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diff --git a/old/54803-0.txt b/old/54803-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 82cee47..0000000 --- a/old/54803-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4897 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Playing Santa Claus and Other Christmas -Tales, by Sarah P. (Sarah Parsons) Doughty - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Playing Santa Claus and Other Christmas Tales - - -Author: Sarah P. (Sarah Parsons) Doughty - - - -Release Date: May 28, 2017 [eBook #54803] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLAYING SANTA CLAUS AND OTHER -CHRISTMAS TALES*** - - -E-text prepared by MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team -(http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 54803-h.htm or 54803-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54803/54803-h/54803-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54803/54803-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/playingsantaclau00dougiala - - -Transcriber’s note: - - Italicized text is presented by surrounding the text with - _underscores_. - - - - - -[Illustration: book cover] - - -PLAYING SANTA CLAUS, -AND -Other Christmas Tales. - - -[Illustration: drawing of children playing] - - -by - -MRS. S. P. DOUGHTY. - - - - - - -Boston: -Nichols and Noyes. -1865. - -Boston: -Printed by Charles H. Crosby, -Nos. 11 & 13, Water Street. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - Page. - - PLAYING SANTA CLAUS 7 - NOTHING TO GIVE 19 - WILLIE’S GOLD DOLLAR 30 - THE THANKSGIVING PARTY 40 - A CHRISTMAS STORY 48 - APRIL FOOL’S DAY 61 - THE CHRISTMAS TREE 70 - A DREAM 77 - NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT 87 - THE LITTLE MATCH BOY 104 - I FORGOT 123 - THE SILVER MORNING AND GOLDEN DAY 151 - TWO SIDES TO A STORY 167 - - - - - PREFACE. - - -A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you, dear children! This -little volume comes to you as a holiday gift, and in its pages we have -endeavored to show you that true and lasting happiness can be found only -in doing good to others. Let the lesson sink deep into your hearts. Even -the least among you can do much good. Look around you. Do not wait for -some great opportunity to offer, but with willing hearts and busy hands -perform the most trifling acts of usefulness to others. Continue to do -this throughout the year, and we will promise you that when another New -Year dawns upon the earth, you will look back with rejoicing, giving -thanks to your Heavenly Father that you have found that true happiness -which can never be taken from you. - - - - - PLAYING SANTA CLAUS. - - -“Wake up, wake up, Emma!” said little Caroline Meredith, as she gently -shook her sister very early one winter’s morning; “I have something very -pleasant to tell you.” - -“What is it, Carrie?” answered the sleepy little girl, as she rubbed her -eyes, and tried to comply with her sister’s request to “wake up.” - -“Do you remember what day it is, Emma? To-morrow will be Christmas; and -this evening will be Christmas Eve.” - -“O Carrie, so it will!” exclaimed Emma, now fully awake; “and we shall -hang up our stockings; and, oh, what beautiful things Santa Claus will -bring us!” - -“And what fine times we shall have to-morrow!” continued Caroline. “Aunt -Margaret and all our cousins are coming to dine with us.” - -“Oh, it will be delightful!” replied Emma. “We can show them our -presents, and perhaps they will bring theirs to show to us; and we shall -play so happily together!” - -“And, you know, I have made a needle-book to give Aunt Margaret; and you -have a work-bag for her,” added Caroline. “I am sure she will be -pleased.” - -“I know she will,” said Emma; “and father and mother will be pleased -with the little presents we have got for them. I like to give things -away; don’t you, Carrie?” - -“Yes, very much,” replied Carrie. “I should like to be Santa Claus.” - -“O Carrie! what a funny Santa Claus you would make!” exclaimed Emma; and -both of the little girls laughed heartily at the idea. - -“How I would come tumbling down the chimney, with my bag full of toys!” -continued Caroline. “I would fill your stocking just as full as it could -be, Emma.” - -Emma laughed again; and then she was silent for a few moments, and -looked very thoughtful. - -“Do you think Santa Claus fills the poor children’s stockings, Carrie?” -she asked. - -Carrie looked grave also, as she replied,— - -“I don’t know, Emma. _I_ would fill their stockings if _I_ were Santa -Claus. But, Emma,” she continued, after a short pause, “you know there -is not really any such person as Santa Claus. It is our father and -mother, and other kind friends, who fill our stockings.” - -“I know that, Carrie; and this makes me afraid that the _poor_ children -do not have their stockings filled; because, you know, their friends -have no money to spend for toys and pretty presents. Don’t you think it -would be a good plan for every rich child to be a Santa Claus to some -poor child?” - -“O, yes, Emma!” exclaimed Carrie; “I think it would be a _beautiful_ -plan. How came you to think of it?” - -“I do not know, Carrie; but I suppose the good angels whispered it to -me. You know mother says that all our good thoughts are from the -angels.” - -“Well, that is a good thought, I am sure,” replied Carrie; “and I am -very glad that our father is rich, so that we can play Santa Claus. And -then it is very pleasant to live in such a handsome house, and have such -nice clothes and playthings; don’t you think so, Emma?” - -“Yes, I do,” answered Emma; “and I always feel sorry for poor little -children, who have none of these good things. You know little Mary and -Ellen Drayton? Their mother is very poor.” - -“I know she is, Emma; but she always seems cheerful, and the little -girls look very happy. How neat and clean they always look!” - -“Yes, Carrie: but their clothes are very old and patched; and they have -very few books, and no playthings but one rag baby. When mother sent me -there, the other day, to ask Mrs. Drayton about doing some work for her, -I stopped a few moments to talk to the little girls.” - -“Let us be their Santa Claus, if mamma is willing,” said Carrie. “I have -got two little gold dollars that I will spend for them.” - -“And I have two more,” added Emma. “I meant to have bought a large doll; -but I would rather give the money to Mary and Ellen.” - -The little girls now hastened to dress themselves, that they might go to -their mother, and tell her of their plan, and ask her consent to spend -their money in the way that they proposed. - -Mrs. Meredith was quite willing, and, indeed, she was much pleased that -her little daughters had thought of a way in which they might do good -and give pleasure to others; and she said that she would add two more -gold dollars to theirs, and would go with them to buy the gifts for Mary -and Ellen. - -After breakfast was over, she talked a little more with them on the -subject, and told them that it would not be best to spend all the money -for books and toys, because the little girls were much in need of warm -clothing, and it would be doing them more good to buy some things of -that kind. - -Caroline and Emma were willing to do as their mother thought best; but -they begged her to buy a _few_ books and toys, because they thought it -would make the little girls so happy. They felt very happy to find that -six dollars would buy so many things. There was not only a pretty dress -for each little girl, and some warm stockings and shoes, but also a -dress for Mrs. Drayton; and there was still money enough left for two -pretty books, two dolls, and some other toys. To these, Mrs. Meredith -proposed that Caroline and Emma should add some of their own books and -playthings, which they could well spare; and she said that she had -several articles, which would be useful to Mrs. Drayton, which she would -put with those they had bought. - -The little girls could hardly contain their delight when they saw all -these nice presents packed in one large basket, and another one filled -with tea, sugar, pies, cakes, a roasted chicken, and some other articles -of food, that Mrs. Drayton and her children might have a good -Christmas-dinner. - -Carrie and Emma were so happy that they could hardly wait for evening, -that they might play “Santa Claus,” as they called it; and they quite -forgot to think about the pretty presents which they hoped to receive -themselves, because they were so busy in thinking of the joy that Mary -and Ellen would feel when the baskets should be unpacked. - -“Let us try to be patient, and wait until the girls have gone to bed,” -said Carrie. “Mrs. Drayton sits up very late to sew; and, if mother will -let John carry the baskets for us, we will go and knock softly at the -door, and give her the things, and ask her to put some of the toys into -Mary’s and Ellen’s stockings. How surprised they will be in the -morning!” - -Emma readily agreed to this plan; and, as the house was very near, Mrs. -Meredith was quite willing that they should do so. - -We will now leave them to pass a happy afternoon in assisting their -mother in some preparations which she wished to make for the -entertainment of the young friends whom they expected to spend Christmas -with them, while we take a peep into Mrs. Drayton’s neat but humble -dwelling. - -Mary and Ellen were seated close by the side of their mother, who was -sewing busily on a pair of coarse overalls,—the last of a dozen pairs -which she had engaged to make. Mary had learned to sew neatly enough to -be of some assistance, and her mother had just given her leave to hem -the bottom of one of the legs of the overalls; while little Ellen was -reading aloud from a story-book, which had been given to her at school -as a reward for her good behavior. The story which she was reading was a -Christmas-tale; and it told of a happy family of children who gathered -around the beautiful Christmas-tree. - -When Ellen had finished her story, she laid down the book, and seemed -very thoughtful for a few minutes. Presently she looked up in her -mother’s face, and said, very gently,— - -“Will you please to let us hang up our stockings to-night, dear mother? -This is Christmas Eve. I should like a pretty tree like the one in the -story; but it will be just as pleasant to hang up our stockings. Don’t -you remember the pretty things that we found in them one year, Mary, a -good while ago, when father lived in this world with us?” - -Mrs. Drayton’s eyes filled with tears; and Mary whispered,— - -“Hush, Ellen! you grieve poor mother.” - -“No, dear, she does not grieve me,” replied Mrs. Drayton, making an -effort to speak calmly and cheerfully. “You may hang up your stockings, -my children; but you must remember that mother has no ‘pretty things’ to -put in them. The weather is now becoming very cold, and you are in need -of many articles of clothing, which I am working hard to try to procure -for you. I shall take these overalls home this evening; and, if I get -the money which I have earned by making them, I will try to put -something useful into each stocking: but you must not expect to find -toys or candies.” - -Mary’s countenance brightened as she exclaimed, “O mother! I shall like -a new apron better than a toy; for I have worn mine so long, and it -looks so very shabby.” - -But little Ellen looked sorrowful as she said, “I wish you could buy -just one stick of candy, mother,—only one; half for Mary, and half for -me.” - -“Well, dear, I will try to do so, as it is for Christmas,” answered Mrs. -Drayton; and, at this reply, Ellen’s face was also bright with smiles. - -Evening soon came: and, as their mother was obliged to leave them alone -while she carried home the work which she had finished, the little girls -concluded to hang up their stockings, and go to bed early, so that they -need not feel lonely while she was gone. They were soon fast asleep, and -dreaming of the new aprons and the stick of candy which they were to -receive the next morning. - -When Mrs. Drayton promised her children these things, she did not feel -the least doubt that she should be able to keep her promise; for the man -for whom she had been working always paid her very punctually, and on -this night he would owe her nearly two dollars. Of this sum, a large -portion must be spent for food and fuel; but there would be enough left -to buy an apron for each of the little girls, and the stick of candy -which Ellen so much desired. - -“Poor children! it is not often that I can spend even one penny for -them, except to purchase what is really necessary,” thought Mrs. -Drayton, as she entered the shop where she was to leave the work. To her -great disappointment, there was no one there but a young lad, who told -her that his employer had gone away for the evening. - -“You can leave the work,” he added, “and call again any day after -Christmas. Mr. Williams will settle with you.” - -Mrs. Drayton’s heart was very sad as she silently placed her bundle upon -the counter and left the shop. She had but six cents in the world; and -this must be spent for a loaf of bread, or her little ones would suffer -for food on Christmas Day, when they expected to be so happy. - -Her eyes filled with tears as she passed the groups of merry children, -and heard them talking so eagerly of the expected pleasures of the next -day, and thought of the empty stockings which her own darlings would -find when they awoke in the morning. But she was a good woman; and she -tried hard to put away these sad feelings, and to believe that the Lord -would do what was best for her and for her children. - -“I cannot buy the aprons,” she said: “but I will take a loaf of bread -which was baked yesterday,—that will cost but five cents; and, with the -penny which remains, I will buy the stick of candy. That will comfort -them a little.” - -She went into the baker’s shop for the loaf; and the woman in -attendance, who had often seen her before with her two little girls, -handed her two cakes, saying kindly,— - -“Your children will like a cake for Christmas.” - -Mrs. Drayton thanked her, and walked homeward with a lighter step; for -this would be such a treat to the little ones, that they would almost -forget the promised aprons. - -The last penny was spent for the candy; and she gently opened her own -door, and entered noiselessly, lest she should disturb the sleeping -children. - -“It will be but a poor Christmas,” she said, as she opened a small -cupboard, and, placing the bread in its accustomed place, looked around -upon the scanty portion of food which it contained; “but we shall not -really suffer from cold or hunger, and this should make us very -thankful.” - -As she said this, she heard a low knock at the door; and, hastening to -open it, she was surprised to find Caroline and Emma Meredith, -accompanied by John bearing two large baskets. - -“Have Mary and Ellen gone to bed?” inquired Carrie, eagerly. - -“Yes, they are both asleep, miss; but I can awaken them, if you wish.” - -“Oh, no!” was the reply; “we wanted them to be asleep, and so we waited -as long as we could. We are playing Santa Claus; and we have brought -some things for you and the girls.” - -“And we want you to put some in their stockings,” continued Emma. “Did -they hang them up?” - -“They did, indeed, my dear young lady; but I little thought that they -would be filled. I spent my last penny for one stick of candy to divide -between them.” - -“Oh! there is plenty of candy, and toys also, in the baskets,” replied -Emma. “Fill the stockings full; and tell Mary and Ellen that Santa Claus -sent them.” - -Mrs. Drayton’s heart was almost too full to speak as they wished her -good-night; and she could not help weeping with joy as she unpacked the -baskets, and saw all the good and useful things which they contained. - -The stockings were soon loaded with toys and books, and papers of cakes -and candies; the cupboard was well filled with articles of food; while -the new clothes were spread upon a chair, where the children could see -them when they awoke. - -You may be sure it was a merry Christmas morning both at Mrs. Meredith’s -and Mrs. Drayton’s. - -Carrie and Emma were full of joy, not only from receiving a variety of -beautiful presents, but from the thought of the pleasure which Mary and -Ellen would feel when they found their stockings so well filled. And -breakfast had not long been over, when the two little girls came hand in -hand, with sparkling eyes and hearts full of gratitude, to thank the -young ladies for their kindness. - -“Oh, we never saw so many pretty things!” exclaimed Ellen. “Mary and I -are so glad, and we thank you so much! Mamma cried when she saw us jump -and laugh so much when we awoke this morning; but she said she cried -because she was glad too, and not because she was sorry.” - -“Yes, she was _very, very_ glad,” said Mary. “We needed all the things -very much; and poor mamma had no money.” - -Mrs. Meredith and Carrie and Emma felt very happy as they listened to -these expressions of the children’s gratitude and joy; and, when Mr. -Meredith heard the story, he said he would send a load of wood and coal -to Mrs. Drayton, that he might have his share in “playing Santa Claus.” - - - - - NOTHING TO GIVE. - - -“A happy New Year to you, Lottie!” exclaimed a bright-eyed and neatly -dressed little girl, as she tapped at the door of a small apartment in -the second story of a large dwelling-house which was occupied by a -number of poor families. - -The summons was answered, and the greeting returned, by Lottie herself, -who proved to be a pleasant-looking little girl of about the same age as -the visitor. - -“A happy New Year to you, Miss Emily!” she replied; “and thank you for -calling to see me so early in the morning. Will you walk in?” - -“No, thank you, Lottie: for I have several places to go to; and I must -be at home in good season. Mamma says that this is the day for the -gentlemen to make calls, and the ladies must stay at home; but she gave -me leave to call upon you, and three or four other little girls who go -to sabbath school with me. Here is a New-Year’s gift for you, Lottie. Is -your mother well?” - -“Oh! thank you, Miss Emily. Yes, my mother is quite well. She will be -here in a few moments.” - -“I will call and see her another time. Good morning, Lottie!” And, with -a kind smile, Emily ran quickly down the steep stairs; and, in another -moment, Lottie heard the street-door close after her. - -The “New-Year’s gift” which she had handed to Lottie was contained in -quite a large and neatly folded parcel; and the little girl hastened to -close the door of the room, that she might examine it at her leisure. - -She placed it upon the table, and untied the string; but still she did -not feel quite willing to unfold the paper until her mother returned to -share her pleasure. - -She had not long to wait: for, just then, a step was heard in the entry; -and her mother entered, with a small basket on her arm, containing a few -articles of daily food which she had been purchasing. - -The paper was quickly unfolded now; and a neat hood and shawl, with a -pair of warm mittens, soon appeared. - -Lottie clapped her hands with delight. “Miss Emily brought them to me, -mother!” she exclaimed. “Is she not very kind? Now I can go to sabbath -school all winter; for my frock and shoes are quite good yet: but my -thin cape and my straw hat were very cold.” - -“They were indeed, my child,” replied Mrs. Wilton (Lottie’s mother); -“and I am very grateful to the young lady and her mother for their -kindness in sending you these warm garments. This is a happy New-Year’s -Day for you.” - -Very happy did Lottie feel, and bright as the sunshine was her face, for -some minutes: but then a shadow seemed to come over her glad spirit; -and, after a little thought, she said, almost sadly, “How very happy -Miss Emily must be to be able to give such nice presents to poor people, -mother! How I wish I had something to give!” - -“And have you nothing, Lottie?” asked Mrs. Wilton, kindly. - -“Nothing at all, mother. You know we are so poor, that we need -everything we have for ourselves.” - -“We are, indeed, quite poor, Lottie; but that need not prevent us from -giving to others. You cannot go, as Miss Emily does, and carry warm -garments to those who are poorer than yourself; but still you may do -much for their happiness and comfort. Give them the love that is in your -little heart; and you will soon find that you have no reason to say that -you have nothing to give.” - -“But love will not do them any good, mother,” persisted the little girl. -“I want to be able to make New-Year’s gifts to those who are in want.” - -“Give them your love, and you will often find that the gifts will come -of themselves, Lottie,” replied her mother. And, as she spoke, Lottie’s -countenance brightened; and she exclaimed,— - -“O mother! I know what I can do, if you are willing. I can give a part -of my breakfast to those two little children up in the third story; for -you know they are a great deal poorer than we are.” - -“I think they are, Lottie; and you may divide your breakfast with them, -if you please. And here