THE LIBRARY OF THE UNI ERSIT OMNIBUS ARTIBUS * F MINNESOT CLASS BOOK 8124279 } THE TELESCOP JANDREW”. "The compositor has a 'case,'" etc. - Page 38. GOOD STORIES FOR ITTLE READERS Written and Selected BY H. L. HASTINGS. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY H. L. HASTINGS, SCRIPTURAL TRACT REPOSITORY, : No. 19 Lindall Street, Rear of the Post Office. 1866. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by H. L. HASTINGS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Mas sachusetts. JUL 14 '37 8124279 OG PREFACE. THIS volume has been prepared for the benefit of the world's "little readers." Its narratives have been very carefully arranged, or selected from a large variety of reliable sources, and claim to be facts. If, in making the acquaintance of its pages, any "little reader" shall derive a wholesome lesson, or receive a pure impression, which shall make goodness seem more lovable, and following the Redeemer more desirable, and shall be led to imitate the example of those he reads of, who have imitated the holy child Jesus, and have been like him, the Author will feel that in sending out this volume he has not followed his convictions of duty in vain. Other volumes of a similar character are nearly ready for the press, and will be soon published, if the Lord will. And with the earnest prayer that We, Who when on earth loved little children, and took them in His arms and blessed them, and before Whose gracious face the children's angels now do bow, and Who in the glorious day of His appearing shall choose the meek and child- like for His Kingdom, would grant His blessing, these pages are commended to BOSTON, August, 1865. His favor. 746340 CONTENTS. * About Birds, A Curious Clock, A Learned Dog, A Lesson for Pride, A Letter to Johnnie, A Light in the Window, Always do Right, · A Monkey, 171 One Verse, 169 Old Sim, 130 Prayer Better than Law- 128 48 • 120 Picking up Thoughts, 93 147 Porta Santa, 124 • 132 Pouter Pigeons, 150 126 37 4 120 A Mother Constant, A Mother's Kiss, An Ingenious Judge, A Noble Turkish Judge, An Old Man's Dream, A Quarrel, A Wise Bird, A Word to the Boys, Be Polite, Be Useful, Contentment, Do you Strike? • • · Fletcher and his Nephew, George IV., Hearers and Doers, Henry Asking a Blessing, Hidden Treasures, Honesty, Honesty the Best Policy, How to be Wise, I cannot afford to, I'd rather carry it, Irritable Christians, Illustrations, I want to get on, Lady Greenhill, Like Jesus, Lines in a Bible, Make me Fruitful, Merops, Mimicking, Mr. Hume, Nellie's Cold, 107 suits, 17 Printing Books, 165 Rabbits and Woodchucks, 22 Richard Reynolds, 159 Strength of Camels, 177 The Captive Girl, 53 The Cedar, 47 The Child's Prayer, 84 The Cow and Bear, * DER PRA 121 • 11 113 161 79 118 The Dog and Testament, 00 The Drunkard and the Monkeys, 85 155 The Faithful Horse, 1 The Four-bladed Knife, 166 The Gardens, 168 The Happy Choice, 73 The Heavenly Footman, 20 The Last Day, 78 The Lighthouse, 158 The Lions in the Way, 163 The Praise of Men, 101 The Reindeer, 69 The Sabbath School Chest- 97 160 • 142 129 105 152 • 145 162 nuts, 71 88 The Siamese Lad, 9 94 The Trades of Animals, 49 178 The Trap Door, 25 33 123 24* 31 65 21 136 The Two Goats, 30 The Two Miners, 46 Thank you, 128 Time Flies, 112 Trust in God, 83 Waiting for God, 175. What a Good Child Loves, 149 5 What will you plant? · 61 DO YOU STRIKE ? Once I gathered a family of bright and happy chil- dren around me, and putting my arms around three or four of them, I talked with them and asked them questions. "Do your little hands ever strike?" said I. The little ones said "Yes," and then the older ones blushed, and hesitated, and finally all owned that their little hands did strike sometimes. “Then you all strike, do you?" "Yes, sir." "Well, when you strike do others strike you?" "Yes, sir." "But if you strike and get struck again, then you are no better off than if you did not strike at first.” "No, sir." 1 2 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "How do you feel when you strike? Do you feel good and happy, or naughty and mean and ugly?" "We feel naughty and bad." "When others strike you, how do they feel?" "They feel bad, too." "So when you strike you feel bad, and when oth- ers strike they feel bad; and so when you all strike you all feel bad together?” 66 "Yes, sir." "Now I would not strike any more, if I were in your place. It makes you all feel so bad, I wish you would stop and not strike any more. any more?" "No, sir," said the little ones. Will you strike "Now if you older children strike, the little chil- dren will learn to strike, too, and the older children have bigger fists and stronger arms, and so can do more hurt when they strike than the little ones can. Now you won't strike, will you?" "No, sir." "What a sad thing it would be to have the little children strike, and the larger children strike, and then if father and mother show learn to strike, too, with their great strong hands, and so all should strike together; what a horrible house that would be. You would not like to live in such a place, would you?" "No, sir." "A man and woman up in Egot to striking STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 3 each other awhile ago, and the man struck the woman till she died, and the man had to go to prison; and so the poor children have no father or mother either. Now I think that if the children learn to strike when they are little, and grow up strikers, when their arms get strong, and their fists get large, then they will strike harder, and so kill some one, and then have to be hung for murder. That would be dreadful. Now I hope you children will not strike any more, will you?" "No, sir." "When your little hands strike, how do your little tongues go? Do they talk gentle and good, or do they talk rough and loud and wicked and bad?” 66 They talk loud and bad.” "So if you could keep all the tongues from talking bad, then you could keep all the little hands from striking, could you not?” "Yes, sir." "Well, when your tongues talk wicked, how do you feel in your breasts-how do your hearts feel?” "O, we feel bad and wicked.” So, first the heart feels wicked, then the tongue talks bad, then the little hands strike, and then ev- erything goes wrong. Now, children, you must pray that Jesus will forgive your sins and make your hearts good, and then when your hearts feel right, your tongues will talk right, and your hands will act right, and all will be right all the time." 4 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. RABBITS AND WOODCHUCKS. "Father," said Eustice, 'I do not like to kill rab- bits as well as I do woodchucks.” "Why, my son ?" "Because," replied Eustice, "rabbits will not fight back again; they will not get angry and bite; but they lay down and look so pitiful and beseeching, and seem to say, 'I forgive you,' that it makes me feel bad to kill rabbits." "How do you feel, my son, when you kill wood- chucks ?" asked the father. "O, I love to kill them," said he, "for they get angry and bite, and fight back again. They look fierce and savage, and try to keep me from killing them. That makes me angry, and then I can kill them with a relish. I never feel bad for killing woodchucks." MORAL. This tells the whole story. Children are cut to the heart when they get angry with others and try to quarrel, and find that the others will not get angry and fight back again. Never to fight back, is the way to conquer. NELLIE'S COLD. HOW SHE GOT IT, AND WHAT SHE DID WITH IT. I was down at Nellie's house the other day, and I found she had a dreadful cold. She would cough, and cough, and cough, as if her lungs would be torn to pieces. So I sat down by Nellie's side and talked with her. I told her how many persons I had seen that had such coughs till their lungs were weak and sore, and how finally they had consumption, and grew pale, and sat propped up with pillows, and were sick and could not work, or walk, or do good to others in any way, but must wait, and suffer, and die; and I told her how sad I felt to see her going in such a bad way as that, because I did not want her to be sick and die as others did. Well, then we tried to find out where her cold came from, somewhat on this wise: "Do you wear thin shoes ?" "No; my shoes are quite thick. Father makes me wear thick soles on my shoes." "Are your feet cold ?” "O no, my feet are not cold.” Well, are your feet warm?" "Why no, my feet are not warm." "I thought so, your feet are not cold, that is, they do not ache with cold, but yet they are not warm. 5 6 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. They feel just about as cool as a dog's nose. Now your blood is passing through those cool feet all the time. And if your feet are so cool, the blood will become chilled in passing through them, and so you will take cold. Now you had better take a pail half full of warm water and put your feet into it when you get up in the morning, and wet your head a little in cool water, and then have a dish of hot water by you and add some of that to your warm water every few minutes, so as to keep it as hot as you can bear it. Keep your feet in the hot water ten or fifteen min- utes, then dry and dress them, and then use them. Do this three times a week, and I think your feet will be warm." "How many thicknesses of cloth do you wear over your back and shoulder-blades ? "" "Let me see, one, two, three, four, five,-I wear five thicknesses of cloth." You wear five thicknesses of thin cloth, how many does your father wear ?" Her father thought a moment and said, "Eight, and then, when I go in the cold, an overcoat be- sides." "So you see, you, a poor, weak child, wear about five thicknesses of thin cloth over your shoulders, while your father wears eight or ten thicknesses of much thicker cloth over his. Do you think you are so much stouter and tougher than he, as that indi- cates ? " STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 7 "O no, I do not think I am stouter or healthier than my father." "And yet, if he should dress as you do he would take cold and be sick. Besides, do you know that your lungs come nearest to the surface, right under your shoulder-blades? If I should shave off a thin slice of flesh under your shoulder-blades, I should come right to your lungs. If your hair dropped in tresses down your shoulders and back, it would pro- tect you some, but it does not, and so the air strikes you in your back and right between your shoulders, and the cold goes right through to your lungs." "I know I often feel chilly right between my shoulders." Yes, and there the cold gets in and reaches your lungs. You need the warmest clothing right over your shoulder-blades and back, but there, where you are so often cold, you have only five thicknesses of light cloth, while down below your waist, where you are never cold, you wear thirty or forty thicknesses of cloth, counting the folds, and plaits, and gathers, etc." "Now, Nellie, you can see where you have got your cold. And now I will tell you how to get rid of it. You must get your feet warm, and keep your feet and limbs well dressed; and then you must take two three-cornered pieces of thick cloth large enough to cover your shoulders and back, and come clear down behind to your waist. Then stitch them together with some good thick wadding between them, and so 8 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. make a false back to your dress. Then put this on under your dress and wear it all the time. "Now, Nellie, I want you to attend to this and wear it, for I want you to be well and strong, and do a great deal of good in the world, which you cannot do if you are cold, and sick, and have a cough and die. Now you will do it, won't you ?" Nellie promised she would, and thanked me for what I had told her. And her mother said she would make the dress-back the next day and be sure that Nellie wore it, and so I came away. Well, don't you think, I saw Nellie two days after- wards, and she said she had not coughed hardly at all since she put it on. So I was glad, and I hope she will live and be well and serve the Lord. And so I thought some one else might want to know what to do with a cold in the chilly weather, and I thought how much better it would be if I could persuade them to wear warm clothes, instead of tak- ing medicines, and so I thought I would write the story out, and then they could get well and be good and serve the Lord, and do good and be saved. Now I want you to be good, and healthy, and strong, and happy, and then you can present your bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable in his sight, which is our reasonable service. THE SIAMESE LAD'S FAITH. Dr. L. B. Lane, missionary to Siam, relates the fol- lowing circumstance, which occurred during a mis- sionary tour by water in the year 1853. The voyage had been fraught with multiplied perils, from which they had providentially escaped. After they were over, he writes to the American Missionary :- "In closing this communication, I will mention an incident that has just now come to pass. One of our boatmen is a Siamese lad, of about eighteen years. He lately came in from the country and entered my employ. I found him entirely ignorant of the Bible and of our religion, and consequently took extra pains to instruct him. Among other things, I endeavored to impress his mind with the Bible truth, that God becomes the Father of those who love and serve him, and is near to protect them under all circumstances of danger or trial; that the child of God has nothing to fear. A moment ago, I stopped my pen to listen to a conversation he is now having with a stranger, at the head of the boat. After he had quite glowingly described the events of the storm of yesterday, the stranger replied, "'Twas fearful truly. Did not your heart fail with fear?' 'No,' he replies, 'I was sick, that's all; I was not afraid. The God of the teach- ers saved us. It is written in their sacred book, that the God of the teachers takes care of his followers 9 10 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. all the same as a father takes care of his children; and if it's like that, why be afraid? The teacher tells me that it is so truly, and perhaps it is. At least, I see that if their God had not helped us in the storm, we should all have been drowned.' The stranger re- plied, with an exclamation of surprise and admira- tion, And what sort of a God is it that can help when a hurricane is born?' The circumstance just mentioned leads me to examine more closely the na- ture of my faith in the promises of God, and to fear lest this young man may rise up in the judgment and condemn me. There may, too, be some in the fam- ilies at home who will find suggestions in the above circumstance that may profit them also. Do all the followers of God there believe practically that he will protect his children at all times, according to his promises? We may all unite in saying, I believe in all the words of the Lord our God. But allow me to ask, Do we always act agreeably to our professions ? With reference to this matter, I confess I must say, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.' And my heart at this moment is crying out within me, in the language of one of our hymus: 'Oh! for a faith that will not shrink, Though pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any carthly woe! A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without- That, when in danger, knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt." STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 11 can What a blessed thing it is to have a God that “ help when a hurricane is born"; a God who can de- liver from the Red Sea, the fiery furnace, or the lion's den; a Saviour who can rebuke the winds, and hush the waves, and cause a great calm to come over the dark and stormy bosom of the deep. I once heard of some little children who were lost in the woods at night, and when their friends found them and asked them if they were not afraid, the eldest said: "No, we asked God to take care of us, and then we lay down under the tree and went to sleep." So we may all trust in the Lord, and lay ourselves down and sleep in peace while He watches over us. Let us always trust in him and love him, and then we can pray: "Keep me, O mighty King of kings, Beneath the shadow of thy wings." THE CHILD'S PRAYER ANSWERED. A poor woman and her three children, residing on the New Cavendish Street, London City, Mission district, were on one occasion brought to the verge of starvation. They had neither money nor food, and knew not what to do to obtain any. The chil- dren had been crying for a breakfast, but the mother had none to give them. She told them she would go out and try to get some dinner for them. The 12 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. mother accordingly left the children at home alone whilst she went out to seek food, but did not know which way to bend her steps, or where to look for the needed supply. The little ones began to talk about the prospect of something to eat, when one of them, a child per- haps of five or six years of age, left the rest, went into the bedroom, knelt down, and then offered a prayer to this effect:— “O God, send us some dinner to-day : I know you will · you are very good—for Jesus Christ's sake, Amen." With a cheerful face, the little one rose from his knees, ran to the other children and told them that they would have some dinner to-day. They wanted to find out how it was he knew that; when he told them that it was because he had prayed to God for it. And that dear child's believing prayer was heard. Some old friend of his mother's, whom she had not seen for many years, met her in the street, gave her a shilling, and with it she purchased the dinner her child had so beautifully prayed for. The joy of the children, and of the mother, too, may be imagined, when she returned home with her apron filled with food. THE FOUR-BLADED KNIFE. George Lee was standing by his uncle, watching as he skillfully shaped from a bit of wood the head of a dog, which he had promised him as an ornament for a miniature cane of his own cutting. As the fin- ishing strokes were cut, the boy said, with a deep sigh- "Oh, uncle John! I wish I had such a knife!" (6 Why, Geòrgie, have you lost your own?" Oh, no!" replied he, taking it from his pocket, "but mine has only one blade, and it is so dull; and yours has four blades, and is so sharp; I could never make a dog's head like that with my old, dull knife." 'But, Georgie, it needs more than a sharp knife to cut out such a fine dog's head as this; and you are such a little boy, you would cut your fingers if you had one so sharp. It was only yesterday I heard you bragging about your knife; it was so sharp, so pretty, such a nice little knife!" "Well, I don't think so now; I want a four-bladed knife." The next morning George ran into the breakfast room, overturning his little sister in his haste, ex- claiming- 13 14 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "Oh, uncle John! I had such a glorious dream last night!" Well, my boy, what was it?" “I dreamed that you gave me your four-bladed knife." "Well, Georgie, and what else? was that all ? " Georgie drooped his head a little, and lowering his voice, replied- "I cut my fingers with it." How often do we see this little incident, with the dream fulfilled, acted over and over again upon the theatre of life, upon a larger scale. 'A man has a competency sufficient for his moder- ate desires; he thinks his home the dearest, sweetest spot earth holds. By and by some friend climbs higher upon fortune's ladder: he feels envy awake within him: the home he once delighted in is now too small, too mean for his aspirings. He dreams of wealth; he toils for it; he gets it; he dwells in a pal- ace, while his ships traverse the seas; but the tempta- tions of luxury are powerful; he becomes a slave to appetite and money. He possesses the four-bladed knife, but it has cut his fingers. There was a Christian man, in moderate circum- stances; he was open-hearted, and open-handed, giv- ing freely, according to his ability; active in the church; ready to every good work. All around him in the business world were pressing on in the pursuit of wealth, and he became enamored of it. His gifts 1 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 15 • were so small, he persuaded himself they could ac- complish little good. He would withhold them for awhile, and use all in seeking to amass more; then he could give hundreds where now he gave tens. He toiled by day for wealth, and dreamed by night of its possession. It was said of him, that every thousand that went into his purse made him only draw the purse-strings tighter. God gave him his coveted wealth, and with it "leanness entered into his soul." He possessed the four-bladed knife, but it cut his fingers—the life-blood of benevolence and generosity oozed out. There was a Christian lady, an exemplary wife, a faithful mother, contented and happy in her simple and pleasant home, full of the comforts, but boasting few of the luxuries of life. Time passed on, and her early companions were getting above her in society; they were living in more elegant and spacious dwell- ings, surrounded with all that wealth could purchase; while her own home remained unchanged. From their splendid abodes she returned to her own, with discontent and envy rankling in her bosom. Her house was narrow, her rooms were small, her furni- ture mean and shabby. She dreamed of wealth and splendor; she forgot for a time the fountain of living waters, and strove to hew out to herself cisterns of earth to slake her thirst. She infused her own re- pinings into the mind of her husband, till he too dreamed and toiled. Her wish was accomplished; 16 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. + she was mistress of a princely mansion; elegant and massive furniture filled her rooms; she walked upon velvet carpets; costly pictures covered her walls, and her windows were draped with the richest fabrics of the loom; but she had lost the precious jewel, Peace, which once dwelt within her bosom. Her closet, and her rarely opened Bible, witnessed against her; and her children, neglected in her eager pursuit of fash- ion, forgot their early lessons, and were an increasing source of disquietude. She possessed the four-bladed knife, but it had cut her fingers. Would that the admonition of the blessed Redeemer might sound in trumpet tones in every Christian's ear, to every Chris- tian's heart, in this gold-seeking age: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth." "" "What mean, dull souls, in this high measure To haberdash In earth's base wares, whose greatest treasure Is dross and trash; The height of whose enchanting pleasure Is but a flash ? Are these the goods that thou suppliest Us mortals with? Are these the highest? Can these bring cordial peace? False world, thou liest." VIOLA. A MONKEY AND THE PITCHER PLANT; OR, KINDNESS REWARDED. Two brothers, Englishmen, were once travelling on foot from Dondra Head, the southern extremity of the Island of Ceylon, towards Candy, in the interior, about one hundred and twenty miles northward. They started upon their journey very early in the morning, and expected to accomplish it in three or four days; though, as the sun is exceedingly warm in that country, they intended to rest during the heat of the day under the shade of the many broad-leaved palm-trees that grew by the side of the road. They had travelled some distance when the young- er brother stopped, and gazing inquiringly around, said: 66 I surely heard a çry, Robert, as if some one was hurt. Let us look and see what it can be," he added, as a low moan distinctly reached their ears. It pro- ceeded from a group of cocoa-nut trees that grew on their right hand. The brothers sprang hastily but cautiously forward, and searched carefully around, till at last the elder exclaimed, laughing: "Here it is, Authur, come and see," and as his 17 18 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. brother turned towards him, he pointed to a monkey, who, having fallen from one of the branches of the fruit tree, had hurt himself very severely. "Poor fellow!" said Arthur; and, taking him up, tore a strip from his handkerchief and bound the wounded limb, and then turned to resume his jour- ney with the monkey in his arms. "You surely," said Robert, "do not intend to take that disgusting animal as your companion to Candy." "Do you think," replied Arthur, "that I would leave this poor, helpless creature to die of his wound? No; he shall be my companion until he is cured, and then he may return, as soon as he likes, to his home in the forest." The two brothers travelled on their way, though the elder could not sometimes refrain from joking the other about his companion. They had journeyed two days, and were about half way from their desti- nation, when the heat became exceedingly oppressive, and the numerous springs, which had heretofore flowed along the side of the road, became dried up, and they began to suffer from the want of water. Their strength was failing; they felt as though they could proceed no further; and on the morning of the fourth day, when within about thirty miles of Candy, both brothers sank down at the foot of a palm tree, exhausted and parched with thirst. "Must we die here ?" exclaimed Robert with a groan. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 19 "Trust in God," replied Arthur, raising his eyes towards heaven. Suddenly the monkey, who was resting by his side, sprang up and ran eagerly along the road, as if he were searching for something. At last he returned, and, seizing Arthur by the arm, endeavored to draw him along with him. "How strangely he acts," said the young man; "what can he have found ?” and, summoning all his strength, he arose and followed the animal. When he reached the spot, what met his delighted eyes? There, growing in luxurious abundance, was the silky, downy pitcher plant, or monkey cup, so called on account of its being sought after by those animals for the purpose of quenching their thirst. The flower is in the shape of a cup, about six inches in length, and one and a half in diameter; and has a lid, which opens and shuts with the changes of the weather, and is filled with pure water, a secretion from the plant. The two brothers drank of the water, and were refreshed; and when they at last reached their home, they related to their astonished friends how the mon- key had been the means of saving their lives. "Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all." 20 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. HENRY ASKING A BLESSING. Henry had never heard his father pray. A Chris- tian friend, while visiting at the house, was invited to conduct family prayer, and also to ask a blessing at table. Henry wished his father would do so every day. One evening only Henry and his little brother and his aged grandmother sat at the table, the rest of the family taking tea with a neighbor. "Grandma," said Henry," may I ask a blessing? "Yes," she replied, her eyes filling with tears, for she had long been a true servant of God. "O God, bless our bread and milk. Make us good children. Bless pa, ma, and grandma. Amen," said Henry. He thought no more about it; but dear grandma told his father when he came home. - The father's heart was touched by the example. He resolved to have a prayerless house no longer, and soon after became a Christian. Henry was only seven years old, yet see how his effort to seek God's blessing was rewarded! WAITING FOR GOD. One morning while that terrible disease, the yel- low fever, was raging in New Orleans, and many or- phans and poor people were left houseless and alone, to the care of the benevolent and faithful, the Delta relates that "a boy was discovered lying in the grass of Claiborne Street, evidently bright and intelligent, but sick. A kind gentleman went to him, shook him by the shoulder, and asked him what he was doing there. Waiting for God to come for me,' said he. "What do you mean?' said the gentleman, touched by the pathetic tone of the answer and the condition of the boy, in whose eye and flushed face he saw the evidences of the fever. 