and I went into the church-yard, and read the dates upon their tomb-stones the other day. But, papa, if I do live, when shall I be twenty? " " Why," replied her father, " I believe you know the multiplication table ; how many are four times five? " "Twenty," said the little girl. . " Well, then, as you are now only five, you must live three times as long as you have lived, before you are of that age." " dear ! " cried Ann, " that is a very, very long time, indeed ! But when I am twenty I shall be a woman, shan't I, papa? " " I suppose you will think yourself one," said her father. " But pray what does all this lead to? " " Why, then, when I am a woman I may do as I like ; may I not, papa? " " I do not know about that ; you may like to do something that is impossible, or at least highly improper; or you maybe under some who will prevent your doing what you like, even if it is ever so reasonable. But pray what does my little Ann think she should like to do?" " Why, papa, I have been thinking that when I am a woman, I will just have such 102 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. pretty dresses, and fine feathers, and ride in such a handsome carriage as Mrs. Montague." " ! your humble servant," cried Mr. Harri« son, " it is all come out now. But then, there is another thing to be taken into consideration. In order to do as Mrs. Montague does, you must have as much money as she has; and I really do not think that will ever be your lot." " Why, papa," said the child, " cannot you give me as much? I thought you were very rich, and could give my brother and me a great deal of money." "Then, my dear," replied he, " you are much mistaken. I neither can do it, nor am I desi- rous of it." " Not desirous of it ! Why, do you not wish to see us very happy? " "Yes, my love; but I do not think being very rich would make you so." " No ! " said Ann. " W T hy, are not all rich people happy? " "Indeed they are not," said her father^ "many of them are far more miserable than those who have to work hard for their daily bread." " W r ell, I could never have thought it." "I suppose not; but pray tell me what yots? wish for more than you have. Is not that white frock you have on a very neat one?" " Yes, papa, but — " " But what? Speak out." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 103 c * I should like it better if it was trimmed with lace; and I want a feather in my bonnet." " That you are not likely to have, because both your mother and myself think that the sim- pler dress is, especially for children, the better. But since you wished to be dressed handsomely, I can tell you of a garment that is at once the most useful, and the most ornamental of any in the universe. It is so white, that even the snow cannot equal it ; so full and elegant, that it hides all blemishes and defects ; and so hand- some, that even God himself and his holy an- gels take delight in beholding all those who wear it." "0, papa ! do buy me this pretty dress." " It is not to be bought ; no money can pur- chase it. It must be received as a free gift." " 0, how good it must be in those who give away such a beautiful dress ! Do, my dear papa, get them to give me one." A tear started into Mr. Harrison's eye, while he pressed his little girl to his bosom, and ex- claimed : "Indeed, my love, it is the first wish of my heart that both you and your brother may wear this white robe." "My brother!" said Ann; "why great boys do not wear white frocks." " The white robe of which I speak, is suit- able for old and young, rich and poor, male and female. Indeed, all must have it, or be ruined forever." 104 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN, " I do not understand you, papa." " I will endeavor to explain my meaning. You have been taught in your catechism, that the first man, Adam, sinned against God, and by his sin involved all his posterity in guilt and misery." " Are all men sinners, then, papa." " Yes, all men, and women, and children too ; you have just given proof that your heart is sinful. Your desire of fine clothes shows- pride, which is a very great sin. Again, your wishing for things you do not possess, shows.- discontent, unthankfulness for the many good 5 things God has given you, and a covetous de- sire of things he has thought fit to withhold* And all this is very wrong, and sinful." Ann asked with tears in her eyes, " Is Gods Almighty angry mith me, papa?" " He is always angry with sin, my dear." " Oh I am sorry I have been so naughty,"' said Ann, weeping; " will God forgive me?" " He is a God of infinite mercy and forgive- ness, my love, and always ready to pardon those- who seek mercy through his beloved Son. You. have been taught that Jesus Christ the blessed Redeemer, came into the world to die for sin- ners, and by his merits and death to atone for their sins, and reconcile them to his heavenly Father, and save them with an everlasting sal- vation. Now it is the possession of this grace and salvation, that is figurately expressed in SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 105 Scripture by wearing the white robe of Christ's righteousness ; and without this we shall never be tit to serve God here, nor to enjoy him in heaven. This is what my soul earnestly desires for my children. Will my little Ann endeavor to remember what I have said upon this subject? " 1 will try to do so, papa. I will pray to God to forgive my sins, and to clothe me with the robe of his Son's righteousness.*' " Do so, my love. I trust your parents will never forget to pray for you." A VEGETABLE COMPASS. It is a well known fact that in the vast prai- ries of Texas a little plant is always to be found, which, under all circumstances of climate, change of weather, rain, frost or sunshine, in- variably turns its leaves and flowers to the north. If a solitary traveller were making his way across those trackless wilds, without a star to guide or compass to direct him, he finds an un- erring monitor in an humble plant, and he fol- lows its guidance, certain that it will not mis- lead him. 106 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE TWO CLOUDS. "Thai good for nothing — hateful rain!" I heard a little girl complain So bitterly one summer day, " Why could it not have kept away? The sun, this morning, rose so fair In the blue sky — I do declare That cruel weather hath no right To act so, just as if in spile, That I might wear that mean old gown, And stay all day in this dull town. Here am I in my fine new frock, All ready for that lovely walk, And now that ugly cloud must come To pen me up all day at home." " Fie! little lady, tell me, now, Is not the cloud upon thy brow Far uglier than the kindly one That came between thee and the sun, To screen thee from the scorching heat That on thy head would fiercely beat, And send from God, the genial shower To cheer parched field and fainting flower?" The evening sun broke forth, at last, With sparkling — the storm was past — In all earth's myriad eyes there stood Great, glistening tears of gratitude. I saw reflected there the glance Of God's benignant countenance, And she, that thoughtless, fretful child, Looked out with tearless cheeks and smiled. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 107 ORIENTAL WATER CARRIER. In oriental towns, water is not conveyed to the several streets and houses by pipes or trench- es. It must all be brought from the river or the wells. In towns, this is seldom done by the householders themselves, or by their ser- vants. There are men who make it a trade to supply every day, to regular customers, the ■quantity of water required. This they carry about in a well prepared goatskin, which is •-slung to the back, the neck being usually brought under the arm and compressed by the hand, serving as the mouth of this curious, but ■exceedingly useful vessel. Persons of larger -dealings have an ass which carries two skins at once, borne like panniers; and we have known very prosperous water carriers who had oxskins carried on a horse. These men, con- tinually passing to and fro with their wet bags fthrough the narrow streets to avoid carriages and carts. In a time of public calamity the water carriers are the last to discontinue their Oabor ; and their doing so is a sure indication Ahat the distress has become most intense and imminent, and is indeed a great calamity in it- self. It is a blessing for which we should be thank- (ful to God, that in this country, we have so flittle heat and such an abundance of water, compared with the Orientals. 108 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. SAMUEL AND ROBERT. In the town of W. there lives a lad about ten years of age, "whom I shall call Samuel. He has got very kind parents, who Jove him very much, because he is a good and obedient boy. He never plays truant, but goes directly to school, and makes such rapid progress in his studies, that he not only receives the praise of his kind teacher, but of all who know him. One afternoon as Samuel was going to school, he saw Robert, a large wicked boy, a number of years older than himself, leaning over the fence, beside the road, a few rods ahead of him. "When Samuel came up off against where Ro- bert was standing, Robert sung out, " Hallo, Sam, where are you going in such a hurry V 9 " To school, where you should be ;" replied Samuel. Samuel, by some means or other, was tempt- ed to stop and hear what the wicked boy had to say. " I am not going to school this afternoon," said Robert, " but I am going a hunting. I have got father's gun down here under the fence, and plenty of powder and shot. Come, Sam, won't you go with me ? If you will, you shall fire the gun as many times as you have a mind to." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 109 This was a very tempting offer for Samuel, for he was very fond of firing guns, but he summoned up all his courage, and told Robert, " he would not go with him, for it was very wicked to play truant." " Who cares for that ?" said Robert, " no one will ever know it. Jack Green says he saw lots of gray squirrels down here in the woods, the other day, and that he will give me fourpence a piece, for all I can kill. Now if you will go with me, you shall have half of the money. Come, Sam, won't you go." This nearly prompted poor Samuel to go, for he had been wanting some money, for a long time, to buy him a new sled with, and he was just ready to answer yes, when he again called up all his courage, and exclaiming, " No, I wonH go with you," he ran off to school as fast as he could go, where he arrived just in time. Robert finding that all his endeavors to in- duce Samuel to accompany him, proved fruit- less, concluded to set out alone. He went to the woods with a heavy heart, half repenting the course he had taken, and wishing himself half as happy as Samuel. But he kept on, and after wading through the deep snow for several hours, without finding any game, he set out lor home, tired and unhappy. When he arrived at the house it was sunset. He carried the gun and put it in its place in the kitchen, without any one's seeing him. " Oh," thought he, 10 110 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " how unhappy I have made myself, by diso- beying my parents ; if I had only gone to school, as they told me, it would have saved me all these dreadful feelings." But he did not and what had been done could not be undone ; so after hesitating a few moments, he entered the sitting room, where the family were all seated around the bright fire. All was silent for seve- ral minutes. At last, Robert's father spoke, at the same time placing his hand on Robert's head. " Where have you been this afternoon, Ro- bert V he asked. " To school, sir," replied Robert, trembling from head to foot. " How is that," said his father, " Samuel was here, on an errand after school, to-night, and I asked him if he knew where you was, that you did not come home. iVnd he said that you had not been to school this afternoon ; that he saw you beside the road when he went, and that you told him you was going a hunting. And, besides, I saw you walking round in trife woods with the gun on your shoulder. 