is a New-Year’s cake that the baker gave me for -you when I went for the loaf of bread.” - -“Such a nice large one! and so pretty!” said Lottie, as she looked -admiringly at the figures upon the cake. “I can give a part of this to -the children, mother.” - -“Very well: now eat your own bread, and then you may go with theirs. So -you will have the pleasure of making one New-Year’s gift this pleasant -morning; and if you keep your heart filled with love, and all your -servants busy in helping you to make this love useful to others, you -will find many opportunities to make gifts before the day passes away.” - -“My _servants_, mother!” exclaimed Lottie. “Who are they?” - -Mrs. Wilton smiled, as she replied, “You have two bright eyes, Lottie; -and, with these, you can look around for those who are in need of your -assistance. You have two quick ears with which to hear their wants; and -you have hands and feet which will cheerfully work at your bidding.” - -The shadow had quite gone from Lottie’s heart and from her face: for she -now began to see clearly what her mother meant; and she had already -formed many little plans for doing good. - -A large portion of her own breakfast and of the tempting cake were given -to the hungry little children; and their joy, and the eagerness with -which they ate the food, showed that the gift was a most acceptable one. - -The next hour was passed in assisting her mother: for, as Lottie justly -observed, “Mother ought to have a New-Year’s gift as well as other -people;” and the only thing she could give her would be a little more -help than usual. - -Mrs. Wilton was glad to find her room in neat order, and to be able to -sit down to her sewing at an early hour: for she was making some -garments, which she had promised to have completed within a few days; -and, if they were ready at the promised time, she was to receive extra -pay. - -“And now, mother,” said Lottie, “I will take the basket, and try to find -some bits of wood around the new buildings. Perhaps I shall find some -one to whom I can make a New-Year’s gift while I am gone.” - -“I have no doubt you will, dear,” replied Mrs. Wilton; and Lottie ran -merrily away, while her mother employed her hands very busily, and her -thoughts no less so: for New-Year’s Day brings many recollections,—both -sad and pleasant memories of years gone by. Mrs. Wilton thought of the -time when she had a kind husband to love and care for her, and when a -fine manly boy, some two or three years older than Lottie, was among her -household treasures. Both husband and son had long since passed to the -spiritual world; and the poor widow was now obliged to work hard for the -support of herself and her little girl. But she had a cheerful, -uncomplaining spirit; and she trusted with full faith in our heavenly -Father, who never forsakes the widow and the fatherless. - -The little that she could earn with her needle was not always sufficient -to supply them with necessary comforts; but, as yet, they had never -suffered from cold or hunger. Often their most pressing wants, as in the -case of Lottie’s hood and shawl, had been unexpectedly supplied; and, -thankfully acknowledging the Providence which watched over them, the -widow worked away steadily and cheerfully, with little anxiety for the -future. - -But we must accompany little Lottie, as she bounded merrily along, with -her basket in her hand. The first object which attracted her attention, -when she reached the new buildings, was an old woman, bent nearly double -with infirmity and age, slowly endeavoring to gather a few of the chips -which lay scattered upon the ground. - -“Poor old creature!” thought Lottie, pityingly, “I have a great mind to -fill her basket before I do my own. There are not many children picking -up chips this morning: and I shall find enough, I dare say.” - -“I will fill your basket for you,” she said kindly, as she drew near to -the woman; “and you can sit on these boards, and rest.” - -The old woman looked surprised, and, at first, seemed a little afraid to -let Lottie take the basket. Perhaps she thought she might run away with -the pieces she had already collected; for some children are wicked -enough to do such things. But, when she looked in the little girl’s -pleasant face, all her fear went away; and she gladly rested herself -upon the boards, while Lottie’s busy hands and feet worked briskly until -the basket was well loaded with the nice dry chips. - -“Have you far to go? Shall I help you to carry it?” asked Lottie, as she -placed the load at the old woman’s feet. - -“You are a good child; and I thank you,” was the reply. “But I am well -rested now, and can get home by myself. Make haste, and fill your own -basket. Good-by! and may God bless you!” - -Lottie’s heart was very glad, as she watched the old woman moving -quickly along with the basket. - -“She walks quite fast,” she said to herself. “I am so glad that I helped -her, and gave her time to rest! Those chips were a nice New-Year’s gift -for her.” - -After half an hour of patient labor, Lottie succeeded in filling her own -basket, and set out on her return home. - -As she turned into the street which led to her own dwelling, she saw a -richly dressed lady upon the sidewalk, a little in advance of her. -Lottie looked admiringly at her velvet hat, and the soft, warm furs, and -splendid silk dress. - -“What a happy lady!” she said to herself. “What beautiful New-Year’s -gifts _she_ can make!” - -As Lottie said this, a rich lace-veil, which had been lightly thrown -over the lady’s hat, fell upon the sidewalk; and the owner passed on -without observing her loss. - -“Stop, ma’am! please stop!” called the little girl, as she placed her -basket upon the stones, and ran quickly along, with the veil in her -hand. - -“Thank you, my child,” said the lady, as she turned around in answer to -Lottie’s repeated calls. “I should have been very sorry to have lost my -veil. Here is a quarter of a dollar for you.” - -“No, thank you, ma’am,” returned Lottie, blushing deeply. “I do not want -any pay. I am glad that I found your veil. It is New-Year’s Day; and I -like to have something to give people.” - -“Well, you have made me a beautiful present,” replied the lady, smiling; -“for I should certainly have lost my veil if it had not been for you. -But why may I not make you a little gift in return?” - -Lottie still shrunk from taking the money; and, after a moment’s -thought, the lady ceased to urge her, and, after inquiring the number of -her residence, bade her “Good-morning!” and walked on; while the little -girl took up her basket of wood, and hastened to her mother. - -Mrs. Wilton listened with delight to her account of the adventures of -the morning, and sympathized with her pleasure in having already made -three or four New-Year’s gifts. - -“And now, mother,” said Lottie, “I will help you to sew; and by and by, -if you will give me leave, I will go and read one of my pretty books, -that the teacher gave me, to that little sick girl in the next street. -Don’t you remember I told you about her? She used to come to sabbath -school.” - -“Yes, I remember what you told me, Lottie. You may go to see her this -afternoon. And now I have a long seam for you to sew.” - -“I am glad that I can sew neatly enough to help you, mother,” said -Lottie; and in a few moments she was seated at her mother’s side, sewing -away as busily as Mrs. Wilton herself. - -The afternoon visit to the little sick girl proved a very pleasant one; -and Lottie came home with the delightful consciousness that she had done -much good, and almost made the little sufferer forget her pain. - -“This has been a _happy, happy_ day,” she said. “I wish every New-Year’s -Day would be like it.” - -“_All_ days may be much like it, my dear child,” replied her mother, “if -you continue to find happiness in doing good to others. You will not -again complain that you have ‘nothing to give.’” - -“No, indeed, mother; for I have found that even poor people like us have -many things to give which make others happy. And you know, mother, I -gave something even to that rich lady.” - -“You did, indeed, dear,” answered Mrs. Wilton, smiling. “And now go to -sleep, and dream of your happy day.” - -Lottie’s dreams were very pleasant, you may be sure; and her mother saw -her smile many times in her sleep, as if the angels were whispering to -her in their words of love. - -The next day brought a visit from the lady who had lost the veil. She -had not forgotten little Lottie; and now came to inquire into Mrs. -Wilton’s circumstances, and to offer her assistance if she was in need. -A kind friend she proved to the widow and her child; and they often -thought with thankfulness of the day when Lottie picked up the veil, -rejoicing, in her simplicity, that she had _something to give_. - - - - - WILLIE’S GOLD DOLLAR. - - -“Such beautiful toys! such beautiful toys!” exclaimed little Willie -Duncan, as he clapped his hands, and capered about the room with -delight. - -It was a bright, frosty, Christmas morning; and Willie had just taken -down the stocking, which he had carefully hung in the chimney-corner the -evening before, in the hope that some kind friend would play the part of -Santa Claus for him. - -His hope was not disappointed: for the stocking was found most -bountifully filled; and Willie eagerly hastened to examine its contents. -It was fortunate that he had borrowed his grandfather’s long stocking -for the occasion; for his own little sock could never have contained the -beautiful, large humming-top, and the pretty Noah’s ark, which now met -his eyes. And then the large, soft ball, just right for playing in the -house in stormy weather; and the nice transparent slate, with which -Willie could amuse himself when the older folks wished him to be quiet. -All these things, and many more, were safely packed away in grandpa’s -great stocking. Papers of candy, stores of nuts and almonds, and pretty -little lady-apples, came to light as Willie continued his search; and -last of all, in a tiny wooden box, was found a bright gold dollar. - -“I am sure grandpa must have put that in himself,” said Willie; “for I -saw a gold dollar in his desk-drawer yesterday. But oh, mother! did you -ever see so many pretty things? Am I not very happy?” - -“I hope so, indeed, my dear boy,” answered Mrs. Duncan, smiling; “but -pretty things do not always make us happy.” - -“Not unless we are good, you mean, mother. But I will try to be good. -Only look at this humming-top!” - -“It is a fine one, Willie. Here is a cord. Try if you can spin it.” - -The top was soon whirling merrily upon the floor, and humming so loudly -that Willie had to clap his hands once more; and even baby, who was -pillowed up in his crib, unpacking his own wee little stocking, dropped -the china pussy-cat, which he had just taken out, and stretched his -little hands toward the top, crowing with delight. - -But now mother said that both Willie and baby must put by their toys, -and be dressed for breakfast; and she gave Willie a basket to put all -his new treasures into, that he might carry them down stairs easily, and -exhibit them to his father. - -“And what will you buy with the gold dollar, Willie?” asked Mr. Duncan, -after he had examined and admired all the pretty gifts. - -Willie looked very thoughtful as he replied, “I should like to do some -good with it, father. I think I ought to,—do not you?” - -“We ought always to try to do good, Willie; but I am not sure that I -quite understand what you mean.” - -“I heard you say the other day, father, that we should love to share -with others the blessings which the Lord gives to us.” - -“That is right, my son: I did say something of the kind.” - -“Well, father, I have a great many blessings this morning,—all these -pretty toys; and so I think I ought to spend the gold dollar for other -people.” - -“I am glad you think so, Willie. And who would you like to spend it -for?” - -“If you are willing, father, I should like to give it to lame Georgie to -buy a book. He told me, a few days ago, that he wanted very much to buy -a book called ‘Rollo at Work,’ because there is a story in it about a -lame boy named Georgie, just like him. You know Georgie’s father is -poor; and I do not think he can spare the money to buy a book. May I -give him my dollar, father?” - -“Certainly, Willie: you may take it to him as soon as you have eaten -your breakfast.” - -Willie’s eyes sparkled with delight. His breakfast was quickly eaten, -and his warm comforter and mittens put on. - -“May I go to the bookstore and buy the book for Georgie, if he wishes me -to, mother?” he asked; “and may I stay with him a little while?” - -Mrs. Duncan readily granted her permission; for although Georgie’s -father and mother were poor, yet they were very worthy people, and had -taught him to be an obedient, good boy, so that Willie’s parents were -quite willing that he should sometimes go to play with him. - -Willie found Georgie sitting in his usual seat by the fireside, with a -small stand placed near him, on which were a little box and a new -gimlet. - -“O Willie,” he exclaimed joyfully, as Willie entered, “I am so glad you -have come! Only see what nice Christmas-gifts I have got! Father bought -me this new gimlet; and a kind lady, who comes to see my mother -sometimes, sent me this pretty dissected map. I have been playing with -it all the morning.” - -As Georgie spoke, he opened the box which stood upon the stand, and -showed Willie that it contained a map of the world, cut into small -pieces, which could all be neatly fitted together. Willie had several -maps of this kind at home; and he was just going to say that he did not -think this was much of a present, and to tell Georgie how many pretty -toys he had received, when he remembered that it would not be kind to do -so; and he said, pleasantly,— - -“It is a very pretty map, Georgie: I am glad the lady gave it to you. -And what a nice gimlet! You can bore large holes with this.” - -“Yes,” replied Georgie: “you know I have a small one; and I have wanted -a large one for a long time. But tell me about your presents, Willie; -for I am sure you have had a great many.” - -“Yes, I have had a good many,” answered Willie; “and I have brought one -of them to you.” - -So saying, Willie took out the little box, which contained the gold -dollar, and handed it to Georgie. - -“What a pretty little box!” said Georgie: “I never saw so small a one in -my life. Thank you, Willie!” - -“Open it, Georgie!” exclaimed Willie, laughing: “it has got your new -book in it.” - -“My new book!” said Georgie: “it must be a very small one, then. O -Willie, what a beautiful gold dollar!” he exclaimed, as he took off the -cover. “Do you mean to give all this to me?” - -“Yes, Georgie: it is to buy the book that you want so much.” - -“You are _very_ kind, Willie! I shall be so happy to have that book! I -wish I could walk to the bookstore, and I would go for it this minute.” - -“I can go,” replied Willie. “Mother gave me leave; and, when I come -back, we will read the book, Georgie, and I will tell you all about my -presents; for I can stay with you a while.” - -Georgie was very glad to hear this; and Willie took the gold dollar, and -ran joyfully away. - -He very soon returned, with the much-wished-for book in his hand. - -“Here it is, Georgie,” he said; “and here is a half-dollar in change: -that is enough to buy another book, if you wish.“ - -“But I think you ought to keep the half-dollar, Willie. This book is -enough for you to give me. I am sure I am very much obliged to you.” - -“Oh, no, Georgie! I meant to give you the whole dollar. Shall I run back -to the bookstore, and buy another Rollo book? There are a great many -different kinds.” - -Georgie thought for a moment; and then he said,— - -“No, Willie: I think it would not be right. I have my new map, my -gimlet, and this pretty book: I am very happy to have such beautiful -presents. And now, if you are so kind as to give me this half-dollar, I -should like to buy something to give to some one who is not so happy as -I am.” - -“That is right, Georgie,” said Willie. “Father says we should always be -willing to share our blessings with others. But what will you buy, -Georgie?” - -“There is a little girl in the other part of this house,” replied -Georgie, “who has been ill for a long time. Her mother is poor, and -cannot buy her many nice things, such as sick people need. I think I -should like to buy some nice grapes with the half-dollar, and give them -to her for Christmas.” - -“Oh, yes, Georgie!” exclaimed Willie. “She will like them, I am sure: -for once, when I was ill, my mother bought a bunch of grapes for me; and -they tasted so good!” - -Georgie’s mother now came into the room; and Georgie showed her the -book, and asked her if he could buy grapes for the sick girl with the -half-dollar. She was quite willing, and said that she was going out for -a little while, and would take the money, and buy the grapes. - -“And please come home before Willie goes away, mother,” said Georgie; -“for I want him to go with me to give Mary the grapes.” - -Georgie’s mother said she would not stay long; and then she put on her -bonnet and shawl, and went away, while the two little boys amused -themselves very pleasantly with the new book and the map. Willie also -told Georgie about his Christmas-gifts, and promised to bring the -humming-top to show him the next time that he came. - -Very soon Georgie’s mother came, with a paper containing some beautiful -bunches of white grapes; and Georgie took his crutches, which he was -obliged to use in walking, and, asking Willie to bring the grapes, he -led the way to the part of the house where little Mary and her mother -lived. - -They found the little sick girl lying upon a small cot-bed. Every thing -was very neat and clean about her; and although she looked very pale and -sick, yet her countenance was cheerful and pleasant; and she smiled -sweetly when she saw the little boys. - -“I wish you a merry Christmas, Georgie,” she said; “and I am very glad -you have come to see me; for I have something so beautiful to show you! -Please, mother, bring it to me.” - -Her mother brought a tumbler containing a pretty little bunch of -flowers, and held it close to Mary. - -“Only look, Georgie!” continued the little girl, as she stretched out -her small, white hand, and gently touched the flowers; “are they not -beautiful? The kind doctor who comes to see me sometimes sent them to me -for Christmas. They smell _so_ sweet!” - -“They are beautiful, Mary,” said Georgie. “I am very glad that you have -got them; and Willie and I have brought you something for Christmas, -too.” - -As he spoke, he took the paper of grapes from Willie’s hands, and gave -it to Mary’s mother, saying,— - -“Will you please to put a bunch upon a plate, and give them to Mary?” - -“O Mary! this is just what I have wanted to give you when your mouth is -so hot and parched,” exclaimed her mother. “I am sure we thank you very -much, Georgie.” - -“Willie gave me the money,” replied Georgie. “He gave me a gold dollar -to buy a book: but it cost only half a dollar; and so we could buy -grapes for Mary.” - -“They are _very_ nice,” said the little girl, as her mother carefully -removed the skin from one of the grapes, and placed it in her mouth. “I -thank you, Georgie; and I thank Willie, too: I am glad he came to see -me.” - -“I will come again, Mary,” said Willie, going up to the bedside: “and I -will bring you one of my boxes of guava jelly; for I had two in my -Christmas stocking. Sick people can eat guava jelly; and you will like -it, I am sure.” - -Mary’s mother did not like to have the little girl talk long at one -time: so Georgie and Willie bade her good-by, and went away; and very -soon it was time for Willie to go home. - -His mother was much pleased to hear about his visit; and she said, “Your -gold dollar has made several people happy,—has it not Willie?” - -“Yes, mother. It made grandpa happy to give it to me; and it made me -happy to give it to Georgie; and then Georgie was happy to give the -grapes to the little girl; and she and her mother were both happy to -have them. I am glad that my gold dollar has given so many people -pleasure, mother.” - -“And I am glad also, Willie. It is good to love to share with others the -blessings which the Lord gives to us.” - - - - - THE THANKSGIVING PARTY. - - -“Oh, mother, mother!” exclaimed Lucy Welford, as she bounded into her -mother’s room, one bright, frosty morning in November, “Uncle John is in -the parlor, and he has come to ask you if he may take Mary and me home -with him to pass Thanksgiving. O, please, mother, let us go. -Thanksgiving in the country is so delightful, much more so than in the -city. Such fine sleigh-rides, and such grand slides on the pond.” - -“And the delicious pumpkin pies, and the roast turkeys, and the bowls of -sweet milk and cream,” continued Mary, who had followed her sister to -hear their mother’s decision. “Oh, it will be so pleasant. And only -think, mother, Uncle John is going to have a large party—a regular -feast—he says; and Aunt Clara thinks that Lucy and I can assist her very -much if you will be so kind as to let us