'God sent for mother, and father, and little brother,' said he, ‘and took them away, and mother told me, when she was sick, that God would take care of me. I have no home, nobody to give me any thing, and so I came out here, and have been looking so long up in the sky for God to come and take care of me, as mother said he would. He will come, won't he? Mother never told me a lie." Yes, my lad,' said the man, overcome with emo- tion, he has sent me to take care of you.' You should have seen his eyes flash, and the smile of triumph break over his face, as he said: 21 22 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "Mother never told me a lie, sir; but you've been so long on the way.' How simple and touching is such a boyish faith. And how true it is that God cares for us. O, if chil- dren, and older folks too, would only trust in God to take care of them, how often would they be delivered from trouble. And if the Lord takes care of the poor, he has some one whom he can send to help about it. Let us try to be workers with God. And when the Lord sends us, let us go quick. How many a poor, sick, sad one, may be to-day waiting for us to bring them help and comfort, either in word or deed, and yet we are "so long on the way," that they get almost dis- couraged. Let us run in the way of God's com- mandments. A MOTHER'S KISS. “One day a ragged and dirty looking boy, fourteen years of age, pleaded guilty in the Superior Criminal Court to having fired a building. For two years past, since the death of his mother, he had wandered around the streets a vagrant, without a home or a human being to care for him, and he had become in every respect a 'bad boy.' A gentleman and a lady interested themselves in his behalf, and the lady took him one side to question him. She talked to him kindly, but without making the slightest impression STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 23 upon his feelings, and to all she said he manifested the greatest indifference, until she asked him if no one had ever kissed him. This simple inquiry proved too much for him, and bursting into tears he replied, 'No one since my mother kissed me.' That one thought of his poor dead mother, the only being, perhaps, who had ever spoken kindly to him before, touched him to his heart, a hardened young criminal though he was. The little incident caused other tears to flow than his." Did you ever think what a blessed thing it was to have some one to love you? Many poor children have no mothers to kiss them and love them. Some have no friends in all the world; they are alone and forgotten. How poor they must feel; how cold in the chilly winter days. Let us thank God for good homes and loving hearts, for kind fathers and praying mothers. Let us try to please our parents, and then God will bless us and care for us. Do not worry your mother nor trouble her. How weary and care-worn she looks sometimes. Do you know that by and by-she may die? Then she can never love you and kiss you and care for you any more. How sad that would be, to have those eyes closed, and those loving hands cold, and those lips silent in the grave! O, children, if your mothers should die, I hope you will have it to re- member that you always loved them and obeyed them. 24 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. * THANK YOU. “Mother,” said a little girl, "I gave a poor beggar child a drink of water, and she said 'Thank you' to me so beautifully; and it made me so glad, I shall never forget it." · Now, children can do a great many things worth a "thank you." Kind offices are everywhere and at all times needed; for there are always sick ones sorrowful ones, poor ones besides dear ones, to make happy by kindness; and it goes further toward mak- ing home happy than almost anything else. Kind offices also are within everybody's reach, like air and sunshine; and if anybody feels fretful, or discontent- ed, or repining, or unthankful, and wants a medi- cine to cure it, I would say, Do a "thank you's" worth of kind offices every hour you live, and you will be cured. It is a wonderful sweetener of life. Try it. Thank you's and kind words are like the wrapping paper they put around glass ware or fine crockery. It costs but little, but it saves a great deal of break- ing and scratching. And when children use these gentle, pleasant words, they are not half as likely to dispute and strike, as when they speak abruptly and roughly. Put in the papers around the crockery, and so save the trouble of picking up the pieces. It is well to save the pieces, but better to save the dishes whole without making any pieces. THE TRAP DOOR. Papa, what does the Bible mean when it says so much about 'faith'; 'without faith it is impossible to please God,' and such passages? And the minister when he preaches says so much about 'faith'; and I am sure I do not know what he means." (6 Wèll, daughter, I am glad that you wish to un- derstand what you read and hear, and I hope my dear little girl will always come and ask when she meets with hard words and difficult subjects." 25 26 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "Faith is believing what God has spoken, with all your heart, so that you feel just as certain of it as if you could see it with your eyes or hear it with your You cannot see God, but if you come to him and pray to him, you must believe that he hears you, and sees you, and knows all you say." ears. "But, papa, how can I? I have read that Moses 'endured as seeing him who is invisible,' but really I do not know how to believe in this way. I have often wished I had been on the earth when Jesus was here, so I could have seen him, and had him put his hands on my head and pray; but now he is far away, and I cannot see him; how can I believe, papa ? (6 My daughter has never seen a king, or a pres- ident, but yet she believes that there are kings and rulers. My daughter has never seen a palm tree, or an iceberg, and yet she has no doubt but there are such things. My daughter has never seen a printer, or a printing press, but yet she believes there are such persons and such things in the world." "O yes, papa, for you know I read the books and papers that the printers make, and so they prove to me that there are printers who print them.” "True, my child, and when you see the heavens, with all the stars that shine there, do not they tell you of God? When you see the earth, with all its beauty and plenty and glory, does not this tell of God?" "Yes, papa, I am sure, as David says, 'The heav- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 27 ens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork'; and I know that the world could not make itself, and so God must have made it. But then, when I think of him, he seems so great, and so far away, that I do not feel as if he cared for such a little girl as I am; and so I fear he will never hear my prayer." "But if my daughter knew the Lord, and was ac- quainted with him, she would not feel like that. Be- cause he is very loving, and gentle, and kind, and he cares for other things which are much smaller than my little girl is. Did you ever read about God's care for the lilies and the sparrows, and how He numbers the very hairs of our heads?" "O yes, papa, I know that beautiful passage, and I often think that it is very kind in Jesus to speak so of God's care for little things. But I am not only little, but I do wrong many times. me and love me?" Will God notice My child, if God does not love those who have done wrong, he will never love any one in this world, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the Lord still loves us, and pardons the penitent, and seeks the lost. You know the story of the prodigal son; that tells how willing the Lord is to receive sinners when they return to him. So if you come to him, he will receive you." "I think, papa, if I could see him I would come to him. If he were here on earth now, I would walk a 28 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. great way to meet him, and to have him put his hands upon my head and bless me. But he is not here, and I do not know how to find him." "But you must remember, my child, that the Lord is here, by his Spirit; that he hears all your words, and knows all your thoughts;-and so, when you think him far away, he is yet very nigh to you. You must search the Scriptures, and read what he says, and believe him and trust him. In the Scriptures you can read his own words-'Come unto me, and I will give you rest.' Now when you pray to him, you come to him, and he hears you, and will bless you." "But if I only could see or feel that this is so, it would seem so real then." "Well, my child, you must come near to God, and then you will feel, in your heart, that these things are so indeed. "Let me tell you a little story. One time a little girl lived in a house where there was a trap door in the middle of the floor, which they lifted up when they wished to go down cellar. Under this door there was a flight of stairs, but the cellar beneath was very dark. One day this door was left open, and the little girl came and looked down into the cellar. All was dark there, and no one was to be seen. called and said: 666 So she Father, are you down in the cellar ?' "Yes, daughter, I am here. Come down here with me.' STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 29 Why, father, I can't see you.' “I know it, daughter, but I can see you, and I am certainly here. Now you come to the edge of the floor, and jump right down, and I will take you.' "I durst not do it, father; I am afraid I'll fall.' "But I will catch you when you fall.' "But I can't see you, father.' “I know it, but I can see you, and I will surely catch you.' "Then the little girl hesitated a little, but father said, 'Come,' and so she stepped over the edge, and down she went, right into her father's arms. "The next day he was down there again, and as the door was open he heard her call, · "Father.' "Yes, my child.' "Father, I'm coming,' and almost before he could get ready to receive her, down she came into his arms again." "And that is like faith, is it, papa? I must be- lieve, even if I do not see God, and cast myself into his arms if he tells me to, and do just as he says ?" 'Yes, my child; 'faith is the substance of things not seen.' When you cannot see the Lord, you must believe that he is near, and you must ask him to give you his Holy Spirit, for one of the fruits of the Spirit' is 'faith.' It is not in your own power to do all this, but God will help you to come to him, and will lead you by his own Spirit." 30 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "I will try to come, papa, but I feel so sinful, that I fear he will not receive me." "Do not fear; this man receiveth sinners.' Come You remember that sweet hymn, just as you are. "Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bid'st me come to thee,- O, Lamb of God, I come."" Yes, papa, I remember it, and I will try to come, for I do believe God loves me, and I think I can say these two prayers: 'God be merciful to me a sinner,' and 'Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.” (6 Pray thus from your heart, my child, and God will surely bless and save you." LIKE JESUS. I want to be like Jesus, So lowly and so meek; For no one marked an angry word That ever heard him speak. I want to be like Jesus, So frequently in prayer, Alone upon the mountain top- IIe met his Father there. I want to be like Jesus, Engaged in doing good; So that of me it may be said- inc "She hath done what she could.” Alas! I'm not like Jesus, As any one may see; O gentle Saviour, send thy grace, And make me more like thee. { TIME FLIES; OR, REUBEN ROGERS. In summer we seldom think of winter, in joy we rarely think of sorrow, and in youth we hardly ever think of growing old; but when winter, and sorrow, and old age come upon us, we wonder how it was that we did not think of them more. Reuben Rogers, when a school-boy, wrote this copy in his copy-book, "Time flies;" but when he wrote it he was thinking of his hoop, his kite and his whipping-top, and paid but little attention to any thing else. What thought he of time? or what cared he whether it crawled or flew ? When Reuben Rogers was a year or two older, he saw the motto on a sun-dial, "Time flies," and this reminded him of the copy that he had written on his copy-book; but as the sun-dial stood in a garden, he very soon began to gather flowers, and the motto passed away from his remembrance. A boy in a flower-garden is seldom much given to reflection. Life is “even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."-(James 4: 14.) When Reuben Rogers was a young man, he heard a preacher in the pulpit say to the assembly around him, “Time flies! Lay hold on eternal life!" For a moment it reminded him of the copy he had writ- ten, and the motto on the sun-dial, but it was only for the moment, and the thought passed away. Reuben Rogers lived a reckless life to the years of 31 32 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. manhood, caring much for this world and little for another. As he once wandered through a church- yard, he saw the words sculptured on a tomb-stone, "Time flies! Prepare!" His copy, the motto on the sun-dial, and the words of the preacher were again remembered, and perhaps remembered a minute or two longer than before, but before he left the church- yard they were forgotten. It was when the gray hair was on his head, that Reuben Rogers was laid on a sick bed without hope of recovery. "Time flies!" said the minister who at- tended him; "moments are worth more to you now, than months, or even years were before." Reuben Rogers felt this to be true, and the words went to his heart. What would he not have given for an hour; but could he have given the world for it, it had been in vain. He was taken away while calling for one single moment of that time he had so thoughtlessly wasted. "Time flies,” youthful reader! with thee, as it fled with Reuben Rogers. While thine eye is bright, and thy cheek red; while youth and health are thine ; while thou enjoyest the present, ponder on the past, and prepare for the future. Time flies, and before thou art aware, youth and health may fly too, leaving thee tottering limbs, gray hairs, and a graven brow. "While seasons fly, And health and strength are given, Set thy bright eye And ardent heart on heaven." · THE TWO GOATS. Two goats met one day on a very narrow path which wound around the verge of a precipice. They could not pass by each other. They were both very stubborn, and neither of them would back out and let the other pass, so they began pushing and but- ting each other, till by and by they both tumbled off, away down, down, to the bottom of the precipice, and broke their necks. What great fools they were. If either of them had been willing to back out and let the other pass, they would have both got safely along. Sometimes children dispute about their toys, or 33 34 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. try to have their own way, till they get to quarrelling, get punished, and both of them lose the things they disputed about. Sometimes men go to law, and na- tions to war about nothing, and after a long quarrel leave off worse than they began. I once read about "The war for a bucket.” • "In the year 1005, some soldiers of the common- wealth of Modena ran away with a bucket from a public well belonging to the state of Bologna. The implement might be worth a shilling, but it produced a quarrel which was worked into a long and bloody war. Henry, the King of Sardinia, for the Emperor Henry the Second, assisted the Modenese to keep possession of the bucket; and in one of the battles he was made prisoner. His father, the Emperor, offered a chain of gold that would encircle Bologna, which is seven miles in compass, but in vain. After twenty-two years' imprisonment (his father being dead), he pined away and died. His monument is still extant in the church of the Dominicans. The fatal bucket is still exhibited in the tower of the Cathedral of Modena, enclosed in an iron cage." Now instead of fighting like goats for the road, like children for toys, or like kings for buckets, how much better it is to act like christians and "be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom. 12: 21. An old man told the following story about how he conquered an enemy with kindness. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 35 "I once had a neighbor, who, though a clever man, came to me one bright hay-day and said, Esq. White, I want you to come and get your geese away.' 'Why,' said I, 'what are my geese doing?' 'They pick my pigs when they are eating, and drive them away; and I will not have it.' • What can I do?' said I. 'You must yoke them.' "That I have not ( time to do now,' said I; 'I do not see but they must run.' 'If you do not take care of them, I shall!' said the clever shoemaker, in anger; what do you say, Esq. White ?' 'I cannot take care of them now, but will pay you for all damages.' 'Well,' said he, 'you will find that a hard thing, I guess.' "So off he went, and I heard a terrible squalling among the geese. The next news from the geese was that three of them were missing. My children went and found them terribly mangled and dead, and thrown into the bushes. 'Now,' said I, 'all keep still, and let me punish him.' In a few days the shoemaker's hogs broke into my corn; I saw them, but let them remain a long time. At last I drove them all out, and picked up the corn which they had torn down, and fed them with it in the road. By this time the shoemaker came in great haste after them. 'Have you seen anything of my hogs?' said he. 'Yes, sir; you will find them yonder, eating some corn which they tore down in my field.' 'In your field?' 'Yes, sir,' said I; 'hogs love corn, you know; they were made to 36 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. eat it.' 'How much mischief have they done?' 'O, not much,' said I. Well, off he went to look, and estimated the damage to me to be equal to a bushel and a half of corn. 'O no,' said I, 'it can't be.' 'Yes,' said the shoemaker, ' and I will pay you every cent of damage.' 'No,' I replied, 'you shall pay nothing. My geese have been a great deal of trou- ble to you.' The shoemaker blushed and went home. "The next winter, when we came to settle, the shoemaker determined to pay me for my corn. 'No,' said I, ‘I shall take nothing.' After some talk, we parted; but in a day or two I met him on the road, and fell into conversation in the most friendly man- ner. But when I started on, he seemed loath to move, and I paused. For a moment both of us were silent. At last he said, 'I have something laboring on my mind.' 'Well,' what is it?' Those geese. I killed three of your geese; and I cannot rest till you know how I feel. I am sorry;' and the tears came in his eyes. 'O, well,' said I, 'never mind; I suppose my geese were provoking.' "I never took anything of him for it; but when- ever my cattle broke into his field after this, he seemed glad, because he could show how patient he could be. "Now,' said the old man, 'conquer yourself, and you can conquer anything. You can conquer with kindness where you can conquer in no other way.' PRINTING BOOKS. All good children are pleased with good books and beautiful papers, but many of them do not know how much work must be done to furnish them with such things to read. Once all the books which men had were written with a pen, as we write letters. Men wrote on plates of lead, on stones, on leaves of trees, on bark, and on the skins of beasts and such other materials as ´they could find. It would take a great many days or weeks to make a single book in that tedious way; for this reason books were then very scarce and cost- ly, so that in 1429 the cost of a New Testament, in England, was "four marks and fourpence," a sum equal to about two hundred and twenty-five dollars now, an amount sufficient to purchase more than three thousand printed Testaments at the present cost of making them. What has made so great a change? The art of printing, invented in Germany by Guttenburg, Faust, and Schoffer, about 1440, or more than four hundred years ago. By means of this art we can manufacture books very fast, but yet not without great labor. If we wish to make a book, a tract, or a paper, we first write it all out, just as we want it to be printed. This manuscript, when thus prepared, we call "The Copy." This is placed before the type setter, or 37 38 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 66 (6 "compositor," who is to set up the type. The com- positor has a case," laid upon a stand which rises up like a slanting desk before him; this "case" is a sort of shallow wooden tray, about three feet long and a foot and a half wide, cut up into a great many little square or oblong boxes, from one to three inches square. These boxes in the “ case " are full of little types" or small bits of metal almost an inch high, or long, and perhaps an eighth, or a sixteenth of an inch square, and each one it, a letter, like a, b, c, d. One of the little boxes in the " case "is full of a's, another of b's, another has c's, and so on to the end of the alphabet, while other boxes have capital letters, others have figures, com- mas, periods, and all the other marks seen upon the printed page. has on the end, or top of When the "compositor" begins his work, he takes in his left hand a little iron tray, or box without any top or front to it, called a "stick"; this is set by a screw just as wide as the column or page of type is to be. Then the "compositor" looks at his copy and sees what is the first letter in it, and then with the right hand he picks that letter out of the "case" and sets it in one corner of the "stick." Then he picks up the next letter and puts it by the side of the first, and so on till he has "composed" a word. He then puts in a “space,” which is a piece of metal just the size of a type, only it has no letter on top of it, and after the "space" he puts another word, and then STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 39 another and another, until he has "set up" a line. Then he begins on the next line and goes on in the same way, until he has set up ten or fifteen lines, which make a "stickfull." He then slides the type out very carefully into a long narrow tray called a galley," fills his stick again, and empties it into the galley" beside the other, until the "galley" is full of "matter or type. (6 When the galley is full, the types all stand side by side on their ends, with the letter or "face" on the top, then they are fastened there by laying a strip of board or "furniture " beside them and wedging them tight by means of little "quoins" or wedges, which are driven in with a mallet and a "shooting stick" or tapering piece of iron or hard wood; and then they proceed to "prove" the matter. They take first an "inking roller," made out of boiled glue and molasses, cast in a long round mould, and having covered it with thick, sticky printer's ink, they roll it across the tops of the type, thus covering every letter with the ink. They then lay a piece of damp white paper on the type and then press it down in a press, or by rolling a heavy roller over it; and then, taking hold of the end of the paper, and lifting it carefully, they "pull a proof" of the matter, for every letter appears plainly printed on the "proof sheet." The compositor then gives this "proof sheet," with the "copy," to the "proof-reader," who puts on his 40 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. best spectacles and reads it very carefully. Some- times he finds letters or words left out, sometimes a letter turned upside down, sometimes bad spelling or bad punctuation, sometimes broken type or bad spac- ing between the types, and various other faults and errors too numerous to mention. All these errors the "proof reader" marks upon the proof sheet, and having found all the errors he can see, he sends the proof sheet back to the "compositor" to be corrected. Now the poor fellow has to mend his ways. All compositors make some mistakes, but some make a great many, and so have a very "foul" proof. If the compositor has been careless or slovenly, his sins now find him out, and the proof-reader marks them all be- fore him. If he spells wrong, or does not "follow copy," or does not put the right "spaces" between the words, or if he in any way makes mistakes, he has to go over the type with a little awl and pick out every thing wrong and make all the corrections, till he gets every thing right. If there are many errors and the proof is "foul," the correcting is a tedious job, because it is much easier to do a thing right at first, than it is to do it wrong, and then make it right afterwards. Still, he gets through sometime, and if he has been careful about his work, he has a proof,” and gets it corrected very soon. "clean When these corrections are made then the type is "inked” again, and a "second proof" is "pulled,” which is sent back to the "proof-reader," with the 1 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 41 "first proof." He then compares the two, sees that all the errors are corrected, marks any others which he can detect, and returns the "second proof" to the compositor," that he may make it all right. 66 When all the errors are corrected, then the type is slid out of the galley on to the "imposing stone," a large, flat slab of marble, and is divided or "made up" into columns for the paper, or into pages for a 1 book. When a sufficient number of pages are ready then a 66 chase," or stout frame made of iron, is put around the whole, and then " quoins" or wedges are driven in at the sides, between the "chase" and the wooden strips of "furniture" that lie beside the types, and thus the whole is "locked up," or fastened so that you could take hold of one side of the "chase” and lift the whole, and not one little type would fall out. But if the "chase" should not happen to be “locked” tight then the whole would fall to pieces, and the "form" or "chase" full would be "pied," "knocked into pi," or all tumbled into such confusion that it would take a long, long while to sort out the types and get them in their places again. " When the "form" is locked up, the "press-man takes it and lays it on a "press" or printing-machine, with the letters uppermost. Then the "inking-roller passes over it and inks the letters, then a sheet of paper is slid down by the "press-feeder," till some little iron fingers or hooks catch it and draw it into the press, where the types are pressed against it for 42 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. an instant, and then the sheet is carried by machinery to the other end of the press and laid smoothly down, with one side of it printed. Another sheet follows, then another and another, till at last they seem to drop like snow flakes on the ground. Then they are taken back, turned over, passed through the press and printed on the other side. Then they are hung up to dry, then pressed between sheets of smooth pasteboard in an iron press, then folded, and bound into books or tracts, or if they are newspapers they are sometimes folded and mailed as soon as they are printed, as there is not time to wait and dry and press them before they are wanted by the readers. It is in this way that books and papers are printed for boys and girls to read. And though it requires much labor to get the types ready, yet when they are once prepared, copies can be printed very fast. Some of the great "ten cylinder presses," which cost thirty thousand dollars, and weigh more than twenty tons, are made up of fourteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty pieces, and can print twenty thousand impres- sions in an hour, or more than three hundred in a minute. In this way hundreds of thousands of papers can be printed in a day, and so we can now make more books in an hour than a man could once make in his lifetime. And there is much less liability to make mistakes, for the printed letters are so much plainer than the written letters were, and when the type is once made right the books will all be just like it. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 43 But if there is a mistake in the type, if the com- positor and proof-reader are not very careful, and if an error creeps in, unobserved, it will run through the whole “edition," or every book or paper printed will show that same mistake. So it is necessary to be very careful, and then some mistakes do occur, and it is quite wonderful that there are no more of them than there are in our books and papers. (6 And now I cannot help thinking that we are all very much like the printer or "compositor." We all have our lives to live, and they are made up of little moments and little acts, just like the printer's little types. If we always do the right thing in the right time then our lives will be right, just as when the printer puts the right letter in the right place, the type and proof are all correct. We all have a good pattern; our copy" is the Lord Jesus Christ, who always was just right. He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. The business of the com- positor is to set his types in such a way that he can print a perfect copy of the book or writing placed be- fore him. Thus it is the duty of men so to imitate Christ that their lives shall present copies of his life before the world. The type which prints the sheet never goes out into the world, it is kept secret in the office. No one thinks of ever reading that, but all look at the printed pages. So your hearts, where Christ's image must be formed, and where Christ's example must be studied, and where Christ's love 44 STOKIES FOR LITTLE READERS. must abide, are all hidden from view. But out of the heart comes the life. A good heart makes a good life. A bad heart makes an evil life. The life shows what is in the heart, just as the printed sheet shows what the types are. If the heart is right, the life cannot be wrong. If the heart is wrong, the life cannot be right. Now, in trying to set up type, all "compositors" make mistakes. So we, in striving to imitate Christ, have offended in many things, and in others have come short. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. All these errors, and sins, and wrongs should be corrected and made right. It nev- er answers for the "compositor" to say, "I know I have made mistakes, but I will do better next time, and that will make it right.” Nc, if he has made mistakes he must correct those very mistakes, or else they will be wrong every time they print. So if we have done a wrong we must confess it and correct it, and ask forgiveness for it. And doing better for the future will never mend the past, till we confess our faults and are forgiven by God. The compositor has to make haste and correct his errors immediately, or they will by-and-by be beyond his reach. If the "form" gets locked up, and is sent to press without being corrected, then every sheet that is printed will be disfigured by mistakes. So if a child starts wrong in life, and is not corrected, he will keep going wrong. The longer he lives the STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 45 worse he becomes, like type that is locked up and cannot be easily corrected. When the printing is wrong the book is spoiled. Some printers in England printed ten thousand Bi- bles, but one letter was wrong in the type, and thus every book had one mistake in it, and so, I am told, they had to cancel or destroy the whole edition, and lose them all. How sad it is for a man to lose his whole lifetime, because he would not correct his faults when he was a little boy! But how can we tell when we have faults ? Ah! that is often difficult. Sometimes the best "proof- readers" overlook errors and mistakes. It is very hard to find out all our little faults. But there is One who never overlooks a fault or makes a mistake. He searcheth the hearts." To him David cried, and said: "Who can understand his errors ? cleanse thou me from secret faults." Ps. 19: 12. Our hearts are very deceitful. Sins lurk there in many a hiding- place. We need to pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. 139: 23, 24. If the tree is good the fruit will be good. If the types are right the books will be right. If the heart is pure the life will be holy. May God help us to cleanse our hearts and purify our lives. And if we do this, and follow this blessed pattern, Jesus Christ, 46 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. we shall do right and shall dwell with him in joy and peace forever. "Most of all may I pursue The example Jesus drew: By my life and conduct show How he lived and walked below: Daily by his grace restored Imitate my perfect Lord." LINES WRITTEN ON THE FLY-LEAF OF A BIBLE. Great God, oh give me grace to look With holy awe in this thy book, May I its glorious truths receive, Its precious promises believe. With meekened soul and heart sincere, May I its kind reprovings hear; Humbly obey each pure behest, And in obedience be blest. While I a pilgrim homeward go, May it the heavenly pathway show, Disclose each dark and dangerous road, Warn me of sin, and guide to God. My friends be those who love this book, Its hopes be those for which I look, My heritage that here declared, My home that promised and prepared. In life or death, in joy or woe, With Jesus' love my spirit glow, Till he shall in his might appear, Then may I all his glory share. Isa. 66: 5. Ps. 119: 97. Ps. 119: 130. 1 Pet. 1: 4. Jas. 1: 21. Prov. 6: 23. Jas. 1: 22. Jas. 1: 25. Heb. 11: 13. Ps. 119: 105. Ps. 119: 29. Ps. 73: 24-28. Ps. 119: 63. Titus 2: 13. Matt. 5: 5. Heb. 11: 16. Rom. 8: 35-39. Rom. 5: 5-8. 1 John 3: 1-3 Col. 3: 1-4. H. L. X. A QUARREL. Hoity toity, boys, you are as bad as the two goats on the narrow road. Both would have their own way, and so both fell off and killed themselves. A pretty fight you are in, scratching, fighting, scream- ing, crying, biting, and pulling hair. O, fie, fie, boys, you ought to be ashamed. If you could only stand and look on and see how like two little fools you act, you would leave fighting to cats and dogs and wolves. Now, boys, I have got your picture can see yourselves as others see you. here, so you How do you 47 48 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. like it? Does that look as though those boys ever prayed, or sung hymns, or went to Sunday School? I should think not. Now when you begin to quarrel and dispute again, just remember this picture, and then learn to "resist not evil." Do you suppose Jesus ever got in such a fight as that? No, never. And if you fight so you will not be like Jesus I am sure. How much better to love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you." "Anger resteth in the bosom of fools." OLD SIM. A FABLE ABOUT TRIFLING. An old ape, by the name of Sim, once saw a man at work in the field spread some dust and leaves with care in a place near the field. As soon as the man was gone, old Sim thought he would go and see what the man had done. But as he came up, he crept and felt round, first here and then there, till all at once he found his paw caught fast in the sharp jaws of a steel trap. As there was no one near to help him out, poor Sim thought it was best to bear it as well as he could. And said he, I will take care, if I once get out of this scrape, how I pry, or peep round, to find out what I have no right to know. THE TRADES OF ANIMALS. "Please to tell me something to amuse me, uncle, will you? for I am so tired." "Well, if I am to talk to amuse you, it must be about something entertaining. Suppose I tell you of the trades which are carried on by the lower crea- tures ? " "Trades! Why, how can they carry on any trade ? Do you mean to say that beasts and birds, and such like carry on trade ?” "You shall hear. The fox is a dealer in poultry, and a wholesale dealer, too; as the farmers and the farmers' wives know to their cost." “That is true, certainly.” "Not satisfied with chickens and ducklings, he must needs push on his trade among the full grown cocks and hens; and many a good fat goose is con- veyed to his storehouse in the woods. 'A wily trader in his way Is Reynard, both by night and day.' "And what other creature carries on a trade be- side the fox? " "The otter and the heron are fishermen, though they neither make use of a line or a net. It is not very often that we catch sight of the otter, for he car- ries on his trade, for the most part, under the water; but the heron is frequently seen standing with his 49 50 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. long, thin legs in the shallow part of the river, sud- denly plunging his lengthy bill below the surface, and bringing up a fish. You cannot deny that the heron and the otter are fishermen.” "No, that I cannot; but never should I have thought of it had you not told me.” "Ants are day-laborers, and are very industrious, too, in their calling; they always seem in earnest at their work. Catch them asleep in the daytime, if you can. They set us an example of industry. 'Ants freely work without disguise; Their ways consider and be wise.'" "" "Go on, uncle; I am not half so tired as I was. "You seem all attention, certainly, Henry. The swallow is a fly-catcher; and the number that he catches in a day would quite astonish you. Often have you seen him skimming along the surface of the brook and the pond." Yes, that I have; and swallows are as busy as ants, I think." "The beaver is a wood-cutter, a builder, and a ma- son, and is a good workman at all these trades. He cuts down the small trees with his teeth, and after he has built his house he plasters it skilfully with his tail." 'Well done, beaver! he seems to out-do all the rest." "The wasp is a paper-maker, and he makes his paper out of materials that no other paper-maker STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 51 would use. If ever you should examine a wasp's nest, you will find it all made of paper." "How many curious things there are in the world that I never thought of!" 66 Singing birds are musicians, and no other musi- cians can equal them in harmony. Hardly can we decide which has the advantage-the lark, the black- bird, the throstle, the nightingale, or the mocking bird, 'On the feathery wing they rove, And wake with harmony the grove."" "I am afraid that you are coming to an end." 'O, never fear. The fire-fly and the glow-worm are lamp-lighters. Fire-flies are seen in this coun- try; they light up the air just as the glow-worms do the grassy and flowery fields in the country places!" “O, I have seen them. I shall not forget the lamp-lighters." "The bee is a professor of geometry, for he con- structs his cells so scientifically, that the least possi- ble amount of material is formed into the largest spaces with the least waste of room. Not all the mathematicians of Cambridge could improve the con- struction of his cells." "The bee is much more clever than I thought he was." "The caterpillar is a silk-spinner, and far before all other silk-spinners in creation. For the richest dresses that we see are we indebted to the silk-worm. 52 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. With what wonderful properties has it pleased our heavenly Father to endow the lower creatures!" "I shall be made wiser to-day, uncle, than I have ever been before." "The mole is an engineer, and forms a tunnel quite as well as if he had been instructed by an engineer. The nautilus is a navigator, hoisting and taking in his sails as he floats along the water, and casting anchor at pleasure." "I should never have believed that any one could have made things out so clearly." “Let me finish them by observing that the jackal is a hunter, the hawk an expert bird catcher, the leech an excellent surgeon, and the monkey the best rope-dancer in the world." "Well done, uncle! you have amused me indeed. "Whether you remember what I have told you or not about God's goodness to his lower creatures, you will do well not to forget his great goodness to mankind, in his gift of reason, his gift of his holy word, and his gift of the Saviour, by whom alone a sinner can be saved. And now, as you are learning all you can as a scholar, let me advise you to set up at once the trade or calling of a schoolmaster, by teaching with humility and kindness those around you who may happen to know less than yourself. We should be carrying on the calling of a schoolmas- ter, teaching others by precept and example- 'Without a rod or angry word, To love and glorify the Lord.”” AN OLD MAN'S DREAM. It was a rare thing to see only two boys seated upon the sailors' bench, under the cliffs of Edgemere Bay. But this was a glorious morning, and the lazi- est of village fishermen had put out to sea, while the old sailors were boarding two foreign vessels; so Charles Turner and George Floyd found themselves undisputed possessors of the bench; and like many, both of rich and poor, this bright July morning they were talking about the desirableness of riches. Listen to them for a few moments. Charles. "If we were rich instead of poor boys, how happy we would be, George!" George." Whittington was as poor as need be, and I've heard tell of others too that began as ill as we, and got to the top of the tree at last." "And what good did it do them?" asked old Ben Grant, who had been resting unseen in a cleft of the rock. The boys looked ashamed, and did not answer; for although Ben was only an old pauper, his ques- tion made them vexed that he should have overheard their conversation. "I will tell you, boys," he added, seeing that they would not answer. "If it was God's choice for them, then his blessing was on their wealth, and life was all the sweeter, though it may be death was the hard- er, too. But it was their own choice for them- 53 54 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. selves, then I know that they chose a temptation and a snare." But, Ben," said Charlie, "I hold that it would be mean-spirited for young lads, like George and me, not to wish to rise in the world." "You are not far wrong there, lad," said Ben. "It's not rising in the world that's wrong, or the wish to rise, as it seems to me, but the motive and the means. If, like many that I see here, you are just wishing plenty of money, and fine living, and to be honored by men, then I hope, boys, that you wont get your wishes, for you are more likely to be saved as you are than that way. But if this is it, that, if the Lord will, you wish to rise in the world that you may do more good in your day and generation, then if he sends wealth and power, he will send his bless- ing too; but they are happiest, to my mind, that are content, and there are as many of them among the poor as the rich.” Nonsense, Ben!" said Charlie. "You don't mean to say that you never think it hard to be on the par- ish now, after having worked like a slave all your life?" The old man was not disturbed by the contempt- uous tones of the boy. "I think," he said, "of One who once chose a harder lot for our sakes, and how should I complain that for a little while He has chosen this for me? My eyes shall yet see the King in his beauty, and they shall behold the land that is very far off." STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 55 1 The boys were silent, almost solemnized by his words and manner; and being anxious to deepen the impression he had made, he asked them if he should tell them a dream. “Oh, thank you, Ben," they both replied. rather give us a story.” "But "My dream is like a story," said Ben; "this is it: I thought that I was here in this village of ours, but only as a stranger passing through. Just as I reached it, another stranger entered along with me. There was a something in his look that made me think of Evangelist in the old book; so I said to my- self, 'I will follow this man.' He spoke to many in the village; some listened, and some mocked him. At last he came to this stone bench, where two lads were sitting asleep. I could not hear all that he said, but he spoke of himself as the messenger of One whom he called 'the King;' and I heard him tell of the great love that the King had for these two beggar-looking lads, and what wonderful things he had done for them, and how all his court would re- joice to hear good of them. "I noticed the eager looks of the lads as they lis- tened, and saw that they thought all this good news. So they gave in their allegiance to the King, and began at once to prepare to meet him; for the mes- senger had told them that assuredly he would visit the village in person, and then take them home with himself, though it might be would send for them sooner. 56 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 6 “Much more he said in a warning voice, but I only heard the last words, Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.' "I said that they began their preparations at once, and even as I looked there was a wonderful change upon them. They were done with sleeping upon the bench, and were at work. The work did not seem to have much to do with the King or his kingdom, for it was only mending their fathers' broken nets; but I heard an unseen voice repeating, 'Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God;' and the boys smiled as they listened, and worked the faster. "Then I perceived that even this was part of their preparation for the kingdom. "In a dream years fly past as moments, and the next thing I remember was coming again to pass through our village. But it did not look as it does to-day. There was no light on the yellow sands, and no ripple on the sea, but a gloomy shadow had fallen over the face of nature; and looking up, I saw the sky black with a mighty cloud, on which was written 'Famine.' I passed along to this spot, and saw two men gazing up to heaven with looks of mingled hope and despair. "The faces were sadly changed, yet they were the same that I had first seen as sleeping boys upon the bench; and miserable as they now were, I could see that they wore the livery of the King. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 57 "Could it be true, Andrew?' said one; can He be mighty to save, and send ús no deliverance now ?' "Let us wait on in faith,' replied the other. 6 "Wait!' said the first; have we not waited long enough? Nay, we were too simple, Andrew, to be- lieve that such as we can be cared for by a King. Let us rise and go elsewhere for help" "And where could we go, Philip?' said his friend. Is not the famine far spread? and do not our neighbors suffer more than we do-we, who can look beyond the cloud to the time and the country when we shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more?' “I cannot look beyond now,' he replied. "If the King loved us, as he made us believe, we would not be left to suffer thus.' "O my brother!' said Andrew, 'he proved his love to us long, long ago; and now he is proving our love to him.' "If we live through these awful times,' said Philip, it will not do to be content with this miser- able fisher-craft. We must bestir ourselves, Andrew, to lay by, in case of another famine like this.' "I don't see that we could well work harder,' said Andrew. " "No,' replied Philip; but we may save more, or get better prices; any way, it won't do to be al- ways such poor fellows as we are. We must struggle for our own share of the good things that are going.' 58 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. “I don't fancy struggling for riches,' said An- drew. And our King's messenger said nothing about that being duty; he only bade us remember that the silver and the gold are the Lord's: and if we are only wanting our own share, we are pretty sure to get that.' "Now I wondered that, while they reasoned thus, they did not observe that the famine-cloud had al- ready begun to roll back from the village, and streaks of sunshine were visible in the distance. "Many-and strange things passed before me after this, until I found myself a third time entering Edge- mere Bay-not as formerly, a weary, footsore travel- ler, but as passenger in a railway train stopping at 'Edgemere Terminus.' What a change the railway had made on our little village! It was now a thri- ving commercial port, while from its long lines of streets there arose the ceaseless hum of busy traffic. An elderly man was coming out of one of the ware- houses, whom I soon recognized to be Philip, though there was little to remind one of his poorer days. "I followed him as he walked from his counting- room to a pleasant villa upon the hill side; and I wondered why there should be a look of care as well as pride upon his brow. It seemed to say, 'I have toiled hard for this, but I have my reward.' I saw, too, that underneath his fine clothing he still wore the King's livery; but there was not much of it seen, and I thought he tried to conceal it alto- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 59 Then I gether when some of his friends were near. thought of the words, 'He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.' "And where was Andrew now? I sought him in many of the new houses, but I did not find him until I turned to the poorer part of the town, where the fishermen lived. He, too, looked like one who had toiled hard; and where was his reward? Not surely in that lonely hut, with its poor and scanty furniture, and some broken toys laid away so carefully in mem- ory of happier days. When I looked within, he was seated by the fire reading a book, which I knew to be the Bible; and I could hear him murmuring aloud, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath en- tered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' • "Once more my dream became only a meaning- less confusion, until I found myself entering Edge- mere Bay, but in the darkness of night. 66 My way led me past poor Andrew's hut. It was a very frail one now. There was little glazing in the window, and the latch was broken off the door-a strange dwelling for the servant of a King! Gazing in, I could see by the flickering light of the fire that the old man had fallen asleep. His nets were lying near, and a lamp stood ready trimmed beside him ; but he looked as if his work were done. "A tear stood in my eye as I looked upon him, for I saw the laborer, and I could not see the reward. 60 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "Presently I found myself looking at another sleeper. It was Philip at rest in his splendid home. Could it be that these were the same two boys of my dream, and that they served the same Master ? "As I looked and pondered on these things, I heard a distant sound as of thunder mingled with triumphant music; whilst a voice, clear as a clarion- et, rung through the midnight air, Go ye forth to meet Him!' I knew the call-it was the Master come; and Philip knew it too. Wildly he called for 'Lights! lights!'-but the servants had fled. " Suddenly smoke and flame arose, and then I saw that this goodly structure was only built of wood and stubble, and I hasted away from the burning pile. One lingering look I cast behind, but he was still within. 'Oh, can it be—is it possible!' I exclaimed, 'that he may yet escape?' And a voice replied, Saved, yet so as by fire!' (6 'Again I passed the fisherman's hut. No bolts or bars were there, but the aged servant of the King stood in the doorway, his lamp lit in his hand, and the calm of holy joy upon his brow. Then I knew that this was the hour of reward. "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!' he cried. And a voice sounded in my ears, ‘Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching.' "Then were there wondrous and terrible signs in the heavens; but while I looked and trembled, I awoke, and, lo! it was a dream." "WHAT WILL YOU PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN?” "Good morning, Francis, good morning!" shouted a group of children as they gathered around the old gardener. His smile was like sunshine as he re- turned their good morning, and one and another exclaimed, as they had often done before, "How happy you always are, Francis!" "Are you so happy because you live among flowers and fruits ?” "I wish I had a fine garden to live in!" Old Francis' face grew a little graver as he said, "Sometimes I seem to half dream as I am at work here alone, and once I saw that all you children had gardens of your own, and you did with them as you liked." "What did we do with them, Francis ? " "Some did one thing, and some another," he an- swered, slowly and sadly. "Well, what did we do? Please tell us." "One boy planted a young oak right in the centre of his ground, and watered it, and nourished it, and seemed to heed nothing else. Under and around it grew rank weeds and brambles, and a rough, unsightly tangle of brushwood, in which toads bur- rowed, and snakes crawled and nursed their broods. In fact, nothing good could grow under its heavy, chilling shadow." "Whose garden was that?" 61 62 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "I don't want to call names," said Francis, "for it was a kind of dream I had, but then it had a mean- ing, and wouldn't have come into my mind if I had not seen young people neglecting every thing that is pleasant and good, nursing in their hearts a great, senseless ambition, around which a multitude of evil habits and passions gather, and take root, and grow, spoiling the whole garden of the heart. Under the cold, sickly shadow of ambition you may always find mean and crawling things, such as envy, jealousy and falsehood." One of the boys began to look red and troubled. It may be that he had been planting ambition in his little heart-garden. "Tell us about some of the other gardens, Francis." "Well, there was one (and it seemed to me to be- long to a little girl), in which there was a profusion of flowers. Oh, they were very thick, but the weeds were thick, too, and choked the flowers, and spoiled the looks of every thing." “What was that like, Francis ? " "The heart of a kind, good-natured child, who is careless and thoughtless, one who has pleasant smiles and soft, balmy words, but does nothing well, and therefore annoys as much as she pleases." More than one child blushed at hearing this, and quickly asked the old gardener what else he saw in his dreaming. "Well, there was one garden with a neat fence STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 63 and gateway, and it had the thriftiest rows of luscious peas and beans, and noble stalks of maize, and fra- grant, healing sage and mint, and many other things with which to feed the hungry and heal the sick. There were no weeds in that garden, and no destroy- ing worms." "Was n't that a nice garden? Whose garden was that, Francis ? ” "It was a nice garden, but it was not without fault. It had neither fruit nor flowers in it. The great Gardener of the earth has planted flowers for brightness and cheering, and fruits for our refresh- ment and delight, and he wants us to cultivate smiles, and graces, and all pleasant traits in ourselves. The garden of which I have just spoken made me think of those who are good, and useful, and have few faults, but lack the smile that wins, and the word that is listened to. They are not hated, but they are little loved." "Tell us some more, Francis." "There was another garden that was well planned and well begun, and in it some fine fruit trees had been planted, but they were neglected and untrimmed, and did not bear half the fruit they might, and much. of the ground had run to waste." "What was that like? "Well, it made me think of the child who has good principles and purposes, but is full of indolence, who begins well, but soon grows weary, and loiters when its work is half done.” 64 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. One of the smallest girls hung her head, and twist- ed the stem of the rose-bud in her hand; but I doubt whether she knew what she was doing, for her eye- lashes were wet with tears. She might have been thinking of the promises she had made and but half kept, and the good resolutions she had so often for- gotten. God help the little thing to do better, so that her life may be more beautiful and fruitful ! Well,” remarked Francis, "I saw one beautiful garden, a perfect garden. In it grew every thing that was good and pleasant, nothing left out. It was well planned and well cared for, and in it was no unsightly thing; so that I said, 'This, surely, is the garden of the Lord, the garden of the planting of His own right hand.' It seemed to me the heart of a purified, sanctified child, and I prayed that every little dear one for whom I gathered flowers and fruits might have such a garden of beauty and excellence in the heart which God has given it to plant and watch over." Old Francis looked earnestly into the eyes of the listening group around him, his own eyes brimming with tears, while he questioned, "And now, precious ones, what will you plant in your heart-gardens ? Plant something, plant something, or unplanted weeds will have the whole; and plant those things which are most excellent, that you may meet the Lord when he cometh with rejoicing, and hear his blessed 'Well done.'" TRUST IN GOD. Some twenty-five years ago there lived in a New England seaport Deacon P., a man of prudent habits and lucrative business. Being benevolent, he was led to endorse largely, which resulted in the loss of his property. A winter of great severity and gen- eral business depression followed. His young wife and children looked to him for subsistence, but his most diligent efforts to obtain employment were un- successful, and their little stock of provisions was rapidly diminishing. He was a man of prayer as well as action, and carried the case to Him who feedeth the ravens; yet long weary weeks passed and no succor came. At length the morning dawned when the last stick of wood was on the fire, and little Hatty told her father that the candles were all gone ; "and how," asked she, "shall we take care of dear mamma to-night? "" The question went like a dagger to the father's heart. The vision of his suffering wife gasping her life away in the last fearful stages of consumption, her comfortless sick room, unwarmed, unlighted, her saddened heart should she know the extent of their destitution, would have driven him to destraction were it not that he still had hope in One mighty to He fled to his closet, and then in an agony of prayer besought the Lord for help. Forgetting save. 65 66 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. all other wants, he plead and plead again for the two articles now specially needed, specifying them with reiterated earnestness. He arose from his knees in full assurance of faith, and with heavenly tranquility went forth, expecting deliverance, looking for it, however, in but one way, viz: through his own earn- ings. After a fruitless day of seeking employment, gloomily he returned home, and, on entering his gates, was startled to see before him a generous pile of wood. Little Johnny opened the door, clapping his hands, exclaiming, "Oh, pa! we have got some wood and some candles." "When did you get them? Are you sure they were not left here by mistake?" "Oh no, pa!" interrupted Harry, "they were not left here by mistake. A man knocked at the door with his whip, and when I opened it he asked if you lived here; I told him you did; then he said, 'Here are some candles and a load of wood for him.' I asked him if you sent them, and he said: "Rather guess your pa don't know anything about it.' 'Who did send them?' said I. 'Oh! said he, 'I mus'nt tell, but you may say to your father they are a present.' To what instrumentality they were indebted for relief was a mystery. And what particularly inter- ested Deacon P. was the character of the anomalous presents; that the very things so much needed, and STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 67 no others, should be sent, and he was sure he had mentioned his want to no human ear. He ques- tioned the children anew. They described the man who knocked at the door, the horse and truck he drove. A new thought struck him. "Why," said he, "that team belongs to my old enemy, Graff. Can it be possible he is the donor; if so, surely the finger of God has touched his heart." Deacon P. was, however, so convinced that he was their benefactor, that he resolved on an immediate call on that gen- tleman. But who was Mr. Graff? Some years before, Deacon P., among his efforts for the good of others, became a temperance advocate. This brought him enemies, sometimes changing friends into foes. Dis- tiller Graff was among the latter, from a warm friend becoming bitterly alienated. In vain did the grieved Deacon strive to conciliate by explanation and per- sonal kindness. Even the trifling civility of a bow was rudely unnoticed by Mr. Graff. Deacon P. now entered the distillery of his old friend for the first time for years; its proprietor looked up with a nod and a smile of recognition. It was evident something unusual had softened his heart. "I have called," said the Deacon, "to ask if you can tell me who sent some wood and candles to my house to-day ?" 