0, Robert, how could you be so wicked as to play truant, and then to commit a worse sin, by telling a lie in endeavoring to conceal it. I hate to chastise you, but I feel it to be my duty; and I must inflict upon you a severe punishment." He then took Robert out of the room and gave him a hearty threshing, with the promise of SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. Ill another, if he ever played truant again. He then sent him to his little bed room, to spend the evening in meditating on his past sins, and in asking God's forgiveness. As for Samuel, he went home from school that night with a heart full of thanks to God for giving him strength to resist the tempta- tions which had been thrown in his path, and for enabling him to walk in the way which he should go. After Samuel had partaken of the supper which his kind mother had prepared for him, he told his parents all about what had happened on his way to school, and they could not refrain from pressing their dear son to their booms, and thanking God for helping him when surrounded by temptations. It did Samuel more good to see how happy his parents were, than it would if he had possessed all the money in the world. Now, young reader, which of these boys do you think enjoyed himself best, that evening, and for many days after ; Samuel who obeyed his parents, and made them feel happy, or Robert who disobeyed his parents, and made them feel unhappy and miserable 1 112 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE MISCHIEVOUS BOY. " Come, go with me to Walnut Grove," said Egbert Holly to Luther Hill. " When are you going V said Luther. " Now, right away ; will you go ?" " I can't unless you will wait for me while I go home and ask father's permission." " Ask father's permission !" replied Egbert, in a tone of contempt, " I should be sorry if I had to ask my father for permission every time I breathed." " I don't have to ask him for liberty to breathe any more than you do. I have to ask him when I want to go away any where, and so do you, that is, you have to ask your father." "That's may-be-so," said Egbert, not quite daring to deny the truth of Luther's assertion. " Will you wait for me ?" " Yes, if you will be quick." Luther started on a run, to go and get per- mission to go to W T alnut grove. He was an obedient and good boy, and it is rather strange that he was anxious to go with Egbert after what had passed. But the grove was pleasant, and society was pleasant, even if it were not so good as it ought to be. Luther received the desired permission, and the boys were soon on the way to the grove. Luther was in haste to get there, but Egbert lingered by the way, look- ing out, as he said, for fun. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 113 " Let us turn this cow into the clover field/' said he. " What for ?" said Luther. " for fun, and to hear old Osborn swear when he finds her there." " I don't see what fun there can be in pure wickedness," said Luther. " You don't know much," said Egbert. He was in a fair way to know more if he continued to associate with Egbert. They turned out of the high way, and went across a meadow. A wagon loaded with hay stood there. The workmen were not in sight. " What are you doing to that wheel ?" said Luther, as Egbert stopped, and began to work at one of the hinder wheels. " I'm taking the linchpin out." "What for?" " So that the wheel will run off, and let them down when they don't know it." " Oh don't now, it isn't right." " You be- still." "You may hurt somebody." " I'll risk it." " I'll put it in again, if you do take it out." "I guess you won't," said Egbert taking it out, and throwing it as far as he could into the grass. " I shall tell Mr. Henry that the linchpin is out." " If you tell him I took it out, you won't live long." 10* 114 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " I shall tell him it is out, and if he asks me ■who took it out, 1 shall tell him. I shan't con- ceal such wickedness." " I'll see if you do," said Egbert, seizing him by the collar, and beginning to shake him. At this moment a man slid off from the load of hav, and alighted on his feet by their side." " Let go," said he to Egbert, " I'll do the shaking," and he shook him till his face looked very red, and he roared for mercy. " You had better go home," said he to Lu- ther. " You are a good boy. Don't be found in company with this villain again. It will be sometime before he sees home. He has to find that linchpin before he goes." Luther left the meadow, but when he reach- ed the road, he stopped to see what would be- come of his late companion. The man was lying on the load of hay when the boys came up, and heard all that was said. He now took the long horse whip which lay on the hay, and told Egbert to find the linchpin, and put it in its place. Egbert went in the di- rection in which he threw it, and looked for it, moving farther and farther away from the man with the whip. At length he started and ran, thinking to make his escape. " That's the game, is it ?" said he. « I'll soon overhaul you." So he ran after Egbert and soon came near him, and laid the horsewhip around his legs with great vigor. This soon turned his running to dancing. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 115 " Back with you, my lad, and find the pin. You don't go home till" you do." Egbert re- newed his search. The man went to mowing in the vicinity, keeping his eye upon him in case he should attempt to escape. Just before sunset he found it. " I've found it," said he. " Put it in its place," said the man coming up to him. When it was put in, he said to him, " now cut for home." Egbert started upon a run, and the man after him, with the whip in his hand. Once in every rod, he would wind the whip lash around his legs till he got fairly out of the field. He then left him to go home with sore legs and red eyes, and give to his parents such an account of the mat- ter as he saw fit. THE DIGNITY OF LABOR. Gladden life, with its sunniest features, and gloss it over with its richest hues, and it be- comes a poor painted thing, if there be in it no toil, no hearty, hard work. The laborer sighs for repose. Where is it ? What is it ? Friend, whoever thou art, know, if to be found, it is to be found in work alone. No good, no great- ness, no progress is gained without it. Work, then, and faint not, for therein is the well spring of human hope, and human happiness. 116 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. WASHINGTON'S REMARKABLE DELIVER- ANCE. In the war of the revolution, while Washing- ton and his army were encamped at West Point, upon the Hudson river, the general was accus- tomed to spend much of his time with the fami- ly of an intimate acquaintance, residing not far distant. This man was suspected of being a Tory, or of favoring the cause of the British against America; but he professed himself to be strictly neutFal. He was often seen returning from the ene- my's camp during the intimacy of Washington with his family, and strong fears were excited that some plot against the general was intended. Washington, however, continued his visits, without appearing to notice these suspicions. At length, one day, as he was about to take his leave, his friend earnestly requested his com- pany at dinner the next afternoon. He begged him to come without formality, as the attend- ance of his guard seemed to exhibit marks of distrust in his friendship. He also insisted upon t his being punctual at the hour, 2 o'clock. With a look that confused the base traitor, and made him cower, Washington accepted his in- vitation, and promised to be there at the hour, and without his usual attendants. The next day, half an hour before the time, Washington reached the house of his host. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 117 The false friend received him with the utmost cordiality, complimenting him for his punctual- ity. As dinner was not yet ready, Wash- ington proposed a walk upon the piazza, from which a fine prospect of the surrounding coun- try was to be had. The general kept up a lively but cutting conversation upon treachery, false friendship, &c, to the no small annoyance of the base man, who had betrayed him. A company apparently of British cavalry were now seen winding around a neighboring hill, and riding post haste towards the house. " Is it two o'clock yet?" demanded Washing- ton, " for I have an engagement this afternoon at the army, and must consequently shorten my visit." " It lacks a full quarter yet," said his friend, seemingly doubtful of his watch, from the arri- val of the horsemen. " But, bless me sir !" said Washington, " what cavalry are those, so rapidly approaching the house." "Oh, they may possibly be a party of British light horse," answered his companion, " sent for the purpose of protecting me." And step- ping up to Washington very familiarly, he tap- ped him on the shoulder, saying, " General, you are my prisoner." " I believe not," replied Washington, calmly looking at the men j " but," exclaimed he. 118 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. slapping him in return upon his arm, " I kno\> you are mine." It appears the British had offered this man a large sum of money to make an appointment with Washington at 2 o'clock, and they were secretly to send a troop of horse to secure him. Suspecting this Washington had ordered his own troops to habit themselves as English cav- alry, and to arrive a half an hour sooner than the appointment, while he went alone to the house of the Tory. And thus the life of this great man was once more providentally saved. Washington at first intended to make an ex- ample of this vile hypocrite; but his forgiving temper conquered his original judgment, and the man was permitted to live, on the condition of his leaving the country forever. SAMUEL AND ELI, OR THE FIRST BLUSH. The boy Samuel served the Lord at Shiloh, before Eli, the priest, and he found favor with God and with men. For he served the Lord with a pure heart, and was obedient, and grew in wisdom. But Phineas and Hophni, the sons of Eli, were wicked young men, who did not seek after the Lord, and their sins were very great. And SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 119 they stood one day beneath a tree, before the house of their father, and the boy Samuel stood by them, girded with a linen ephod. But Hophni and Phineas uttered sinful and impure words one to another, in the hearing of the boy. Samuel blushed greatly, so that his face shone like the glow of evening, when the day has passed away. It was the boy's 'first bksh. From his childhood up, until now, he had never heard a sinful word from the mouth of man. But the wicked youths laughed at the boy, and mocked him, because he blushed at their words ; and Samuel turned away his face and wept. Then Eli who had heard all these things, drew near to the boy and said ; " My son, why w T eepest thou V 9 Then Samuel answered ; " Thy sons Hophni and Phineas, uttered sinful words in*ny hearing, and my heart was moved, and a burning glow came, I know not how, upon my face ; and they laughed me to scorn." Then Eli embraced the boy Samuel, and kissed him, and said: "Alas! my son, wipe thy tears, and let not their scoffs trouble thy heart. Thou art the chosen of the Lord ; but that which gives me joy over thee, fills my heart with sorrow for my own children, for they have corrupted their youth in the blossom, how then can they bring forth good fruit V 120 SELECT STOEIES FOR CHILDREN. And Eli wept over his sons until his eyes grew dim, and they caused him nothing but affliction. But Samuel rejoiced the heart of Eli the priest, and he walked uprightly before the Lord. VALUE OF LABOR IN A WATCH. It may not be known to all that a watch consists of nine hundred and two pieces, and that forty trades, and probably two hundred and fifteen persons are employed in making one of these little machines. The iron of which the balance-wheel is formed, is valued at something less than a farthing; this produces an ounce of steel worth eight and a half cents, which is drawn into three thousand two hundred and fifty yards of st^el wire, and represents in the mar- ket, eight dollars and forty-four cents ; but still another process of hardening this, originally a farthing's worth of iron, renders it workable into seven thousand six hundred and fifty balance springs, which will realize at the common price of sixty-three cents each, four thousand two hun- dred and eighty-four dollars, the effect of labor alone. Thus, the mere labor bestow T ed upon one farthing's worth of iron, gives it the value of four thousand two hundred and eighty-four dollars, wich is nine hundred and eighteen thou- sand times its original value. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 121 MY BROTHER ON THE SEA. The storm is raging loud to-night, And darker grows the sky, And like a giant in his might, The strong wind rushes by; My heart is with the good, the brave, Who ride the billows free, With one whose home is oeean's wave, My brother on the sea I Would I could bid the tempest cease, That hath the sky defiled, And soothe to gentleness and peace, The bitter winds and wild; How can I bear their wrath to mark, That death to him may be, A wanderer in a fragile bark, My brother on the sea 4 ! We were a happy household band, In childhood's sunny hours, Our pathway, hope's own rosy hand, Strewed with her fairest flowers; But now a change has o'er us passed, The grave hides two from me, And far away his lot is cast, My brother on the sea! 11 122 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. My fancy oft recalls those days, That vanished long ago, And memory's light, that round them plays, Restrains its vivid glow; How sweet the times that were — but now, How sadly changed they be, I in my loneliness — and thou, My brother, on the sea! 0, is it strange that I should weep, To hear the tempest rise; To know that o'er an angry deep, His rayless pathway lies. God, my eyes with tears are dim, To thee I come, to THEE, Hear thou my earnest prayer for him, My brother on the sea! Through every danger safely guide, Thy watch-care round him thrown, Grant that his bark unscathed may ride High o'er where wrecks are strown; But oh, if there his own must lie, If there his grave must be, Grant I may meet above the sky, My brother on the sea ! SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 123 STONES. " Children," said the teacher, " how many of you think Charles Snow is right ? He says that stones are good for nothing things, and he does not see what they were made for." The children were all silent, except one, who said, " they were good for walls." " Well," said the teacher, " you may go on with your studies now, and if you can all get good lessons, and recite them well by half-past three this afternoon, we will talk a little about stones." All went busily to work, when the teacher said this ; and every little scholar tried hard to get ready for half-past three. At recess, there was much wonder expressed as to what the teacher could say about such useless things as stones. " I know," says one feeble-looking little boy, "he will say we must not throw them at each other." " I suppose he will," said a taller boy who stood near, and who felt a little guilty ; " but I guess he can say something more than that." Half-past three came, and the teacher struck his little desk-bell, which was the signal for the books to be put by, and for all to be quiet in their seats. When all were still, he told them to take their Bibles out, or fthey would want them. He then asked them who made the stones'? " God made them," they replied. 124 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " How do you know V said the teacher. " God made all things." " But how do you know God made all things." " The Bible says so." " Yes, the Bible says, that without Him was not any thing made that was made." " Stones must be good for something then, for every thing God has made is good." The teacher then found several passages in the Bible, showing where stones were used; and some under very interesting circumstances. Abraham made altars of stones, to offer sacri- fice to God. Jacob, when he dreamed of the ladder, had a stone for his pillow; and when he awoke, he poured oil upon it, and set it up, that he might remember God. And when Laban afterward quarrelled with him, he set up a pile of stones, and they ate together on them, to signify peace between them. When the Israelites were travelling to Canaan, they were directed by God to punish those who did very wickedly, by stoning them to death. When the Israelites, in travelling through the desert, became very thirsty, God told Moses to take a staff and strike a rock, or large stone, and the water ran out, and they all drank. When the ten commandments were given to the Israelites, they were written on two large tables of stone. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 125 When the Israelites walked through the river Jordan, and the water stood in heaps on each side of them, then Joshua who led them, by the command of the'Lord, required twelve men to take each a stone from the bottom of the river, and carry them to the land, that their children might/when they saw them, remember that they had walked through the river on dry land. It was with a smooth stone from the brook, that David killed Goliah, by putting it in a sling, and throwing it against his forehead. When David, who became a great man, and a king, was afterwards hated by some wicekd men, they threw stones at him, and tried to kill him. When Solomon, David's son, became king, he built a splendid temple, and had great stones cut square and smooth, to build it with ! Our blessed Saviour, who was put to death for our sins, was laid in a tomb hewn out of a solid rock ; a great stone was rolled against the door to keep it fast. Stones have been used for a great many other purposes, which I cannot stay now to mention particularly. They are chiefly used to build the foundations of houses, and sometimes to build whole houses with, and to make wells and walls. In cities they pave the streets with them. But sometimes, my little children, stones, like every good thing God has given us, are used for a bad purpose. There was once a good man, who 11* 126 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. loved the Saviour, and tried to get others to love him. His name was Stephen. But when he told them about the kind Saviour, they were angry with him, and gathered around him, and threw stones at him till they killed him. He was Ihe first of many martyrs. Does any little boy think he could be so wicked as that? Some boys are in the habit of throwing stones at each other! I have known one little boy kill an- other in that way ! I have seen another boy made stone blind by a stone. The stone hit one eye and put it out, and then the other be- came diseased, and finally the sight left it. Re- member this, my dear children, for what you might do without thinking, may make you miserable all your life long. BEAUTIFUL SWISS CUSTOM. It was formerly the usage of the Swiss pea- santry to watch the setting sun, until he had left the valleys and was sinking behind the ever snow-clad mountains, when the mountaineers would seize their horns, and sing through the instruments, " Praise the Lord." This was caught up from Alp to Alp by the descendants of Tell, and repeated until it reached the valleys below. A solemn silence then ensued until the last trace of the sun disappeared, when the herdsman on the top sung out, " Good night," which was repeated as before, until every one had retired to his resting place. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 127 EARLY RISING. " I wonder where John is," said Mr. Morton, as he took his seat at the breakfast table. " Mary, my dear, run up stairs, and see if he has overslept himself." " I am sure falher need not wonder," whis- pered William to Mary, as she rose from her seat. Mary laughed, and left the room ; but she soon returned, and said, with a look of sur- prise, "John is not in his room, father." " Not in his room !" cried William, a bright, lively boy of twelve. " I fancy this is the first time he ever was out of it at this time in the morning." " You know he always gets up to breakfast, William," said Mary who generally had an excuse ready for any one who was either blamed or laughed at. " Never till breakfast is on the table; does he, mother 1 but here he comes." John walked into the room, looking rather more sober than usual, and was immediately assailed with questions from all quarters. " Good morning, Mr. Early Riser ; you are really beginning to deserve your title. What time did you get up this morning ?" and Wil- liam was going on, but he was stopped by a glance from his mother, which he knew very well how to interpret. 128 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. As soon as breakfast was over, John took down his satchel, and swinging it over his shoulder, and putting his cap on his head, call- ed to William, to know if he was going to school. William actually stared at him. " Hilloa, Johnny ! What's the matter with you this morning ? Yes, I'll go, if it were only to see how astonished the boys will look, to see you so early, and wide awake too." How far William's expectations were real- ized, I will not stop to tell you. I will only say, that John was astonished to find how much he enjoyed the play before school, and the hard study in school. To be sure, the latter was rather tedious sometimes, and he was often tempted to lay down his book and resort to cut- ting his desk with his penknife, or any of the thousand amusements of idle school boys. But he did not, and he was more than repaid for his self-denial, by the consciousness of having done right; and it seemed that the voice of the mas- ter, saying, " You have done very well to-day, master John," was the pleasantest he ever heard. After dinner, he was about to throw himself upon the sofa, according to custom, but he checked himself, and tried to think of some- thing which he could do to help his mother. Just at that moment his sister Catharine, a pretty child of four years, asked if she might go SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 129 out into the garden. Her mother told her that she must not go alone, but she might if she could persuade her brother William to go with her. " I'll go with Catharine," said John ; and soon they were both in the garden, engaged in play. John w T as certainly unusually active. He ran races with her in the paths, picked flow- ers for her from the beds, tumbled in the grass, and hid in the summer house, for her amuse- ment; and when they went into the house, with their cheeks glowing w r ith the exercise they had taken, he told his mother that he never knew before how well Catharine could play. In the evening, he took his books, and sat down to his lessons, as soon as the tea things were removed, instead of waiting, as usual, un- til he was actually commanded to do so by his mother; and after these were faithfully learn- ed, he enjoyed his play for half an hour much more than usual. It was noticed that at pray- ers, he was much more attentive than usual, and that at night his voice joined with the oth- ers in singing their evening hymn. From that day, a gradual, but decided im- provement took place in his character. Every morning he rose at an early hour and went in- to the garden, not to appear again until break- fast time. This excited the curiosity of the father not a little ; but he would ask no ques- tions, and forbade William who was strongly 130 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. inclined to follow him, for the purpose of find- ing out his secret, to trouble his brother by his curiosity; and the employment of his morning hours remained a profound secret. One morning, as Mr. Morton was pruning a favorite tree in one corner of the garden, he saw in a little arbor, which was seldom visited by any of the family, his son. He hesitated whether or not he should enter, and while he was doubting, John looked up and saw him : "Good morning, John," said Mr. Morton, " you see I have found out your secret. Do you come here to study or to read V " To read, father," said John, and as he put the book he had been reading into his father's hands, he saw it was the Bible. " I see, my son," said his father, " I see now the cause of the improvement, in which your mother and I have lately rejoiced ; rejoiced with trembling, for we knew not that you sought strength to resist temptation from the Giver of all strength." " O father," said John, " I could never have been preserved, had it not been for this morn- ing hour. When I was tempted, it was the thought of the prayers I had offered here, which reminded me to seek aid from God; and I have here learned from this book," and he took it from his father as he spoke, " a great deal that I never knew before." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 131 A WISH. I wish I was a little bird, To sing among the trees; And then my sweet, heart-cheering notes, Would float on every breeze. I wish I was a flower to bloom, w In some sequestered glen, Where I could spend my days alone, Far from the haunts of men. I wish I was a lion bold, Unknown to every fear; Then I could through the deserts roam, That now to me are drear. I wish I was a butterfly, So beautiful and fair; Then o'er the meadows I would roam, Free from foreboding care. But stop! why am I musing thus, I'm not a bird or fly, I have a soul within this frame, Destined to never die. Yes! yes! I'm of a nobler race, Than beast, or bird, or flower! That live but for a day or so, Then die in one short hour. Long after all the things of earth, Shall fade away and die, My own immortal soul will lire, In lands beyond the sky. 132 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. God grant that I may be prepared, To spend eternity, In heaven above, where I shall be, From sin and sorrow free. A THRILLING INCIDENT. A few years since, as the Rev. Joseph Davis, an excellent Baptist minister in London, was walking along one of the crowded streets of that city, his attention was arrested by the circum- stance that a carriage with several horses was just about to pass over a little girl who was slow= ]y crossing the road. He strongly felt the dan- ger of the child, and forgetting his own, he ran, snatched her up in his arms, and hastened with her to the side path, when the thought struck him, what would the parents of this dear child have felt, had she been killed 1 At this mo- ment he looked in the face of the little girl, which had been concealed from his view by her bonnet ; and imagine if you can, what his feel- ings were when he discovered it was his daugh- ter! I saw him about an hour after the occur- rence, and I shall never forget his agitation as he described to me her danger, or his expres- sions of thankfulness to an infinitely gracious Being, who thus delivered his beloved child from death. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 133 THE FIRST THEFT. .Mr. Williamson lived about half a mile from the village in which his son Simon attended school. Mr. Williamson was a farmer, and there were so many things that needed atten- tion.^ that he required Simon to come home as soon as school was out to assist him. Simon was nearly twelve years old and could assist his father in a great many things. It was true, that the village boys had fine times playing af- ter school was out, and it would no doubt have been pleasant for him to stay and play with them ; but his father needed him, and he should have cheerfully conformed to his father's wish- es. But he did not do so. He wished he could live in the village. Instead pf coming directly home, he would stop a moment and see the boys play, and then run and make up for lost time. Then he would play with them for a little while, and make it up by running. As you would naturally expect, his " little whiles," would become longer and longer, till his father found it necessary to call him to account, and threatened to punish him. This brought him up to the mark for a time, but he soon became negligent, especially at such times as his father was absent, when there was the more need that Simon should be home in season. In this way he strengthened the spirit of disobedience, and the power of sin over his soul. 12 134 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. One day his father had gone away, and it was expected that he would not return till late at night. His mother told Simon to remember that his father was not at home. He did not fail to do so, though he made quite a different use of the remembrance, from that which his mother expected. He took occasion to stay after school and " enjoy himself," as he said. But as it often happens, when people anticipate enjoyment in a course of transgression, he was disappointed. The village boys had some plans to execute in which they did not wish him to participate. After advising him to go home, and seeing him not disposed to follow their ad- vice, they ran away from him. He was foolish enough to follow them for a time till he found he could not overtake them, so he turned aside and went into a new store, or rather a building which had been fitted up for a store, though the goods which were to be placed in it had not yet arrived. There was no person in the building when he first went in, but as he was looking around, a man who spent most of his time at a grog shop came in, and asked him what he was doing there. "Nothing," said Simon, "I was only looking round." " You go over to the store yonder, and ask Mr. Henry to lend you a proof glass." "I don't know what it is." "No matter, he will know. You go and get it." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 135 He did so. He found it was a small glass with a string around its neck. Mr. Short look it, and knocking out the bung of a rum cask that lay in the store, let the glass down, and drew it out full of rum. He did so, till he had filled a tumbler half full. He then drank it, and offered to draw some up for Simon. Simon did not wish for any, though it was before tem- perance times. "Here then," said Mr. Short, "if you don't want any rum, this will pay you for getting the glass." So saying, he handed him a very large apple from a barrel that stood under the coun- ter. Simon wanted it very much, but he doubt- ed whether Mr. Short had any right to give it to him. He, however, took it, saying to him- self, " he must bear the blame." He ate part of it, while Short was putting the cask in or- der. Hearing some one coming, he thrust it in his pocket. No one came in, and Short was leaving when he said, " May I have another apple V' " They don't belong to me." He went out, leaving Simon in the store. After a great ma- ny struggles with his conscience, he went to the barrel, put an apple in his pocket and walked out. It was the first theft he ever committed. It was the first time that he ever knowingly, and wilfully, broke the eighth commandment. It was the longest step towards ruin that he had ever taken. Do you see how he came to take it ] Try to find out, and tell us to-morrow. 136 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDEN.. THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL. It was terribly cold, it snowed, and 1 the evening began to be dark ; it was also the last evening in the year, New Year's Eve. On this dark, cold evening, a poor little girl went into the street with bare head and naked feet. It is. true she had shoes on when she went from home, but of what use were they % They were very large shoes, her mother had last worm* them ; they were so large ; and the little one lost them in hurrying over the street as two* carriages passed quickly by. One shoe was not to be found, and the other a boy ran away withy saying he could use it for a cradle wliiea he got children himself. The little ^irl now went on her sma\) naked feet, which were red and blue witb cold. She carried a number of matches in am old apron, and held one bundle in her hand. No one had bought of her the whole day, no oane had given her a farthing. Poor thing ! she was hungry and benumbed with cold, and looked so down- cast ! The snow-flakes fell on her yellow hairs which curled so prettily round key neek, but she did not heed that. The lights shone out from all the windows, and there was such a delicious smell of roast goose in the street ! It was New Yeay's Eve, and she thought of that ! SELECT STOEIES FOR CHILDREN. 137 She sat down in a corner between two houses, the one stood a little more forward in the street than the other, and drew her legs up under her to warm herself, but she was still colder, and she durst not go home ; she had not sold any matches or got a single farthing ! Her father would beat her, and it was cold at home, they had only the roof over them, and there the winds whistled in, although straw and rags were stuffed into the largest crevices. Her little hands were almost benumbed with cold. Ah ! a little match might do some good durst she only draw one out of the bundles, strike it on the wall, and warm her fingers. She drew one out, ritch! how it burnt ! it was a warm flame like that of a little candle, and when she held her hand round it, it was a strange light ! The little girl thought she sat before a large iron stove with brass balls on the top ; the fire burnt so nicely, and warmed so well. Nay, what was that '? The little girl stretched out her feet to warm them too, then the flame went out, the stove vanished, she sat with the stump of the burnt match in her hand. Another was struck, it burnt, it shone ; and where the light shone upon the wall, it became as transpaient as crape; she looked directly into the room, where the roasted goose stuffed with apples and prunes steamed so temptingly on the table, which was laid out and covered with a shining 12* 138 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. white cloth, with porcelain service, What was still more splendid, the goose sprang off the dish, and waddled along the floor with knife and fork in his back ; it came directly up to> the poor girl. Then the match went out, and there was only the thick cold wall to be seen. She struck another match. Then she sat under the most charming Christmas tree, it was still larger and more ornamented than that she had seen through the glass door at the rich, merchant's the last Christmas ; a thousand candles burnt in the green branches ; and mot- ley pictures, like those which ornament the shop windows looked down at her. The little girl lifted up both her hands, then the match was extinguished, the many Christmas candles rose higher and higher, she saw they were bright stars, one of them fell and made a fiery stripe in the sky. " Now one dies," said the poor girl, for old grandmother, who alone had been kind to her, but who w T as now dead, had told her that when a star falls, a soul goes up to God! She again struck a match against the wall, it shone all around, and her old grandmother stood in the lustre, so shining, so mild and bliss- ful. " Grandmother !" exclaimed the little girl, " oh ! I know you will be gone away when the match goes out, like the warm stove, the delicious roast goose, and the delightful Christ- mas tree !" and she struck in haste, the whole SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 139 remainder of matches that was in the bundle, she would not lose sight of grandmother, and the matches shone with such bri^ancy that it was clearer than broad daylight. Grandmother had never before looked so pretty, so great; she lifted the poor little girl in her arm , and they flew so high in splendor and joy, and there was no cold, no hunger, no anxiety, they were with God. But the little girl sat in the corner by the house, in the cold morning hour, with red cheeks, and with a smile round her mouth, dead, frozen to death, last evening of the old year. New Year's morning rose over the little corpse as it sat with the matches, of which a bundle was burnt. She had been trying to warm herself, said they ! But no one knew what beautiful things she had seen, in what splendor and gladness she had entered with her old grandmother into New Year's joys. 140 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. SINKING OF SPRING BIRDS. Sing" away, so blithe and gay, Ye feathered little tribe ! Those strains so sweet, oft, oft repeat, They bid me joy imbibe — Chirp and sing, 'tis merry Spring", Giving life to every thing! Long, too long, your cheerful song Hath lingered ere it came — The winter snow, as hence it goes, Gives place to you again. Sing, ye choir, in forests there I Chase away my spirit's care. Sweet to me's your harmony — All hymning forth your praise To Him above, who tuned in love Your voices thus to raise. Sing, oh sing — I love the ring y Teaching me again 'tis Spring. Oh, that soon mankind would tune Their hearts in praise to move Towards Him who gave us all we have, And taught us all to love ! Sing, ye men, in union then, Praising God from hill and glen I SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 141 THE SACRIFICES. " Father," said Albert, one morning as the former was slowly folding a newspaper which he had been reading, " I wish you would let Joseph Page live here, and go to school." " Why so, my son," inquired his falher. '\Because I know that he wants to go to school, very much. He is always trying to learn something, and if he goes to Mr. Hardy's he will have to w 7 ork on the farm all the time, and perhaps never go to school at all." "I did not know Mr. Hardy wanted him." "Yes, he does. Joseph told me yesterday that he had asked him to