go.” - -“Very well,” replied their mother, smiling; “we will go and talk with -Uncle John about it, and see if father thinks he can spare both of his -girls for a few days.” - -To the great joy of Mary and Lucy, father and mother at length gave -their consent; and, warmly wrapped in hoods and cloaks, with a large -carpet-bag to contain such articles as would be necessary for them -during their stay, they sprang lightly into Uncle John’s comfortable -sleigh, and with many a kind good-by to the dear ones at home, were soon -riding swiftly away, leaving far behind the various sights and sounds of -the busy city. - -A pleasant ride of fifteen miles brought them to the old-fashioned farm -house, where the sound of the merry bells soon called Aunt Clara to the -door, and with a most affectionate welcome, she embraced her young -nieces, and expressed her joy that their parents had consented to spare -them to her for a short time. - -The ride in the fresh air had given the girls fine rosy cheeks and -excellent appetites, and they were quite ready to accept Aunt Clara’s -invitation to take a luncheon of bread and milk, and some of her nice -doughnuts. - -“And now, dear aunt, do tell us all about the party,” exclaimed Lucy. -“Will there be any young folks, or is it only for grown up people like -you and Uncle John? We tried to make him tell us about it as we rode -along; but he only laughed, and said we should find out when the day -came.” - -“There will be both young and old,” replied their aunt, smiling, “about -fifty in all; so you see I shall be much in need of your assistance in -entertaining so large a company.” - -“We will do everything we can to help you,” said Mary, “and we have -brought our new winter frocks to wear, and new ribbons for our hair; and -mother said, if anything else was needed, we could send her word -to-morrow, as Uncle John said he should be obliged to go into town.” - -“Oh, your dress will do very well, I have no doubt,” replied her aunt. -“Our friends are not very showy people, and will come in plain attire. -But I must leave you and Lucy to entertain yourselves for a short time, -as a part of my morning work is unfinished. I suppose you will not be at -a loss for amusement.” - -“Not at all,” answered both of the girls. “We will go to the barn, and -find Uncle John, and see if our old pets among the sheep and the cows -have forgotten us.” - -The remainder of the day passed pleasantly away, and the girls were so -much fatigued with the unusual exercise they had taken in running about -the farm, that they were quite glad when bed-time came, and slept -soundly until the bright rays of the morning sun were beaming in at -their window. - -“To-morrow will be the day for the party,” exclaimed Lucy, as she and -her sister hastened to dress for breakfast, fearful that they had -already kept their aunt waiting. “I expect to enjoy it so much.” - -“So do I,” replied Mary. “I am very glad that there are young people -coming. There are some sweet little girls in the neighborhood. I hope -Aunt Clara has invited Mrs. Carlton’s family. They live in the great -white house on the hill, and are very genteel, pleasant people.” - -“No doubt they will be here,” returned Lucy, “and the Wilsons and -Smiths, and, perhaps, Mr. Marion’s family. There must be many others -coming whom we do not know, for aunt said there would be about fifty -guests. O, I am sure it will be delightful!” - -Breakfast over, Aunt Clara soon found abundance of work for her two -young assistants. There were nutmegs to grate, eggs to beat, apples to -pare, meat to mince, and various other employments, which the girls -found very interesting. The tables were soon loaded with pies, cakes, -warm bread, and every variety of eatables, while turkeys and chickens by -the dozen were in a state of preparation, and the large pots over the -fire were filled with the nice hams which Uncle John had provided for -the occasion. Everything showed that there was to be a bountiful feast, -and our young friends danced for joy, as they thought of the pleasure in -store for them. - -The much wished for day came at length, and a bright and beautiful day -it was. The guests were expected to assemble about noon, and by eleven -o’clock, Lucy and Mary, having assisted their aunt in preparing the long -table in the dining-room, hastened to their own apartment to dress, that -they might be in readiness to receive them. - -The great double sleigh with the pretty gray ponies was already -harnessed, for some of the visitors, as Uncle John observed, lived at -quite a distance from the farm, and he had promised to send for them at -the proper time. - -“Very kind in Uncle John,” observed Mary to her sister, “but I should -think they would prefer coming in their own carriages.” - -“But it is so pleasant to load up that old double sleigh,” returned -Lucy. “The younger part of the company will enjoy the arrangement -exceedingly. Just tie this bow for me, Mary, and then, I believe, we are -all ready. Let us go down at once. I have no doubt that a part of the -company have arrived.” - -But the parlors were still empty. Even Aunt Clara had not yet appeared, -and after surveying themselves with much satisfaction in the large -mirror, and impatiently walking up and down the room for a short time, -the girls resolved to seek her, and inquire if the appointed dinner hour -had not nearly arrived. To their surprise, they found the table already -loaded with the smoking plum puddings, and nicely roasted turkeys and -chickens, which Uncle John and Aunt Clara were carrying with all -possible despatch. - -“But no one has come yet, Uncle John,” exclaimed both Lucy and Mary in a -breath. “Will not the dinner be cold?” - -“Our friends have all arrived,” was their uncle’s quiet reply; and as he -spoke, the door leading from the great kitchen was thrown open, and a -crowd of persons, young and old, appeared. - -There was the honest laborer, who had toiled hard through the year for -the support of his large family. There, too, was the cheerful wife and -the joyful little ones, and, perhaps, the aged grand-parents, whose -feeble steps were supported by their children, as they took their seats -at the bountifully spread table. In short, most of the worthy poor in -the immediate vicinity of the farm were there assembled, and some few -from a greater distance. - -Mary and Lucy had not time to recover from their surprise, before all -the guests were seated at the table, and Uncle John, rising from his -chair, bade them all a kindly welcome, and after explaining in a few -words the origin of Thanksgiving Day, asked them all to unite with him -in a prayer of thankfulness to the Lord, from whom every mercy is -received. - -Each guest was then plentifully supplied with the good things upon the -table, and Aunt Clara requested her nieces to attend particularly to the -little children, and see that all their wants were cared for. - -A happier party was seldom seen. After dinner, presents of food and -clothing were distributed among them, and Mary and Lucy found great -satisfaction in dressing the children in new clothes, and seeing the -gratitude and joy in their smiling little faces. - -After an hour or two spent in this manner, the great sleigh and the gray -horses came merrily jingling to the door, and the old people and the -children were safely conveyed to their homes, and the rest of the party, -with many thanks and blessings to their kind entertainers, took their -leave. - -“Well, girls, how did you enjoy my party?” exclaimed Uncle John, as he -reëntered the parlor, after bidding farewell to the last of his guests. - -“O, very much indeed,” was the reply. “It was very different from what -we expected, but still we enjoyed it very much. It is so pleasant to -make others happy.” - -“It is, indeed, my children,” returned Uncle John, “and it appears to me -that on a day like this, it is the duty of all those whom the Lord has -blessed with abundance, to seek out the needy and afflicted, and -endeavor to relieve their wants.” - -When the harvest is gathered in, and the farmer beholds his table loaded -with the rich fruits of the year, he should call upon the aged, the -poor, and the helpless to come in with him and share his feast. - - - - - A CHRISTMAS STORY. - - -“Have you recollected that this is the first day of winter, Mary?” asked -Isabel Gordon as she came into the room where her younger sister was -seated with her atlas spread before her, busily engaged in preparing her -lessons for the next day. - -“I have not thought of it before,” replied Mary, quietly. - -“But now you do think of it, Mary, do you remember what we agreed to do -on this day? Christmas will soon be here now, you know.” - -“In little more than three weeks. Yes, Isabel, I know what you are -thinking of. We agreed to open our banks to-day, and see how much we -have saved to spend for Christmas gifts.” - -“Yes, that is it,” replied Isabel, joyfully. “I am so glad that we can -open them at last. I want to know how much we have saved. Shall I bring -them now?” - -“If you please. I have just finished learning my geography lesson.” - -Isabel ran to the closet, and quickly returned with two money-boxes, or -banks, in her hand. She gave one to her sister, and taking the other -herself, they both succeeded, without much difficulty, in making an -opening so that they could get at the treasure within. For nearly a year -the little girls had saved almost every penny which had been given them, -that they might have the pleasure of giving as well as receiving the -pretty holiday gifts. - -“Well, Mary, how much have you?” asked Isabel, as she finished counting -the pile of pennies, sixpences, and shillings which lay before her. - -“Four dollars and a few pennies,” answered Mary. “I did not think I had -so much.” - -“And I have a little more than _five_ dollars,” said Isabel, -triumphantly. “You know I saved the gold dollar which grandfather gave -me, and you did not. Are you not sorry that you spent it?” - -“Not at all, Isabel. That dollar has done more good in the last two -months than it would have done lying in our little banks. You know I -bought a nice pair of shoes and some stockings for Susan Green, that she -might attend the sabbath school. Her teacher says she is learning very -fast, and is one of the best children in her class.” - -“Well, never mind that now, Mary. Let us talk about the best way to -spend our money. What will you buy for father and mother? I am going to -work a pair of slippers for father, and I shall buy a pretty worked -collar for mother. I heard her say the other day that she needed some -new collars.” - -“Have you time to embroider a pair of slippers?” asked Mary. - -“Oh yes! Ellen Shaw taught me a new way. I shall buy the slippers ready -made, and then embroider them with gold thread. They will cost me about -a dollar, and mother’s collar will be nearly two. Then I must buy a -present for Betsey; a new apron will please her, I think, and will not -cost too much. I have a nice plan for spending the remainder of the -money; but first let me hear what you are going to do with yours.” - -“I shall buy a handsome inkstand for father’s desk. You know he broke -his large one the other day, and is using an old one of mother’s now. I -will try to get one just like that which he broke. For mother I will buy -a beautiful rose-bush to put upon her flower-stand. For Betsey I shall -have a nice warm hood. I am to buy the materials, and mother has -promised to help me make it. There will still be as much as a dollar and -a half remaining, and mother says that if this is expended prudently it -will do a great deal of good. I have not quite decided what to do with -it, but I think I shall make a nice warm coverlet for that poor old man -and his wife whom we went to see last week. I heard the old woman -telling mother that she often suffered dreadfully with rheumatism during -the winter; and when I looked around and saw what a miserable shanty -they have to shelter them, I could hardly keep from weeping.” - -“But I dare say that some one else will give them a coverlet,” replied -Isabel, with a look of disappointment, “and I want you to put your money -with mine, and buy a pretty present for our teacher. We can get a very -pretty work-box for three dollars, and I am sure she would be very much -pleased.” - -Mary was silent for a few minutes. She loved her teacher very much, and -thought it would be very pleasant to make her a present; but then the -remembrance of the poor old couple in the wretched shanty came strongly -to her mind, and she said, decidedly, “No, Isabel, I cannot do it. I -should be very glad to make Miss Spencer a present, and perhaps mother -will show me how to make a needle-book for her, but the poor people need -a coverlet more than she needs a work-box.” - -“That is no rule, Mary. We cannot always give to those who need it the -most. All of the girls are going to call at Miss Spencer’s house on -Christmas morning, and each one will take her a little gift. If you will -only join with me, our present will be prettier and more valuable than -any other she will receive.” - -“I do not care about that, Isabel. Miss Spencer will not value the gifts -for the sake of what they cost. She will be pleased to find that we -think of her and love her. But I am sure she would rather I would spend -my money in doing good. You know we both agreed to save a part for the -poor.” - -“I know we did, but some other time will do as well as Christmas,” -replied Isabel. “If you will not help me to buy the work-box, I will buy -it myself, and not spend so much on my other presents. I saw a beauty -for three dollars, the other day, and I am determined to have one like -it.” - -“Father says that we ought to try to do all the good we can upon -Christmas day,” answered Mary, gently. “You know it is the anniversary -of the day when the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, that He might -do more good to men; and if we love to do as He teaches us, we shall be -willing to give up our own pleasure for the sake of helping others.” - -Isabel felt that she was in the wrong, but she was not willing to -acknowledge it, and therefore replied rather crossly that Mary could do -as she pleased, but she had no idea of spending her money in Christmas -gifts for the poor. - -The girls therefore said no more to each other upon the subject. They -were both very busy in their preparations for Christmas, however, and -long before the important day arrived everything was in readiness. The -work-box for her teacher had taken so large a portion of Isabel’s money, -that her gifts for her other friends were necessarily trifling, but she -did not regret this when she thought how pleased Miss Spencer would be -with so valuable a present, and how astonished her young companions -would appear at her generosity. - -Mary had, with the advice of her mother, expended the part of her money -which she had set apart for the poor, so judiciously, that it went much -farther than she had anticipated. Some partly worn dresses served for -the outside of the coverlet, and with the money thus saved, many other -comfortable things were procured. The happy little girl danced for joy -when all was completed, and she thought how much good even her small -hands could do. - -The day before Christmas arrived; and a merry group of girls had -assembled at an early hour in Miss Spencer’s pleasant school-room, to -talk over their plans for the holidays. - -“And now, girls, let us arrange at what hour we will call on Miss -Spencer, to wish her a merry Christmas, and present our little gifts,” -exclaimed Caroline Elwyn, one of the oldest of the scholars. “I propose -that we should all meet at the great oak tree, at ten o’clock to-morrow -morning, and then we can go together. Only you must be sure to be -punctual, for the weather is rather too cold to make it very agreeable -to wait for each other.” - -All of the girls readily agreed to this plan, and then followed an -animated discussion as to the beauty and value of their separate gifts. -One had prepared a work-bag, another a needle-book, a third had worked a -collar, a fourth a pin-cushion. - -“And now, tell us what your present is to be, Isabel,” said Caroline -Elwyn. “You are so wonderfully silent about it, that we suspect it must -be something far surpassing our humble offerings. You shake your head. -Well, we will not urge you. Cannot you enlighten us, Mary?” - -“I can only tell you what my own gift is to be,” was the smiling reply, -“I have made a pen-wiper to lie upon her desk.” - -“We shall soon discover Isabel’s secret,” exclaimed another of the -girls. “Only a few hours, now, before the happy time will be here. I -wish it were night. Time passes so quickly when we are sleeping.” - -The merry laugh which this remark occasioned had hardly subsided, when -their teacher entered the room. She greeted them with her usual -affectionate good morning, and pleasantly remarked that they must study -with unusual diligence that day, as the holidays were so near. - -The girls cheerfully took their books, and, in spite of their joyful -anticipations for the coming weeks, their lessons were well learned and -recited. - -Toward the close of the afternoon session, Miss Spencer requested them -to put away their books, as she had something to say to them before she -closed the school. - -When everything was arranged in an orderly manner, she told them that it -had been her custom for several years to visit the poor families in the -neighborhood on Christmas day, and endeavor to do what she could for -their comfort. She said that she hoped that all of her scholars had -thought of the poor in preparing their Christmas gifts, and had -remembered that though it was very pleasant and proper to present tokens -of affection to their friends, yet it was better still to relieve those -who were in need. - -Mary looked at her teacher while she was speaking, with such a bright, -animated expression, that Miss Spencer could not help remarking it, and -said, kindly, - -“Have you thought of this in your preparations for Christmas, Mary?” - -“I have tried to do what I could, ma’am,” was the modest reply. - -“I had thought of proposing that some of my scholars should accompany me -in my visits to the poor to-morrow,” continued Miss Spencer. “There is -one old couple in particular whom I am very anxious to assist, as they -are exceedingly destitute. They live in that miserable shanty at the -foot of the hill. How many of you are willing to aid me in this good -work, provided your parents consent?” - -Almost every hand was raised, and then each spoke in turn. One had saved -a dollar for the use of the poor, and would give any part of it which -her teacher thought best. Another had a half dollar, another a quarter, -and three pretty little girls said they each had a bright dime, which -mother had given them to spend for the poor. Mary had no money, but she -told of the warm coverlet and some comfortable flannels which she had -prepared for the very couple whom her teacher wished to assist. - -“We shall make their home a happy one to-morrow,” said Miss Spencer. “I -have two dollars of my own to give them, and I have also prepared a -basket of food suitable for their Christmas dinner. But I think you have -not yet spoken, Isabel. Have you nothing to give? I believe you told me -that you had saved five dollars for Christmas gifts. A part of this -would be well disposed in relieving these poor sufferers.” - -Isabel blushed deeply, as she said, in a low tone, that she had already -spent her money. - -It was then arranged that the girls should meet at their teacher’s house -the next morning, bringing with them whatever their parents were willing -that they should bestow in charity. Miss Spencer did not know that they -had already agreed to meet there to present the gifts which they had -prepared for herself, and the girls were quite pleased to think how -surprised she would be when she discovered this little secret. - -Among all the merry group which left the school-house, Isabel alone was -sad and uncomfortable. - -“I do not know why I should feel so badly,” she said to herself. “I have -done nothing wrong. I have not been selfish, for I have spent every -penny of my money in preparing gifts for others.” - -But Isabel had not yet learned to examine her motives strictly. She did -not reflect that the greater part of her money had been expended for -gifts which it would gratify her vanity and pride to present. The box -which she had purchased for her teacher was bought for the very purpose -of outshining her companions. She did not love Miss Spencer any better -than the other scholars, but she wished to make a display of generosity -and affection which would astonish them all. - -Miss Spencer had frequently noticed this defect in Isabel’s character, -and when she found that none of the money which she had boasted of -having saved was reserved for charitable purposes, she felt grieved, and -calling Isabel to her as the other scholars left the room, she passed -her arm around her, and said, gently, “I am sorry that you cannot aid us -in our good work, Isabel.” - -“I am sorry, too, Miss Spencer, but I have