68 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "Yes, sir, I sent them." "You are very kind, but pray tell me how you came to do so?" "But first let me inquire if you really needed them ?" “Oh! I cannot express to you how much.” "Well, then, I suppose I must explain," said Mr. Graff. "It's all very singular, and sometimes seems foolish. This morning, about ten o'clock, as I was busy about my work, suddenly a voice seemed to say, 'Send some wood to Deacon P.; he is in want.' I was astonished; I could not believe it, and I could not send it to you, of all others. I tried to banish the thought, and went to work again more earnestly. But the voice, it seemed within me, said again with painful distinctness, 'Send some wood to Deacon P.; he is in want!' I scouted the idea as weak and silly; a mere phantasy of the brain; but it was of no use, I had to succumb. The more I ridiculed and fought it, the more vivid and irresistible was the impression, until, to purchase peace, and in some awe, I confess, I bade John load his team with wood, and leave it at your door. For a moment I was at rest, but only for a moment. The imperative whis- per came, Send some candles!" Said I to myself, this is too absurd; I will not gratify this whim; but again I was so beset with the mandate, and so dis- tressed and baffled in repelling it, that, as a cheap way to get out of torment, I handed John a package STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 69 of candles also. This matter has been in my mind ever since. Sometimes I have thought it almost a freak of insanity, and then again such was the strange character of the impression, so unexpected, so pow- erful, and such the singular peace following compli- ance with its dictates, that I almost believe it to be supernatural." "It is indeed the doings of Him who is wonderful in working," replied Deacon P. It was about ten o'clock, I well remember, that I plead with God for the very articles you sent me, in an agony of wrest- ling I never knew before. It was then, too, that my soul was filled with the conviction that my prayer was heard and relief would come." The truth of this story is well attested; and an experience, similar in principle, may be found in the life of many a good man. Is not the principle equal- ly applicable to communities? May not nations, trusting God in obedience to his word, rely with equal confidence on his promises for protection and safety? "When a man's ways please God, he ma- keth even his enemies to be at peace with him." "I CANNOT AFFORD TO SERVE GOD." "Zach," said a lady teacher in a mission school to a rough, ragged boy, "why don't you try to serve God?" Looking shrewdly at his teacher, Zach bluntly replied, 70 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "I can't afford to serve God." Why not?" "Because," said he, I work in a ship-yard, and as I only earn eighty cents a week, I steal what wood I can, and carry it off with the chips, to make out a living." "It is wicked to steal. Suppose you give up steal- ing for a month, and see how you make out?" The poor boy promised. In three weeks he went to his teacher, and said, "I gave up stealing, and my master raised my wages to a dollar a week, without being asked." Shortly after, his old habit got the mastery over him so far that he took up a stick of wood to carry it off. But his promise and the command of God flashed upon his mind, and he threw down the wood, saying in his heart, "I won't steal any more. It is better to starve than steal." That was a heroic speech, and that child of pov- erty and sin became a hero by that act of resistance to temptation. I am pleased to be able to add that he made up his mind to serve God, and is now a happy member of the "church" of Jesus Christ. Instead of saying, "I can't afford to serve God," his language is, “I can't afford to neglect the service of God." That poor boy has learned the great lesson of life. I hope, my child, you too have learned it by a shorter and more pleasant method, and that you too are saying for yourself, "I can't afford to neg- lect the service of God." THE SABBATH SCHOOL CHESTNUTS. of Several years ago, a young man from Greece, named George Constantine, was a student at Amherst College. While there he with others started a Mis- sion Sunday School in an out of the way corner Shutesbury, Mass. After the people had procured books and Sunday School papers for themselves, they determined to contribute something to buy books and papers and so aid other Sunday Schools in destitute regions. Each one was to earn all that they gave. So some braided hats, picked stones, packed shingles, gathered walnuts, did errands, &c., to get money to give away. One poor woman had no money to give, and so she went out one cold, windy day, with a little girl, and, by brushing the leaves away and hunting a long time, she succeeded in finding about half a pint of chestnuts. These, to her great grief, she was unable to sell in season for the collection, and so the super- intendent took them of her and sent them in with the collection to the treasury of the Mass. S. S. Soci- ety-three dollars, and a half a pint of chestnuts. The chestnuts fell into the hands of Mr. Bullard, the Secretary of the Society. He carried them to a New Years' Sunday School Festival, told the story about them, and sold them for $6.50, giving the money to send books to the poor. A few days after 71 72 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. they were sold again for $10, and after that they were given back, sold, returned, divided, resold, sub- divided, blown into little glass bottles, sent here and there to help collect money, until at last, by means of this poor woman's half pint of chestnuts, more than fifteen hundred dollars have been collected, all of which was used to help poor Sunday Schools, and for some other charitable purposes. Finally, Mr. Bullard, who has grown gray editing "The Well-spring," (which I liked so well when I was a boy, and have n't lost my relish for yet,) has written a neat little book, giving the history of these famous chestnuts; and from the earnest look which his por- trait has, we see that he means that the chestnuts shall do more good still before he is done with them. The Mass. S. S. Society have published the book, and we hope many will be interested and profited by reading the story of the Sunday School chestnuts. They have been almost as valuable as was the wid- ow's mite. ނތ Let no one be discouraged for want of means, abilities, or opportunities, If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he nath not. There are few too poor to pick a pint of chestnuts or give “a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple." All can do something. What can you do? What are you doing? HEARERS AND DOERS. "I did some credit to our Sunday School to-day- that I can tell you, grandmother," cried Harry Fen- ton, leaning back in his chair, and rubbing his hands. "You should have heard how I answered all the ques- tions, even the hardest." 66 Harry repeated by heart the whole parable of the wise man who built on a rock, and the foolish one who built on the sand, and he did not miss one word of it," said little Rose, glancing up with a look of pleasure. "And did you fully understand that parable, Har- ry?" asked the aged cottager, as she carefully laid aside the spectacles with which she had been reading in her large Bible. "Of course I did," replied Harry; "it is very easy to understand. Those who build upon the sand are they who hear God's Word, but do not obey it; those who build on the rock are they who not only hear, but obey." "And had my little Rose nothing to repeat?" 66 Only one little verse, dear grandmother; the same which Harry learned last week: 'Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one anoth er, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” "A beautiful lesson, my dear; easy to learn, but 73 74 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. hard to practice. May you be a doer, and not a hearer only." Next day Harry was in high spirits, as his uncle had promised to go with him to a beautiful lake in the neighborhood. "I do hope," said he, "that we shall have a fine day to-morrow." "Shall you take your fishing-net with you, Har- ry," inquired Rose, placing carefully before her broth- er the large china mug, with his name on it in gilt letters. "No, is it not provoking," replied Harry impa- tiently, "when I last took it out, I found that it had several large holes in it. It is good for nothing un- til it is mended, and there's no time for that. But look there!" he cried suddenly, "mind, Rose, or the milk will boil over quick!" Rose ran to the saucepan in which the supper of boiled milk was being prepared, and the white, steam- ing, bubbling draught was soon poured into the mug with gilt letters. The supper looked very good, and it was not only Harry that thought so. What is it that has so light- ly climbed the back of the chair that he has just quit- ted, and stands there with its round, soft, little head stretched forward, its back arched, and its green eyes fixed eagerly upon the mug? It is Rose's pet white kitten, the most gentle, yet the most playful of her race, and much loved by her little mistress. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 75 At the moment that the agile creature sprang upon the table, Rose perceived the danger of her favorite. "Oh, she will be scalded!" cried the little girl, dart- ing forward, and pushing away the mug with too ea- ger haste. Harry heard the exclamation, and heard something besides-the crash of his mug upon the stone floor! 66 My china mug!" he cried, in a passion of anger. I'll serve you out for breaking it, and all for this wretched creature!" His grasp was upon the poor kitten, and before Rose had time to utter a word, the furious boy had dashed the little animal with vio- lence against the stones, and then kicked it to the other end of the room. 4 My kitten! my kitten!" exclaimed Rose, in an agony of sorrow, as she ran and took up her poor pet, now trembling in the convulsions of death. In vain the weeping child pressed her close to her bo- som, smoothed down her ruffled fur, and kissed her again and again. The kitten's eye grew glazed, her limbs stiffened and cold, and the grief of Rose sud- denly blazed into anger. "You wicked, cruel boy!" she began, but tears choked her voice; she sat down by the fireside with her dead kitten on her lap, and sobbed over it in a passion of grief. It was time for the grandmother to speak. Severe was her rebuke to Harry, as his conduct well de- served, but her words seemed to have little effect; 76 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 1 and the punishment which she inflicted of sending him supperless to bed only made him look more an- gry and sulky. The grandmother's next care was to comfort little Rose, but this also was a most difficult task; for long she tried in vain to soothe the child's sorrow, till she thought at last of lending her a long-desired book, the large edition of Robinson Crusoe, which was one of her cottage treasures, and the sight of whose prints had raised in the mind of Rose a very strong wish to be permitted to read it. "If you rise early, my dear, you may look at it be- fore breakfast. You will take great care of it, I am sure." The thoughts of Rose, as she retired to rest, were divided between her loss and the much-desired treat before her, till the little girl knelt down to say her evening prayer, and then a new trouble disturbed her mind. How dare she pray while still angry with her brother! Her text sounded in her ears like the voice of conscience, “Be ye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another." Was she to be only a hearer, not a doer of the Word? "Had he done any thing else," murmured Rose to herself; "but my poor dear kitten, my little delight!” Her tears began to flow afresh as she thought of its sufferings. "Yet the Bible does not allow us to choose what we will forgive and what we will not; and oh! how often the Lord Jesus has forgiven me." STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 77 So Rose knelt down by her little cot, and first she asked for a forgiving spirit, which, like every good gift, is from above; then she prayed for her brother, and even as she prayed her angry feelings became softened- she felt that she could forgive; and Rose went to sleep with that sweet peace of mind which the revengeful can never know. Next morning she rose early, and was promising herself an hour of delightful quiet reading, when her eye fell upon Harry's net hanging against the wall the net that was in such want of repair. Now, if there was one thing that Rose disliked more than another, it was mending, and, above all, the mending of nets. Why did she pause, then, with her book half open-why did she glance first at it, then at the net—why, after a short struggle in her mind, did she lay the book down, and quickly unclose her little work-box? Can the reader guess? I will tell you what the old grandmother found when she came down about an hour after. She saw a sight which filled her heart with joy. There was Rose, seated on her little stool by the fire, with a bright, happy smile upon her rosy face, fastening off the last knot in the net. By her side knelt Harry- how changed since the night before! His cheek was flushed, no longer with passion, but with shame. His heart was full, no more with pride, but with re- pentance and love. When he saw his grandmother, he sprang up to meet her, and exclaimed, "Oh! see 78 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. what Rose has done, and for me, cruel, hard-hearted, revengeful as I have been! Grandmother, I thought that I understood that parable of the wise and fool- ish builders, but Rose has taught me to know it in- deed by heart! I was but a hearer, she a doer of the Word. I built my house on the sand, and I thought it grand and fine, till the wave of temptation came, and in a moment swept it all away! But Rose built her house on a sure, firm rock; she has overcome evil with good! Dear reader, let each ask his own heart, Am I building upon the rock or upon the sand? HIDDEN TREASURES. In the " green room” in Dresden, where for centu- ries the Saxon princes have gathered their gems and treasures, until they have become worth millions of dollars, may be seen a silver egg, a present to one of the Saxon queens, which, when you touch a spring, opens, and reveals a golden yolk. Within this is hid a chicken, whose wing, being pressed, also flies open, disclosing a splendid golden crown, studded with jewels. Nor is this all; another secret spring being touched, hidden in the centre is found a magnificent diamond ring. So it is with every truth and promise of God's word a treasure within a treasure. The more we ex- amine it, the richer it becomes. But how many neg- lect to touch the springs. 1 THE FAITHFUL HORSE. Some of the most beautiful and touching stories we ever read illustrative of the constancy of affection in animals are told of the horse. We recollect the following, which we think Lamartine related :— An Arabian chief with his tribe had attacked and` plundered a caravan of Damascus. On their return, laden with the spoils, they encountered some horse- men of the Pacha of Acre, who killed several, and bound the rest with cords. Thus bound, they brought one of the prisoners, named Abou el Marck, to Acre, and laid him fettered hand and foot at the door of the tent, as they slept during the night. Kept awake himself by the pain of his wounds, the Arab heard his horse neighing at a short dis- tance; and being desirous to caress for the last time the faithful companion of his travels, he drew him- self, bound as he was, to the place where the animal was picketed. 66 'My dear, poor friend," said he, "what will you do among the Turks? You will be shut up under a Khan with the horses of the Pacha. No longer can you gallop through the desert, free as the wind of Egypt: no longer cleave with your bosom the cooling waters of the Jordan, pure as the foam on your lips; no longer will the women and children 79 80 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 1 of the tent feed you with milk and barley and dourra in the hollow of their hands. But if I am to be a slave, you shall at least be free. Go to the tent whither I shall return no more; put your head within its folds, and lick the hands of my children for me.” Thus saying, he untied with his teeth the cord that bound his steed, and set him at liberty. But the noble animal, instead of bounding away to the desert on receiving his freedom, bent tenderly over his master, and seeing him fettered on the ground, carefully lifted him up in his teeth and sped away toward his home. Without halting for rest, he made straight for the far off but well known tent in the mountains. Arriving there, he laid his master safely at the feet of the women and children, and, falling down, expired from fatigue. The whole tribe lamented him, and his fame was constantly in the mouths of the Arabs of Jericho. If horses love so unselfishly, what ought children to do? We are living in days when people hate more than they love; when, as the Apostle tells us, men are "without natural affection." Let the little children see that they are not classed among this wicked company. Love is the greatest of the com- mandments. "Love never faileth"; but "he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love." I ' STRENGTH OF CAMELS. The Galveston News states that one of the camels in that city kneeled down and received a load of five bales of hay weighing 1,400 pounds, which it raised without the least effort, and walked away with appar- ent ease. In their native country the average load' for a full grown camel is some 800 pounds, with which they perform long journeys over deserts, with but little food or water. FAITH AND WORKS. One day, after a long and weary march, the army of Mahomet came to the 'camping ground where it was to pass the night. An Arab soldier, too tired to secure his beast, exclaimed, in the hearing of his commander,— 81 82 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "I will loose my camel and trust to God!" "Not so," replied Mahomet, "tie thy camel and trust to God." Mahomet was right; laziness is not faith, nor is neglect of duty trust in God. God helps those who try to help themselves. If we would have his help, we must do our part or honestly try to do it; trust- ing in him to make our weakness strength, and our ignorance wisdom. An old negro preacher once said: "If God tells me to jump 'fro dat stone wall, I'se goin' to jump at it. Jumpin' fro it belongs to God, and jumpin' at it belongs to me." The Bible tells us what we are to do and then it becomes our duty to do it manfully, as well as we can; asking for help, knowing that our Father giv- eth grace to those who seek it. "Ye shall seek me, and ye shall find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart, saith the Lord." We are told to come to Jesus, and yet Christ him- self said, "No man can come to me except the Fath- er which hath sent me, draw him." Do you know what that means? It means that we must go towards Christ, and God will help us to reach him. Like the Israelites at the Red Sea, we must take up our march towards the deep waters, but the hand of God will divide the waves, and bring us safely through on dry ground. We must go to Jesus by prayer and faith; he will hear and save us. MIMICKING. Some children think it a fine thing to mimic peo- ple. It is rather a hateful trick, however. I heard of one man who mimicked a poor, stuttering man, till he became a stutterer himself, and never could get over the habit and talk properly afterward. One young preacher was so imitative that when he arose to preach the congregation noticed who he was imi- tating, and began to laugh. This was so wherever he went, and this foolish freak was the ruin of the young man he had to stop preaching. It is no great credit to a person to mimic another, since monkeys excel all others in this art. The more you mimic, the more you act like a dirty little monkey. I heard of a monkey who lived at a house where there was a wedding one day. When the bride was going away, and her sisters were all crying about it, because they loved her so much, one of them happened to look up at the window, and there was the monkey seated on the sill with an old cloth in his hand, which he had stolen from the kitchen, wiping his eyes, first one, and then the other, and sobbing, and pretending to cry, just as he saw them doing in the parlor. This was a very funny trick for a monkey, but boys and girls do not want to be monkeys, do they ? You know God wisely made us all to look and talk 83 84 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. J differently. If we were all alike and could not tell each other apart, it would make endless troubles and perplexities. So as God made us different, let us all try to be different. I never knew a great mimic who was great at any thing else. We may imitate good acts, but let us be boys and girls, and men and wo- men; not monkeys, chatter-boxes, and parrots. A WISE BIRD. The captain of a vessel had a canary, which was much attached to him, and which would perch on his hand or head. One day the captain had several friends to dine with him; the cage door was open, and the bird, after flying round the room, perched on the head of the captain. The party were then drinking wine, and he held up his glass, when the bird hopped upon the edge of it, and drank some wine. The little creature soon felt the effects, and returned to the cage completely in- toxicated. Soon after, at another party, the captain attempted the same; but the bird, remembering what he had suf- fered before, would not taste, but flew back to his cage. Would that all were as wise as this bird. 1 BE USEFUL. Little children often think that they are too young to be useful. "When I have grown up, I mean to be a missionary," says one. "I will take care of the poor when I am a rich man," says another. But there is plenty for children to do while they are chil- dren; the trouble is, they are not satisfied with doing little things; they want to do some great thing. They forget that God is pleased to have them work for him, whether work is great or small, and that they must learn to be useful while they are young if they would be useful when they are old. The child who is not willing to lay aside an interesting book, to read to his little sister who has not learned to read, will not be very well fitted to leave home and friends to teach the heathen. Why, every thing that God has made, has some- thing to do. Even the birds are useful in picking up the worms and insects which would destroy the plants. And did you never hear of Carrier-pigeons? A man brings it from its home in a basket, and when he has tied a letter to its wing he lets it fly away. The pigeon will fly home, and then the man's friends will get the letter. These birds have been known to fly thousands of miles, carrying letters from one friend to another. Thus they are useful, 85 86 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. God used the ravens, you remember, to take food to his servant Elijah; and I read the other day of a poor German who was much relieved by a singing- bird. The man owed a bill which he had no money to pay. He was sitting at the door of his house won- dering what he should do, when a little bird flew into his room. The man closed the door, caught the bird, and placed him in a cage. The little creature imme- diately began to sing; it seemed to the man as if it was singing the tune of his favorite hymn, "Fear thou not when darkness reigns." Suddenly some one knocked at the door. "Oh!" the man thought, "there is the officer come to take me to prison, because I cannot pay my debt." But he was mistaken. It was the servant of a lady who had lost a bird. The neighbors had seen it fly into his house, and she wished to know if he had caught it. "Oh! yes," said he; "here it is." The servant took it in great joy to his mistress. Soon he re- turned with some money. My mistress," said he, "values that bird very highly, and begs you will accept this with her thanks.” The man took the money, and it proved to be ex- actly the sum he owed, so that, when the officer came, he paid his debt, and said, “God has sent it to me.” Thus a little bird was the means of saving a poor man from prison. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 87 The great difference between the usefulness of a bird and a child is, that the bird does not know how or when it is useful; but a child does. Every day you can be useful, and make others happy if you will. You can amuse your little brother or sister, or run up stairs to wait on your mother, or be quiet when she requests it. You will find many ways, if you are watchful, and remember that God sees you, and that he is pleased when you try to be useful. THE DOG AND THE TESTAMENT. Job said he had esteemed the words of God's mouth more than his necessary food. And the blessed Sa- viour himself declared, his meat and his drink was to do the will of his Father in heaven. But we fear the Bible does not have such an influence for good over the lives of all the children who read and study it. Such remind us of a dog we once heard about. A poor native went to a missionary in South Afri- ca with the sad tale that his dog had torn in pieces a New Testament, and eaten some of the leaves. The dog, he said, had been very useful to him in protect- ing his property, and hunting wild beasts; but now he would no longer be good for any thing. "How so?" asked the missionary. "You can have another Testament, and the dog will be as valuable as before." "Ah!” replied the African, "the New Testament 88 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. is so full of the words of love and gentleness, that after the dog has eaten them, it is not likely he will fight or hunt any more." I am afraid that a good many people do not eat their Testaments now-a-days, if they did they would be more peaceable. The prophet said, "Thy words were found and I did eat them." I hope we may re- ceive the word of God into good, and honest, and obedient hearts, then it will make us meek, and gen- tle, and Christ-like. IRRITABLE CHRISTIANS, READ THIS. There was a clergyman, who was of nervous tem- perament, and often became much vexed by finding his little grand-children in his study. One day, one of these children was standing by his mother's side, and she was speaking to him of heaven. 