work on his farm, and promised to give him his board and clothing in return. He seemed to think it a very good offer. But I want him to live somewhere else, at some place where he can have time to go to school." "And I too should like to have Joseph Page enjoy the advantages of a school. He is a good, faithful boy. But I cannot afford to board and clothe him without any remunera- tion." "But, father," said Albert, "he could do a great many little jobs which you now have oone for hire. He could work a great deal for you between schools." " I don't know about boys working between schools," said his father, glancing suspiciously 142 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. from the study window, in the direction of a large pile of chips which lay in the yard. Albert understood the look, and his face red- dened as he said, " I have been meaning these two days to get the chips into the wood-house, but something has always seemed to happen as soon as I was ready to begin. Besides, you did not tell me to do it immediately." " I know that I did not," said his father. e < I wished to see how you would manage if I left to your own judgment the proper time for the work. I supposed that you would be several days finishing it, but thought you would have begun before now. If my son manifests no de- sire to please his father by promptly performing what he requests, ought I to expect faithfulness from a stranger? " Albert's countenance fell. He was sorry and ashamed ; but presently he said : " I will begin on the chips this very morning. But, father, Joseph Page is better than I am. I believe if he had been in my place, he would have got them in at once." " Spoken like an honest, candid boy," said his father. "You are convinced of your fault, and I hope you will not be slow to cure it. On the whole, I think I will take Joseph Page, provided you are willing to assist me in sup- porting him." " Why, father, how can I help you? I have nothing but my pocket money. You may have SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 143 that, but it is so little. I have only seventeen cents now." " It was not your pocket money that I was thinking of, my son. There are several ways in which you can assist my present purpose, but it will be at- some personal inconvenience." " Well, I hope I shouldn't mind that," said Albert. " Do tell me what I can do." " In the first place, you must try to do with fewer things than you have been accustomed to have. You asked me for a new cap the other day, like your cousin John's." " yes, I remember. I begin to understand you now, father. I can make my old one do, and so I will. I know sister Mary will fix it a little for me. She's nice at fixing up things." "And there is the small book-cuse you were wishing me to purchase for you." "01 can make the old shelves do for my books." "And the dog which you have been wanting so long, and which I promised yesterday to buy for you." Albert felt rather sad as he thought of a little dog which he had already begun to consider his own. As soon as his lather had agreed to make the purchase for him, he had called a cabinet council, consisting of Mary, Charlie, and himself, to decide upon the name of the expected pet; and the antics which it was sup- posed Fido would perform, when an inmate of 144 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. his new home, had already excited the mirth of the trio. At first, when his father spoke about the dog, Albert did not feel quite willing to give him up. But the struggle was soon over, and with a happy feeling in his heart, whieh a selfish boy or man might have envied, he said : " I will give Fido up, father, I am sure that I can do without him better than Joseph Page can With- out schooling." " You have made quite a sacrifice, my son," said his father, looking much pleased. "And you shall yourself have the pleasure of telling Joseph Page that he is to go to school." " Thank you, thank you, father," said Albert, as he bounded from the room to share the good news with Mary and Charlie. FUN. It was Wednesday, a holiday, and the scho- lars who attended the district school came pour- ing out at twelve o'clock, ready for any kind of fun; some pushed each other into snow banks, others pelted their companions with snow-balls, while others still, went to untie their sleds from the fence where they kept them during school hours. There was such a noise, such cheering and hallooing, that Mrs. Green, SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 145 (an old lady who lived near, and who was not remarkable for her amiability ;) looked out of the window, and declared that " such rude and ill-behaved boys were never seen; when she was a girl, children were not allowed to behave so ; but now-a-days, neither parents, nor mas- ters, had any government over them ; and for her part, if no one else complained of the school boys, she would." " Bear ! yes," said one of the boys to his companion, # it w T ould bear an ox-team; if you want good fun, this is the time for it." " What fun are you planning now V asked William, who had overheard the conversation, and who was just emerging from a snow-bank, into which he had been plunged by a school- mate not nearly as large as himself. " W^e're going skating this afternoon," re- plied the boy, " on Harper's pond ; the ice is several inches thick ; come, you will go with us." William left off shaking his cap and jacket, (which were covered with snow,) and looked a little sober. " It is too bad," said he, " but I have lost my skates." " Lost your skates !" " Yes ; they have been missing for a week, and I suspect they have been stolen ; besides," continued he, " I am sorry that you are all going off, for I am building a famous snow- hut in my yard, and shall want some one to help me." 13 146 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Oh ! but we cannot give up the skating party," returned the other, " for perhaps we shall not have another such good opportunity this winter." During this conversation, the noise of voices had abated, and now only a solitary call was occasionally heard in the distance. Mrs. Green again resumed her knitting work, and Wil- liam with his little school-mate, walked slowly away. " J shall have to build my hut £lone," said William. William's was one of those easy, good-natured dispositions,which never make mountains of mole hills, which always look upon the bright side of things, and are ever ready to perform a kind action; he and Edward did very well for as- sociates, though there was such, a difference in their ages, as their dispositions were somewhat alike. Edward was a little fellow, only eight years old, and had been brought up by pious and judicious parents. Like all children, he possessed a wicked heart, but under their teach- ing, had learned to control his temper and sel- fishness ; he had never attended school before, and, at first, felt like quite a stranger among so many great boys; but William's good nature would not see him neglected, or treated rudely, so they became great frieuds. Edward's mother had been afraid to let him skate, but his father had been to the pond and SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 147 affirmed that the ice was hard enough, so the skates were bought, and Edwatd anticipated much pleasure in using them. The thought entered his mind, to give up his skating that afternoon, and join William in his yard ; but then, he had seen snow huts, many a time, (though he had never assisted in build- ing one,) and he had never been on a skating- party; he walked along in silence for a few minutes, and then concluded to go with Wil- liam. " I have concluded not to skate, to-day, mam- ma,'' said he, at the dinner table. " Indeed, my son, what could have induced you to give up a pleasure which you have so long wished for ?" Edward replied that he was going to play with William. Mrs. Seymour, in reality, felt glad, for she was still uneasy about his going to the pond. Edward looked wishfully at the new skates, as they hung in the entry. " But/' thought he, "William will be all alone, if I do not stay with him." At night, Edward came home excited with the pleasure he had enjoyed ; and at eight o'clock, when his mother came to bid him " good night," as he lay in his crib, he clasped his arms round her neck, drew her Tace down to his, and whispered, " Now, mamma, I will tell you why I did not go skating this after- 148 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. noon," and after Edward had told the story, and received his mother's approbation, he was happier than if he had attended all the skating parties in the world. The next day, the snow hut was visited and praised by almost every boy in town ; and for three whole weeks, it remained the prettiest hut any w T here to be found, till the January thaw demolished it. William and Edward became still dearer friends than they were before. A year passed. Edward was nine years old ; he had grown some, but was still small of his age ; he still continued to attend school, but, sad to tell, had grown rather rude ; his kind mother was exceedingly troubled to find him less gentle and yielding than formerly ; to be sure, if he was doing wrong in her presence, a glance from her eye^would restore his right feelings ; but when away from her, he had no- thing to remind him of duty, but his conscience; and he did not always obey when she spoke. He was perfectly frank, and scorned the idea of telling a lie; and he would not swear, but he indulged in uttering certain coarse expres- sions, which once he would never have thought of doing ; in short, he was becoming greatly injured under the influence of certain school- boys ; but occasionally the image of his mo- ther would rise to his mind, when he was in- dulging in any known sin, and the early impres- SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 149 sions he had received from her, were, by the grace of God, the means of keeping him from gross misconduct. " Come, Edward," said one of his acquaint- ances, one day, " 1 know of some capital fun for this afternoon." " What is it ?" asked Edward. " Little George West," replied the boy, " has been making a snow hut, out before his house, and I move that you and I go and tear it clown." " Agreed," replied Edward, and away they went to Mr. W T est's house ; there stood the hut ; the boys entered, and examined it, and then commenced their work of destruction ; in a few moments, the pretty little snow hut was leveled with the ground; and then Edward and his companion turned into another street, and walk- ed away. Towards evening, they returned home by the same road. As they approached Mr. West's house, they saw George and his father examin- ing the fallen hut ; George was crying ; and in a few minutes they both entered the house. " I declare, Jim," said Edward, " it was too bad ; I wish we had let his hut alone ; it did us no good to tear it down." Jim called him a minister; but Edward was by this time too sorrowful to care for his rail- lery. That night, when Mrs. Seymour came to see if her son was warm in bed, he told her the 13* 150 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. whole story, and she was so grieved, that^Ed- ward regretted more deeply than before, his unkind act ; he recollected all the pleasure he had taken, just a year before, in making a snow hut for the first time, " and never, mamma," said he, sobbing, " wilFl be so unjust again." Mrs. Seymour kissed her son affectionately ; it was so long since he had unbosomed himself to his mother, (for lately he had not confided in her as formerly,) that a feeling of peace stole over him the next day, he went to George and helped him make another snow-hut, more beau- tiful than the first. Which, my little readers, do you think was the best kind of fun ; that which Edward en- joyed in giving up his own pleasure to oblige a school mate, or that in which he partook, in distressing and unjustly treating a companion 7 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 151 EARLY MORNING RAMBLE. How sweet the hour When bird and flower Invite our steps abroad; When Nature's voice Bids us rejoice, And lift our hearts to God. The robin now On yonder bough Pours forth a joyous strain; While lowing- ox And bleating flocks Are heard along the plain. In every breeze That fans the trees There lurks a soothing power, And hope and joy Without alloy Inspire the gladsome hour. Then let us haste Pure joys to