spent all my money in -preparing gifts for my friends.” - -“We should never forget the poor, Isabel. Would not less valuable gifts -have expressed equal affection for those you love, and then there would -have been some remaining for those who need it more.” - -Isabel made no reply, but she looked sad and mortified as she bade her -teacher good afternoon. And yet her pride was not subdued; for when Mary -kindly offered to share with her the articles which she had prepared for -the poor, she answered, haughtily, that she could easily have bought -these things if she had chosen to do so. - -Christmas morning was bright and beautiful, and very mild for the -season. With happy hearts and faces the little girls met around the old -oak tree, and after telling each other of the pretty gifts they had -received, and displaying those which they had brought for their teacher, -they all proceeded to Miss Spencer’s house. - -Now was the time for Isabel’s expected triumph. With glowing cheeks and -a self-satisfied air she presented her present; but the murmur of -admiration which she had anticipated was not heard. - -Miss Spencer thanked her, and said it was a very pretty box; but she -seemed quite as well pleased with some of the most trifling articles -which were given her. She particularly commended the neatness and good -taste which Mary had shown in making the pen-wiper. Indeed, she seemed -more delighted with even the most simple gifts which the scholars had -made themselves, than with far more costly ones which had been purchased -for her. - -As for the scholars, they were so much occupied with examining what they -had brought for the poor, that they could give but a passing glance of -admiration at the work-box. - -As Isabel had nothing to give she did not wish to accompany the happy -party, and therefore returned immediately home. Her mother found her in -her own room weeping bitterly, and gently drew from her the cause of her -grief. - -“This may be a useful lesson to you, dear Isabel,” she said. “It will -teach you that no real happiness is ever derived from a selfish act. -Your motive in presenting a more expensive gift to your teacher than the -rest of your companions were prepared to do, was selfish. You expected -to receive praise and admiration. In this you were disappointed, and -therefore you are unhappy. Another time I trust you will do better. In -expending your money for Christmas gifts, you will remember those who -need it most, and will gladly give, hoping for nothing again.” - -Isabel still wept, but less violently than before, and when Mary entered -with a beaming countenance, and told her mother of the gratitude and joy -of the poor people whom they had visited, Isabel put her arm around her -neck and asked her forgiveness for her ill humor, and promised that when -another Christmas came, she too would remember _those who need it most_. - - - - - APRIL FOOL’S DAY. - - -“What new experiment are you trying, my son?” asked Mr. Willard, as he -entered his pleasant parlor late in the afternoon of a day in early -spring, unperceived by his little son Arthur, who was busily employed in -tying up several small packages which lay on the table before him. - -Arthur looked up at his father with a bright smile; for Mr. Willard -always took a great interest in the amusements of his children, and they -were in the habit of consulting him and asking his assistance in many of -their sports. - -“Don’t tell Willie and Jane, father,” said Arthur, “and I will tell you -all about it. You know to-morrow will be the first day of April, and I -expect to have a fine time playing tricks upon people. There is nothing -in these parcels but little chips and stones. I shall put one of them -upon Jane’s table after she is asleep to-night; and she will be sure to -open it the first thing in the morning. I expect she will think that -Uncle Samuel or Aunt Mary were here in the evening, and brought her a -nice little present. Then I shall drop another package where Willie will -find it when he goes to feed his chickens. What a hurry he will be in to -pick it up! - -“And, father,” continued Arthur, “you do not know what a nice joke I -shall play upon Susan! Sometimes, when I get up early in the morning, -and she is in a hurry getting breakfast, I go to Mr. Conant’s for the -milk. Now, to-morrow morning I mean to be up very early, before Susan -leaves her room. Then I will take the milk-pail, and put a quart of -water into it, and set it in the place where I usually put it when I -bring the milk. When Susan comes into the kitchen, she will see the pail -on the table, and, finding it heavy, will suppose I have been for the -milk. So she will say, ‘O, Arthur! you are a good boy to bring my milk;’ -and then she will take off the cover to pour it into the pitcher. How I -shall laugh at her when she finds it is water!” - -Mr. Willard smiled a little as Arthur clapped his hands at the thought -of Susan’s vexation: but in a moment he looked grave, and, seating -himself in his rocking-chair, he drew his little son close to his side, -and said, kindly,— - -“Do the angels try to make people happy or unhappy, Arthur?” - -“Happy, father,” replied the boy, looking wonderingly in his father’s -face. - -“Then you are not trying to do like the angels,—are you, Arthur. You -mean to vex people, and make them unhappy.” - -Arthur blushed, and looked very thoughtful; and his father continued,— - -“Jane and Willie and Susan will all feel somewhat vexed and displeased -at your jokes,—will they not, my son?” - -“Yes, sir, I suppose they will,” answered Arthur; “but, then, I want to -have a little fun on April Fool’s Day.” - -“It is poor fun to make others unhappy. I have no objection to your -playing jokes or tricks, as you call them, upon your brother and sister -and Susan; but I should like to have you think of something which would -please them, instead of making them vexed.” - -“But, father, I cannot think of any tricks of that kind.” - -“I will help you a little, Arthur, and then you will understand what I -mean. We will take the trick which you intended to play upon Susan, for -instance. Now, if, instead of putting water in the pail, and deceiving -her by making her think it is milk, you should rise early, and really -bring her the milk, you might still have a pleasant joke by putting the -pail in the place where it usually stands when it is empty, instead of -on the table where you leave it when it is filled. Then Susan will be -greatly surprised when she takes it up, intending to go for the milk.” - -Arthur’s face grew very bright again. - -“Oh, yes, father! I shall like that plan very much: it is much better -than my own. And how shall I manage about Willie and Jane?” - -“Try to think of some way yourself, Arthur. Only remember to have your -joke of a kind that will give pleasure, and not pain.” - -“I know of a grand trick to play upon Jane, father, if you will let me -run to the shop and spend my bright half-dollar that my grandfather gave -me. Jane has a hole in her thimble, and she pricked her finger sadly -to-day. Now, I can buy a nice new thimble for her, and take her old one -from her work-basket, and put the new one in its place. How surprised -she will be! May I do this, father?” - -“If you feel willing to spend your money for your sister, I shall be -glad to have you do so, Arthur.” - -“I am willing, father. And now for Willie; what shall I do for him? I -think I must drop a little parcel where he will pick it up, father; but -I will not put sticks and stones in it. I have some nice candies in my -pocket, which a boy at school gave me. Willie does not know that I have -them; and I will put them into his paper. How he will wonder where they -came from!” - -Mr. Willard felt much pleased to see how readily Arthur followed his -advice; and the little boy himself felt far happier now that his plans -for the jokes of the next day were all of a kind to make others happy. - -The thimble was bought; the package of candy tied up, and carefully -placed where Willie would be sure to find it. Every thing succeeded -quite to Arthur’s satisfaction. He awoke very early, and, stealing -softly from the house, brought the milk, and replaced the pail in the -closet. - -Susan came out of her room somewhat later than usual, and hurried -around, fearful that her breakfast would not be ready at the appointed -hour. She did not observe Arthur, who had seated himself where he -thought he should be unnoticed, that he might enjoy her surprise. He -came very near laughing aloud when he heard Susan exclaim, as she -hastily tied on her bonnet and ran to the closet,— - -“Oh, dear, I must go for the milk! I was so in hopes that Arthur would -have got it for me this morning!” - -Arthur held his hand tightly over his mouth; but when he saw Susan lift -the pail up suddenly, and then quickly take off the cover to see what -made it so heavy, he could no longer keep quiet, but with a merry laugh -bounded from his hiding-place, exclaiming,— - -“Now, Susan, didn’t I tell you I would play a trick on you to-day?” - -Susan smiled pleasantly, and said she did not care how many tricks he -played on her if they were all as good as that. - -Next came Willie, full of wonder at the contents of the package which he -had found in the box where he kept the corn for his chickens. - -“Only think, Arthur,” said he; “the door of the chicken-house was -locked, so no one could have got in last night, and yet I feel sure that -this was not there when I fed the chickens at supper-time. Such nice -candy! Do you think it will be right for us to eat it, or must we try to -find out to whom it belongs?” - -There was such a roguish look on Arthur’s face, as he replied that he -thought there would be no harm in eating it, that Willie began to -understand the joke; and, well pleased, he divided the candy with his -brother and sister. - -But Arthur felt still more pleased when little Jane took up her -work-basket with a sigh, saying,— - -“I will try to hem the handkerchief you wish me to, mother; but my -thimble has such a great hole in it, that the head of my needle pricks -my finger every few minutes.” - -What a joyful surprise,—to find the old thimble missing, and a bright -new one in its place! It would have been hard to tell which felt the -most pleased, Jane or Arthur. Both were delighted; and we are very sure -that Arthur did not once regret that he had spent his half-dollar for -his sister’s pleasure. - -When evening came, and Mr. Willard was at leisure to sit down with his -children, Arthur had many funny stories to tell of the pleasant jokes -which he had played through the day. - -Charley Mason, one of his schoolmates, had torn a large hole in his kite -when they were flying it at recess. At noon, he hurried home for his -dinner; intending, if possible, to return in season to mend the kite, -and have another play, before school commenced in the afternoon. Arthur, -having brought his dinner with him in the morning, was not obliged to -return home; and he carefully mended the kite while Charley was absent. - -“It was such fun to see him turn it over and over, and look for the -hole!” continued Arthur, as he told the story to his father; “and Johnny -Gardiner looked almost as funny when he found a long slate-pencil in his -desk, which I had slyly slipped in, just as he had made up his mind to -go and tell the teacher the old story,—that he had no pencil. Johnny -does not like to tell Miss Grant that very well, for he is famous for -losing his pencil. - -“And, father, I played a nice joke on Miss Grant. She thought I could -not learn so long a lesson in geography as she had given to the rest of -the class, because I am younger than the others, and have never been -through the book before. So she told me to take half of the lesson; but -I studied hard, and learned the whole. When we were reciting, she -stopped when she had heard about half, and said, ‘You may take your seat -now, Arthur.’ - -“‘Thank you, ma’am,’ I answered; ‘but I can say it all.’ - -“Then she looked surprised, and said I must have worked very hard. - -“But, father, that book _is_ too hard for me; and Miss Grant told me to -ask you to buy one more suitable. I wish you would, father: I love to -study geography. Henry Williams has such a beauty! all full of pictures. -Oh, how I should like one like that!” - -“We must think about it,” replied Mr. Willard. “And now, Arthur, I must -attend to some writing for a little while, and you may look over your -lessons for to-morrow.” - -“Yes, father, my geography: I always have to study that in the evening.” -And, with a little sigh, Arthur went for his satchel of books. But it -was now his turn to find a pleasant joke; for the old geography had been -taken from the bag, and in its place was one exactly like the “beauty” -owned by Henry Williams, upon the blank leaf of which was written, -“Arthur Willard; from his father, April first, eighteen hundred -fifty-six.” - - - - - THE CHRISTMAS-TREE. - - -“Oh, dear, it is almost Christmas!” exclaimed Mary Bradley with a deep -sigh, which caused her younger brother Horace to look up from his book -with surprise. - -“Why do you sigh about it, Mary?” he asked. “Are you not glad that -Christmas is coming?” - -“I _should_ be glad, Horace,” replied his sister in a melancholy tone, -“if things were as they used to be. What beautiful gifts we had last -year! But father was rich then; and now he is poor.” And again Mary -sighed deeply. - -“I do not think father is very poor,” replied Horace, laughing. “I am -sure we have all we want,—a good house to live in, plenty of food and -clothing, a warm fire, and many kind friends. Do you call that being -poor, sister Mary? You ought to see the poor wretches that I meet -sometimes on my way to school.” - -“How foolishly you talk, Henry!” answered his sister, rather petulantly. -“You know very well what I mean. Of course, we are not street beggars; -but we live very differently from what we did last year at this time. -Our beautiful house, our horses and carriage, and nearly all of our -servants, are gone.” - -“No matter for that,” returned Master Horace. “Father has paid all his -debts like an honest man, and we have all we need. A small house is just -as comfortable as a large one; the cars and omnibuses answer as good a -purpose as our own carriage; and as to the servants, I much prefer -waiting upon myself. As long as I have good Mrs. Betty to cook my -dinner, it is all I want.” - -“It is of no use talking to you, Horace,” answered his sister, as she -rose to leave the room; “but, when you see what a bare Christmas-tree we -shall have this year, you will be convinced that we are poor.” - -“We had more than we knew what to do with last year,” persisted Horace, -following his sister. “Suppose we hunt up about half a bushel of books -and toys, and present them to Santa Claus for distribution. No doubt he -will be grateful to us; for times are hard, and his purse may be poorly -filled.” - -“What nonsense!” exclaimed Mary, impatiently. “I will not stay talking -with you any longer.” - -But, at this moment, the pleasant voice of their mother was heard -calling them from the adjoining room. - -She had heard their conversation, and now replied to Horace’s -suggestion,— - -“Your plan is an excellent one, my son; and I will try to put it in a -form that will be less displeasing to your sister.” - -“Horace talks _so much nonsense_!” said Mary, as she took an offered -seat by her mother’s side. - -“A _little_ nonsense, but a good deal of sense, my daughter,” returned -her mother. “Your mind is in a disturbed and unhappy state, and -therefore you are not ready to meet his pleasant way of treating our -troubles.” - -Although Mary indulged in occasional fits of ill humor and selfish -repining, she was really a sensible and very affectionate little girl. -She loved her mother very dearly, and felt sad and mortified that she -should have added in the least degree to her trials. In a few moments, -therefore, she looked up with a cheerful smile, and said, “I will try to -do better, mother. I know we have every comfort that we need. It was -only the thought of the Christmas-tree that made me unhappy. But I will -try not to think of it any more.” - -“Think of it in a different way, my dear Mary. Our Christmas-tree -will, I doubt not, be well filled, though with less costly gifts than -you have hitherto received. But how many there are who have no -Christmas-tree!—how many who will even want for food and clothing on -that happy day!” - -Mary’s eyes filled with tears, but she made no reply; and her mother -proceeded,— - -“When the Lord, in his divine providence, permits us to meet with such -trials as he sees to be for our good, we must not harden our hearts. We -will not look back with regret upon the luxuries we have lost: but we -will rejoice in the comforts remaining; and we will endeavor, as far as -possible, to share those comforts with others more needy than ourselves. -The proposal which Horace made in regard to your old books and -playthings is a very good one. There are many children who may be made -happy with what you now consider useless. Collect every thing which you -feel willing to part with, and I will add some articles of clothing. -Betty can tell us of several poor families who will be thankful for a -portion of our abundance.” - -“I will go and look over our things at once!” exclaimed Mary. “I have no -doubt we can spare a great many. Come, Horace!” And, for the next few -hours, the brother and sister were busily engaged, not in useless -regrets concerning their own Christmas-tree, but in active efforts to -prepare gifts to adorn the trees of children far more destitute than -themselves. - -Betty, having been made their confidante on the occasion, took much -interest in hunting up destitute families who were deserving of -assistance; and Mary and Horace soon found that there would be no -difficulty in disposing of their little stock. Long before the important -day arrived, the gifts at their disposal were done up in neat packages, -and duly marked with the names of those for whom they were designed. -Mrs. Bradley had added an ample supply of partly worn clothing; and Mr. -Bradley, when he found what was going on, had promised to provide some -articles of food to distribute among those who were most in want. - -Mary and Horace were to have the pleasure of presenting these gifts -themselves; and they were now eagerly longing for the happy day, not for -the sake of what they would themselves receive, but that they might have -the happiness of imparting their blessings to others. - -Christmas Eve came at last: and, attended by Betty, the children left -their little parcels at their various destinations; and then, with their -hearts warmed and cheered by the grateful words and smiles which they -had received, they turned their steps toward home, that they might enjoy -the pleasant sight of their own Christmas-tree, which they rightly -concluded would be brilliantly lighted up during their absence. - -As they turned the corner near their own home, they met a pale-faced, -thinly clad little boy, with a small branch of evergreen in his hand, -which he was carrying carefully along, as if he considered it a precious -treasure. - -“Is that your Christmas-tree, little boy?” asked Horace, as they drew -near to him. - -“I found it!” exclaimed the child, joyfully. “I am so glad! Now Susy and -I can have a Christmas-tree!” And he was hurrying along; but Horace -stopped him by saying,— - -“Have you any thing to put on the tree, little boy?” - -“Not much,” was the reply. “But Susy and I have each got a penny: that -will buy something.” - -“Who is Susy?” asked Mary, as the little fellow was again hastening on -his way. - -“My little sister, miss. She will be so glad that I have got the tree! I -must go to her.” - -“Come with us first,” returned Mary, “and we will give you something to -hang on the tree. I have a little doll for Susy, and some candles to -light up the tree.” - -The little pale face looked bright and almost rosy now as he trudged -along with the children, still holding fast to his precious tree. - -It did not take many moments to fill a small basket with what appeared -to the child great treasures; and his eyes sparkled with joy as a warm -cape was placed upon his shoulders, and a cap, long since outgrown by -Horace, upon his head. Finding, upon inquiry, that his mother was a poor -widow, residing in their immediate neighborhood, Mrs. Bradley directed -Betty to fill another basket with food, and accompany the child home. -Mary and Horace begged leave to go with her, although they had not as -yet given one glance at their own Christmas-tree. - -It was a pleasant sight to look at little Susy, as her brother eagerly -displayed his treasures to her admiring gaze; and it was even more -gratifying to witness the gratitude of the mother, as Betty emptied the -contents of her basket. - -After assisting in planting the branch of evergreen in a broken -flower-pot which the children produced for the purpose, Mary and Horace -took leave, and joyfully returned to their home. - -Their Christmas-tree was indeed radiant with light. It seemed to the -happy children that it