66 Ma," said he, "I don't want to go to heaven." "Do not want to go to heaven, my son?" 66 " 66 No, ma, I am sure I don't.” Why not, my son?" Why, grand-pa will be there, won't he?" Why, yes; I hope he will." "Well, as soon as he sees us, he will come scolding along, and say, 'Whew, whew, whew, what are these boys here for?' I don't want to go to heaven, if grand-pa is going to be there." THE GARDENS---A PARABLE. There was once a village, in which was to be seen a row of pretty little cottages, each standing by itself in a little plot of garden-ground; and in the summer- time it was quite entertaining to see the different ways in which almost all the cottagers had laid out their gardens. Here was one who had covered his almost entirely with grass; and you could see that he took great pride in his mimic lawn, for it was always smoothly mown and beautifully level, and not a plantain nor a daisy could you find in it. And it really looked very pretty; it was so green and soft that, at a little distance, set off as it was by the white cottage walls, it showed like an emerald. Another cottager was a great lover of flowers, and he had given up all his piece of ground to his favor- ites. He could not boast many of the new and rare kinds, but all the dear old garden friends-some of which are becoming quite scarce now-were to be seen there. Honeysuckle and jessamine, tea-tree and japonica, covered the walls of the cottage; and the trim little beds were gay all the year round with tulips and bear's-ears, thrift, and none-so-pretty. Above all, there were roses and lilies, pinks and hollyhocks; and many a sweetly-smelling and gayly- colored flower was there; and bushes, some of which 89 90 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. were flowering shrubs, and others were evergreens, were planted all the way round. Persons passing through the village often paused to admire this bright little garden; and if the cottager was at work —and he labored in it early and late-they would say something approvingly, to encourage him. There was one other cottager who lived here, whose garden was a sight to see. There were flower-bor- ders beside the path, and under the windows of the cottage, and there was a tiny patch of grass quite in the middle; but most of the ground was turned to more useful purposes. Here was a strawberry-bed; there, onions, peas, potatoes, were growing. Cur- rant-bushes were planted all round by the palings, apple and pear trees stood here and there, and over the walls of the cottage were trained two or three different sorts of wall-fruit. Quite at the back might be seen, too, a flourishing piece of wheat—a grain- fleld in miniature. None of the cottagers worked more industriously than the owner of this garden, and certainly none was so well repaid. There was, however, one garden and cottage alto- gether unlike the rest. Nothing was planted in the garden, and nothing grew in it except some rank weeds in the corners; the fence was broken, and the dogs and animals which roamed through the village always walked in and out without hindrance. The cottage-walls were dilapidated, and the roof wanted repair; and if the inside was only half as bad as the STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 91 outside, no decent pig would have cared to live in it. The man was just a match for the place, and so was his wife; and what their poor children were, who tumbled about in the dirt in front of the door, you can imagine. One day, as this man was going home from work at noon-time, hungry and unhappy (for no hope of a warm welcome and a good dinner cheered him), he espied the man who lived at the first cottage I spoke of, lying on his nice, tidy grass-plot, stretched at full length, with his hat pulled over his face, to shade it from the sun, taking a nap after his meal; and the poor fellow wished he was as well off. But when he passed the second cottage, and saw the gay colors, and smelt the sweet scents of the flowers, he lingered a little, and thought that he would much rather have flowers in his ground than a grass-plot only. And as he thought this, he came opposite to the third garden, and stopped with wonder and envy, for there were grass, and flowers, and vegetables, and fruits, as well; and through the half-open door he saw the man who had made so much out of his plot of ground, just sitting down to a wholesome and plen- tiful meal. It was so different from his own garden and his own house, that he felt as if he could never go and see them again. "I say, neighbor," said he, at last, raising his voice, "how is it that you have such a nice, useful garden as this, whilst mine is as bad as a pig-sty?" 92 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 66 Why," said his neighbor, laughing, as he came to the door, "I suppose it is because I have done some work in my garden, and you have n't done any thing to yours." "What! do you think that my garden could ever be made to look like this?" “No doubt about it," replied the neighbor; "only you'd have to wait a few years before it got exactly like this; because nothing but mushrooms grow up in a night-fruit-trees grow more slowly. "" "" "But could it really, now, ever become like this? "To be sure it could. Put your work into it, as I have done into this, and it will turn out so." I wish you'd show me how." "With all my heart," returned the industrious cottager. That very evening, before his neighbor was ready, there was the poor, discontented man that had been, waiting to go to work. As soon as he came and looked round, he bade him, first of all, mend the paling. That done, the ground was all dug over, deeply, twice, and all the weeds and rubbish turned in-" they would be useful under ground." Then the beds were marked out, the bor- ders planted, and the paths neatly sanded. And now the other neighbors came in and helped. One brought some seeds, another a young fruit-tree, and a third the cuttings of a few flowers. Every one was desirous of helping the man who had at last begun to help himself. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 93 The wonder of it was, that just as fast as the gar- den grew neat, so did the house; and as the house became neat, so did the man and his family. He often had to ask the advice of the kind neigh- bor who had first showed him how much might be made of his garden; and though some people said it was all very well, but he would soon give up and let it all go to ruin again, he kept on, till it came to be as easy to be industrious in his garden as it had been to be idle every where, and a great deal more pleas- ant. And when some years had passed, and his garden was one of the neatest, prettiest, and most profitable in the whole row, he would often stop his neighbor and say: "Remember, it was you who first showed me how much I might make of my garden." PICKING UP THOUGHTS. Boys, you have heard of blacksmiths who became mayors and magistrates of towns and cities, and men of great wealth and influence. What was the secret of their success? Why, they picked up nails and pins in the street, and carried them home in the pockets of their waistcoats. Now, you must pick up thoughts in the same way, and fill your mind with them; and they will grow into other thoughts, almost while you are asleep. The world is full of thoughts, and you will find them strewed every where in your path. } ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE LORD'S PRAYER. “I'll never forgive him never!" "Never is a hard word, John," said the sweet-faced wife of John Locke, as she looked up a moment from her sewing. “He is a mean, dastardly coward, and upon this Holy Bible, I—” 66 Stop, husband! John! remember he is my broth- er, and by the love you bear me, forbear to curse him. He has done you wrong, I allow-but O! John, he is very young and very sorry. The momentary shame you felt yesterday will hardly be wiped out with a curse. It will only injure yourself, John-O, don't say any thing dreadful!" The sweet-faced woman prevailed—the curse that hung upon the lips of the angry man was not spoken, but he still said, "I will never forgive him—he has done me a deadly wrong." The young man who had provoked this bitterness, humbled and repentant, sought in vain for forgive- ness from him, whom, in a moment of passion he had injured almost beyond reparation. John Locke steeled his heart against him. In his little store sat the young village merchant, one pleasant morning, contently reading the morning paper. A sound of hurried footsteps approached un- 94 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 95 til a hatless boy burst into the store, screaming at the top of his voice, "Mr. Locke, Johnny is in the river - little Johnny Locke." To dash down the paper and spring for the street was the first impulse of the agonized father. On, on, like a maniac, he flew to the river, pallid and crazed with anguish. The first sight that met his eyes was little Johnny lying in the arms of his mother, who, with her hair hanging disheveled around her, bent wildly over her child. The boy was just saved; he breathed, and opening his eyes, smiled faintly in his mother's face, while she, with choking voice, thanked God. Another form lay insensible, near the child. From his head the dark blood flowed from a ghastly wound. The man against whom John Locke had sworn eter- nal hatred, had, at the risk of his own life, been the savior of his own child. He had struck a piece of floating driftwood, as he came to the surface with the boy, and death seemed inevitable. John Locke flung himself on the greensward, and bent over the senseless form. "Save him," he cried huskily, to the doctor who had been summoned; "re- store him to consciousness, if it be only for one little moment I have something important to say to him." "He is reviving," said the doctor. The wounded man opened his eyes—they met the 96 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. anxious glance of his brother-in-law, and the pale lips trembled forth- "Do you forgive me?" "Yes, yes, God is witness, as I hope for mercy hereafter, I freely forgive you; in turn I ask your for- giveness for my unchristian conduct." A feeble pressure of the hand and a beautiful smile was all his answer. Many days the brave young man hung upon a slen- der thread of life, and never were there more devoted friends than those who hovered over his sick bed. But a vigorous constitution triumphed, and pale and changed, he walked forth once more among the liv- ing. "Oh! if he had died with my unkindness clouding his soul, never should I have dared to hope for mercy from my Father in heaven," said John Locke to his wife, as they sat talking over the solemn event that had threatened their lives with a living trouble. "Never, now that I have tasted the sweetness of for- giveness, never again will I cherish revenge or un- kindness towards the erring. For there is a new meaning to my soul, in the words of our daily prayer, and I see that I have only been calling judgments up- on myself while I have impiously asked Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." 66 ་ OLY BIBLE THE HAPPY CHOICE. A wealthy old gentleman, residing in London, on one of his birth-days invited his servants into the house to receive presents. "What will you have," said he, addressing the groom, "this Bible or a £5 note ?” "I would take the Bible, sir, but I cannot read; so I think the money will do me more good," replied the hostler. "And you ?” he asked the gardener. 97 98 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "My poor wife is so ill, that I sadly need the money," responded the gardener with a bow. " Mary, you can read," said the old man, turning to his cook; "will you have this Bible?" I can read, sir, but I never get time to look into a book, and the pounds will buy me a fine dress." Next was the chamber-maid; but she had one Bible, and did not want another. Last came the errand boy. "My lad," said his kind benefactor, "will you take these five pounds, and replace your shabby clothes by a new suit?” "Thank you, sir, but my dear mother used to read to me that the law of the Lord was better than thou- sands of gold and silver. I will have the good book, if you please." "God bless you, my boy! and may your wise choice prove riches, and honor, and long life, unto you." As the lad received the Bible and unclasped its covers, a bright gold sovereign rolled to the floor. Quickly turning its pages, he found them thickly interleaved with bank-notes. While the four ser- vants, discovering the mistake of their worldly cov etousness, hastily departed in chagrin. THE CAPTIVE GIRL AND HER BIBLE. • Many years ago, when a large portion of our coun- try was a wilderness, and before the Indians had been driven away, there lived a family upon our frontiers consisting of a father, and mother, and several chil- dren. They had lived for some time in security, and did not fear danger; but something happened to make the Indians hate the white people, and those whom the Indians dislike they will adopt any means to destroy. As this family lived a long distance from any other white family, the Indians had no difficulty in attacking and destroying them. Accordingly they came one day to the house; but there was no one at home but a little girl, so they could not murder the famy; but they took all the things out of the log house, and piled them up in a big heap, and then set fire to it. The little girl stood by, and cried to see her home burning up. While looking at the fire, she saw two little books, which the flames had not yet touched, and, springing forward, she caught them up, and put them under her apron. After the Indians were satisfied with the destruction they had made, they started off, taking the little girl with them. For several days they traveled through the woods, till at length they reached their home in Canada. One of the books which the little girl caught out of the fire was the Bible, and the other the Testament. These 99 100 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. she kept with great care, and prized them very much. How badly she must have felt to be thus separated from her parents and her home! No doubt she cried bitterly many a time over her forlorn condition. But she commenced reading her Bible, and by degrees her heart was lifted up to God in prayer. Day by day her Bible became more precious to her, until Je- sus was revealed to her, and she embraced his great salvation. She now felt that it was a merciful Prov- idence which had taken her away from all her earthly friends, because it had led her to seek and find her heavenly Friend. Now, rejoicing in the Saviour, she was submissive and happy in her lot, and tried to make herself as useful as possible. After the lapse of several years, by some means she was found, and brought back to her friends again. What a happy meeting that must have been, when the lost one was restored to her parents, and brothers, and sisters, once more! But she came back not as she went away. She was taken when a child, but now she was a woman grown. She was taken a stranger to God - she came back a child of grace and an heir to the kingdom of heaven. How wonderfully God deals with his people! leading them by a way they know not-but bringing them at last to the land of promise. This young woman was married some years after- ward, and settled in Virginia. Of her seven sons, five are ministers of the gospel, and are now living and laboring in the vineyard of their Lord. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 101 These are all the incidents in her life that I now remember, and I have related them, that my readers may see what a treasure the Bible is, and how highly it should be prized. It is God's own book, and it will serve us better than all other books beside. "Oh! may these heavenly pages be My ever dear delight; And still new beauties may I see, And still increasing light." HOW TO BE WISE. A great many years ago there was a little boy who had a pious mother and grandmother. In the days in which he lived there were no printed books. As all the books were written, it took a long time to write one, and it cost much money; so that there were very few to be seen. You may suppose that it was not so easy for a child to be wise then as it is now. But we shall find that this little boy not only learned to read, but got the best kind of wisdom. Let us go back in our thoughts for many years, and look at this child in his own home. It was not such a house as we live in, nor were many of the trees the same as those that grow in our land. We do not see the father. He might have been there, but we do not know. We see the aged grand- mother. She gives a kind look, as the mother un- folds before her little boy a long roll of parchment, 102 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 1 or dried skin of a goat. The mother shows him the letters upon it. She then reads the story of Cain and Abel, of Joseph, of David, and of Ruth. She tells him of the baby Moses in the ark, of the people going through the Red Sea as on dry land, and of Elijah fed by ravens. As she tells of these, perhaps he stops her, and says, "O mother, teach me the letters again, that I may read these pretty and true stories for myself." Though this little boy had no books like those now in use for children, he had his mother's roll of parchment, and this he read till he, we think, must have known it all by heart. The name of this child has come down to us. He grew up to be a minister, was the friend of the apos- the Paul, and went to many places to tell the heathen that God so loved the world as to give Jesus Christ to be a Saviour, that through faith in him all our sins might be forgiven, and that we might be happy for ever. He became wise in God's holy word. He loved Christ, gave his heart to him, and lived to serve him all his days. "Oh yes,' "" You know the name of this little boy. you say, "it was Timothy." But you may not know that his name means "honor of God." His parents, perhaps, gave him this name because they wished that he should not only grow up to be a wise, but a good and useful man-one who would honor God in his life. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 103 We will now tell you of another boy, who lived only a few years ago; he also wished to become wise. But he had no kind and pious parent to teach him. No book or even roll of parchment could he call his own. Some good people, who lived in a large city, saw many boys in the streets, who were ragged, rude, and wicked. What could be done for them? It was said that if they could be got to school, it might do them good; and so a school was opened. It was in a street where only very poor people lived. Among those who went to learn was this little sweep. The first day he went to the school, he looked about him at the boys, and then sat down on a form. A kind teacher came to him, and said, "Do you know your letters, my boy?" "Oh, yes," was the quick reply. "Can you spell ? " answer. I "" "Oh, yes," was again the "Can you read? "Oh, yes." (6 "And what book did you learn from ?" Why, never had a book in my life.” "Where did you go to school?" "I have not been to any school." "Who was your schoolmaster ?" "I never had a schoolmaster." Now, here was a strange thing—a boy could read and spell, and yet never had a book or a schoolmas- ter, and had not been to a school. How was this? 104 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. Why, another sweep boy, a little older than himself, had taught him to read by showing him the letters over the shop-doors which they passed as they went along the streets early in the morning. This teacher, then, was a sweep like himself, and his book the signs and letters on the houses. The poor boy was taken into the school, where he was taught to read in the Bible, and by his good conduct he obtained the respect of his teachers. How many little children who read these true stories have many books-perhaps a long row of them; books at home and books at school; some for study and others to please; large and small; with pictures and without. Surely there never was a time when the young had so many good books as they have now. Be thankful for them. Be thankful for them. Get all the wis- dom out of them that can be gotten. And, above all, get the best wisdom from the Bible-that is THE Book. It is the great fountain of wisdom; all other books are only as little rills. Ask God to give you his Holy Spirit to teach you, and that, like Timothy, it may be said of you, "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3: 15.) O that I, like Timothy, Might the Holy Scriptures know From my early infancy, Till for God' mature I grow, Made unto salvation wise, Ready for the glorious prize. THE LIONS IN THE WAY. O, A. & The lion is the king of beasts. He is strong, swift and cruel. The man who was slothful and too lazy to work would say, "There is a lion in the way," because he did not want to go. John Bunyan says that his pilgrims saw lions in their path as they went to the celestial city. Some were so frightened by them that they ran away in haste, but those who pressed on found that the lions were chained, and 105 106 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. could not bite the pilgrims at all if they kept right in the middle of the road. So when you see some terrible trouble that threat- ens you, just remember it is like one of John Bun- yan's lions. You do just right, and keep exactly in the middle of the road, and the lions will not hurt you. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You can look a lion out of countenance by looking straight in his eye. So you can drive away half your troubles by facing them like a man. And the devil will flee if you trust in God and resist him steadfast in the faith. Fear not, little flock. When David kept his fath- er's sheep he killed the lion that carried off his lamb. So Christ our great Saviour will destroy him that had the power of death, that of death, that is the devil. Let us trust him, and he will bring us at last to his kingdom, where the lion shall lie down with the lamb-where he shall eat straw like the ox, and the cow and the bear shall feed together, and a little child shall lead them. "Then bears and wolves, no longer wild, Obey the leading of a child; The lions with the oxen eat, And dust shall be the serpent's meat. "God's holy will shall then be done By all who dwell below the sun, For saints shall then as angels be, All changed to immortality." ALWAYS DO RIGHT. "A fight! a fight!" cried Will Racket, the wheel- wright's boy, as he threw down his hammer, and ran up the green lane.' (C • Fight him! fight him!" shouted Fred Parker, the baker's apprentice; as at the same time, placing his tray on the ground, he rushed to join a crowd on the village green. "What is it all about?" called out Ben Frost, the sawyer, as he stood at the ale-house door, and the next moment pushed his way, with eager looks, to the same spot. "I don't wish to fight," said John Smith, a meek, pale-faced boy, in black dress, and a band of crape around his cap; while before him stood Ned Brown, with his jacket thrown off, and his shirt-sleeves tucked up above his elbows. "Why not fight him?" cried some of the men and boys; "he struck you, and you should hit him again." "But my mother has told me that I must not fight,” said John, "and I will not disobey her. I have not done any harm, and I don't see why Ned should wish me to fight." No sooner did John thus speak, than the crowd began to mock and shout aloud, "He is a big cow- ard, that he is. He is afraid to fight because his 107 108 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. mother says he must not; " and Ned Brown stamped with his foot, and looked fiercer than ever. Just at this instant, Mr. Morris, the schoolmaster, was drawn by the noise to the place; and quickly making his way through the throng, he stood between the two boys, and began to inquire what all the noise was about. He soon saw how matters stood, and turning to Ned Brown, he desired him to go at once to his work in the mill, while he gently took John Smith aside from the noisy crowd, that he might ask him a few questions. " (( Why would you not fight with Ned Brown ? ” said the schoolmaster. "If I were to fight him," replied John Smith, 'perhaps I should hurt him, and I do not want to do him any harm.' 66 Very good," said Mr. Morris. "And if I did not hurt him," added John, "I fear that he would hurt me, as he is a stronger boy than I am." "No doubt of it," said the schoolmaster. "I do not think, sir, that fighting is the right or best way of settling a quarrel." "That is quite correct," added Mr. Morris. "I wish every body thought as you do ; the world would be all the better for it." "Then, sir, I would rather be called a coward than do what I know to be wrong." STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 109 "Very good again," said the schoolmaster, as he laid his hand on the head of the peace-loving boy. "And more than that, sir, to fight is not only against what my mother has taught me, but also against the commands of our Saviour, who has told us to love one another." "That is right,” said Mr. Morris. "I see, John, that you remember last Sunday's text: 'Let all bit- terness, and wrath, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath for- given you.' In the fear and love of God your Sav- iour, always do right." 66 'Yes, sir, my mother tells me to keep close to the Bible, and then I shall be kept in the way in which I should go." True, quite true," continued Mr. Morris. "How 'shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.' That Holy Book will teach you to do right in small things, as well as great things; and to do right, not only when it is easy to do so, but when it seems to be hard." I think, sir," said John, "that if I once do a thing that is wrong, I may soon do it again.” "To be sure, John, there is great danger of this. If we begin to sin from fear of being laughed at, there is no knowing where we may end. Like a boy running down hill, we may be unable to stop, 110 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. and rush on to our ruin. And one word more, John: never forget that Jesus Christ came into the world, not only to die for our sins on the cross, but to save us from doing wrong, and to teach us how to do right. If you look to Him in faith, you will find that He is a Saviour from the power of sin as well as from its guilt. And if you ask for the help of his Holy Spirit, grace will be given you to forsake what is evil, and to follow that which is good: then you will grow up to be a brave, manly Christian.” John Smith went home with a light and happy heart that day, and was not ashamed to tell his mother all that had taken place. When she heard how her son had acted, she thanked God who had enabled him to do right, even when he had to bear with scorn and mockery for so doing. For some days it was the talk of the rude boys of the village that John Smith was nothing better than a coward, because he had refused to fight Ned Brown; yet it was not long before they had to change their minds on the subject. One afternoon, as John was going on an errand for his uncle, he came to the old stone bridge which crosses the river near to Gaffer Wood's, when he heard loud cries of distress. On looking along the bank towards the old mill, where the waters run strongly, he saw a lad struggling in the stream. The unhappy boy had tried in vain to reach the shore, and was now ready to sink. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 111 In a moment John Smith cast off his coat and shoes, and plunged into the water, for he was a good swimmer. He soon reached the drowning lad, and with one hand clasped him firmly by the arm, and with the other struck out for the shore. With much skill and courage, he brought the lad to land; and to his great joy found that he had been the means of saving fighting Ned Brown from an early death. Ned was not a little touched at the conduct of John Smith, and grateful for being saved from a watery grave. He took his deliverer with both hands, and as the tears fell down his face, thanked him over and over again. Then he asked to be for- given for having so often spoken unkindly to him, and for so wickedly trying to provoke him to fight. "You will not strike me again," said John, "will you, Ned?" "No," cried the penitent boy; "and I will take care that no one else does, that I will." It was soon reported through the village that John Smith had, at the risk of his own life, saved Ned Brown from being drowned. Whatever had been the opinion before among the young men and boys, there was now no doubt in their minds who had shown true courage. They all agreed that John was a brave boy; and when he passed the cottages, with Ned by his side, many a kind and civil word was spoken to him both by old and young. Even the wheelwright's boy and the baker's apprentice now 112 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. received him with much respect, and thought that it was quite plain that a lad might be truly brave at heart, even though he would not fight. "Let the conduct of John Smith," said Mr. Mor- ris, just before the village school broke up one day, "be an example to you all. He who dares to obey his parents, and who seeks to fear God, though it draws upon him an ill name, proves that he has a truly brave spirit. While he who is ashamed to walk in an upright course, lest those who are around should mock him, is without true courage. If all people were of John Smith's mind, the world would be much happier than it is. Mind what I say, my boys-and I would say the same to girls also- ALWAYS DO RIGHT, in all things, in all places and at all times," 66 MEROPS." I have something to ask of you," said a young eagle one day to a learned melancholy owl; men say there is a bird named Merops, who when he rises in the air flies with his tail upwards and his head towards the ground. Is it true?” "Cer- tainly not," answered the owl; "it is only a foolish tradition of man; he himself is a Merops, for he would fly towards heaven without for a moment losing sight of earth.” THE COW AND THE BEAR. We read in the Bible considerable about bears. You will find the accounts in 1 Sam. xvii. 34-37; 2 Sam. xvii. 8; 2 Kings ii. 24; Prov. xvii. 12; Hos. xiii. 8, etc. They are very strong, ferocious when provoked, somewhat cunning, and can climb trees very fast. It is not at all pleasant to be pursued by them. I am going to tell you of an odd circum- tance that happened some time since, when a boy was pursued by a bear. A boy, not more than eight years old, went into the woods to bring home an old cow that belonged to his 113 114 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. mother. The little urchin set off whistling, for he had no care, and his heart was as light as a feather. The old cow, having no one to control her, had roamed half a mile, or perhaps three-quarters, in com- pany with some younger cattle. At one time she was plucking the young shoots and green leaves from the branches of the trees, and at another grazing on the tufts of grass that grew on the ground. All at once she heard the whoop of the boy, and lifting up her head, she saw her young master with a switch in his hand. He had come to drive her home; so, without taking another mouthful, she walked quietly towards him, and then took the way which led out of the wood. They had not proceeded very far, when the boy saw a bear coming out of the woods, and the bear seemed disposed to attend them more closely than the boy liked. Having no other plan of escape, the boy (for he was very nimble) jumped on the back of the old cow. Now there are several kinds of bears; the white northern bear lives on seals, and on such fish as he can catch among the ice; the American black bear lives for the most part on vegetables; but the grizzly bear is not to be put off with fish and vegetables, he will have flesh; and I should be very sorry to see man, woman, or child within the reach of his paws. No wonder that the boy felt afraid when he saw a grizzly bear coming towards him. You may, per- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 115 haps, laugh at the thought of a boy riding on the back of an old cow; but put yourself in the same situation, and you would be as glad as he was to do the same thing. Off ran the old cow, the boy keeping his seat on her back by catching fast hold of her horns; and off ran the grizzly bear after them. Very fortunately for the boy, the young cattle followed, scampering along, with