taste Abroad, at twilight grey 3 And far we'll roam, Nor think of home Till peers the king of day. 152 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. THE GARDEN. " I wish you would tell me a story, Mary," said little Charlie, in a feeble tone of voice, as he was lying quietly upon the sofa. Charlie had been sick for several days. He was now some better, but still felt quite weak and languid. He had been trying to play a little, and was " very tired," as he said. So his sister advised him to lie down and rest. She had drawn her chair near the sofa, so that when the little boy looked up, he could see that she was by him, for she knew that children when they are unwell, sometimes feel lonely. She smiled, when Charlie asked her "to tell a story," and said : " I don't think of any new story now, dear, but I will tell you something about a pleasant garden, which I think will interest you." " Yes, that will do," said Charlie! So Mary went on to say : "A great and good king once made a very large and beautiful garden. He wanted every body that walked in it to be very happy, so he planted it with the most fragrant flowers, and the richest fruits. To please different tastes, he determined that it should contain every va- riety of soil, and he easily accomplished this SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 153 by some wonderful process, which no one but himself has ever been able to discover. And what perhaps is more wonderful still, he created as many different climates, as there were soils. And he planted in each of these different soils, different kinds of beauteous flowers, and juicy fruits, and nourishing grain, so that the produc- tions of this garden were almost infinite in va- riety. And he took great care of the garden, always watering it in due season, and neglect- ing nothing necessary to its cultivation. He employed a great many to work under his di- rections, in dressing and keeping it, but he was himself the head gardener. He superintended every thing. He was never slothful nor weary. He knew that without his constant superintend- ing care, the garden would soon run to waste, that there would be no more " seed time nor harvest," and he never for a moment withdrew that care. So, except where the under-gar- deners failed to observe his directions, it was always in good order, its soil continually grow- ing richer, and its productions improving." Here Mary stopped speaking, and Charlie who had been listening very attentively, half raised himself on his elbow, and said : " I know what you mean, sister. The gar- den is our earth, and the good King who made it, and who takes care of it, is God." 154 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. WILLY GRAHAM. Mr. and Mrs. Graham lived in a beautiful village on the bank of the very prettiest lake I ever saw. The water of this lake was clear as a crystal, and so deep that it was a very rare thing for it to freeze over ; but as the winter of which I am going to tell you was unusually cold, there was more ice on the lake than had been seen there for many years. There were a great many young men and boys in this village, as there was a college there and several schools. Willy Graham was the only child left to his parents out of a family of five, and of course they cherished him with peculiar care, and his mother was always anxious and uneasy if he was long out of her sight. One morning, Willy came running in to his mother, wrapped up in his coat and tippet and mittens, and his warm fur cap on his head, his handsome face all in a glow ; and almost breath- less with running, he cried out, " Oh, mother, will you not let me go down on the ice this morning ? The lake is covered with thick ice for half a mile out, and the students and all the boys in the village are down there skating and sliding." " No, my son," said his mother, "I cannot let you go. I do not know whether the ice is safe or not, and your father charged me before SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 155 he left home, not to allow you to go on the lake at all. Wait till he comes home, and he will go with you and show you where there is ice that is safe. There are plenty of ponds where you can enjoy yourself quite as well as on the lake ; besides, Willy, )Ou know you have no skates yet." I am sorry to say that Willy went away look- ing very cross and muttering to himself; but as his mother had never known him to disobey her, she sat at her sewing perfectly easy about him. And Willy had no intention of disobeying his mother when he left the house; but he had some very wicked, sinful thoughts in his heart ; and he was angry at his mother, and felt as if she was not so indulgent to him as the parents of the other boys were to their sons. He took his sled and began to ride down a little hill by the side of his father's house, but he soon grew tired of sliding there alone, and he wandered outside the gate and up the street on the bank of the lake, which was high above the water, dragging his sled after him. And here he stood and watched the boys, who were skating and sliding, and as he heard their merry shouts he wished himself among them, and again he thought that it was very hard that he was not allowed to go. Soon he came to an easy path leading down to the shore of the lake, and he thought he 156 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. would just go down and take a nearer view of their sports. When he got down there, he stood on the shore so near the ice that he could touch it with his foot, and he thought to him- self, " it looks just as firm as the ground I stand on, and why might I not as well be there en- joying myself, as standing here alone, and look- ing on." Just then a group of boys came along very near the shore, some on skates, and some on sleds. " Come, Willy Graham ! why do you not come en the ice 1 Oh, it goes so fine." " Oh, I do not know," answered Willy, with an air of indifference. " He is afraid," said one boy. " No, I am not afraid," answered Willy. " Why do you not come then ?" said a large good-natured boy. "Here, give me hold of your rope, Willy, and we will be over there at the store house in no time." " No," said Willy, putting his hands in his pockets, " I guess I will not go on the ice this morning." Still afraid of disobeying his mother, and yet disobeying her in his heart all the time, for he was wishing very much to go. " I know now," said an ugly looking boy, " what is the matter with him ; he is afraid of his mother. Before I would be afraid of what a woman says ! What do women know about SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 157 ce ? Is it not just as safe here as where you are ! But go home, baby, do ;. and tie yourself to mother's apron strings. Had not some one better carry you. for you might fall down, and then mother would cry." The boys all set up a shout of laughter at this foolish attempt at wit, and Willy's feeble resolution gave way before the voice of ridicule. He reddened up and stepped boldly on the ice. Mrs. Graham sat at her sewing for an hour or two, never dreaming of her little boy's diso- bedience, but ever mindful of his happiness. At length she began to think it was time for Willy to come in, and as one half hour alter another went by and he did not come, she soon began to feel uneasy, for it was very unusual for him to stay away from home so long at a time. Presently the door opened, and in ran Willy as pale as death, and threw himself on his knees before his mother. " Oh, mother, dear mother," said he, '-'I have disobeyed you, I have been on the ice;" and as he saw the amazed and grieved expression of his mother's face, and that she was about to speak, he cried, " Do not speak to me, mother, do not say one word, please, till I tell you all, and then ycu may punish me just as severely as you like." Willy then told, in a hasty manner, and with- out attempting to conceal or excuse any part of his fault, the whole story of his disobedience. " But, oh, dear mother," said he, " you were right about the ice, as you always are about 14 158 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. every thing ; and 1 have seen the most dreadful sight ! Oh ! I shall never forget it. As we were all sliding about, I noticed that two of the students went far out beyond the rest, and so far that it seemed as if they were skating on the smooth water, the ice was so perfectly clear ; one of them was a kind, pleasant looking young gentleman, who had been drawing my sled for me part of the time. " Well, after a while, they started to come in, and I did not notice them any more till I heard — oh ! such dreadful screams ! and look- ing at the place where they had been, one of the young men had disappeared, while the oth- er was shouting and waving his cap, and the boys in all directions w r ere hurrying to the spot. The boy who was drawing my sled started and ran there too, dragging me after him; and when we got near the place, we saw the same young man, who I told you had been drawing me, struggling in the water and trying to climb up on the ice. Oh, mother, what a sight it was ! The ice about him was very thin, and as he pressed his hand upon the edge it crumbled away, and none of the young men could get near enough to take hold of him for the ice was cracking under their feet. Some of them lay down and threw him one end of their handker- chiefs, and at last he managed to stand up on the ice, then all the boys gave a great shout for they thought he was safe, but he broke through again in a minute, and, mother, I shall SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 159 never forget the look of his face as he went down that last time. I suppose he was so cold and stiff that he could not do much to save him self that time, for he soon sunk back and went down slowly in the cold water. " Some people came out from the shore with a boat and some grappling hooks, and they pushed the boat into the water, and brought up the body." And Willy laid his head in his mother's lap and sobbed as though his heart would break. His mother laid her hand on his head, but she did not speak, for her own heart was full, and she thought she would leave Willy to his own reflections for a while. At last he raised his head and said, "Mother, I think I should have told you how wicked I had been in disobeying you, even if this had not happened, for I never should have felt easy till you knew all and had forgiven me." His mother stooped down and kissed his fore- head, and said, "I do forgive you, my son, be- cause I believe you are sincerely sorry for your faults. But there is another against whom you have sinned, and who has spared your life in the midst of danger, and while you were break- ing one of his commandments which tells you to honor and obey your parents. Let us kneel, my son, and pray to God to forgive you, too." And while they prayed, Willy made the res- olution that, with God's help, he would never behave so wickedly again. 