had never been so brilliant before; for their -hearts were filled with the delight of doing good to others, and this -made all seem bright around them. - -Morning found the tree well loaded with fruit,—pretty and useful gifts, -which the children were delighted to receive. It was indeed a happy -Christmas. They felt that they were surrounded with blessings; and, -above all, they rejoiced in the happiness of sharing these blessings -with others. - - - - - A DREAM. - - -It was Christmas Eve; the brilliantly-lighted streets were thronged with -happy faces, and the merry hum of children’s voices seemed to rise above -all other sounds in the busy crowd. Our own young folks had gone to rest -with their little hearts filled with joyous expectations for the morrow. -The stockings, hung by the chimney corner, had already been duly visited -by the representatives of Santa Claus, and fatigued with the labors of -the day, we would gladly have sought repose, when a gentle ring at the -bell attracted our attention, and directly after, our maid of all work -entered, and asked if we had any thing to give to a poor child who was -standing at our door. - -“Poor thing!” we exclaimed involuntarily. “It is hard to think that any -child is begging from door to door, on Christmas Eve, when our own -darlings are so happy.” - -“Tell the child to step in,” was the direction to Jenny, and in a few -moments a modest-looking little girl stood before us. Her slender form -was but scantily protected from the cold; and her countenance showed -that she was indeed in need of the assistance which she craved. - -Her tale was a simple one. Her mother was very poor, and there were five -children, of whom she was the eldest. - -We inquired for the father, and her blue eyes were fixed upon the -ground, as she answered timidly, that he was at home, but he was often -sick, and did not do much for their support. A few more questions -convinced us that he was a victim to that fatal evil which destroys the -happiness of so many homes. - -Our means would not allow us to do much for the poor child, but the -little that we had to give was given cheerfully, and with many thanks -she bade us good evening. As she left the room I recalled her, and -placing a small piece of silver in her hands, I said: - -“You may have this for yourself. I give it to you for a Christmas gift.” - -“And may I spend it for what I please?” she asked, her whole face -brightening with pleasure. - -“Certainly. What will you buy?” - -“O, a great many things! A present for mother and each of my brothers -and sisters, and one for poor father too.” - -“But, my child, you have not money enough to buy something for each -one.” - -“O yes, ma’am, a great plenty! I will buy a nice spool of cotton for -mother, she needs one very much, and a penny book for Mary, a whistle -for Johnny, a cake for Thomas, and a stick of candy for the baby. Then -there will be four cents to spend for father, and I will go to the cheap -bookstore, and ask them to sell me some good book, which will teach him -not to drink rum any more. He is very, very kind when he is sober.” - -“And will you come and see me again next week, and tell me how they -liked their presents?” I asked, much interested by the simple, -disinterested manner of the child. - -“Thank you, ma’am, I will gladly do so,” was the reply, and with another -grateful good-evening, she departed. - -This little incident gave rise to a train of sad reflections. Happiness, -it appeared to me, was unequally distributed. Even at this most joyous -season of the year, how few sunbeams found their way to the homes of the -poor. Indeed, their burdens must seem more heavy to bear, when -contrasted with the luxury and gayety of the wealthy. They gazed upon -their ill-fed, half naked little ones, while the children of their more -prosperous neighbor passed their door loaded with useless toys, the -price of which would have seemed to them a little mine of wealth. -Oppressed with these thoughts, I laid my head upon my pillow, and was -soon in the land of dreams. - -Strange visions flitted before me. At one time I seemed to be revelling -in the luxurious mansions of the rich, and then, by some sudden and -mysterious transformation, the extreme of want was my portion. Suddenly -a lovely being stood before me, whose very presence seemed to fill my -soul with joy. Taking my hand in hers, she said, “Come with me, and I -will show thee that this joyous season of the year may bring happiness -to the homes of the poor, as well as to those of the wealthy. I am the -Spirit of Happiness, and in the most humble abode on earth I often find -a dwelling-place.” Joyfully I yielded to her guidance, and together we -seemed to traverse the busy streets of the city. At one of the most -splendid of the brilliantly-illuminated mansions we paused, and in -another moment had gained admittance, and, apparently unseen ourselves, -surveyed the happy party within. Young men and maidens were gliding -through the graceful figures of the merry dance, lovely children were -sporting around, joyfully displaying the Christmas gifts of parents and -friends; while a less active, but no less happy looking group, were -seated in a distant part of the room, gazing with quiet pleasure upon -their children and grandchildren, who at this cheerful season had -gathered around them. Every thing around gave evidence of luxury and -splendor, and turning to my companion, I exclaimed almost in a tone of -upbraiding: - -“Yes, here indeed is happiness. The New Year is to them a time for -rejoicing, and ‘Merry Christmas’ a day of joyful expectations and -realities; but it is not thus with the poor. The words merriment and joy -would seem to them a mockery.” - -“Not so, my friend,” replied my guide. “The happiness which you see -before you is capable of extension. These are the mediums of the -blessings of Him whose birth into this natural world they now celebrate. -The day which proclaimed peace and good will upon earth, is well -calculated to remind these stewards of the Lord, that the wealth -intrusted to their charge is not for themselves alone. Behold that -venerable old man. He is the grandfather of this little flock. Every -year he distributes large sums among the poor, making his grandchildren -and great grandchildren his almoners. The happiness which you see in the -countenances of the youth and maidens, the innocent glee of the -children, is in a great measure caused by the joy which they have this -day dispensed among the needy. Merely selfish gratification would not -produce genuine contentment and joy. All selfish delights are evanescent -and changeable.” - -The scene changed, and we stood in a meanly-furnished apartment of one -of the most humble dwellings in a narrow street of the city. A father, -mother, and five children, were just seated to partake of their frugal -meal. Every thing around told of poverty, but the countenances of the -parents beamed with contentment, and the bright eyes of the children -shone with joy. In the short but fervent prayer which the father uttered -ere they commenced eating, gratitude was expressed to heaven for the -blessings which this most joyful season of the year had brought to them. - -“For what are they thus grateful?” I inquired. “Contrast their situation -with that of the happy party whom we have just left.” - -“And yet they are not less happy,” was the reply. “Listen to the joyful -exclamations of the children.” - -I listened, and the words of the little ones soon convinced me that my -guide was right. Their hearts seemed overflowing with joy. The gifts -which Christmas had brought to them and their parents were, mostly, -substantial articles of food and clothing; but there was one small -package of toys which had lost the charm of novelty for the children of -some wealthy neighbor, and which, though no longer new and glittering, -were whole and good. In the eyes of the poor children they were of -inestimable value, and they gathered around them with so much delight, -that I doubted not that they derived more pleasure from them than the -original possessors had ever done. - -Again the scene changed, and we stood in a miserable hovel, where sat a -poor mother, with three little children clinging to her side, and -rending her heart with their cries for bread. No fire was on the hearth, -and the whole scene was one of extreme poverty and desolation. - -“Surely there is no happiness here,” I whispered. - -“Christmas will bring them at least one ray,” replied my guide; and even -as she spoke, a load of wood and coal stopped at their door, and a man -entered to inform them that he had orders to supply them with fuel, and -desired to know where it should be put. While the grateful woman was yet -uttering heartfelt expressions of thankfulness, a lad entered with a -large basket of provisions, which he placed upon the table, at the same -time slipping a bank note of trifling value into her hand, saying -gayly,— - -“Here is a merry Christmas to you, my good woman.” - -Tears streamed from the eyes of the mother, while the hungry little ones -clustered around the basket, and were soon bountifully supplied with a -portion of its contents. - -Deeply interested in this affecting little scene, I had nearly forgotten -the presence of my companion, when a gentle whisper aroused me. - -“Would you see the effects of your own Christmas gift?” and scarcely had -I signified my assent, when we stood in another humble dwelling, where I -recognized the little girl to whom I had given the shilling, surrounded -by her family. They had apparently just received their gifts, for the -mother was smiling through her tears, as she looked at the spool of -cotton which lay on her lap; and Mary, and Johnny, and Thomas, and the -baby were all in the enjoyment of the book, the whistle, the cake, and -the candy: while the elder sister stood gazing on the happy little -group, herself the happiest of them all, and joining heartily in the -blessings which they heaped upon the good lady who had given her the -shilling. In the corner of the room sat the father, and in his hand was -the book which had been purchased at the cheap bookstore with the four -cents. I saw at once that it was a Testament. He had not yet opened it, -but sat looking at his wife and children with a subdued, mournful -expression of countenance, which awakened a strong conviction that there -was yet a chance for his reformation. - -At length little Mary approached him timidly, and said: - -“Look at the book sister bought for me, father; it is not so large as -yours. May I look at yours?” - -“Yes, Mary, you may read to me from it, if you like; my head aches, and -I cannot read myself.” - -The noisy mirth of the children was hushed, while the child read from -the Book of Life. Some of the passages were singularly appropriate, and -tears rolled down the cheeks of the unhappy man as he listened. As she -paused at the close of the chapter, the elder girl drew to his side and -whispered,— - -“Will you not pray with us, as you used to do long ago, dear father?” - -As if impelled by an irresistible power, he complied. Prayer and praise -had long been strangers to his lips, but now his petitions were fervent, -his confessions of past error full, and expressive of deep humility. - -As they rose from their knees, the eyes of the husband and wife met, and -they fell into each others arms. - -One long, earnest embrace, and then the father clasped his children to -his bosom. - -“With the help of God, I will no longer be unworthy of you,” he -exclaimed. “This precious little Christmas gift shall be my guide, and -in obedience to its precepts we shall yet find happiness.” - -I uttered a joyful exclamation and awoke, but the remembrance of my -dream was vividly present; and as the rays of the morning sun beamed -brightly in at our windows, I felt a pleasing confidence that the day -would bring happiness to the poor as well as to the rich. All -reflections upon the visions of the night were soon banished, however, -by the shouts of “Merry Christmas” from numerous happy little voices at -our door, and we hastened to join in their pleasure. - -A week passed by, and the little heroine of Christmas Eve again stood at -our door. It was wonderful what a change a few happy days had wrought in -her appearance; and her whole face was radiant with joy, as she told me -that they were all so happy now. - -“Dear father had promised never to drink again, and he had good work, -and they could all live comfortably.” And again and again she assured me -that their happiness was all owing, through the blessing of God, to the -little book which she bought for father with a part of my Christmas -gift. - - - - - NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT. - - -“Father! father! can I go a-nutting with Dick Rogers and Sam Roberts?” -shouted Frank Wilbur, as he bounded into the room where his father was -seated at a desk, busily engaged in sorting some papers. - -“Softly, my son, softly!” replied Mr. Wilbur; “you will disturb your -mother, who is not very well, you know. Where do you wish to go?” - -“Out in the woods, father. The frost has cracked the chestnut-burs, and -the nuts are rattling down so fast!” - -“Have you heard them, Frank?” asked his father, smiling at his -eagerness. - -“No, father, I have not heard them, because I have been at school; but -the boys say so, and I know they are. There was a real hard frost last -night. May I go, father?” - -Mr. Wilbur drew his watch from his pocket, and looked at it -thoughtfully, as he replied,— - -“You may go if you think it best, Frank; but I rather advise you not to -do so. There is but one hour of daylight left, and a large part of this -would be spent in going to and from the woods. You have had a good play -since you came from school; and now is the time to look over your -lessons for to-morrow.” - -“Oh, no, father!” urged Frank. “This evening or to-morrow morning will -do for the lessons.” - -“There is no time like the present, Frank. Better learn your lessons -now, and put off the nutting expedition until Saturday afternoon. That -will soon be here,—only day after to-morrow.” - -But Frank felt unwilling to follow this advice; and, as his father gave -him leave to do as he pleased, he hastened to get a basket and join his -school-fellows. - -“My father says there is no time like the present for learning my -lessons, and I think there is no time like the present for gathering -nuts,” he said to himself as he ran merrily along. - -But Frank had forgotten another of his father’s mottoes, “Duty first, -and pleasure afterwards.” - -It must be confessed that he was rather in the habit of delaying the -performance of duties until the last moment, although he had many times -experienced the bad results of so doing. - -It was indeed a long walk to the chestnut-trees; and, after the boys had -entered the wood, it seemed much darker than it did before, and the nuts -were by no means “_rattling down_” very fast. The frost had opened the -burs a little, but the nuts were still safely enclosed in their prickly -nests. - -“It is too late to get nuts to-night,” said Sam Roberts, the eldest of -the three boys, looking somewhat fearfully around him; for Sam was not -remarkable for his bravery. - -“What are you afraid of?” asked Dick Rogers. “It will not be dark for a -long time yet, only the trees keep out the light; besides, there is -nothing to be afraid of in these woods,—neither lions, nor tigers, nor -bears, nor wolves. So help me find some good clubs, Frank, and we will -knock off some burs, at any rate.” - -“And, if it grows too dark, we can carry them home, and get the nuts out -there,” said Frank, as he eagerly looked around for a club. - -Sam felt somewhat re-assured by the courage of his companions; and all -three of the boys were soon busily employed in knocking the burs from -the trees. - -It was quite dusk when they reached home. Frank found his supper ready -for him; and, after this was over, he spent an hour or two very -pleasantly in getting the nuts from the burs, and roasting some of them -in the kitchen fire. His sister Clara enjoyed this as much as he did; -and they were quite surprised when their father came to tell them that -it was half-past eight, and time for them to go to bed. - -“Can we go into mother’s room and say good night?” asked the children; -for their mother had been ill for some weeks, and had not yet recovered -sufficiently to leave her room. - -“Yes, if you will move gently,” replied Mr. Wilbur. “I think she is not -asleep.” - -The children opened the door of their mother’s room very softly, and -peeped in. She was sitting in a large easy-chair, and smiled pleasantly -upon them as they entered. - -“You have been very quiet this evening, my children,” she said. “How -have you amused yourselves?” - -“We have been cracking chestnut-burs, and roasting some of the nuts,” -answered Frank. “I went to the woods after school, and got a fine lot of -burs; but the frost has not opened them very well yet.” - -“I am glad that you got so many,” replied his mother. “And are your -lessons all prepared for to-morrow?” - -“O mother!” exclaimed Frank, “I have forgotten them entirely! I promised -father to study them this evening. I am very sorry; but I will get up -very early in the morning, and study them before breakfast. Will that -do, mother?” - -“It would do, Frank, if you could be sure that you would rise early, and -that nothing would take your attention from your lessons. But it is very -dangerous to delay the performance of any duty until the last moment. -Perhaps there is time to look over at least one lesson before you go to -bed.” - -“I am pretty sleepy, mother,” replied Frank, yawning. “I do not think I -could understand the lessons. But I will be sure to get them in the -morning.” - -“I hope nothing will prevent you, my son; and so now kiss me a -good-night, and go to your own room.” - -“Will you come down stairs to-morrow, mother?” asked Clara, as she -affectionately twined her arms around her mother’s neck, and gave her a -good-night kiss. - -“Yes, dear, if I feel pretty well I think I shall come down to -breakfast.” - -The children clapped their hands with delight, and joyfully went to -their own rooms. - -Frank’s sleeping-room was on the west side of the house, and it was not -very light there early in the morning. The clock was just striking when -Frank awoke the next morning. - -“That’s right!” he exclaimed, “just six o’clock. I knew I should have -time to learn my lessons before breakfast.” - -But, to Frank’s great astonishment, the clock gave another stroke after -he had counted six. - -“It cannot be seven,” he said to himself. “It looks very early yet. -Perhaps I counted too fast.” - -Frank thought it better to hurry to dress himself, however, and was soon -seated by the window, with his book in his hand. - -But he had scarcely commenced studying when the breakfast-bell rung. -Frank knew then that it must be half-past seven; and he ran down stairs, -feeling a good deal mortified, and somewhat anxious as to how he should -get through his lessons. - -He found his father already seated, with the large Bible open before -him; for morning worship always preceded breakfast. So Frank took his -place at once, only waiting to give his mother a smile and a kiss; for -he felt delighted to see her in her accustomed seat once more. - -The family remained at the breakfast-table rather longer than usual, -because it seemed so pleasant to be all together again; but at length -Mr. Wilbur rose, and said he must go to his business. - -“I am half an hour behind-hand this morning,” he added, smiling; “but, -as it is mother’s first appearance since her illness, I did not like to -be in haste.” - -Frank cast his eyes toward the clock as his father spoke, and saw to his -dismay that it was half-past eight. - -“Are your lessons prepared, Frank?” asked his mother rather anxiously, -as he sprang up in haste. - -Frank felt ashamed to say that they were not, for he remembered how -positive he had been the evening before that nothing could prevent him -from learning them in the morning. But he was an honest boy, and told -the whole truth at once. - -There was no help for it now, for it was time for him to go to school; -and so, with a heavy satchel of books upon his shoulder, and with a -heart almost as heavy as the books, Frank bade his mother good-morning, -and set off on his walk. - -Mental arithmetic was the first lesson. It was always a difficult one -for Frank; and, as might have been expected, he failed entirely in the -recitation, and was obliged to leave the class and retire to his seat. -This was but the beginning of troubles. The mortification of being sent -from the class in arithmetic quite unfitted him for learning his other -lessons well. His next recitation was very imperfect; his sums were all -marked “_wrong_;” his writing was blotted, and looked very badly; in -short, it was a day of misfortunes. He was not allowed to leave the room -at recess, and was also detained nearly an hour after school to recite -the lessons which he had failed to learn through the day. - -It was with a sad countenance that he appeared in his mother’s room