their tails in the air. Every time the young cattle came up with the bear, they thrust at him with their horns, so that he was obliged to turn round and defend himself; this enabled the old cow to get ahead of the bear. The boy, as he cantered along, at one time thought it was all over with him; and at another, that he had made his escape; the bear, however, still pursued, and would certainly have overtaken him, but the young cattle once more saved him, by attacking the bear with their horns. After a hard chase, the old cow, with the boy on her back, came in sight of their home; and the grizzly bear, thinking, perhaps, that if he pursued them further, he might meet with those who would pursue him in their turn, scampered back into the woods as fast as his legs would carry him. So the boy and the old cow got safe home. You know very well that you live in a country where there are no grizzly bears at liberty, roaming about in search of their prey; therefore, on this ac- count you have nothing to fear. But though you are 116 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. secure from wild beasts, yet you are in danger. There is an enemy, even the evil one, the devil, who goes about not merely as a bear, but “as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith." (1 Peter 5: 8, 9.) A grizzly bear is only to be found at liberty in a forest, a wood, a thicket, or in a desert; but sin is to be found everywhere; in the crowded city, in the re- tired village, in the prince's palace, and the peasant's cot. In the highways and byways of life; yes, and it is found still nearer home, for it is found in every heart. Think, then, of the continual danger you must be in when your enemy is so near, and how necessary it is to have a friend near enough, and strong enough, and wise enough, and good enough, to protect you! The sinner's Friend is ever at hand, and ever ready to help them that call upon him. With a strong hand will he deliver, and with a mighty hand will he redeem them. You would flee from the grizzly bear; you would struggle hard with all your might to get out of his clutches, though he could only kill your body. Flee then from sin, that may destroy your soul. The sin- ner's Friend will save you, for he loves the young; he loves them that love him, and those that seek him early shall find him. He died on the cross, that sin- ners, through his mercy, might be saved from sin, and dwell with him forever. He is very merciful; STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 117 for he feeds his flock like a shepherd, he gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom. I will just repeat to you a few verses of Holy Scrip- ture, wherein you will see that the prophet Isaiah spoke much of little children when he described the power and kingdom of Christ on the earth; "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain ; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa. 11: 6–9.) Think of what I have told you of the cow and the bear; think of what I have said of sin; and especial- ly think on what I have said of the sinner's Friend. Which of all our friends to save us, Could or would have shed his blood? But the Saviour died to have us Reconciled in him to God. This was boundless love indeed; Jesus is a Friend in need. A WORD TO THE BOYS. If you are a pre- Do not let obstacles hinder you from any right un- dertaking you would engage in. The toughest oak has felt the roughest winds. You would not think the lithe beauty of the sheltered sapling suitable for the staunch ribs of a war-ship. Talents fostered un- der difficulties develop brightest. Graces grow stal- wart beneath storms of opposition. cocious child, and your every bright idea is anticipa- ted and praised, you will soon become conceited and hopelessly effeminate. But the boy or girl of robust native talent, whose early aspirations are rudely crushed by some unkindly hand, grieving for a while, soon recovers patience. They measure the strength of their own resources, and learn to economize op- portunity. The coldness of the world compels them to summon forth the hidden fire of their own bosoms. Trials preserve from pride; and opposition and con- tumely stimulate to greater attainments. As in na- ture so in grace. The christian who enjoys God's uninterrupted favor, with every sensual want sup- plied, will in time become enervated. Familiarity with God's blessings breeds contempt for them. Lacking nothing, you have nothing to pray for. William Gifford, the editor of the Quarterly, was once apprenticed to a shoemaker, spending his spare hours in study. And having neither pen, paper, slate 118 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 119 nor pencil, he wrote out problems on pieces of leath- er with a blunted awl. James Ferguson, the Scotch astronomer, taught himself to read, and mastered astronomy while a shepherd boy in the fields. One of our learned Greek scholars kept his grammar on his chopping- block, and studied it while cutting wood. Sir Thom- as Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange in Lon- don, was abandoned in the fields by his poor mother, when an infant, and his life saved by the chirping of a grasshopper which attracted a boy to the place where he lay. Sir William Phipps, who attained the office of High Sheriff of New England, and Governor of Massachusetts, learned to read and write after he was eighteen, while learning a ship-carpenter's trade in Boston. An esteemed friend of ours who has col- lected a rare and extensive library, earned his first bound book by denying himself the use of butter for a month. Joseph, the Governor of Egypt, lay two long years in a dungeon, a forsaken and forgotten youth. Moses, the leader of Israel, once floated on the Nile in a frail basket at the mercy of river mon- sters; and his first public effort to do good cost him forty years of trial as a recluse. The honored King David was a ruddy, singing, shepherd's boy, making psalms to the stars in the still Judean nights, and his every step to eminence was through dark and diffi- cult ways. A LEARNED DOG. On the Third Avenue in New York city, there was a house where one family residing on the third floor took the morning papers, while another family who occupied the second floor subscribed for two others. The carrier threw the three papers in the hall early each morning, and the family on the third flight sent down their large dog for their copy. With the utmost sagacity the quadruped, who was reared on Prince Edward's Island; selected it from among the three journals, carried it up stairs in his teeth, and delivered it to his mistress, never at any time making a mistake as to the paper. Although the dog's movements were carefully watched, no one was able to offer any reasonable conjecture as to the means the dog used to distinguish his journal from the others. RICHARD REYNOLDS. A lady applied to the philanthropist, Richard Reynolds, on behalf of a little orphan boy. After he had given liberally she said, "When he is old enough, I will teach him to name and thank his benefactor." Stop!" said the good man, "thou art mistaken. We do not thank the clouds for rain. Teach him to look higher. Thank Him who giveth both the clouds and the rain." "" 120 ހ གུ་ THE CEDAR OF LEBANON. Lebanon signifies white, and is the name of a long chain of mountains on the north of Palestine, which are formed of whitish limestone, and are also some- times whitened with winter's snows. The cedar is a noble evergreen tree, greatly cele- brated in the Scriptures, Psa. 92: 12; Ezek. 31: 3– 6. These trees are remarkably thick and tall; some among them are from thirty-five to forty feet in 121 122 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. girth, and ninety feet in height. The cedar tree shoots out branches at ten or twelve feet from the ground, large and almost horizontal; its leaves are an inch long, slender and straight, growing in tufts. The tree bears a small cone, like that of the pine. This celebrated tree is not peculiar to Mount Leba- non, but grows also upon Mounts Amanus and Taurus in Asia Minor, and in other parts of the Levant, but does not elsewhere reach the size and height of those on Lebanon. It has also been cultivated in the gar- dens of Europe; two venerable individuals of this species exist at Chiswick in England; and there is a very beautiful one in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. The beauty of the cedar consists in the proportion and symmetry of its wide-spreading branches and cone-like top. The gum, which exudes both from the trunk and the cones or fruit, is soft like balsam; and its fragrance is like the balsam of Mecca. Every thing about this tree has a strong balsamic odor; and hence the whole grove is so pleasant and fra- grant that it is delightful to walk in it, Song. 4: 11; Hos. 14: 6. The wood is peculiarly adapted to building, because it is not subject to decay, nor to be eaten of worms; hence it was much used for rafters, and for boards with which to cover houses, and form the floors and ceilings of rooms. It was of a red color, beautiful, solid, and free from knots. The palace of Persepolis, the temple at Jerusalem, and Solomon's palace, were all in this way built with ce- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 123 dár; and "the house of the forest of Lebanon" was perhaps so called from the quantity of this wood used in its construction, 1 Kings 7: 2; 10: 17. Of the forests of cedars which once covered Leb- anon, comparatively few are now left, Isa. 2: 13 10: 19; though there are still many scattered trees; in various parts, resembling the genuine cedar. The largest and most ancient trees, generally thought to be the only ones, are found in a grove, lying a little off from the road which crosses Mount Lebanon from Baalbec to Tripoli, at some distance below the summit of the mountain on the western side, at the foot indeed of the highest summit or ridge of Leba- non. This grove consists of a few very old trees, perhaps as old as the time of Christ, intermingled with four hundred or five hundred younger ones. THE TWO MINERS. "He tha loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”— Matt. 10:39. Two men at Cornwall were working together in a mine. They were preparing for a blast, when the train which they had laid accidentally ignited. They saw that a terrific explosion must ensue, which would rend the rock into pieces. Both men leaped into the bucket, and called to the man above to draw them up; but his arms were not strong enough to raise both at once, and what was to be done? The burning fuse was within a few feet of the powder, 124 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. and very soon the explosion must take place. At this fearful crisis one man said to the other, “You are an unbelieving man; if you are killed you will be lost forever; but if I die, I trust through the grace of God to be taken to himself;" and with- out waiting for a reply he sprang from the bucket, and committed the result to the Lord. The other was drawn up safely, and as he leaned over the shaft to learn the fate of his comrade, the mine exploded, and a piece of rock flew up and struck him in the forehead, leaving a permanent scar to remind him of his deliverance. On searching the mine, his companion was found sheltered beneath a piece of the exploded rock, which had arched over him, safe, and rejoicing in that God who is a Rock of defence, and a Refuge, "when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." PORTA SANTA. "In every thing by prayer.... let your requests be made known unto God.' In the vestibule of St. Peter's church at Rome is a wonderful doorway named the Porta Santa, which is securely walled up and marked with a cross. This entrance is opened but four times in a century—on Christmas Eve, once in twenty-five years. Then it is accomplished with imposing ceremony. The Pope, with a retinue of cardinals, and a long train of wor- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 125 shippers, approaches, and commences the demolition of the door by striking on it three times with a silver hammer. They then pass into the nave, and up to the altar of the cathedral, by an entrance through which the majority of them never went before nor will again. Suppose, dear children, the throne of grace was like this holy doorway,―available only at intervals of long years. How then could we, as our text directs, in every thing make our prayers unto the Lord. With so many wants and troubles as we are having each day, what a mighty burden of them we should collect, before the favored time arrived for us to present our case before our Heavenly Father. Perhaps some of you have never thought what a privilege it is to pray as often as you wish, and for whatever you need. When Zinzendorf, who founded the sect of the Moravians, was a boy, he loved his Saviour so well, and had such simple faith in him, that he used to write little notes to him, telling him all his affairs, and throw them out of the window, believing that Jesus came and found them. Pray much, dear children, but believe more for vehement believing is better than vehement praying. Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try; Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The Majesty on high." PRAYER BETTER THAN LAWSUITS. When Samuel Harris of Virginia began to preach, his soul was so absorbed in the work that he neg- lected to attend to the duties of this life. Finding upon a time that it was absolutely necessary that he should provide more grain for his family than he had raised upon his farm, he called upon a man who owed him a sum of money, and told him that he would be glad to receive it. The man replied, "I have no money by me, and cannot oblige you." Harris said, “I want the money to purchase wheat for my family, and as you have raised a good crop of wheat, I will take that article of you, instead of money, at current price." The man answered, "I have other uses for my wheat, and cannot let you have it.” 'How, then, do you intend to pay me?" "I never intend to pay you until you sue me, and you may begin your suit as soon as you please." Mr. Harris left him meditating: said he to himself, "What shall I do? Must I leave preaching, and attend to a vexatious lawsuit? Perhaps a thousand souls may perish in the meantime for want of hearing of Jesus. No! I will not." "Well, what will you do for yourself? " "Why, this will I do; I will sue him at the court of Heaven." Having resolved what to do, he turned aside into a wood, and on his knees 126. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 127 laid the matter before the Lord. Mr. Harris felt an evidence of the divine favor; he felt, to use his own expressive language, that Jesus would become bonds- man for the man, and see that he was paid, if he went on preaching. Mr. Harris arose from prayer, resolved to hold the man no longer debtor, since Jesus had assumed the payment. He therefore wrote a receipt in full of all accounts against the man, and dating it in the woods where he had prayed, signed it with his own name. Going the next day by the man's house, on his way to meeting, he gave the receipt to a servant, directing him to give it to his master. On his return from meeting, the man hailed him, and demanded what he meant by the receipt he had sent him in the morning. Mr. Harris replied, "I meant just as I wrote." "But you know, sir, I have never paid you.” "True," said Harris, "and I know also that you never would unless I sued you. But, sir, I sued you at the Court of Heaven, and Jesus entered bail for you, and has agreed to pay me; I have therefore given you a discharge." But I insist upon it," said the man, shall not be left so." " matters "I am well satisfied," answered Harris, "Jesus will not fail me. I leave you to settle the account with him at another day. Farewell." This operated so effectually on the man's con- science, that in a few days he discharged the debt. } ¡ ONE VERSE.. A very little girl went to a newly organized Sun- day School, having learned one verse to repeat. By some mistake she was entirely overlooked; perhaps no one thought she had a lesson, and yet she had walked two miles to attend school. She, of course, went home grieved at being neglected. However, she came again the next Sunday, and the minister observing her said, 66 My little girl, have you come to Sunday School?” “Yes, sir, I came last Sunday, but no one heard me say my lesson." “Well, my child, come to me, and I will hear your lesson. I love little children. What is your verse ? ” "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."" MAKE ME FRUITFUL. My gracious Lord, I would not be Like the unfruitful barren tree; I would not still from year to year, Without some sign of grace appear. Oh! let thy Spirit from on high With life divine my soul supply, That I beneath my Father's care, May heavenly fruit to Jesus bear. In faith, and love, and knowledge grow, With all thy plants of grace below, And then from earth to glory rise, To blossom fair in Paradise. 128 THE LIGHT HOUSE. Those who sail on the waters, far out of sight of land, are guided by the compass and the chart, and by the positions of the sun and moon and stars. But when they come nearer to the shore, where rocks lie hidden, and where shoals and reefs and sand bars abound, they need to know exactly where they are, and this not only in the calm, sunny day, but in the dark and stormy night. Then they have the light-house standing out on some lofty promontory or sea girt rock; it sheds its radiance far and wide, and guides the mariner to his post. 'Nearly all light-houses differ in appearance. Some have one light, some two, some three; some have lights arranged one above another; some have differ- ent colored lights; some have revolving lights; some 129 130 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. have steady lights; some lights that shine only a few moments at a time. All differ; all are described in a book called "The Coast Pilot," and so when the sailor sees a light, he can tell just where he is on the coast. God's word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path, and we are to be lights in a darkened world. Let your light so shine, that men seeing your good works may glorify your Father in heaven. We are to hold forth the word of life, and thus be light- bearers, and shine as lights in our generation. Let us see to it that our light does not burn dim. When the light-house lantern is suffered to go out, vessels drift on the rocks and are lost, with all on board. So when christians do not do their duty, many may go wrong and perish through their neg- lect. May God save us from thus beguiling men to their destruction. Let us shine as lights in the world. "A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW." There once lived on the sea-coast a very poor wid- ow; her husband had been shipwrecked, and she had lost all her little ones but one son, a bright, noble boy, whom she hoped would be her comfort in old age. One morning he sailed out in his boat upon the ocean; the weather was fair, the sea calm; all seemed to promise a beautiful day. But near the close of the afternoon the mother saw dark clouds rising, the sea STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 131 foamed, great waves came rolling in, she knew that a severe tempest was coming. With anxious heart she looked out upon the water, nothing but water could she see, no boat was in sight, and she returned heavy- hearted to her work. Night came on, the rain poured in torrents, the waves beat against the shore. Yet she knew there was one who could hear her voice above the noise of the waters, and she prayed to the widow's God that he would save her son; then she listened for his foot- step, but he came not. Again she prayed, “Oh God, protect my son, and bring him safely home!" God, who always hears the prayers of his children and an- swers them in some way, put it into the heart of that mother to light a candle, the only one she had, and place it in the window. Far out on the ocean this glimmering light was seen, and toward it the sailor boy steered his little bark, sailed safely over the high waves, and he was home again, because he followed the light in the win- dow. Little reader, do you know there is a light in the window for you? Jesus died for just such little ones, and he is to you the same as the light was to the boy on the ocean. If you look you may live; so come, little wanderer from the fold of Christ, steer your bark homeward, keep your eye fixed on Christ, the light. Do not leave the straight course; prayer will keep you right, then you will at last gain the heaven- ly shore and have eternal life in the kingdom of God. A LETTER TO JOHNNIE. MY DEAR JOHNNIE:—I should like quite well to see you, and put my arm over your neck, and have a nice talk with you, as we used to do sometimes. I should look in your face to see if the country air had browned your skin, or made your cheeks more ruddy. Then I should have a good many questions to ask. I should want to know how you liked being away from father and mother and little brother; and if you had a pleasant room all to yourself, and kept it as neatly as the children of the Orphan Institution at Bristol, Eng., do theirs; who have little cupboards for their playthings, where the girls keep their doll- babies, and the boys their marbles and balls and tops and hoops; and nice closets for their clothes, so when they go to bed at night they put them in, placing their shoes together, laying their stockings over them, and folding their trowsers and jackets in a pile, and putting a cap at the top of each little heap; so in the morning there is no confusion among the boys, hunting after shoes, tumbling things topsy turvey to find a missing stocking, or getting late at the school-room because they forgot where they tossed their hats the night before, when they came in from play. Then I should ask you if you had been strawber- rying in the fields, if you picked checkerberries in the woods, and gathered the pretty trailing partridge 132 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 133 vine from under the moss, and did the hundred things you planned to do before you went away ? I should wish to know who you played with; if they were well-behaved boys? And if you worked some, to make yourself useful to the friends who are so kind to you? And then, Johnnie, I should want to look straight in your eyes, and ask you if you were trying hard every day to be a good boy? if you were quiet, and respectful, and obedient to those older than your- self? if you always told the exact truth? if you learned a verse from the Bible every day, and each night and morning knelt down and prayed? Sometimes it requires a great deal of courage to do right among strangers, and when we get away from home influences we are inclined to shirk duties we were accustomed to perform. I recently heard a good minister tell a story about himself, when he was a boy. Himself and another lad named Harry went into the country to spend their vacation. At home he had been taught to kneel down and pray before going to rest. When bed-time came, Harry undressed and jumped into bed without a word of prayer. Heeman knew he ought to pray as he usually did, but he thought Harry would laugh at him, and his courage failed; so he blew out the light, and got into bed too, thinking for once it would do just as well to pray in bed, without exposing himself to the shame 134 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. of Harry's ridicule. But he did not feel right; he could neither pray nor go to sleep, but kept thinking how mean and cowardly he was acting. So after a little time he got up. "What are you doing there?” said Harry. "I am going to pray, as I do at home," was the reply. "That is all right, Heeman," said Harry. "After that," said Mr. L-, "I found it perfectly easy to pray with Harry every night during our visit." Perhaps, Johnnie, you have heard something the school-days of Tom Brown, the Englishman. Well, Tom was taught to pray at home. He was very proud, and thought a good deal of his manli- ness; but when he come to go away to school, with all his boasted courage, he dare not pray before his room-mates. By and by there joined the school a pale, fragile- built young man, who looked every inch a coward. When the hour for retirement arrived, the new pupil took his Bible, and spent a season in reading from it. Some were disposed to make fun, but he took no notice of their raillery, and when he had finished reading bowed down to pray, the only one of more than a hundred in the room. One of them took off his shoe and threw it at the courageous youth. But Tom Brown said he would not have that, so he picked up the shoe, and bade STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 135 them be quiet. The next night, Tom Brown and a dozen others knelt and prayed before going to bed. The next night a dozen more joined the praying company. And before many days nearly all of those hundred room-mates, who had been accustomed to ask God's blessing before they came to the school, were found losing their cowardice and returning to their former habits. You see, dear Johnnie, what a noble thing it is to maintain our uprightness wherever we may be. And how much good one weak boy even may do by his thful example. No one can serve the Lord well without an effort. And the more we try to do right, the more hindrances Satan will place in our way. But a firm resistance will always make the Devil flee from us, for he is a great coward himself, and can only conquer greater cowards. Have you heard of the youth Carey, who sat on his cobbler's bench and planned an extensive mission to India? And after revolving the scheme in his mind for more than two years, when he had applied to the people of his town for aid, and they, doubting the expediency of his enterprise, furnished him but sixty dollars, he went forth trusting in God, and the little seed in weakness sown, flourished and became like Lebanon. But what I wanted to tell you was, that this boy Carey broke his leg climbing a cherry tree, and was kept sick three months. The first thing he did after 136 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. he became well was to go and climb that same tree, to see if he could do it without falling. Leg-breaking on cherry trees is a dangerous op- gration, but there is a good lesson in the story. If you attempt to surmount some evil habit of your heart, and fail in the endeavor, and commit a greater sin, and fall lower, try it over again; and by the grace of Christ you will in time be able to master your sinful propensities. And now I am going to close this long letter with a short sermon in a few words. My text is the whole New Testament, and this is the sermon: Make an effort every day with yourself, to do good to some one, to please the Lord Jesus. Your affectionate AUNT L. LADY GREENHILL. A TRUE STORY. In the times of the Covenanters there lived a very pious lady, Mrs. Renton of Greenhill, or Lady Green- hill, as she was called, according to the fashion of the day. She had cast in her lot with God's persecuted people, and was therefore an object of suspicion and hatred to the rulers of the land. Several times had she been warned by those in authority who were friendly to her, that unless she ceased to attend the hill-side preachings, and to help and comfort those of God's servants who were fleeing from the face of their STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 137 ? enemies, she would be treated as a criminal, and be tried before the courts of law,- might be imprisoned for life in one of the fearful dungeons where so many of the covenanters had ended their days,- might be beheaded on the scaffold, or even shot by the soldiers in front of her own house, as had happened to others as innocent of all crime as herself. But all such warnings were in vain. Lady Greenhill feared God more than man. She could not stay away from the congregation of saints, because she believed that God had commanded her to worship him in the solemn assembly of his people wherever that might be found; and neither could she refuse to do any thing that God gave her the means of doing for the help and comfort of such of his servants as he sent in her way. So she was soon made aware that warrants had been sent out against her, and that she might at any mo- ment be seized in her own house and carried off to prison. She was a woman of a quiet and strong spirit, who, trusting herself wholly to the Lord, went calmly on in the way he pointed out to her, without much concerning herself as to whither it might lead. One fine harvest day Lady Greenhill happened to be alone with her younger children in the house. The weather had been changeable for some weeks, and as the corn was all ripe, they were anxions to get as much of it cut down and carried in as possible on that fine, sunny day. Lady Greenhill had, therefore, sent out all her servants to help in the field, while 138 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. she herself undertook to do their work at home. In a plain cotton gown, and with one of her maiden's large aprons girded round her, she was in the kitch- en, preparing dinner to send out to the reapers, when one of her children ran in from the court to tell her that a party of soldiers were riding up to the front door; and at the same moment a furious knocking and shouting for admission told that they had fairly arrived. / Lady Greenhill saw in a moment the full danger of her position. Some soldiers were already riding round to the back of the house, so that all escape in that direction was cut off; and she could think