160 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. TO A LITTLE GIRL GATHERING FLOWERS. Gather thy bright flowers, sweet one, Ere their deep hue fadeth; Bind them on thy sunny brow, Ere care's dial shndeth — Youth to youth, and joy to joy, Nought know they of sadness; Sunshine, dew, and pleasant showers, Make their life of gladness. SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 161 Bind them on thy brow, sweet one, Kindly they will tell thee How life's blighting winds to shun, Should dear hope repel (hee; They will bid thee meekly how, When the storm is o'er thee; To raise unbroken when ag'ain Life's sunshine flits before thee. THE TROMISE. Little John, who had been sent of an errand to the neighboring town, when he came back to the hollow tree, sat down on one of the large twisted roots which curl up above ground, and waited for his father who had promised to meet him there. The church clock struck five, but his father did not come. It struck six, and still he sat alone on the root of the tree. Seven o' clock struck, and no father came. One or two persons, finding little John, sitting by himself, tried to persuade him to make the best of his way home, but in vain. " He promised," said little John, " and I know he will keep his word." Soon after this, the father arrived. that we could all say of our heavenly Father, with as much faith as little John said of his earthly one, " He promised, and I know that he will keep his word I" 14* 162 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. I HAVE LOST IT. " I have lost it," said Charles as he came into the house with a very sad countenance. " What have you lost?" said his father. "*My knife — that beautiful knife that uncle Philip gave me. I have looked every where for it and I can't find it, and 1 shall never see it again." " Didn't you see it under the barn?" said his father. " Under the barn ! Is it likely that my knife is under the barn?" " No I don't think it is ; but as you said you had looked every where for it, you must, of course, have looked under the barn." " I didn't mean every where." " I l^new you did not ; but you said so. Boys should always say what they mean. Have you looked in your pockets?" "No sir, but I have felt in them." " 1 knew a boy once, whd made a great out- cry about losing his pencil, and when he was made to unload his pockets, he found it." Charles well knew who that boy was, and proceeded to imitate his example. He had a foolish habit, which some contract, of stuffing his pockets with a great variety of useless or unnecessary things. He began to unload one pocket. He first took out some birch bark, SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 163 then a leathern string, then a ball of twine, then a piece of india rubber, then a crooked stick, then a small gimblet, then a quantity of tow, then two or three knife handles without any blades, then a fish-line, then some parched corn and beech-nuts mingled together. It was pretty plain it was not there; so he proceeded to unload another pocket which was filled with a similar variety of articles. In the course of this process, he came upon the lost knife. " I've found it," he cried out, and proceeded to re-fill his pocket. " Stop,'' said his father, " go to the corn- house and get a corn-basket." Charles went for the basket, wondering what his father wanted with it, but asking no ques- tions. He was accustomed to obey his father without questionings or gainsayings. He brought the basket and set it down. rt There now, unload all your pockets into the basket, if it will hold them." " I guess it will pretty nearly hold them," said Charles, proceeding to deposite one thing after another in the basket, till his pockets were empty. " There," said his father, " dont you feel lighter now ?" " I think I do some, sir." " Well, keep lighter then, and not make yourself a walking curiosity shop. You have a basket to keep your things in.' " I'm glad 1 haven't lost my knife." 164 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. "I am afraid you lost something far more valuable." "When, sir?" "This morning." " This morning, sir. Have I lost any thing this morning, sir f" " I am afraid you have. Indeed, I know you have." "What is it sir?" " Try and see if you can't find out, yourself." Charles could think of nothing that he had lost that morning. He concluded his father must mean time, and yet he had been quite busy all the morning. I will tell you some things which happened that morning, and perhaps you will under- stand what was the loss to which Mr. Neal al- luded. Two boys were passing on their way to the village, and fell into some dispute which ended in their coming to blows just in front of Mr. NeaPs house. He saw them, and called to them to desist unless they both wished to test the strength of his arm. They slopped ; one of them went on, and the other sat down on a large stone by the wayside, and wept. Mr. Neal went out to him, and asked him if he was hurt, and he said he was not. "Is he hurt?" said Charles, as his father came in. " He says he is not." " W T hat is he crying for then, if he isn't hurt?" SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 165 « " Perhaps he feels bad because he gave way to his passion so far as to come to blows with his companion. Perhaps you had better go and talk with him about it." " 1 don't like to talk with boys who fight." Mr. Neal was called away at that moment, and said no more to his son about the matter, till evening. He then had it in his thoughts when he said, " I am afraid you have lost some- thing far more valuable." What was it? It was an opportunity of doing good. To loose a valuable knife is a misfortune, but to loose an opportunity of doing good is a far greater one. If Charles had gone and talked kindly to the boy, he might have exerted a strong influence for good over his mind. Charles should have been willing to talk with a boy who fought, provid- ed there was an opportunity of doing him good. Whatever you may lose, never lose an opportu- nity of doing good. NEVER ASSOCIATE WITH BAD CHILDREN. A good little boy once said he would not play any more with one of his little friends, because he used bad words. Every child should be as conscientious as this little boy was. It is very wicked to associate with bad children, for they will teach you to do wrong, and to become as bad and as profane as themselves are. You will be very apt to learn their evil practices. 166 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. which will be hard for you to forsake. But even if the bad examples of other children should not produce unfavorable effects upon your mind, yet you should shun them ; for if you are found with wicked children, good peo- ple will think you are as bad as them, or else you would not love to be in their company. Bad companions will lead you into trouble, and leave you to get out of it the best way you can. Re- member the story about poor Tray in the fable, and from it learn instruction. THE LITTLE BUSY BEES. A kind hearted little friend, living in the country, said to a minister one day, " I am do- ing all I can for the Missionary Society. I am employing a great many collectors for it. I suppose I employ more in that good work than any body else." " Indeed said the visitor ; I should like to know how that is." " Come with me and I'll show you," she re- plied ; and forthwith she took her friend into the garden, and there, amidst honey suckles, roses, larkspurs, and other fragrant flowers, she pointed out several bee-hives. " There," said she, " all that honey I give to the Missionary Society, so that all the bees employed in col- lecting it I consider as my collectors for the Missionary Society." SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 167 FREELY GIVE. " A penny, if you please, brother Frank," said little Emily, coming into the parlor on Monday morning, and holding up the basket in which she was accustomed, every week, to put the money that her elder sister collected for the Bible Society; "a penny, if you please, broth- er Frank." Frank was very busy writing, and when he heard what Emily had to say, his pen went faster than before. " Why really," said he speaking as if he were in a great haste, " I have been thinking I cannot afford to be a sub- scriber any longer. You had better tell Mary to take my name out of her book." " 0, no, Frank," exclaimed his sister, re- proachfully, " you surely cannot mean that I should tell her that! Not afford a penny a week ! when we know that only last Christmas papa increased your allowance!" " Yes," interrupted he ; " but that w r as be- cause my expenses were so much increased at my new school. You girls have no idea of the number of things I want, and how quickly my money goes. Throe shillings, I gave on Satur- day for this beautiful penknife ; three shillings, I assure you; but, then, I could not do without one : and see how neatly I am writing this Lat- in exercise, it mends my pen so well. The 168 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. next thing I must buy is a silver pencil case, for I am continually obliged to borrow Edward Harding's, and 1 am resolved to have one of my own. That will cost twice as much as the pen- knife, I expect ; so you may suppose I have no money to give away." " But think of the poor heathen," pleaded Emily, with earnestness ; " think how sadly they want the Bible, to teach them the way to heaven, and to turn them from worshipping their idols. Do spare them a penny, dear Frank." " Now, don't tease me, there's a good little girl," said he, again bending over his book ; " I am very busy this morning — you know the holydays will soon be at an end, and I have so much to do." Emily felt that the case was hopeless, and sorrowfully turned away. Just then her sister Mary came in, ready for their usual walk • and as she immediately asked what caused the evi- dent trouble of her companion, Frank's unex- pected declaration was made known. While Emily was unburdening her heart of its sor- rows, he still went on writing his exercise, somewhat ashamed, as Mary could perceive, yet showing by his manner that he had quite made up his mind, and was prepared for all that she might say. Observing this, his sister did not attempt, by argument, to change his determi- nation , but she went up to him, and laying her SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 169 hand affectionately upon his shoulder, "I do not wish to dictate to you, dear Frank," said she, " concerning the manner in which any part of your money should be spent. I would gladly continue to receive your free contribu- tion; nevertheless, if, when you have duly con- sidered what is the object and purpose of the Bible Society, you can feel satisfied to withdraw your aid, 1 shall have nothing more to urge. I make only one request, which is, that you will put by your writing, and go with us this fine morning to the village. Accompany us on our pleasant errand, and I am ready to promise that if, when we return, you still wish your name to be erased from my list, I will not tease you by a single remonstrance from this day forth." Frank thought this would be an easy way of freeing himself from all future importunities, and accordingly, having stipulated that Emily should also become a party in the agreement, lie ran for his hat, and was ready in a few min- utes. They set out together, Emily carrying the little basket, running on before, while Mary and Frank walked side by side, perhaps rather more gravely than was usual, for the kind sis- ter felt grieved and anxious, and there was something in her brother's heart which told him he had done wrong. They called at several humble cottages, at some of which there were children subscribing ■a penny a week, to procure a Testament, or a 15 170 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. father and mother who put a trifle every Mon- day toward the purchase of a Bible, printed in a clear, large type, which might serve them in old age. And there were many, even in these poor and lowly dwellings, who spared from the earnings of their labor a weekly contribution to assist in sending to distant lands, those Scrip- tures which are able to make men " wise unto salvation;" and Frank observed that the little offering was readily brought forward, with a cheerful smile, as though it were a privilege to give. His conscience reproached him, yet still his resolution was unaltered; and it was with much satisfaction that he heard Emily's whis- per, " This is the last," as they entered a poor dwelling, the meanest and most comfortless they had seen. It consisted of one forlorn looking room, furnished with three broken chairs, an old table, a few wooden shelves, and a bed, on which lay an old man, evidently suf- fering from severe illness, and fast sinking to the grave. His wife was seated beside a mis- erable fire, preparing matches for sale; and everything wore such an aspect of poverty that Frank immediately concluded that his sister had only called for the purpose of relieving their w 7 ants, especially as he saw, on looking round, that they already possessed a Bible, the poor man's best and truest source of comfort, if he will only seek for comfort there. Great then, was Frank's surprise, when, as SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 171 Mary approached the bed, and in a few kind words expressed her regret on finding the old man so much worse, he saw him extend his tremb- ling and withered hand, to drop into Emily's lit- tle basket a penny, his weekly gift. An impa- tient exclamation started to his lips; but Mary gently checked him, and addressing the poor man in her own simple and quiet way, she ex- plained to him that the contribution was not asked, nor even desired, from persons circum- stanced as he was", and urged him to take back the money which in his present state, needing so many comforts, he might be unable to spare. In vain, however, she offered to return the