on -his return home. - -“Where is Clara?” he asked, observing the absence of his sister. - -“Gone to town with your father, my son,” was the reply. - -There was a large town near the village where Mr. Wilbur resided, and -the children thought it a great privilege to be allowed to accompany -their father when business obliged him to go there. - -“Gone to town, mother!” echoed Frank. “Are they going to see the -menagerie?” - -“I believe they are, Frank.” - -“O mother! mother! why could not I have gone with them?” And, quite -overcome by the disappointment and the previous disasters of the day, -the poor boy burst into tears, and hid his face in his hands. - -His mother pitied him very much; and, moving her chair nearer to him, -placed her hand gently and soothingly upon his head. - -Frank was comforted by this, and gradually ceased his sobs, and, seating -himself at his mother’s feet, laid his head in her lap. - -“Your father waited more than half an hour after the usual time of your -return from school, my son. He could not wait longer, as it would have -made it too late for him to attend to his business. Why did you not come -home sooner?” - -“I could not, mother. I was kept after school because I did not know my -lessons,” answered Frank, sadly. - -“And why did you not know them, Frank? Were you idle?” - -“No, mother, I was not idle; I really tried to learn them, but somehow -they would not stay in my mind. I think it was all because I did not -know my first lesson this morning; and that made me feel so sorry and -ashamed that I could not get the next one; and then I was sorry again, -and could not get the third; and so on. One lesson knocked the other -down,” continued Frank, smiling a little, “just as one card-house knocks -the other, when I build the row of tents.” - -His mother smiled also at this comparison, for she was glad to have -Frank feel cheerful again. - -“And why did you not know your first lesson?” she asked. “We must find -out what gave the first blow to your tents; for, if we know the cause of -the evil, we can perhaps find a remedy for the future.” - -“The first lesson is in mental arithmetic, mother, and the boys are -expected to learn it at home. I got up too late to study it this -morning; and so, of course, I did not know it.” - -“But yesterday afternoon was the time to study it, Frank. An hour before -tea is the rule. Your school closes at three, and this leaves you time -for a good play until half-past five; then you should study till -half-past six.” - -“But I went to the woods for nuts, mother. I wish father had not given -me leave to go.” - -“Your father likes to leave you in freedom sometimes,” replied his -mother. “He wishes you to observe and feel the consequences of your own -actions.” - -“Well, I have felt the consequences this time, and they are bad enough,” -said Frank, sighing. “You do not know how much I want to go to the -menagerie, mother.” - -“I know you want to go very much, and I feel much grieved at your -disappointment, Frank; but the misfortunes of the day may be a useful -lesson to you through your whole life, if you will try to profit by -them.” - -“I will, mother. I am resolved to act up to father’s motto in -future,—‘There is no time like the present.’ You will see that all my -duties will be done in proper time.” - -“I hope so, my son. A habit of promptness, in the performance of even -the most trifling duties, will be invaluable to you through life.” - -“For a good beginning, mother,” continued Frank, “I will learn my lesson -for the morning now, before Clara comes home, and then I shall be at -leisure to talk to her.” - -“I shall be glad to have you do so, Frank. And now I will tell you that -your father intends going to town again on Saturday, and, if you are a -good boy, will then take you to the menagerie.” - -Frank’s face grew bright with pleasure. - -“I am very glad!” he exclaimed. “But why did you not tell me before, -mother?” - -“I thought it better not to do so, my son. And now get your book, and I -will explain the lesson to you.” - -Frank obeyed; and the next half-hour was a pleasant one, although the -dreaded arithmetic was in his hand. - - * * * * * - -Our young readers will wish to know whether Frank kept his resolution of -never delaying the performance of duties; and if they will pass over -with us the lapse of some six or seven years, and take another peep at -him as a young man of seventeen, they will, we think, be able to answer -the question to their own satisfaction. - -Frank was now the only earthly protector of his mother and sister, for -Mr. Wilbur had been removed to the spiritual world about two years -before. He had left but little property; and Mrs. Wilbur found it better -to leave her pleasant home in the village, and hire rooms in the town to -which Frank and Clara used to love to go when they were children. Frank -was very desirous to earn something to aid in their support; and his -mother at length found a good situation for him in a large -shipping-store. His salary was small, however; and Mrs. Wilbur and Clara -were obliged to take fine sewing to do, and, even with this assistance, -found it difficult to maintain themselves comfortably. - -“To-morrow I shall be seventeen, mother!” suddenly exclaimed Frank, as -he sat thoughtfully gazing into the fire one evening after his return -from the store. - -“Yes, my son,” answered his mother. “You are almost a man.” - -“And I ought to be able to take care of you and Clara, mother. My salary -is too small. I know that my services are worth more than Mr. Lewiston -pays me. - -“That may be, Frank; but he gives you as much as it is customary to -allow boys of your age. I do not know that we ought to expect him to do -more.” - -“I cannot bear to have you and Clara work so constantly, mother. I am -the one to work.” - -His mother smiled affectionately upon him as she replied,— - -“You do work for us all the time, Frank, and we love to look to you for -help; but it cannot be supposed that, at your age, you can support us -entirely.” - -Just at this moment, Clara put the last stitches to the work upon which -she was engaged; and, throwing it aside, she said joyfully,— - -“Come, Frank, I have finished work for this evening. Bring your flute, -and I will sing the new song that we like so much.” - -Frank readily complied; and Mrs. Wilbur listened with delight as Clara’s -sweet voice mingled with the soft notes of her brother’s flute. - -But, at the end of the first song, Frank rose hurriedly, as if suddenly -recollecting something, saying as he did so,— - -“Mother, I must go back to the store for a little while.” - -“Go back to the store, my son! For what purpose, at this hour?” - -“A cask of gunpowder was brought there this afternoon, mother, and I -fear that it was not put in a place of safety. We have a particular -place for keeping it, in order to guard against accidents. It was given -in charge to our head clerk; but he was unexpectedly called away this -evening, and I do not feel sure that he attended to it.” - -“But as you were not desired to take care of it, Frank, will it not -answer to leave it where it is until morning?” asked Mrs. Wilbur, for -the walk was a long one, and she felt sorry to have Frank go at so late -an hour. - -“You can move it to-morrow, when you open the store,” urged Clara. “You -will need some one to help you, and there is no one there to-night.” - -“There are men enough near by,” replied Frank, smiling. “I think I will -go, mother. I do not love to leave this pleasant room, especially as -Clara is ready to sing with me; but I believe it is my duty to attend to -that powder immediately. _There is no time like the present_, you know, -mother. I do not forget father’s motto.” - -“You have always remembered it well since the day of misfortunes at -school,” answered his mother, “and I will not urge you to act contrary -to it now. Go, if you think it your duty.” - -And Frank went. As he expected, the gunpowder had not been put in a -place of security. He attended to its removal, and then, with a quick -step and a light heart, returned home. Clara had already retired to -rest, and his mother was only awaiting his return to follow her example. -Soon all were sleeping quietly. - -An alarm of fire in the middle of the night, and the noise of the -engines as they passed, aroused Frank; and, on looking from his window, -he felt convinced that the light was in the direction of the store in -which he was employed. - -Hastily dressing himself, and pausing at his mother’s door to tell her -where he was going, he was soon walking rapidly to the spot. - -As he approached, he felt relieved at finding that the fire had not -originated in the store, as he had at first feared. It was, however, -fearfully near; and, in spite of the efforts of the firemen, one part of -it was soon in flames. - -It was at this moment that Frank arrived at the scene of action; and, at -the same instant, Mr. Lewiston and the head clerk came running from -opposite directions. - -Frank followed his employer as he was hastily passing into the store, -hoping that the most valuable goods might be removed; but they were both -forcibly pulled back by the clerk, who, with a countenance full of -horror, exclaimed,— - -“The powder! O, Mr. Lewiston, I did not remove it; and the fire is in -that part of the building!” - -Mr. Lewiston uttered an exclamation of despair, and was springing from -the door, when Frank laid his hand upon his arm. - -“All is right, Mr. Lewiston. I saw the powder properly stored.” - -“Bless you, my boy!” was the heartfelt reply; and, relieved from this -dreadful fear, all hands were soon at work to rescue the property from -the devouring flames. - -But the firemen had now gained the victory, and the fire was -extinguished before it had reached the main part of the building. Only -the left wing was burned; but it was there that the powder had been -placed, and from there Frank had removed it, in his late visit at the -store the previous evening. He thanked the Lord that he had done this, -as he thought of the dreadful loss of life and property which might -otherwise have taken place. - - * * * * * - -Again the little party had assembled around the table to enjoy their -pleasant evening chat. It was on the day after the fire, Frank’s -seventeenth birthday. - -“And now, mother, I have a piece of good news to tell you,” he said, as -he finished the recital of the adventures of the previous night; for, at -Clara’s request, he had told the story a second time. - -“Mr. Lewiston has doubled my salary; and, moreover, he assures me that -he will continue to advance me, and will at some future time endeavor to -establish me in business for myself. And now, Miss Clara, you may put -away your needle, and read and study a part of your time; and mother -will no longer be so incessantly occupied with her work, but will have -leisure to take some air and exercise, and she will look bright and -happy again, as she used to when dear father lived with us.” - -“I ought to look happy when I have such kind children to take care of -me,” answered Mrs. Wilbur, smiling through her tears. - -“I am _so glad_ you went back to the store last evening, Frank!” -exclaimed Clara. “I will never again try to persuade you to neglect the -prompt performance of any duty.” - -“It will be a lesson to both of us,” replied Frank. “You do not know how -happy I felt this morning when our head clerk offered me his hand, and -told me that I had saved him from a life of misery; for, had there been -an explosion, he should have considered himself as the cause of the -disasters which must have followed.” - -“It must make you very happy to think that you have been the means of -preventing so frightful a calamity,” answered Mrs. Wilbur. “The lesson -is indeed a useful one to us all; and in every duty, whether great or -small, we will ever bear in mind your favorite motto, ‘There is no time -like the present.’” - - - - - THE LITTLE MATCH BOY. - - -“Don’t cry, mother. I shall soon be older and stronger, and then I can -do more for you and little sister. You shall never want for bread when I -am a man. Don’t cry, mother, _please_ don’t; it breaks my heart.” - -The speaker was a manly little fellow of some seven years. His -countenance would have been beautiful, but for an expression of -premature and anxious care, and a look of patient suffering which it was -painful to see on the face of happy childhood. - -One arm was thrown around the neck of a pale, sad-looking woman, while -the other clasped a chubby little girl, who, smiling through her tears, -lisped, in her pretty childish accents, - -“Don’t cry, mother. Rosy loves you.” - -There was comfort in this. The last crust of bread had been eaten, and -not a solitary sixpence remained to buy another loaf. The mother was too -feeble and ill to ply her needle with that unremitting diligence which -was necessary for the support of her little ones. Her strength had -already been too severely taxed; and now the time had come when Nature -could no longer support the heavy burden. The future was very, very -dark; and yet the mother’s heart was comforted by the innocent love of -her darlings. She wiped away those bitter tears, and tried to smile, as -she clasped them to her bosom. - -“My good Ernest,” she exclaimed, “my sweet little Rosy, I will weep no -more. Our Heavenly Father careth even for the sparrows. Surely He will -not forsake us in our hour of need. You must go to Mr. Thayer’s, my son, -and see if he will give me some more work. Tell him that I have been -very ill, but am better now, and should be glad of employment. Tell him, -also, that it would be a great relief to me if he would pay me one -dollar in advance. Perhaps he will do this for me.” - -“If he does not, he will be a cross man,” said Ernest, “for he has a -pocket-book full of dollars. I saw them the last time I was there.” - -“Yes, dear; but he employs a great many people, and has to pay out a -great deal of money.” - -“You are not able to sew, mother,” said Ernest, thoughtfully, as he took -up his hat. “It will bring back the bad pain in your side.” - -“Perhaps not, Ernest. At any rate, I must try. Go now, my son, for I -have no bread to give little Rosy for her dinner; and you, too, will -soon be hungry.” - -The heart of the boy swelled almost to bursting, as he obeyed his -mother’s command. For many weeks she had been stretched on the bed of -sickness; and the kind physician, whom she was at length obliged to call -in, had said, in Ernest’s hearing, that she needed rest; that such -constant exertion would certainly cause her death. - -“And now she has sent me for the sewing again,” sobbed the poor child, -“and I know it will kill her: and then, what will become of poor little -Rosy and me. Oh! how I wish I was older. If I could only earn a very -little, it would be some help. Is there nothing in the world that little -boys can do?” - -As Ernest said this, the shrill cry of a match boy attracted his -attention; and a bright thought entered his mind. - -He could carry a basket, surely. It could not be so heavy as the baskets -of wood and blocks which he often picked up around the new buildings for -his mother. And he could call matches, and sell them, too, and take the -money to his mother. And then, how comfortable she would be; and she -would not have to work so hard. - -Pleasant visions of tea and bread, and even of a pound of butter, passed -before Ernest’s eyes; but then an unexpected difficulty arose. Where was -the sum necessary for the outfit to come from? It certainly did not need -a very extensive capital; but dollars, or even shillings, were hard to -find. Ernest had not answered the question to his satisfaction, when he -found himself at the door of the building, where he was to obtain the -work for his mother. There was little trouble in making the desired -arrangement. Mrs. Lawrence was well known at the establishment as an -excellent workwoman; and the work, and the dollar in advance, were -readily furnished. - -Encouraged by this success, Ernest involuntarily exclaimed, - -“Oh, how I wish that some one would lend me a dollar!” - -“And what would you do with a dollar, my little man?” inquired a -gentleman standing by, attracted by the earnestness of the boy’s manner. - -Ernest blushed deeply, but answered, in a firm tone, - -“I would buy a basket and some matches, and other things, and sell them -in the street; and then my poor mother would not have to work so hard.” - -“You are a good son,” was the reply; “and I would willingly lend you the -dollar, if I thought you were old enough to carry out the plan.” - -“Only try me, sir!” exclaimed the animated child. “Only try me! You -shall see that I can do it.” - -At this moment, a hasty summons from a friend reminded the gentleman -that he must not miss an approaching omnibus. He placed a dollar in -Ernest’s hand; and without waiting to hear his expressions of gratitude, -sprung into the coach, and was soon out of sight. - -With rapid steps, Ernest passed through the crowded streets, until he -turned down the narrow alley which led to his own home. - -His delight was almost too great for utterance; and he clasped his arms -around his mother’s neck, and fairly sobbed for joy. - -“What is the matter, my dear son?” exclaimed Mrs. Lawrence, in alarm. -“What new misfortune has befallen us! Would not Mr. Thayer give me -employment?” - -“Oh yes, mother; yes, indeed; and here is the dollar he sent you. I am -not crying because I am sorry, mother. My heart is very glad. You will -not have to work so hard any more, mother; and I shall help to support -you and little Rosy. See what a kind friend has lent me.” And as Ernest -spoke, he held up the dollar which the gentleman had given him. - -“And how will this enable you to support us, my child?” asked the widow, -in astonishment, for she could not understand the meaning of Ernest’s -words. - -“You shall see, mother. I will try my best, and our Heavenly Father will -help me. This dollar will buy me a basket, and a few things to put in -it; and when I have sold those, I can buy some more. You do not know how -well I can call matches, mother;” and he imitated the shrill cry so -skilfully, that Rosy clapped her hands with admiration, and even his -mother smiled at his enthusiasm. - -But it was a sad smile; for it was a trial to her to have Ernest -commence this new mode of life. He was a bright boy, and a good scholar -for his age; and she had hoped that he would continue steadily at -school, until he had acquired a good education. - -But something must be done for their relief; and it was possible that -the boy’s small earnings might at least help to supply their scanty -food. - -So the basket was bought, and a moderate supply of matches and other -trifling articles placed in it; and early on the following morning, -Ernest commenced his new life. - -His neat appearance, and bright, animated countenance, were so -prepossessing, that many who observed him were disposed to buy; and one -kind lady even bestowed an extra sixpence upon him, because he thanked -her so gratefully for buying half-a-dozen boxes of his matches. - -With a joyful heart, he placed his earnings in his mother’s hands. - -“Look, mother!” he exclaimed, “all this, besides what I need to buy more -things with, and the sixpence which I have laid aside toward paying the -dollar. You know I must lay by some every day to pay the gentleman. But -how am I to find him, mother? I never thought to ask where he lived.” - -“He probably meant to give you the money, Ernest, or he would have told -you where to bring it.” - -“Oh no, mother, he only lent it to me; I will pay it back, if I search -the city to find him. How much I thank him for his kindness.” - -“And I thank him too,” said little Rosy. “Now, we shall never be poor -any more—shall we, Ernest?” “I think not,” replied Ernest. “Mother shall -have a cup of tea every evening; and after a little while, Rosy, we will -have butter to eat on our bread, and I will buy you a pretty new frock.” - -“Poor children!” thought the mother, as she gazed fondly upon them. “How -little it takes to make them happy!” - -It was really wonderful what success attended our little match boy. Not -only were many daily comforts provided, but quite a sum was laid by for -time of need. Ernest was almost too happy when he saw both his mother -and Rosy dressed neatly in frocks which had been bought with his -earnings; and his only trouble was, that he had not yet been able to -discover the good gentleman who had lent him the first dollar. - -“I should so love to thank him, and tell him how nicely we are getting -along,” he would sometimes say. “Your cheeks are not quite so pale as -they used to be when you sewed so many hours in the night, mother. I am -very glad that I am old enough to help you.” - -“You are a great help to me, indeed, my son,” replied Mrs. Lawrence; -“but I feel anxious that you should have a little time to devote to your -learning. We have some money laid by now, and I think you may let your -basket rest for awhile, and attend school.” - -Ernest loved his books, and his eyes brightened at the thought of -school; but after a moment’s thought, he said, - -“It would not