of no place within doors, where she could have the least hope of hiding herself with any success. "The Lord must do as he sees fit," she said to her- self very quietly. "I cannot displease him by telling a lie. They will ask me who I am, and I must either tell a lie or hold my tongue, or speak the exact truth." And knowing that delay would be of no use, but might only serve to irritate the men more, she walked quietly to the front door, and threw it open. "Is Lady Greenhill within?" demanded Claver- house, for it was that fierce commander himself who was at the head of the troop. I am Lady Greenhill," she said, and stood grave. calm and undisturbed, that they might lay hands on her if they chose. She was a woman of a stately presence, and in the STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 139 quiet, grave dignity of her manner, as she stood be- fore them, they might have seen the truth, and recog- nized the lady under homely dress. But God had blinded their eyes that they should not see. Claver- house never doubted that it was one of the servant- maids that he saw before him, and supposed that she called herself Lady Greenhill on purpose to deceive them. With terrible curses he told her that he was not to be so taken in, and charged her on pain of death to show him where Lady Greenhill was. "If I am not Lady Greenhill," she answered with the same quietness, "I can show you no other. You can search the house for yourselves;" and she drew back to give them admission. They went through the whole house, searching every corner, tearing down the hangings, stabbing the feather-beds and matresses with their swords, and even taking the trouble to turn up some planks that felt loose under their feet, and that might, as they fancied, conceal some trap-door or hiding-place. While they were thus occupied Lady Greenhill re- mained in the kitchen, attending to her cooking and other household duties as diligently as if she had no interest in what was going on,- although all the time, as you will well believe, she was committing her way unto the Lord, and strengthening her heart to trust wholly in him. When Claverhouse and his soldiers had satisfied themselves that Lady Greenhill was really not hid- 140 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. den in the house, they went down into the kitchen, and surrounding the supposed maid-servant, threat- ened her with instant death if she did not lead them at once to where Lady Greenhill was. To all their threats she answered only, as she had done before,- "If you will not believe that I am Lady Greenhill, I can show you no other;" and she remained so per- fectly calm and composed, that Claverhouse at last believed that she really did not know where her mis- tress lay hid. He demanded food for himself and his men. She set it before them; and while they were eating and drinking, she went about her work, and through the house, in such a quiet, regular, busi- ness-like way, that he was in the end completely de- ceived, and rode off with his soldiers, leaving her in peace. Another time this same Lady Greenhill experi- enced an equally wonderful deliverance. The sol- diers had ridden up to the house without her having any warning of their approach; and as there was no means of her getting away, one of the servants ad- vised her to hide herself in a kind of lumber-room, in which there were many pieces of old furniture. These the servants arranged so as to leave a space behind for the lady to lie down in. Lady Greenhill did not at all believe that this would prove a safe hiding-place. But no other was at hand; and think- ing it her duty to use every lawful means of safety, she lay quietly down, feeling that whether the Lord STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 141 saved her this time or not, the matter would most surely be ordered according to his will, and would therefore be ordered for the best for her. "The Lord reigneth," she said to herself, as she heard the soldiers going up and down stairs, ransack- ing every room in the house. "The Lord reigneth, and into his hands do I put my spirit;" and on that sure resting-place her heart lay down and was at peace. The soldiers went about their work very roughly, knocking the furniture about, and doing much more mischief than was at all called for. The officer in command was a quiet, gentlemanly man. Although an Englishman, and an Episcopalian, he had a good deal of sympathy for the Covenanters whom he was commanded to pursue. He did not wish, however, to bring upon himself the charge of lukewarmness in the discharge of his duty, and did not, therefore, check the fierceness and hardness of his men so de- cidedly as he sometimes felt inclined to do. On the present occasion he took up his stand in Lady Green- hill's private sitting-room, and allowed his troopers to conduct the search through the house as they thought best. In due time this sitting-room came to be searched in turn. A handsome, richly-carved chest stood near the fire-place, and at once drew the attention of the soldiers. Oh, come,” cried one, "this is the lady's charter chest. Let us open it; we shall perhaps find some 142 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. money or plate here. At any rate, if we get hold of her family papers we can do her a mischief she will not soon forget." He had advanced to the chest, and was thowing back the heavy lid, when Lady Greenhill's little daughter, a girl of ten years old, indignant at the liberties he took with her mother's furniture, gave him a push, which caused it to fall down on his hand. Made furious by the pain, and swearing at her, he drew his sword, and would have pursued her as she fled out of the room, had not his officer stepped for- ward and interfered. 66 Hold, sir," he cried, “with that child you have nothing to do. I like her spirit. For her sake, and also because you have already done so much useless mischief, I shall leave the old lady alone for this time, let her be where she may." And without heeding the remonstrances of his troopers, he ordered them to mount, and rode away, leaving Lady Greenhill safe. THE LAST DAY. In the last book of the Bible we find these words: I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." A truly good man, named Scott, who has written much to explain the word of God, says of this text, that it STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 143 contains one of the grandest thoughts ever spoken in words; and that the finest sayings of heathen writers compared with it are low and mean. It is, too, the most solemn thought on which we can dwell the thought of the Almighty God coming to judge the world. They are truly wise who think of that day. The blessed Spirit of God much desires that it should be in our minds. He says: "Oh! that they were wise that they would consider their latter end!" Let us yield to his command; it will bring a blessing on our own souls, and even be of use to others. In a letter which a good father once wrote to his friend, this seems to have been the case. “A short time since,” he says, “I dreamed that the last day was come. I saw the Judge on his great white throne, and all nations stood before him. My wife and I were on the right hand; but I could not see my children. I said: 'I cannot bear this, I must go and seek them.' I went to the left hand of the Judge, and there I found them all standing in the greatest despair. As soon as they saw me, they took hold of me and cried: O father! we will never part.' I said: 'My dear children, I am come to try if I can get you out of this awful place.' So I took them all with me; but when we came near the Judge, I thought he cast an angry look, and said: 'What do thy chil- dren with thee now? They would not take thy warn- ing when on earth, and shall not share with thee the crown in heaven. Depart, ye cursed.' At these words I awoke, bathed in tears. 144 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "A little while after, as we were all sitting togeth- er, on a Sunday evening, I told them of my dream. No sooner did I begin, than first one, then another, and then all, burst into tears, and God made them feel the evil of their hearts. Five of them now re- joice in God their Saviour, and I think that the Lord is at work on the hearts of the other two, so that I doubt not he will give them also to my prayers.” Those who belong to the same family should never cease to pray for each other, that all may be made meet to stand before the Lord at that great day. None will be fit to meet the Judge then, who do not, while on earth, incline their ear to those who would teach them in the good and the right way the way of sorrow for sin, and of faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many good parents are now trying to lead their little ones in this holy way, and if they now hear, their souls shall live; but if death comes before they obey their parents' voice, it will be too late at the last day to look to them for help. None who are then found at the left hand of the Judge can ever reach his right hand; but must stand where they are, to hear that most dreadful sound: "Depart ye cursed!” THE REINDEER. The reindeer is an animal inhabiting the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and America. Its name comes from a Greek word, Tarandus, a Reindeer, and means a "running animal." Its color is of a reddish brown, varying at different seasons, some- times in the winter being nearly white. The rein- deer is extremely valuable and useful to the inhab- itants of those northern countries; and a herd of them constitutes their chief earthly possessions. To a Laplander his reindeer is meat and drink and clothing. Its flesh, fresh killed, furnishes him with daily food, or dried, lasts him for the winter; its blood is frozen and used in broth; its entrails, 145 146 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. too, are eaten; its fat, boiled and salted, is used for an oil'; its legs are boiled, and the marrow taken out to make a dish of great delicacy, which they usually set before their missionary; and its young new horns that are produced once a year are cut off when about a finger in length and eaten like sausages. From the reindeer's milk, the Laps make butter and cheese, and a kind of liquor. They mix the milk with berries, and thicken it in bladders and preserve it for months; or freeze it in birchen bowls, to be kept as an especial dish to be placed before missionaries or others who are willing to receive honor and magnificence. Its skin supplies them with clothing, so tough that a ball cannot penetrate it, and so thickly covered with fur as to be impervious to wet and cold. They are very fleet on foot, and remarkable for their en- durance. A Laplander fastened in his sledge by cords of reindeer hide, with gloves and shoes and cap and robe of reindeer für, guiding his brave little animal by a single rein of reindeer leather, will per- form a journey of one hundred and fifty miles in nineteen hours. There is in the palace of Doting- holm, in Sweden, the picture of a reindeer who car- ried an officer with important despatches eight hun- dred miles in forty-eight hours, and dropped dead when the feat was performed. Reindeer have wonderful hoofs, which open and close as if with a spring, which enable them to travel STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 147 easily over the snow and ice. They have over their eyelids a skin covering, through which they peep in the hard snows, without being obliged to close their eyes entirely—a singular instance of God's benev- olent care in providing for the wants of all his crea- tures, according to their circumstances of living. The reindeer supports itself, living principally on a lichen or moss which it roots after and digs from under the snow, thus giving very little trouble to its owner for all the benefit it is to him. The history of the Reindeer gives us an illustra- tion of God's wise and kind providence in adapting such an animal to such a climate, by which it can so abundantly supply the necessities of the poor inhab- itants of the cold, desolate regions of the North. A LESSON FOR PRIDE. Susie Brown was really a smart girl, but she was so well aware of her own cleverness that it was dis- gusting to hear her talk. She was constantly prais- ing herself. Her mother was grieved at this feeling of conceit, and resolved to give her a lesson in hu- mility. She took her to walk one day by the sea- shore. They found a Medusa which had been landed high on the beach by the waves. "What a senseless mass of jelly!" said Susie, giving it a thrust with her foot, "I could make a better fish myself if I tried." 148 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. "But look!" said her mother, pointing to a little cove where some medusa were floating their pearly, translucent forms, opening and closing their delicate fimbriæ, as they sailed along. "Can you swim as gracefully as that?” Why, no indeed, mamma! but I did not think sun-fish were so pretty alive.” As they passed on Susie exclaimed, "What a hor- rid great yellow spider! I wonder what he's good for!" "I think he is handsome. He is making a pretty trap to catch the sunbeams. You study geometry at school; do you think you could plan anything equal to that wonderful little web ?” (6 Perhaps I could not.” A squirrel, with tail high in air, crossed their path, and ran up a tree. "Can you climb like that, Susan ? " "No, mother." Now a bird darted by. "In studying navigation have you ever learned to fly like that?” "No, mother.' "9 "The other day you were boasting how nicely you embroidered with wools. Could you make a little bird's nest as neat as this?" "No, mamma,” replied Susan, with a blush, mor- tified at finding there were so many things she could not do. In their walk they came to a farm-yard. Out STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 149 strutted a peacock, spreading his gaudy feathers, and raising his " pride." Do you know how to parade your good qualities like that, Susie ? " Susan dropped her head and was silent a moment. Then she said, "It is very foolish, mother, for me to tell so much about myself, when the little birds, and the fishes, and the ugly spiders, who have never been taught, and never boast, can do so many things which I can not. I will imitate something better than a vain peacock." "I am glad to hear you say this; and whenever you are tempted to think or speak too highly of yourself, remember it is God who makes us differ one from another, and what talents we possess we received from him: therefore we have no right to glory as though we received them not.” WHAT A GOOD CHILD LOVES. I love the Lamb who died for me, I love his little lamb to be ; I love the Bible, where I find How good my Saviour was, and kind. I love his people and their ways, I love with them to pray and praise; I love the Father and the Son, I love the Spirit he sent down; I love to think the time will come When I shall be with him at home. POUTER PIGEONS. The Pouter or Powter is a large kind of domestic pigeon or dove, which has a way of inflating or swell- ing out its crop with air, until it becomes so large that the pigeon looks almost like a pear standing upon its stem, and its head and eyes can hardly be seen, being hidden behind its swollen crop. In this puffed up condition it stands on chimney tops, and sometimes becomes so clumsy and top-heavy that it tumbles over and falls down the chimney, showing that a haughty spirit goeth before a fall. There are a good many persons who are afflicted with a somewhat similar disease. Out in the West- ern States it is called "The Big Head," and it is a very troublesome infirmity. Such persons are "puffed up;" they think themselves to be something when they are nothing. Knowledge, we are told, "puffeth up," but love "buildeth up" or edifieth. Many persons who think they know a great deal make great fools of them- selves in trying to display their knowledge. They are like bubbles, all shine and no substance; and when the bubble is pricked they collapse with a sound, and vanish away in empty air. It takes longer to build a house than it does to inflate a balloon. It takes longer to build up a good solid character than it does to puff up a poor, igno- 150 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 151 } rant, silly head with a few pennyworths of cheap knowledge. Love builds up, and builds solid; mere knowledge without love makes men proud, foolish and vain,-it puffs them up. The great lesson for us to learn in this world is how small we are, and how little we know. If all that a man knows was written in one book, and all he does not know in another, the book containing what he did not know would be a great deal the biggest. How little do any or all of us know. Isaac Newton, whom men called a great scholar, said he was like a child on the sea-shore who had picked up only a few little pebbles among the multitudes around. If we try to depend on our knowledge we shall fail. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. Many a man has puffed himself up like a Pouter, and only tumbled over and fell down for his pains. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Let us be meek and lowly and gentle and loving. Let us not try to be great, but rather to be good; and we shall find that real goodness is true greatness. Let us not try to do great things, but let us try to do little things just right. Let us not try to show people that we are greater and wiser than they are; but let us strive, by acts of constant, gentle, earnest love, to show that we have the love that buildeth up, rather than the empty knowledge that only makes us feel 152 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. bigger without being any better. The frog that tried to be as big as an ox spoiled himself in the operation. Many children, young and old, have done the same. Remember that every man, no matter how igno- rant he may seem to be, knows something that you do not, and probably never will know; and then remember that God knows more, how much more, than all of us. How ignorant we are! We can learn something from every person we may meet with, and O how much we may learn from God who knows all things. May He make us truly wise. THE PRAISE OF MEN. "They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Pride has been called "the never failing vice of fools." Every close observer of human nature has perceived that the desire to be approbated of men is one of the reigning principles of the natural heart. Every boy and girl have many times in their lives performed acts simply from the motive of having some one think well of them. This is wrong. The Lord has told us that he received "not honor from men." And Paul also has said that if he sought to please men, he could not be the servant of Christ. This does not mean that we are not to do things which will be pleasing to our friends; but that the motive which actuates us should always be the desire 1 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 153 to be approved of God. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men." It is not safe either to think that if we please others we please God also; for sometimes friends want us to do things which the Bible forbids. An incident in the early life of Franklin will not only show the children how foolish it is to love the praise of men, but will also illustrate what a poor; pay-master pride is. "When I was a little boy (says Franklin), I re- member one cold winter's morning I was accosted by a smiling man with an axe on his shoulder: 'My pretty boy,' said he, 'has your father a grind- stone ?' 'Yes, sir,' said I. 'You are a fine little fellow; will you let me grind my axe upon it?' Pleased with his compliment of 'fine little fellow,' I answered, 'O yes, sir, it's down in the shop.' 'And will you, my man,' said he, patting me on the head, ‘get a little hot water ? ' How could I refuse? I ran, and soon brought a kettle full. How old are you, and what's your name?' continued he, without waiting for a reply; 'I am sure you are one of the finest lads that I have ever seen. Will you just turn a few minutes for me?' Tickled with the flattery, like a fool I went to work, and bitterly did I rue the day. It was a new 154 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. axe, and I toiled and tugged till I was almost tired to death. The school-bell rang, and I could not get away: my hands were blistered, and it was not half ground. At length, however, the axe was sharpened, and the man turned to me with, 'Now, you little rascal, you've played truant; scud to school, or you'll rue it.' Alas! thought I, it was hard enough to turn a grindstone this cold day, but now to be called a little rascal' was too much. It sank deep in my mind, and often have I thought of it since. When I see a man flattering the people, and making professions. of attachment, I think, Look out, people; that fellow would set you turning grindstones.' "" Flattery is one of Satan's agents. Of him that gives it, it is said, "He spreadeth a snare for his neighbor's feet." Prov. xxix. 5. While to such as accept it Jesus puts the solemn question, "How can ye believe which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" John v. 44. Whoever turns grindstones for the Devil, for compliments, will find it tiresome, unprof- itable work: while he who labors for Jesus, regard- less of frown or favor, will receive peace now, and perpetual prosperity hereafter. CONTENTMENT. The apostle Paul said he had learned in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content. But a good many boys and girls seem to forget that it is not so much the circumstances themselves, as the temper with which they receive those circumstances, that makes them happy or miserable. And so Tom wishes his father was a store-keeper, like Willie's, that he need not have to work on a farm, but could stay in the shop and see all the people who came to buy. And Annie thinks if her mother was only like Hattie's, and would let her go when she pleased, she should be perfectly happy. While somebody else wants a father that will let him have a game of marbles, and go to the "shows" sometimes; or a mother that won't be cross washing days, and knows how to make dresses such as the other girls wear. When the truth is, Tom is lazy, and Annie inclined to be romping and disobedient, and the some-bodies have not lived half as long as their fathers and mothers, and do not know as well as God does what is best for them. I had this discontented spirit once, dear children. My constant friend at school for nearly ten years was a warm-hearted girl named Lulie. She had dashing brothers, who travelled and made her pres- ents. She wore pearl ear-rings from New York, and 155 156 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. curious bracelets from South America, and wrought dresses from India and California. I coveted her position, and many times wished I could have changed my lot for hers. She has grown to be a woman, and is a professional singer. The gay brothers have been dishonest and dissipated, and Lulie does not love the Lord. They have spent money for trifles, but have not purchased the pearl of great price. My heavenly Father in greater mercy has taught me the vanity of all such worldly possessions, and now I would not exchange places with Lulie for worlds. A certain minister who had earnestly prayed that he might be taught submission to God's will, was directed to a place where he would find an instructor. On arriving at the place he found a man in ordinary attire, whom he wised good morning. "I never had a bad morning," was the response. "That is strange. I hope you may always be so fortunate." I never was unfortunate," replied the man. "I wish you may always be as happy." “I never was unhappy,” said he. "I cannot understand you. I wish you would explain yourself," said the minister. "That I will gladly do. I said I never had a bad morning; for every morning, even if I am pinched with hunger and cold, I see much to be grateful for, that the Lord permits me to live at all. So whether it rains or snows, whether the weather be calm or STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 157 tempestuous, I am still thankful to God, and never have a joyless morning. You wished I might always be fortunate; but I can never be unfortunate, for nothing befalls me but what God has ordered in wis- dom, and all things work together for good to them that love him. You hoped I should always be as happy; but I can never be otherwise, for my will is resigned to his will, knowing that he shall guide me with his counsel to the end. "I never complained of my condition but once, when my feet were bare, and I had no money to buy shoes; but shortly meeting a man without feet, I saw my condition was so much better that I became con- tented with my lot." This is the right principle. Happiness is inside, not outside; and when we can be humble enough to see that we do not deserve half the mercies we al- ready receive, and wise enough to compare our bless- ings with the deprivations of others, rather than the reverse, we shall always be contented and happy, and find rejoicing in sorrow, riches in poverty, and abundant goodness in every event that befalls us. HONESTY. Be honest in all things. Avoid the least sug- gestions of temptation. What you are ashamed to have men see you do, be afraid to act before God. If you find a penny which some member of your family has dropped, inquire about it, and return it. Should you pick up a pair of gloves or a handker- chief on the street, or in a church, don't throw them away again if they seem worthless, nor slyly put them in your pocket if valuable, but hang them up where they may be seen and claimed. "He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in. much." I have read of a poor Scotch boy who, crossing the moor one night which led to his home, discovered a velvet purse containing a sum of money. Thinking because he had found it he might claim it as his own, the lad appropriated the gold. Shortly the purse was advertised by a noble lady, and so con- science-stricken was the boy that he gave himself no rest till he had earned the spent money and restored it to the lady, with a full confession of his wrong. An ingenious shopkeeper once devised a plan for proving the honesty of his customers. Procuring a bright half sovereign, he secured it with a little gum just underneath the glass cover of the show-case on the counter. It was truly lamentable to notice the 158 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 159 amount of hidden vice this innocent coin brought to light. One lady would come into the store and care- lessly lay her handkerchief on the case, in hope of securing the prize as she gathered it up. Another would indifferently drop her muff on the glass just over the gold. Some one else would wish to exam- ine goods on a high shelf behind the case, thus seek- ing to divert the attention of the salesman; while another with more boldness would pour the whole contents of her purse over the sovereign. And the mortification depicted on each countenance as they discovered that the object of their covetousness lay beneath their reach, was indeed painful to behold. Dishonesty is ashamed of its own shadow; but the upright soul may look in the eye of God. AN INGENIOUS JUDGE.-Three brothers were heirs to their father's oxen, seventeen in number. By the Mahommedan law of inheritance, the eldest brother was entitled to one half, the second to a third, and the youngest to one ninth of the whole number. As the animals could not be divided without destroying them, the subject was referred to the commander of the faithful, Ali. The caliph added an ox to the number and then made the division. This gave each brother more than his share, the eldest nine, the next six, and the youngest two,-and still left to the prince the ox which he had added. THE HEAVENLY FOOTMAN. Footman in the heavenly race, Fellow sinner saved by grace, If indeed thou hast begun In the heavenly way to run, Many a cloud will gather o'er thee, Many a trial lies before thee. Many a wild along the way Waits to tempt thy foot astray; Many a foe will seem thy friend, Many a fear thy steps attend; Many a hill whose rugged road Will not let thee bear thy load- Save the inseparable cross- Thou must climb, and leave thy dross. But there waiteth at the end, Such a home, and such a friend, Such a crown, and such a throne, Such a harp of heavenly tone, Such companions, such employ, Such a world of hallowed joy. And thou hast along the way Many a promise for thy stay, Strength and comfort from above, Heavenly hope, and heavenly love; Footman in this heavenly race, Trust in God, and speed thy pace. 160 THE DRUNKARD AND THE MONKEYS. A rich drunkard kept two monkeys for his amuse- ment. One day as he looked into his dining-room, he found that his monkeys had mounted the table, and were freely helping themselves to the wine which their master and his guests had left,-all the while jabbering and gesticulating as they had seen the company do. In a short time they exhibited all the signs of drunken men. First they were merry, and jumped about, but soon got to fighting on the floor, and tearing one another's hair. The drunkard stood and watched them in aston- ishment. "Is this a picture of myself?" he exclaimed. "Do these brutes rebuke me ?" The scene so im- pressed him, that he determined never to drink another drop. And from that day he became a tem- perate and happy man. Boys, beware of wine. Touch it not; taste it not; handle it not. "Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging." It bringeth woe, and sorrow, and wrath ; 161 162 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. it maketh red eyes, and wounds without cause. It "leadeth men of understanding to fall;" and "at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Misery and rags are the inheritance of the drunkard in life, and when he dieth, the legacy which he leaves behind will read like this :— THE WILL OF A DRUNKARD. I die a wretched sinner; and I leave to the world a worthless reputation, a wicked example, and a memory that is only fit to perish. I leave to my parents sorrow and bitterness of soul all the days of their lives. I leave to my brothers and sisters shame and grief, and the reproach of their acquaintances. I leave to my wife a widowed and broken heart, and a life of lonely struggling with want and suffering. I leave to my children a tainted name, a ruined position, pitiful ignorance, and the mortifying recol- lection of a father who by his life disgraced human- ity, and at his premature death joined the great com- pany of those who are never to enter the kingdom of God. "I'D RATHER CARRY IT.” Going from market one day, we observed a very small boy, who gave no special indication, by dress or face, of other than ordinary training in life, car- rying a basket that was so heavy as nearly to bear him down beneath it. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 163 We observed, "My boy, you have a heavy load." "Yes," said he, "but I'd rather carry it than that mother should." The remark was one of a nature we love to hear; but we do not know that we should have thought enough of it to have chronicled it, had we not seen across the street a highly accomplished young lady playing the piano, while her mother was washing the windows. HONESTY THE BEST POLICY. This ancient proverb has been so repeatedly proved by incidents in daily life, that it has at last come to be regarded as a fixed truth. Putting it in another form, an English writer has said that "The most suc- cessful diplomatist is one perfectly honest." The following story is an illustration of the gain of up- rightness; A farmer went to the Earl Fitzwilliam and repre- sented to him that his crop of wheat had been seri- ously injured in consequence of the Earl's hounds having frequently met there during the winter to hunt. “Well, my friend,” replied his lordship, "I am aware that we have frequently met in your field,´and done considerable injury. If you can estimate the loss you have sustained, I will repay you.” The farmer replied, that having anticipated the consideration of his lordship, himself and a friend 164 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. had computed the damage, and as the young wheat seemed quite destroyed, they thought £50 would not more than cover the loss. The Earl willingly paid the sum, and the farmer went away. At the end of the harvest he again presented himself to the Earl. "I am come, my lord," said he, "respecting the field of wheat which adjoins your wood." Recollecting the circumstances, his lordship in- quired if he did not pay him sufficient to make up his loss ? "Yes, my lord," answered the honest farmer, "for I find that instead of sustaining any loss, my crop is benefited, for in those places where it was most trampled by the dogs and horses, it has grown most luxuriantly. Therefore I have brought the £50 to return to you." "This is noble!" exclaimed the aged Earl. "This is as it should be between man and man." Then after making some inquiries concerning the farmer's family, he went into another room, and returning with a check for £100, presented it to the man, re- marking, "Here, my friend, keep this for your oldest son, and when he is of age, give it to him, and tell him the circumstances which produced it.” Thus goodness becomes its own rewarder. Its blessings return upon the head of him that performed it; while the influence of an upright act is felt even in generations to come. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 165 1 A MOTHER CONSTANT IN PRAYER. In the vicinity of a large city, there lived a pious mother who had the happiness of seeing her children in very early life brought to the knowledge of the truth. A clergyman, thinking that there might be something peculiar in her mode of giving instruction, which rendered it so effectual, visited her, and in- quired respecting the manner in which she discharged the duties of a mother in educating her children. The woman replied that she did not know that she had been more faithful than any Christian mother would be in the religious instruction of her children. After a little conversation, she said: "While my children were infants on my lap, as I clothed them in the morning, I asked my Heavenly Father to clothe them with the robe of Christ's righteousness; as I provided them food, I prayed that God would feed their souls with the bread of heaven, and give them to drink of the water of life; when I have prepared them for the house of God, I have pleaded that their bodies might be fit temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in; when they left me for the week-day school, I followed their infant footsteps with a prayer that their path through life might be like that of the just, which shines more and more unto the perfect day; and as I committed them to the rest of the night, the silent breathing of my soul has been, that their heavenly Father would take them to his embrace, and fold them in his paternal arms." 166 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. ADERS. FLETCHER AND HIS NEPHEW. The Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of England, had a very wild and profligate nephew in the army, a man who had been dismissed from the Sardinian service for very bad conduct. He had engaged in two or three duels, and had spent all his money in vice and folly. The wicked youth waited one day on his eldest uncle, Gen. de Gons, and presenting a loaded pistol, threatened to shoot him unless he would that moment advance him five hundred crowns. The General, though a brave man, well knew what a desperate fel- low he had to deal with, and gave a draft for the money, at the same time speaking freely to him on his conduct. The young man rode off in high spir- its with his ill-gotten money. In the evening, passing the door of his younger uncle, Mr. Fletcher, he called on him and began with informing him what Gen. de Gons had done ; and, as a proof, showed a draft under de Gons' own hand. Mr. Fletcher took the draft from his nephew, and looked at him with surprise. Then, after some remarks, putting it in his pocket, said, "It strikes me, young man, that you have possessed yourself of this note by some wrong method, and, in conscience, I cannot return it but with my brother's knowledge and approbation." "The nephew's pistol was in a moment at his breast. "My life," replied Mr. Fletcher, with per- fect calmness, "is secure in the protection of an Al- STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 167 mighty power; nor will he suffer it to be the forfeit of my integrity and your rashness.” This firmness drew from the nephew the observa- tion, "That his uncle, though an old soldier, was more afraid of death than his brother." "Afraid of death!" rejoined Mr. Fletcher, "do you think I have been twenty-five years a minister of the Lord of life, to be afraid of death now? No, sir, it is for you to be afraid of death. You are a game- ster and a cheat; yet call yourself a gentleman! You are the seducer of female innocence; and still say you are a gentleman! You are a duellist; and for this you style yourself a man of honor! Look there, sir," pointing to the heavens, "the broad eye of Heaven is fixed upon us. Tremble in the presence of your Maker, who can in a moment kill your body, and forever punish your soul in hell.” The unhappy young prodigal turned pale, and trembled with fear and rage. He still threatened his uncle with instant death. Fletcher, though thus threatened, gave no alarm, sought for no weapon, and attempted not to escape. He calmly conversed with his profligate relative, and at length perceiving him to be affected addressed him in the kindest lan- guage, till he fairly disarmed and subdued him. He would not return his brother's draft; but en- gaged to procure for the young man some immediate relief. He then prayed for him: and after fulfilling his promise of assistance, parted with him, with 168 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. much good advice on one side, and many fair promi- ses on the other. GEORGE IV. AND THE EARL OF RODEN. King George being at one time in Ireland, sent to the Earl of Roden that he was coming to breakfast with him. He accordingly came, bringing two or three of the nobility with him, and arrived just as his lordship had assembled his family for domestic worship. The Earl himself met the King at the door, and welcoming him with every expression of respect, seated him, with the gentlemen accompa- nying him, in the parlor. He then said to the King, "Your majesty will not doubt but I feel highly hon- ored by this visit, but there is a duty I have not dis- charged this morning, which I owe to the King of kings, that of performing domestic worship, and your majesty will be kind enough to excuse me while I retire with my family and attend to it." "Certainly," was the reply, "and I will accompany you." Accordingly the royal guest arose, followed the Earl, and stationing himself in an old arm-chair by the fire, remained during devotions. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 169 A CURIOUS CLOCK. In the magnificent cathedral dedicated to St. John, at Lyons in France, is a most curious clock, justly celebrated for its surprising mechanism. It is placed in an aisle near the choir. On the top stands a cock, which every three hours claps its wings and crows thrice. In a gallery underneath, a door opens on one side, out of which comes the Virgin Mary, and from a door on the other side, the angel Gabriel, who meets and salutes her; at the same time a door opens in the alcove part, out of which descends a dove on the Virgin's head; after which they return in again; and from a door in the middle comes a figure of a reverend father, lifting up his hands and giving a benediction to the spectators. The days of the week are represented by seven figures, each of which takes its place in a niche on the morning of the day it rep- resents, and continues there until midnight. But perhaps the greatest curiosity is an oval plate, marked with the minutes of the hour, which are exactly pointed to by a hand reaching the circumference, which insensibly dilates and contracts itself during its revolution. This clock was contrived by Nicholas Lipp, a na- tive of Basil, who finished it in 1596, when he was about thirty years of age. After which, it is said, that he had his eyes put out by order of the magis- trates of Lyons, that he might never be able to per- form the like again. But it is not certain that this story is true. 170 品 ​ABOUT BIRDS. The Swift tribe, to which belongs the White Swal- low, represented in our picture, are the lightest of all birds, designed to be almost constantly upon the wing. They will fly the astonishing distance of one hundred and fifty miles in an hour. By clinging with its claws, and pressing its tail firmly against the wall, as you see in the engraving, the swallow will easily plaster its nest upon a perpendicular sur- face, without any projection to stand upon. There is a species of Swift, called the Esculent Swallow, found on the seacoast of China. From the foam of the sea, dashing against the rocks, it gathers a cer- tain glutinous matter, out of which it constructs its nest. These nests, which are built in the awful cav- erns of the rocks, are esteemed by epicureans as great delicacies; and many thousands of pounds of them, collected at imminent danger, are annually ex- ported by the Chinese. The swallows come among us early in the spring, and leave by September. Whence they come, and whither they go, is not certainly known. Some nat- uralists have supposed they hid themselves under the ice, and remained at the bottom of lakes and rivers during the winter; or buried themselves in sand banks; while others think they migrate for a great distance to other and warmer climates, as it not un- frequently occurs that when a vessel is many, many miles out upon the ocean, a flock of swallows, hali 171. 172 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. starved, and weary from long flight, will alight upon the rigging for rest. The Storks are also birds of migration, and so regular and punctual are they in their periods of passage, that the Arabs and Persians often arrange their almanacs on their movements. The prophet Jeremiah contrasts the instinctive and obedient wis- dom of this bird with the censurable ignorance and unfaithfulness of God's ancient people:-"Yea, the stork in heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord." Jer. viii. 7. The Stork is held in singular veneration by some nations. The Romans called it a pious bird, and it was employed as a symbol on the medal of such princes as deserved the title of Pius. It manifests an unusual degree of affection for its young. So the Greeks made a law which received its name from the stork, compelling children to maintain their parents when they became old and infirm. The Hebrews also respected this bird, and called it Chasidah, which signifies pity, or mercy, from the kindness which the young show to the old birds. The Turks call it brother, and believe it will go wherever their religion does. In the town of Fez, on the coast of Barbary, there is a magnificent hospital, supported by liberal funds, and built expressly for taking care of sick storks, STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 173 and burying them when they die. This strange in- stitution had its origin in the very ancient Egyptian belief that storks are human beings in that shape, who assume this form and annually visit their own country. The Sparrow Hawk is very fond of mice. There is a story told of one who was observed one morning to dart to the ground and seize a mouse, which he carried to a neighboring fence, when, after examin- ing it attentively for some time, he left it, and pounced upon another, which he immediately bore away to his nest. The person who observed the circumstance, being curious to know why it rejected the first mouse, went to the fence, and on looking at it found it to be covered with lice, and much ema- ciated. Here was truly prudent forethought. The miserable mouse would have filled his nest with ver- min, and was not fit to eat. The Tailor bird, a little creature about three and a half inches long, derives its name from the skill with which it sews its nest together. It selects a large leaf, or two, if one is not big enough to make -a cradle for its little ones, and having neatly joined the edges together, sews them through and through till they are quite firmly united. The needle which it uses is its fine sharp bill; and for thread it gathers fibres from the cotton plant, which it draws out and spins with its delicate feet. This is very wonderful, and another of the million tokens which we have of our heavenly Father's divine skill and goodness. 174 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. The Danes are too humane to allow the wicked practice of bird-killing, which so many boys find amusement in; so they construct a wooden bird, cov- ered with pieces of iron, differently numbered, and let the boys shoot at this. He who hits a piece of iron marked with the highest number wins a prize, and is entitled to be called Bird King the whole year. In Palestine, which is a very dry country, the poor birds often suffer for want of water. The people take advantage of this need, and pour water on the rocks to attract them. The thirsty birds, flying through the air, see the little pools of water on the rocks, and coming down to drink from them, before they are aware they are caught in snares. The Apteryx, of New Zealand, is perhaps the most extraordinary of birds, for it has neither wings nor tail. This strange creature is almost a yard in length, from the tip of its bill to the end of the body. It has only a few seemingly useless feathers in place of wings. The skins of these birds are highly valued by the chiefs, who use them to make dresses, aud employ the feathers for ornament. And there is the graceful silent Swan, whose gen- tle beauty adorns our lakes and rivers. "Have you heard the tale they tell of the Swan, The snow-white bird of the lake? It noiselessly floats on the silvery wave, It silently sits on the brake- For it saves its song till the close of life, And then, in the calm, still even, STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 175 'Mid the golden rays of the setting sun, It sings as it soars to heaven: And the blessed notes fall back from the skies- 'Tis its only song, for in singing it dies." MR. HUME AND THE LITTLE GIRL. "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies."-PSA. 8: 2. Hume, the notorious infidel, the philosopher, and author of the "History of England," was at one time dining at the house of an intimate friend. In the course of the conversation after dinner, Hume made an assertion which caused a gentleman of the com- pany to remark: "If you can entertain such senti- ments as those, you certainly are what the world gives you credit for being—an infidel.” A little girl, whom the philosopher had often no- ticed, and with whom he was a great favorite, was, at the time, playing in the room unnoticed. On hearing the gentleman's remark, she left the room. and went to her mother, and asked : "Mamma, what is an infidel ?" "An infidel, my dear," said her mother, "why do you ask such a question? An infidel is so fearful a character that I hardly know how to answer you." "Do tell me, mamma," responded the little girl, "I must know what an infidel is." Her mother replied: "An infidel, my child, is a person who believes there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no hereafter." 176 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. Some time after this, Hume again went to the house of his friend. On being introduced into the parlor, he found no one there but his favorite little girl. On going up to her and putting his arms around her to kiss her as he had been accustomed to do, the child shrank from his touch. "What is the matter, my dear ?" said Mr. Hume, “Do I hurt you ?” "No, you do not hurt me," said the child, "but I cannot kiss you, or play with you any more.” "Why not, my little girl ?" "Because you are an infidel," she answered. "An infidel!" he exclaimed, "what is that?" "One who believes there is no God, no heaven, or hell, or hereafter." "And are you not sorry for me, my dear ?" asked the philosopher, in astonishment. "Yes, I am very sorry," solemnly replied the child, "and I pray for you." "Do you, indeed! And what do you say?” "I say, O God, teach this man that Thou art,” answered the simple, believing child. Mr. Hume afterwards confessed that he was so rebuked by the innocent seriousness of this little one, that her words caused him some sleepless nights and days of sharp mental conflict. Yet it is to be mourned over that he stifled the convictions of his conscience, and still continued in his course of unbe- lief. 1 A NOBLE TURKISH JUDGE. A case was presented for trial before a young Cadi, or magistrate of Smyrna. The facts in the case were these:-A poor man claimed a house which a rich man usurped. The poor plaintiff held his deeds and documents to prove his right; but the rich defendant had provided a number of witnesses to invalidate his title. In order to support his evi- dence more effectually, he presented the Cadi with a bag containing five hundred ducats. When the day arrived for hearing the cause, the poor man told his story, and produced his writings, but could not support his case by any witnesses; the other rested his whole case on his witnesses, and his opponent's defect in law, who could produce 177 178 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. none; he therefore urged the Judge to give sentence in his favor. The young Turk examined the papers, and calmly heard the case through. Then without giving heed to the pressing solicitations of the rich claimant to decide the cause for him, he quietly drew out from under the cushion of the sofa on which he sat, the bag of ducats which had been given him as a bribe, and very gravely said to the dishonest usurper, "You have been much mistaken in the suit, for if the poor man can produce no witnesses in confirma- tion of his right, I myself can produce five hundred.” Thus saying, he threw away the bag with reproach and disgust, and decreed the house to the poor plaintiff. This noble and disinterested conduct of the Turkish Judge shines all the more brightly when contrasted with the selfishness and injustice of the Roman Felix, who held the Apostle Paul in bonds, waiting for a bribe to release him. I WANT TO GET ON. Four school-boys lay on a sunny bank by the river side, one holiday afternoon, talking together about what they meant to be, and to do, when they grew up to be men. "I want to get on,” cried Archibald, "I want to be a merchant, a great merchant like my father. I want to make no end of money, till I am as rich and richer than that old codger that built the great house 1 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 179 on the hill. I want to be the richest man and the greatest merchant in all England. And then I'll build such a house, and have such carriages, and horses, and furniture, and plate as never were seen. "" "And I want to get on," cried Frederick, a bold, handsome boy; "I want to be the bravest soldier, the best general that ever lived. I want to be com- mander-in-chief, and to do wonderful things in bat- tle. I want people to speak of me as the man that never was beaten. I want to have the whole nation praising me as the saviour of my country, to have every one feeling that when I am at the head of the army, victory is secure." "And I want to get on," cried the grave, thought- ful John, "to be the first scholar that ever lived. I want to learn all that is to be learned, to know all that is to be known, to master all languages, to un- derstand thoroughly all sciences." The fourth lad, Philip, said nothing, but one could see by his eager face, and the flashing light in his dark eye, that he too had his dreams. He did not speak them out, for his companions would not have understood them. But in his heart he was crying out, "I want to get on," and that more earnestly than any of the others. "I want to get on in holiness," was his wish. "1 want to get on in loving him more, and growing more like him." The lads grew up to be men. Archibald was taken 180 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. early from school and put into his father's counting- house. He was a clever lad, and as his whole heart was set upon learning his business, and spared no pains nor trouble to master all its details, there was nothing wonderful in his getting on, even as well as he desired. As junior partner first, as head of the firm after his father's early death, he soon made him- self a name among his brother merchants. "He's a clever fellow," said one, "and never lets a chance escape him.” "He is long headed and prudent,” said another "and never tries a chance that does not succeed. Nothing ever goes wrong in his house. He is mak- ing money as fast as he can look at it.” make money, faster than While he was still com- got on to the position And so indeed he did even he could have hoped. paratively a young man, he the boy had longed for-got on to be one of the rich- est men, and one of the first merchants in Europe. And then- And then he was stricken down with fever, and died in the prime of life, and went away from his wealth, his fame, his houses, and lands,-away to that country where they are of no more account than is now the worm that we tread under our feet- where such things are never more thought of, or brought to mind, except in so far as that each man has to give in an account of the use he has made of them while they were still his. STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 181 cer. Frederick too had his wish. His father had inter- est with the rulers of the land, and got for him a commission as soon as he was old enough to hold it. We were at war in those days, and Frederick's regi- ment was engaged in almost every battle. He was a brave and gallant, as well as cool and prudent offi- And while he was still an ensign, he succeeded in attracting the attention of his superiors. Rapidly he rose from rank to rank, winning medal after med- al, honor after honor, until at last he found himself considered the greatest commander of his age, at the head of his country's armies, and by victory after victory, winning for her honor and renown all over the world. And then- And then when at the height of his glory, in the very middle of his greatest victories, he received his death wound. He lived but for a few minutes, and in the moment before death, opening his eyes, and looking in a kind of agony on his companions around him, he cried out,- "I have lived for glory, and for nothing else. And now I must leave it all behind me." John kept steadily to his design of being a great scholar, and succeeded in getting his heart's desire. At school and at college, he distinguished himself far above any of his companions. He had a private fortune sufficient for all his wants. He therefore en- whole time and tered no profession, but gave his thoughts to his beloved learning. He never married, 182 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. went little into society, but shutting himself up in his library, or leaving it only to seek fresh opportu- nities of increasing his stores, he thought of nothing and cared for nothing but how to get on in all kinds of worldly knowledge. And he did get on. Far and wide was he known as one of the greatest schol- ars that ever lived. Learned men of all countries came to see him, or wrote to ask for advice or infor- mation from him. Almost all known languages, liv- ing or dead, was he master of. All kinds of science did he study and thoroughly understand. And then--- And then his brain gave way under the work he put upon it. For many years he lived on, a misera- ble, helpless imbecile, and died at last without ever having come to know that knowledge that is above all price, that knowledge with which alone after death he would have to do, the knowledge of his God and his Judge. And Philip, like the rest, labored with all his heart to get that which his soul desired, even growth in holiness, increased likeness to his Saviour, increased conformity to his will. Not Archibald after wealth, not Frederick after glory, not John after knowledge, panted, and strove, and worked, and watched, as did Philip after holiness. Diligent in the use of every means, instant in prayer, standing day and night on his watchtower against all sin, no year passed over his head without finding him nearer that which he longed for, even that perfection in holiness which the STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. 183 saints in glory alone can have. A doctor by pro- fession, he lived in one of our manufacturing towns, where he was as a blessing from God to all, both rich and poor. He labored as hard as any of his companions to excel in his profession; but only that he might the more fully glorify God, and serve his fellow-men. His whole life was spent in doing good, in seeking the best good of those with whom he had to do. Fully were his labors acknowledged and rewarded even in this life. Far and wide was he known and loved; and when, partly from his hard labor, partly from the unwholesome places he spent so many of his days among, illness came upon him, and death carried him home before he was at all an old man. He was followed to his grave by such a crowd of true mourners, as not the richest man on earth, the greatest hero, the most renowned sage ever had to weep for them. So he died-to rest till he shall be awakened, and welcomed to his Father's house, to the presence of that Saviour on whom his heart was set all his life long, to the company of those blessed angels who went with him all his journey through, who often cheered his heart, and refreshed his spirit, and who shall then rejoice to stand by his side, and hear his Master's "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." My dear boys who read this story, I am sure that all of you have your dreams of what you are to be, 184 STORIES FOR LITTLE READERS. and do through life. Perhaps none of you are so ambitious, or aim so high as these four lads. But you all want to get on. I am sure you have all a wish and intention to be some day rich, or wise, or great, or good. It is right that you should have this wish. It is right that each of you, whatever may be your business in life, should aim to be better at that business than any other man. It is right that you should strive with all your might to be the very first in your profession, and trade, whatever it may be, even though it were only to be the best ploughman, or the best gardener that was ever known. But while I would have you aim as high, and work as hard as ever you can, even with all the powers God has given you for this end, I would also have you ask continually what the end is to be,-how much of all you strive for, you can carry with you into the kingdom of God. THE END. 812H 279 OG • wils UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 812H279 OG Hastings, H. L. 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