pen- ny ; the poor man seemed so much grieved by the proposal, that she thought it kinder to com- ply with his wish, although she pitied his suf- ferings as sincerely as her brother, and was not less ready to relieve them. But Frank was of a different opinion, and when he saw the penny again added to Emily's store, his patience quite forsook him. " Indeed, sister," said he, hastily, "you ought not to take anything from this poor man ; he claims our help instead. It is wrong ; it is cruel ; do not, pray, be so unjust." Mary did not answer ; for the sick man gave her no time. He raised his head, and pointing to the Bible, " That book, young gentlemen," said he, " has brought me from darkness to light ; it has taught me the way to Christ, and 172 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. the way to heaven. I was a guilty, hardened sinner; I hated all good things; I broke the Sabbath ; I took God's name in vain ; I feared neither death nor judgment ; I was far on the road to hell. Two years ago, I bought that Bible, not because I wanted it, or cared for it, but because this kind young lady came to ask me, and I knew not how to refuse. It was a blessed day for me, a day for which I hope to praise God through all eternity, when first I opened that precious book and read the glad tidings of salvation. Yes, it taught me that, sinner as 1 had been, there was mercy through my Saviour's blood, mercy even for me ; and now I wish that all should have the Bible, that all should seek through that dear Saviour, for the pardon of their sins. It is little I can do to show my gratitude for all the Bible has done for me ; but as long as I live it will be my joy that I am permitted to help in sending the gos- pel to teach poor, guilty, and miserable souls how they may be forgiven." For some minutes after this there was a deep silence, and Frank turned away his face from Mary's eyes, feeling a sense of shame as he contrasted his own narrow selfishness with the humble, thankful spirit of the Christian, who gave from his scanty pittance what he denied from his abundance. It appeared, from the conversation which followed between Mary and these poor people, that the sick man, though SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 173 infirm and ailing for some time previously, had only lately been confined to his bed ; and Frank was glad to hear his sister say that his case should be attended to, and all possible relief af- forded. Some further remarks ensued, which showed the sufferer's happy state of mind, and gave proof that God is " no respecter of per- sons," but often bestows the consolations of his grace upon those whom the world would scorn. They then left the cottage, the poor man bless- ing them as they departed, and praying that the Saviour would keep them beneath his care. Frank was much affected by all he had heard and seen in the poor man's dwelling, which seemed no longer cheerless, since God was sure- ly there; and they passed through the village, and entered the green shady lane before he found courage to ask his sister for some partic- ulars respecting the former history of the poor man who had excited such interest in his mind. VISIT TO THE ROBIN'S NEST. As soon as Jane had done up her work, she went to her robin's nest. She found that the young robins had grown very much since she had last seen them. They now filled the nest more than full She put out her hand to smooth them, and one of them hopped out of the nest, and flew to a short distance. Jane ran and 15* 174 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. caught him, and put him back in the nest, and them the two others flew out. She caught one, but the other flew so far that she lost sight of him. She held the one she had caught for some time, in hopes that he would get over his fright; but as soon as she put him in the nest, he flew away, and was followed by the re- maining one, so that the nest was now empty. Jane was now in great trouble. She was afraid that they would get lost and die, and that she should be the cause of their death. She came home weeping, and told her mother all her troubles. "The old birds will take care of them, my dear." " Will they make them go back to the nestT ? " They will make them go back if they wish to have them. If not, they will take care of them. They make them leave their nest as soon as they are able to fly a little, that they may use their wings. If you had not scared them out, the old ones would have made them go out very soon. Perhaps you have saved them some trouble." " Why do they w r ish to have them leave the nest before they can fly away off V 9 "They never would be able to fly, in that case. If the old birds w T ere to do so, they would be as foolish as the man who resolved that he "would never go into the water till he had learn- ed to swim. The young ones have to learn to SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 175 fly, just as you had to learn to walk. They gain strength and skill by every trial; very soon they will be able to fly as well as the old birds." " But what if something should catch them before they are able to fly so?" " You would be sorry, but I don't see that you could help it." " I wish robins had been made so that they could defend themselves. " " I suppose you could make them better than the Lord has seen fit to." "No, ma'am,! didn't mean that — only — I did'nt think. I suppose I need not feel uneasy, for the Lord will take care of them better than I could." " My daughter, say so in your heart in re- gard to all things. When you have done your duty, leave the event with God, and be con- tent. Jane sat down to assist her mother in some plain sewing, and they kept silent for a long time. At length Jane broke silence. " Moth- er, I have been thinking, that I don't trust the Lord only when I can't help it, and that is not right." I don't apprehend your meaning. " Well, if I didn't mind you only when I couldn't help it, what would you think of me?" " I don't know what idea you have in your ,head," said her mother, smiling. " Well, when I am anxious and troubled 176 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. about anything, as I was about the birds, I worry myself, and try to do something, till I find I can't, and then I cast my care on the Lord. I ought to cast my care on the Lord first, and then do all I can. Is not that the way?" " It is certainly the way we ought to do. I am glad to see you get clear ideas of duty. But to know our duty is one thing ; to perform it is another." " I know that, mother." " Remember, the more you know of duty, the greater your obligation to do it, and the greater your need of the grace of God." THE LESSON AT HOP-SCOTCH. The school-master at Alton used to say to his' boys, " My lads, you ought always to be ready to teach one another, and to learn of one an- other. That is the way to become wise." " But, Mr. Truman;" said Ned Banks, who was a sprightly little fellow, the son of a ferry- man of White Bank, " w T e have enough of teaching and learning at school. When we shut up books, 1 am for play ; is not that right sir?" " Right enough," said the master ; " but don't you know that plays may be learned as w T ell as work or lessons'? How did you learn to row a boat, Ned?" SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 177 " My brother Bill taught me." " Very well. And how did George Frame learn to make a kite?" " I taught him myself," said Ned. " So you perceive," said Mr. Truman, " there is some teaching in matters of sport. But, be- sides this, while you are at your games, and af- ter they are done, you may be learning some- thing." " What, sir," ssked George Frame, " must we take our books along to the playground?" " Not at all. I said nothing about books. Much may be learned without books. But if you wish to know what I mean, do what I am going to tell vou. The next time you play a game of any sort, remember this rule — Learn something or teach something." That is an odd rule, thought George and Ned ; and they were immediately on the lookout for a chance to put it in practice. It was not long before they found an opportunity. For when school was out, they went to the play-ground to take a little amusement at the play called Hop-Scotch, which I dare say, is well under- stood by most of the boys who will read this pa- per. Ned laid off his coat, and George placed his dinner basket on the bench under the old birch tree. It was a tine, smooth piece of hard ground, with a low wall between them and the turnpike road. While they were merrily en- gaged in their hopping exercise, a large char- coal wagon drove slowly along, and a little fel- 178 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. low, with a loose cap on, and his face very much blackened with coal dust, got down from the wagon, and jumping over the stone wall, stood with his hands behind him, looking at the marks on the ground, and seeming to wonder what Ned meant by kicking about a piece of earthen ware so industriously. " Now," said Ned as he gave his last hop and kick, " I must teach this boy the game, for he looks as if he never saw it before." "I never did." " Then I must teach you," replied Ned. And so he did, and in a short time the charcoal boy did it as well us they. " So you can say, when you go back to the Pines," said George, "that you have learned something that you did not know before." " Yes," said the boy, " but I wish I could learn something that would be of more use to me." " Very well," said George, " What would you like to learn? Can you read?" "Not I, nor my father either, nor anybody in our house. I wish I could. But it must be harder than Hop-Scotch." " Rather harder," said George, "But not so hard as you think after all. If you once begin, you will soon go on finely." "Let us begin," said the charcoal boy, and his eyes glistened with joy. The father of the boy hearing this, said he would drive on a few rods and give his horses SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. 179 some feed. So the three boys mounted on the top of the wall, the charcoal boy in the middle, and George pulled out his spelling-book, and gave him his first lesson in the alphabet. The little boy was sprightly, and made wonderful progress, so that he knew half the letters per- fectly before they got down. " What shall I pay you?" asked the boy very innocently. George and Ned laughed at this, and one of them said, " never mind the pay, we will take it out in another way. It is your turn to teach us something now." " You are making fun of me now," he re- plied. " What can I teach you?" " You must know something," said Ned, " let us hear what it is." "Let me think," said the boy. "I know how to drive horses, and to take care of them in the stable. I know how to tend a kiln, but you don't want to learn that. I can pick cran- berries, and gather the long moss from the swamp pines, to stuff cushions with. I can shoot a little, and fish, and catch crabs." " O, stop," said Ned, smiling, " you know more than we wish to learn just now." " Ned," said George, " suppose we ask him about the place he comes from. That will be worth hearing." " Very well," said Ned ', " how far have you comes v> 180 SELECT STORIES FOR CHILDREN. " Twenty three miles from the Pine Swamp." " How far do you live from the seal" .. "Eleven miles." " Then you have often seen it." " Seen it," said the boy, " I go fishing with my father and uncles every week, and some- times I go out a little in a pilot boat." This raised the curiosity of the school boys very much. Most boys like to hear about the ocean, and so they sat down under the trees, asking every sort of question about the surf, and sea-shells, and sharks, and porpoises ; more, indeed, than I could write down in twenty pages. At last, the wagoner having baited, came back, and the little stranger got up to go away. " Stop a minute," said George, as he felt in his basket," here is a New Testament — did you ever see one?" "I have seen them in the preacher's hands, said the boy, " my mother says she would give a great deal to hear reading out of it." t: So she shall," said George, "that is, if you will only learn to read, which you can do in a few weeks. Take this book, and ask the neigh- bors to teach you, and when I see you again I will have another book for you." The little charcoal boy went away much pleased with his gift, and George and Ned were delighted with the experiment of teaching and learning. <&4<0 (Z^rz^S