do, mother, to give up my basket altogether, because there -are a good many kind ladies who buy many things from me, and always wait -for me to come; and besides, we should soon spend the little money that -we have, and then you would have to work so hard again. But I will -study, mother; you will help me, and I will try my best. I can spare two -or three hours every day for my books.” - -And from that time, with his mother’s help, and his own patient -industry, Ernest made rapid progress; and even found leisure to instruct -his little sister in several branches. - -Rosy was an active little girl, and loved to make herself useful. It was -her busy fingers that placed everything in such neat and attractive -order in her brother’s basket; and it was she, also, who made the room -look so very bright and cheerful, to welcome his return. While her -mother was engaged with her sewing, she would sweep the floor, wipe -every particle of dust from the scanty furniture, set the table, and do -everything that one so young could do toward preparing their frugal -meal. - -“See, Ernest,” she said, as her brother seated himself by her side one -evening, after the tea table was cleared away, and Mrs. Lawrence had -resumed her work. “See how nicely I have pasted this strip of sand paper -over the mantel-piece, that you may have a place to light the match upon -when you kindle the fire for mother in the morning.” - -“Yes, it looks very nicely,” answered Ernest; “and I will try to -remember never to draw the matches across the wall any more, since it -leaves such ugly marks. But, Rosy, I see those same marks in very nice -houses sometimes.” - -“Perhaps they did not think about pasting up sand paper,” replied Rosy, -thoughtfully; and then, after a moment’s pause, she added, “You might -cut some little strips, Ernest, and sell them with your matches.” - -“I might do something better than that,” exclaimed her brother, as a -sudden thought struck him. “If mother will give us some paste, and you -will let me use some of your pasteboard and bits of colored paper which -the paper hanger, next door, gave you, I think I can make something very -pretty to hold matches, and light them too.” - -The paste and paper were readily supplied, but Ernest soon found that it -was quite beyond his skill to carry out the plan which he had formed; -and he was delighted when his mother laid aside her work, and offered to -assist him. - -With her help, a stiff piece of pasteboard, seven or eight inches -square, was partly covered with sand paper, and neatly bordered with -colored paper. Two little round cases were then fastened upon the upper -part of the card, to hold the matches; and a small hole was made in the -middle, so that it could be hung upon a nail driven into the wall. - -Ernest and Rosy fairly jumped for joy when the first one was completed -and placed upon the mantel-piece to dry. The second one was made much -quicker than the first; and Mrs. Lawrence soon became so expert, that -she had finished half a dozen in a very short time. These were enough -for an experiment. Ernest was sure they would sell for sixpence a-piece; -and after he went to bed, he could hardly close his eyes, his mind was -so busy thinking what a little fortune he should make with this pretty -invention. - -His expectations were not disappointed. At every house where he called -with his basket, the match cases were noticed and admired; and before he -had been an hour from home, he had sold the last one, and with a light -heart returned to tell his success to his mother. - -A fresh supply was soon obtained; and for several days, he was equally -successful in disposing of them. - -At one house, where a little girl had purchased one of the first cases -which had been made, he received an order for half-a-dozen, to be -furnished as soon as possible. - -“And be sure to make them very pretty, little boy,” said the young girl, -as she stood at the door talking with Ernest; “for my father will look -at them himself, and he will want them very nice. He was quite pleased -when I showed him the one which I bought the other day, and he said you -were an ingenious boy.” - -“My mother makes the greater part of them, Miss,” replied Ernest, -blushing. “We will do our best to please you.” - -Rosy had been uncommonly successful, that day, in collecting pretty -pieces of colored paper; and the six little cases, far prettier than any -which had been made before, were soon completed and placed upon the -mantel-piece to dry, that they might be in readiness for Ernest’s -morning expedition. - -Very happy he felt, as with his basket upon his arm, he knocked at the -basement door of the handsome house where he had often sold his little -wares, and inquired of the girl who opened the door, if he could see the -young lady. - -“Oh, you are Miss Ellen’s little match boy,” was the reply. “Wait a -moment, and I will call her.” - -Just then the door of the breakfast room opened, and Miss Ellen herself -appeared. - -“Have you brought them so soon?” she exclaimed, joyfully, as Ernest -eagerly displayed his treasures. “Oh, they are very pretty! Come with -me, and I will show them to papa. He has finished his breakfast, and is -reading the morning paper. Come right along. Do not be afraid.” - -Ernest took off his hat, and followed his little conductress into the -front basement. A pleasant-looking gentleman sat in an arm-chair, with a -newspaper in his hand. - -“Here is the little match boy, papa,” said Ellen, as they entered. “He -has brought the cases which you wished for. Look! are they not pretty?” - -“Very pretty, my daughter, and very neatly made. What is your name, my -little lad?” - -But Ernest made no reply. He was looking intently and eagerly at the -gentleman, and after a moment’s pause, exclaimed, - -“It must be the very one! I am so glad!” - -“Glad of what, my little fellow?” asked the gentleman, smiling. - -“Glad to find you, Sir. Do you not remember that you lent me a dollar? -Oh, it has been of great use to me; and I have wanted so much to thank -you, and pay it back to you. I have carried it in my pocket for a long -time; but I did not know that you lived in this house.” - -As Ernest spoke, he drew a silver dollar from his pocket, carefully -wrapped in a piece of paper, and offered it to the gentleman; but he -drew back, saying, - -“This is some mistake, my lad. I never lent you a dollar.” - -“Oh yes, Sir, a long time ago; more than a year. It was in Mr. Thayer’s -shop, Sir. We were very poor then, and I was so anxious to do something -to help my mother. You thought I was too small to carry a basket; but -you lent me the dollar.” - -“I remember it now, my boy. You are an honest little fellow. And have -you really succeeded well?” - -“Very well, Sir. We are not so poor now. Mother does not have to work so -hard, and we have good food and comfortable clothes. It is all owing to -your kindness, Sir.” - -Once more Ernest offered the dollar; but the gentleman refused it, -saying, - -“I intended to give it to you, my child.” - -“But I should feel happier if you would take it, Sir; I have saved it -for you so long.” - -“I will take the little match boxes instead, then,” replied his friend. -“Will that satisfy you?” - -“They are not worth a dollar,” replied Ernest; “but I can bring you -more, if you like.” - -“We have enough, my good boy. A dollar is not too much for them. And -now, give me your name, and tell me where you live, for I shall wish to -see more of you.” - -“My name is Ernest Lawrence, Sir; and we live in one room of the large -white house near the Baptist church.” - -“Ah, yes, I know the place. Well, Ernest, tell your mother that I will -call to see her to-morrow morning, about ten o’clock.” - -“Thank you, Sir; I will not forget to tell her. She will be very much -obliged to you for your kindness, and so will Rosy.” - -“Who is Rosy?” asked Ellen, who had been an attentive listener to the -conversation between her father and the little match boy. - -“My sister, Miss,” replied Ernest, as he took up his basket, and made -his best bow to the gentleman. - -The next morning was a long one to the two children. Very early had Rosy -assisted her mother in putting their little room in the neatest order; -and two hours before the time when they might expect the gentleman, she -was gazing eagerly from the window, hoping that he would soon arrive. - -The right time came at last; and Mr. Burnap—for this was the name of -Ernest’s benefactor—was seen ascending the steps. The children ran to -the door to receive him, and show him the way to their room. - -He spoke kindly to them both, and stroked Rosy’s golden curls; but he -had not long to stay, and seemed anxious to have some conversation with -their mother. So the children employed themselves quietly in another -part of the room, and were careful not to speak a loud word, for fear of -disturbing their guest. - -After a little while, they softly left the room, and seated themselves -on the step of the outer door, where they could talk together in more -freedom, and yet be very sure to see Mr. Burnap before he left the -house. - -In about half an hour, their mother called them. - -“Come here, my boy,” said Mr. Burnap, extending his hand to Ernest, as -he advanced. “Your mother tells me that you are fond of your books. -Would you like to give up going out with your basket, and attend a good -school?” - -Ernest hesitated. - -“Speak out, my boy. Tell us what is in your mind.” - -“I should love to go to school very much, Sir, if I was sure that my -mother would not have to work too hard. My basket earns enough to buy us -many comforts.” - -“I will see that your mother is provided for. Would you, then, like to -attend school?” - -“Oh, very much, Sir. I will study hard.” - -“That is right. You are a good son, and I think you will be a good man. -As for my little Rosy, I am sure she is a good little girl, and does all -she can to be useful.” - -“I can sweep the room, Sir,” replied Rosy, smiling pleasantly, as the -gentleman drew her to his side. - -“I thought so, my child. It looks very nice. I must bring my little -daughter to see you some time. And now, I must bid you all good morning. -I will call again in one week, Mrs. Lawrence; please to have all in -readiness.” - -Mrs. Lawrence bowed her head gratefully, but her heart was too full to -speak; and she quite alarmed the children by weeping some time after Mr. -Burnap left the room. - -At length she grew calm, and was able to tell them all that had passed. -Their kind friend had expressed his interest in Ernest’s welfare, and -had offered to give him a good education at his own expense. He had -asked Mrs. Lawrence many questions concerning her present employment; -and finding that constant confinement to her needle was injurious to her -health, and yielded them but a scanty support, he had proposed to her to -remove to some comfortable rooms in a house of his own, part of which -was at this time vacant. One of these rooms was fitted for a shop; and -he offered to advance a sufficient sum to enable her to open a small -thread and needle store, which would, he thought, be successful, and -might be gradually increased. - -Ernest and Rosy were almost wild with delight, when their mother told -them of this plan. Rosy was sure she could soon learn to attend the shop -as well as her mother; and Ernest thought he could help a great deal -when he was not in school. Their hearts were filled with gratitude to -their Heavenly Father, who had raised them up such a kind friend. - -In about a week they were established in their new home, which seemed to -them almost like a palace. Several articles of furniture were given them -by Mr. Burnap; and the whole place presented a remarkably neat and -attractive appearance. - -The little shop was very successful; and before many months had passed -away, Mrs. Lawrence was able, not only to repay the sum which their -friend had advanced to them, but also to increase her stock of goods -considerably. - -Mr. Burnap would have objected to receiving the money, but Mrs. Lawrence -begged that he would take it, and if he pleased, use it to assist others -who were poor and needy. - -Ernest applied with great diligence to his studies, and made rapid -progress. Little Rosy, also, was soon placed at school; and was no less -an industrious scholar than her brother. They delighted to do everything -in their power to assist their mother, and often wished they could do -more, to show their gratitude to the friends who had been so kind to -them. - -Mr. Burnap had no son, and Ernest became very dear to him. After several -years, he took him into his own counting-room, and, as he grew older, -made him a partner in his business. - -Ernest, while still a young man, was a wealthy merchant. If you could -have looked into his beautiful parlors, and have seen that -handsomely-dressed, cheerful-looking old lady, seated in her -rocking-chair, and that lovely young girl by her side, you would not -have recognized poor Mrs. Lawrence and her little Rosy; and in that -gentlemanly-looking man who has just entered, you would have been still -more unable to have recalled the little match boy, whose shrill cry had -once been heard through those very streets, where he was now known and -respected. - -Ernest still loved to tell the story; and when Rosy would sometimes say, - -“That little thread and needle store seems like a dream to me now,” he -would produce the very basket which he had formerly carried, and the -silver dollar which he had so long reserved to repay his benefactor, and -would smilingly reply, - -“My match basket is still a reality to me, Rosy. We will not forget the -days gone by.” - - - - - I FORGOT. - - -“I am glad you have come, Clara,” said Mrs. Gray, as her little daughter -entered the room, on her return from an errand to a neighboring shop; “I -began to fear you would be too late. Where are the buttons?” - -“The buttons!” exclaimed Clara. “Oh, mother, I forgot to buy them!” - -“Forgot to buy them, Clara; how is that possible, when you went to the -shop for the very purpose of getting them? I gave you no other errand.” - -“I know that, mother; but you gave me leave to buy the worsted to work -the slippers for father, for which I have been saving my money so long. -I met Anna Lee, and we were so busy talking together, and selecting the -prettiest shades of worsted, that I quite forgot the buttons. I will go -back again, mother.” - -“No, Clara, it will be too late; your father is now eating his dinner, -and he expects the coach in a few minutes. I should have but just time -to sew the buttons on his coat, if I had them now. If he had not been so -suddenly called from home, his clothes would have been in readiness. I -have exerted myself all the morning to put every thing in proper order -for his journey, and all is now ready excepting his overcoat, which -needs new buttons very much.” - -Clara looked sorry and ashamed, and just then her father entered the -room, saying,— - -“Is my coat nearly ready? I think the coach will be here in five -minutes.” - -“I am sorry to say that Clara forgot the buttons,” replied his wife, -“and there is no time to send her again to the shop.” - -“Oh, no!” said Mr. Gray, “I must wear the coat as it is. I should be -gone before she could reach the shop. It is not pleasant to think that -my little daughter’s forgetfulness obliges me to wear a shabby coat; but -do not trouble yourself about it. I will get a tailor to repair it at -the town where we stop for the night.” - -A few minutes passed, and the coach rattled to the door. Mr. Gray -hastily bade his wife an affectionate farewell, and stooping to kiss -Clara he said, “My daughter must remember that forgetfulness is, often, -only another name for selfishness.” - -In another minute he had taken his place in the coach, the door was -closed, the driver sprang to his seat, and they whirled away as fast as -the four stout horses could carry them. - -Clara stood at the door until the coach was out of sight, and then -slowly and sadly returned to the parlor, and seated herself by her -mother. - -“I am very sorry I forgot the buttons,” she said; “but what did father -mean by saying that forgetfulness is only another name for selfishness? -I did not mean to forget, mother; I was willing to go for them. Selfish -people are unwilling to do any thing to help others.” - -“There are many kinds of selfishness, Clara, and forgetfulness is -certainly one kind. You have a bad habit of excusing many acts of -thoughtlessness and carelessness by saying, ‘I forgot.’ Now can you tell -me why you forgot to buy the buttons?” - -“Because I was so engaged in selecting the worsteds and in admiring the -pretty colors, mother.” - -“And was not that selfish, Clara? You did not forget your own errand, -but you allowed it to engross your mind so entirely, that you forgot the -real object for which you were sent to the shop. If you loved to be of -use to me, as well as you love to please yourself, you would have -remembered what I sent you for, and purchased that before you attended -to your own wants.” - -“I will try to do better another time, mother,” replied Clara, “and in -this case I believe I was a little selfish; but I do not believe that -forgetfulness is always selfishness.” - -“Not always, perhaps; but very often,” said Mrs. Gray. “If we love our -neighbor as ourselves, we shall remember his desires as well as we do -our own. It is a poor excuse for any fault to say, ‘I forgot to do -right.’ Now, tie on your bonnet, Clara, and we will take a short walk -this fine afternoon.” - -“Oh, thank you, mother! I love to walk with you; and will you tell me -where father has gone, and all about it, as you said you would do when -you were at leisure.” - -“I will,” replied her mother. “We will take the pleasant retired path -which leads through the woods, and when we reach our favorite seat we -will rest ourselves, and talk about your father’s journey.” - -Clara always found a walk with her mother instructive as well as -delightful; for Mrs. Gray allowed nothing to escape her observation, but -made even the most trifling objects the means of conveying pleasant and -useful information. A simple flower, or blade of grass, often served to -impress upon Clara’s mind the wisdom and beauty which is visible in all -the works of the Lord; and the music of the birds never fell unheeded -upon her ear, but elevated her affections to her Heavenly Father, -without whom not even a sparrow falleth to the ground. From her earliest -childhood her mother had endeavored to give her habits of observation, -and had taught her to regard nothing which the Lord has made as too -trifling to be instructive and useful, if examined with proper -attention. - -“Anna Lee has collected specimens of a great many different kinds of -leaves, mother,” said Clara, as she plucked a large oak leaf from a tree -which they were passing, and admired its deep green and smooth glossy -surface. “She has a very large book quite full, and yet she tells me -that she has never been able to find two leaves exactly alike.” - -“She will never find two leaves alike, Clara. There are no two things in -creation that are exactly alike.” - -“Why, mother, how can you know?” exclaimed Clara, in surprise. “There -may be two things alike which you have never seen.” - -“No, Clara, this cannot be. The Lord is infinite, and therefore there is -an infinite variety in all things that He has made. There is not given -any thing the same as another, and neither can be given to eternity.” - -“Not even two blades of grass, mother?” asked Clara. - -“No, Clara,” replied her mother, smiling. “When you are older you will -understand this better, but it will always fill your mind with wonder -and admiration. At present, it is sufficient for you to recollect what I -have said,—that the Lord is infinite, and that therefore, there is an -infinite variety in all things. To impress this upon your mind, you may -compare as many things as you please, and you will soon find that -although they will frequently look alike, yet by careful observation you -will always find some slight shades of difference.” - -“Yes, mother, I will try,” said Clara, “and I think I should like to -collect a book of leaves like Anna’s, if you are willing, mother.” - -“I have no objection, Clara; and, if you like, I will give you a short -lesson to learn in a little book which I have on Botany, and then you -will know the names of the different forms of leaves, and I will show -you how to arrange them properly in your book.” - -“Oh, thank you, mother! I shall like that very much. And now here we are -at our mossy seat, and I shall hear where father has gone, and why he -looked so grave when he read that letter this morning.” - -“Yes, you shall now hear all about it,” replied Mrs. Gray. “I was -pleased to observe that you tried to suppress your curiosity this -morning, and when your father requested you to leave the room, as he -wished to talk with me alone, that you obeyed readily and without asking -any questions. The letter was from your aunt Catharine. She tells us -that her husband’s health is evidently declining, and the physicians -strongly recommend a milder climate. They also think that a voyage at -sea might be useful to him. He will leave home for Italy in a few days, -and your aunt has decided to accompany him.” - -“And is little Ellen going with them, mother?” asked Clara, who was -listening with eager attention. - -“No, my dear,” replied Mrs. Gray; “your aunt thinks that she could not -devote herself so entirely to her husband if little Ellen was with her, -and she has therefore decided to leave her behind, although it is a -great trial to part with her. She would like to have Ellen remain with -us during their absence, and this was the principal subject of the -letter to your father.” - -“And shall you let her come, mother?” exclaimed Clara. “Oh, do say yes! -I shall be so delighted to have a little sister like Ellen to play with. -I will help you take care of her all the time.” - -“Her nurse will come with her,” replied Mrs. Gray, smiling at Clara’s -eagerness. “Your father has now gone to visit your uncle and aunt, and -it is quite probable that little Ellen and her nurse will return with -him.” - -“How glad I am,” said Clara; “I hope aunt will remain in Italy a long -time. I do not mean that I hope uncle Henry’s health will oblige them to -stay, but I should love to have him get better, and conclude to travel -for two or three years, and leave Ellen with us.” - -“There is no probability of their doing this, Clara. If your uncle -should recover, they will return next summer; and though we may have -become much attached to your little cousin, and grieve to part with her, -I trust we shall not be so selfish as to wish to prolong her separation -from her parents.” - -“I can teach her a great deal before they come home,” said Clara. “She -is nearly two years old now. I might teach her to read before she is -three.” - -“We will first teach her to talk,” replied her mother; “but we will not -teach her to say, ‘I forgot!’” - -“No, mother, I will not teach her to say that. I will teach her all that -I can that is good, but nothing that is evil.” - -“A very good resolution, Clara. And now we will return home, for the air -is rather too cool.” - -Before I tell my young readers about Mr. Gray’s return with little -Ellen, I must introduce them more particularly to Clara; although, from -what I have already said concerning her, they may have formed a good -idea of her character, and have justly concluded that she is very much -like themselves, sometimes trying to do what is right, and suffering -herself to be led by the good spirits around her, and at other times -somewhat selfish and thoughtless, allowing evil spirits to lead her in -the wrong path. - -Clara was nearly eleven years old. She was generally obedient to her -parents and teachers, kind to her playmates, diligent in her studies, -and orderly and industrious in her habits. Still she had some faults. -Although obliging in her disposition, and desirous to be useful to those -around her, she frequently entirely disregarded their wishes through -mere thoughtlessness and inattention. Like most children, she was fond -of play, and sometimes allowed her amusements to make her forget to -perform her duties. - -She was unwilling to believe that this forgetfulness was one form of -selfishness; for Clara, like many other persons, believed herself free -from this evil, because she was glad to share whatever she had with -those who needed it, and was even willing to give up her own pleasure -for the sake of being useful to others. I have known her to decline an -invitation to a pleasant little party, because her mother was not quite -well, and needed her attention; and yet, perhaps, in the course of that -same afternoon, she would become so much interested in some book, or -favorite amusement, that she would quite forget the object for which she -remained at home, and entirely neglect to attend to her mother. - -I will relate an instance of Clara’s thoughtlessness, and you will then -see that she sometimes gave great trouble to herself and to others, -although she very seldom intended to do wrong;—she only _forgot to do -right_. - -Very near to Mr. Gray’s there lived a good old woman, whom the children -in the neighborhood called aunt Molly. She lived in a small cottage, -with a neat little garden in front, containing a few flowers and -vegetables, and one large apple-tree. Aunt Molly was quite lame, and -always used a crutch in walking. She had one son, about eighteen years -of age, who lived with her, and took care of her. During the day he was -obliged to be from home to attend to his work, but he took good care to -bring wood, and water, and every thing that he thought his mother could -want, before he left her; and with the help of her crutch she was able -to move about quite briskly, and her little cottage was always in the -neatest order. Every child in the neighborhood loved to visit aunt -Molly, for she had a kind word for each of them, and often a pleasant -story to tell, or a gift of a rosy-cheeked apple or a pretty flower. - -One bright afternoon in October, Clara asked her mother’s leave to pass -an hour or two at the cottage. Mrs. Gray readily consented, and -requested her to take a glass of grape jelly, which she had just been -making, to the old lady. - -“I love to carry aunt Molly a little present, because she is always so -much pleased,” said Clara; and, tying on her bonnet, she bade her mother -good afternoon, and taking the glass in her hand, soon reached the -cottage, where she found aunt Molly comfortably seated in her large -arm-chair, with her knitting-work in her hands, and her crutch lying by -her side. She was, as Clara expected, much pleased with the jelly, and -said it was the best she had tasted for many years. Clara sat by her -side for half an hour, chatting away very happily, and then aunt Molly -requested her to read aloud to her for a little while, as her eyes were -failing, and she often found it difficult to see to read herself. Clara -readily complied, for she was glad to be of use, and another half hour -passed away very pleasantly. - -“Now,” said aunt Molly, “you must go to the garden, and find a nice -apple for yourself. In a few days my son will gather them all, but I -have none in the house to-day. You will probably find some good ones on -the ground, or perhaps you can reach the lower branches of the tree.” - -So Clara ran to the apple-tree, and looked around upon the grass beneath -it for a nice apple. There were some pretty good ones, but they did not -suit her exactly, for high up above her head she saw those that were -much larger and fairer. - -“There is a beauty!” she exclaimed; “I can almost reach it. I wish I had -a stick. I will run and borrow aunt Molly’s crutch, and knock it down.” - -Aunt Molly was quite willing to lend her crutch, but she charged Clara -to bring it back directly, as it was nearly time for her to put by her -knitting and prepare tea. - -“Oh, yes, I will come right back!” said Clara, “and I will set the -table, and hang on the tea-kettle, and help you get tea.” - -While Clara was endeavoring to knock the apple from the tree, she saw -two of her schoolmates running along a lane not far from the cottage; -they were talking very merrily, and seemed to be much pleased about -something. Clara threw down the crutch and ran after them. They stopped -when they heard her call to them, and told her that they were going to -the grove to see a new swing which their brother had just put up. - -“Can every one swing in it who wishes to?” asked Clara. - -“Certainly,” replied Susan Allen, one of the little girls. “My brother -said it was for the accommodation of all the children in the -neighborhood. Come with us, and we will have a fine swing.” - -In her eagerness to try the new swing, Clara quite forgot aunt Molly’s -crutch, which she had left under the apple-tree, and ran hastily along -with the other girls until they reached a small grove of willow-trees at -the end of the lane. Here they found a fine large swing, and enjoyed -their play so much that the time passed very quickly. It was nearly an -hour since Clara had left the apple-tree, when she suddenly sprung from -the swing, exclaiming,— - -“Oh, dear, I forgot aunt Molly’s crutch! I am so sorry,” and she run as -fast as she could toward the cottage. - -Poor aunt Molly, after waiting fifteen or twenty minutes for Clara to -return with the crutch, began to fear that some accident had befallen -her, and thought she would try to get to the door and look out into the -garden. She succeeded in doing this, by taking hold of the chairs and -other furniture. She saw her crutch lying under the tree, but nothing -was to be seen of Clara. She called as loudly as she could, but no one -answered. Becoming still more alarmed, aunt Molly endeavored to get down -the steps which led into the garden, hoping to be able to reach her -crutch. - -“If I can only get my crutch,” she said to herself, “I will go to the -next house, and ask them to look for the poor child, for I know not what -has become of her.” - -But, unfortunately, the old lady, having nothing to take hold of, lost -her balance and fell to the ground. The steps were high, and she was a -good deal bruised by the fall, and her lameness entirely prevented her -from rising, or helping herself in any way. - -Providentially, however, her son returned at an earlier hour than usual. -He was much shocked at finding his mother in such a condition, and -carefully raising her from the ground, he helped her into the cottage, -and laid her upon the bed. He was then preparing to attend to the -bruises upon her face and arm, which were beginning to look very badly, -but his mother begged him to leave her and look for Clara, for she felt -exceedingly anxious concerning her. Just at this moment Clara ran -hastily into the room, with the crutch in her hand, which she had found -under the tree where she left it. She felt very sad at finding aunt -Molly so much injured through her forgetfulness and neglect. The kind -old lady did not reproach her, but she begged her to try to grow more -thoughtful and considerate. - -Clara went immediately to her mother, and told her of what she had done, -and Mrs. Gray hastened to the cottage with some liniment and other -things which were useful for bruises and sprains. - -It was several weeks before aunt Molly was able to sit in her chair and -knit again, for her arm was so badly sprained by the fall that it was a -long time before she could use it. Clara went every day to the cottage -to assist her, and gladly gave up many of her hours for play that she -might have leisure to attend to aunt Molly’s wants, without neglecting -her studies and other duties. This lesson appeared to make so deep an -impression upon her mind, that her mother hoped it would quite cure her -fault; but after a short time had passed away, Clara was nearly as -heedless as she was before. When bad habits are once acquired it is -difficult to overcome them, and many sad lessons are often necessary -before we sincerely endeavor to remove the evil. - - * * * * * - -A few days after Mr. Gray had left home, his wife received a letter from -him naming the day that he should probably return, and requesting to -have a room prepared for Ellen and her nurse, as they would accompany -him. - -Clara was quite overjoyed, and begged her mother to allow her a holiday, -that she might collect every thing that could please her little cousin -from her old stores of playthings, some of which had long been laid -aside. Mrs. Gray consented, and gave her leave to use the lower shelves -of a closet in the room which Ellen was to occupy, for a baby-house. To -this closet, therefore, Clara brought all her treasures, and spent -several hours very happily in making new dresses for the dolls, and in -arranging the different apartments of a house upon the shelves. At -length the parlor, kitchen, and sleeping-rooms were all in proper order; -the dolls were suitably dressed, and placed in their respective places; -one or two were quietly seated in the parlor, another was standing by a -washtub in the kitchen, and another might be seen in the neatly made bed -in the upper room. Mrs. Gray was then summoned to look at the -baby-house. She admired the neatness with which every thing was -arranged, but warned Clara not to be disappointed if she found Ellen too -young to understand and appreciate it. - -“Why, mother,” exclaimed Clara, “even very little babies like -playthings.” - -“Certainly,” replied her mother, “but they like to play with them in -their own way. Ellen will, I doubt not, be much pleased with the -baby-house, but she will not know how to arrange things in an orderly -manner, as you do. For instance, you have placed the clothes for your -dolls very neatly in the drawers of the little bureau. Now, it is quite -probable that Ellen will be delighted with the bureau, but she will not -be willing to allow the clothes to remain in the drawers. Every drawer -will be taken out, and the clothes unfolded; the bureau will be turned -upside down, and perhaps a block-house built with the drawers.” - -“Oh, mother,” said Clara, “that will not do at all! I will show Ellen -how to play properly.” - -“You can let her see how you use the playthings, and she will soon begin -to imitate you; but do not interfere with her plays too much. It is -better to let little children play in their own way, as much as we can, -without allowing them to injure themselves or others. The Lord keeps -good spirits constantly near to them, and in every innocent amusement -they are endeavoring to impart those remains of goodness and truth which -will enable them to be useful and happy as they grow older.” - -“I will remember this, mother, and I will try to be patient, even if -little Ellen pulls my pretty bed to pieces, and puts the ladies into the -kitchen, and Susy, the girl who does my work, into the parlor.” - -“She will probably do these and many other strange things,” replied Mrs. -Gray; “but you must always try, when playing with little children, to -play entirely for their amusement. Do not attempt to have things in your -own way, but devote yourself to making them happy.” - -“And now all is ready,” said Clara, “and how I wish to-morrow evening -was here.” - -“Never wish away time, my dear Clara, but endeavor to improve every -moment as it flies. When we are busily engaged in our duties and -pleasures, time always passes quickly.” - -Clara followed her mother’s advice, and attended diligently to her -studies during the forenoon of the following day. The afternoon was -devoted to reading, sewing, and walking. The hours soon passed away, and -the coach containing the travellers drove to the door before Clara had -begun to watch for its appearance. - -For two or three days little Ellen was too much grieved, by the -separation from her father and mother, to show much affection for the -new friends around her; but she soon forgot her troubles, and appeared -perfectly contented and happy. She was a sweet-looking, happy child, and -no one could look in her innocent face without loving her dearly. - -Clara devoted every leisure moment to her. The baby-house was at first -in constant disorder, but very soon Ellen would try to arrange the -playthings as she saw Clara do, and if she did not succeed in putting -them in their proper places, she would run to her cousin, and pull her -by the frock, saying, “Come, Tara, come.” When all the things were in -order, she would clap her little hands, and say, “Pretty, pretty! Ellen -happy now.” This pleased Clara very much, and she sometimes told her -mother that she loved Ellen more and more every day. - -“I can teach her many things,” she said, “but there are some things -which she teaches me. I never thought so much about the Lord, and -heaven, and the angels, as I have done since Ellen has lived with us. I -love to think how the angels watch over her, and try to teach her what -is good and true. Sometimes when my lessons trouble me, and I feel idle -and cross, if little Ellen comes into the room all these evil feelings -go away, and I resolve to be good and happy. I think she brings the -angels with her, and this makes me feel better.” - -“You must remember that the Lord keeps angels near to you as well as to -Ellen, Clara,” replied Mrs. Gray. “The evil spirits are suffered to have -more power over you than over her, because you are older, and have -learned to distinguish between good and evil. You can easily tell -whether the thoughts which come into your mind are right or wrong, and -you know that the Lord will always enable you to remove the evil -spirits, and suffer the angels to draw near to you, if you sincerely -desire it.” - -“Yes, mother, I know this; but sometimes I think I should love to be a -little child like Ellen, and then I should not so often feel tempted to -do wrong. How sweet she looks when she is asleep. When I look at her -then, mother, I always feel like praying to the Lord. My heart seems to -be raised to Him.” - -“It is a good feeling, my dear, child,” said Mrs. Gray, kissing Clara -affectionately. “The angels are indeed near to you when your heart is -thus raised to your Heavenly Father, and He will always hear your -prayer, and strengthen you to walk in the path of goodness and truth.” - -Several months had passed since the commencement of our story, and in -many respects Clara had considerably improved. “I forgot” was an -expression less frequently used than formerly; but still her old habits -of heedless forgetfulness were often troublesome, and she was frequently -mortified to find that her friends feared to trust her in any important -matter, lest she should neglect to perform her duty. - -“Why will you never allow Ellen to walk alone with me, Margaret?” -inquired Clara of the faithful woman who had charge of her little -cousin; “I am sure I am old enough to take good care of her, and she -loves me almost as well as she does you.” - -“You are very kind to her, and she loves you very much, Miss Clara,” -replied Margaret; “but I should fear to trust her in the street with -you, because you are sometimes a little thoughtless, and some accident -might happen to her. When your aunt parted from the dear child, she -begged me, with tears in her eyes, to watch over her night and day, and -I shall faithfully try to keep the promise I then made.” - -“But, Margaret,” urged Clara, “what accident could happen to Ellen if I -took her to walk up and down the street, and kept hold of her hand all -the way. I would not leave her an instant.” - -“You might forget her,” said Margaret, hesitatingly, for she did not -wish to grieve Clara. “Some of your schoolmates might call to you, or -something else might take your attention.” - -“You ought not to say so,” replied Clara, looking a little offended. “I -know I forget things sometimes, but they are almost always trifling -matters, such as errands, or some other little thing. I could not forget -Ellen. Could I, mother?” she continued, appealing to her mother, who was -sitting in the next room, and had heard the conversation.. - -“I think Margaret is right, Clara,” replied Mrs. Gray. “While we see you -so forgetful of little duties, it would not be proper to intrust you -with any thing important. I think you have improved in this respect -lately, but you are still very thoughtless, and do not make so much -effort to correct the fault as I could wish.” - -Clara did not look very pleasant while her mother was speaking. - -“I do not think I am any more forgetful than other people,” she said. -“Every one forgets sometimes.” - -“You speak improperly, Clara,” said her mother. “You are not in a good, -humble state,—willing to acknowledge your faults and try to remove -them.” - -Clara made no reply, and soon left the room. She felt grieved and -displeased that her little cousin could not be intrusted to her care, -and she felt disposed to charge her mother and Margaret with unkindness, -rather than to blame herself for deserving the mortification. - -Not many days after the above conversation, Clara and Ellen were playing -in the sitting-room, while Mrs. Gray and Margaret were busily engaged in -one of the upper rooms, quilting a bed-spread. There was no fire in the -room where the children were, and it appeared perfectly safe to leave -them together for an hour or two. - -Clara was keeping house, and she frequently sent Ellen to different -parts of the room to purchase such articles as she supposed herself to -need. Sometimes she was ordered to go to the grocer’s for tea and sugar, -sometimes to the market for meat and vegetables. Ellen would run -cheerfully to the place pointed out, pick up a bit of paper or any thing -else that she could find, and return with it to Clara. I suppose you -have all seen children playing in this manner. - -“You must have a market-basket, Ellen,” said Clara. “I know where there -is one that will do nicely. It belongs to me, but I never used it, so -mother put it up on the upper shelf in this closet. I will take it -down.” - -Thus saying, Clara opened the door of the closet, and stepped upon a -chair that she might reach the basket. There were several other things -upon the shelf, and amongst others a box of small papers, neatly folded -up and carefully labelled. When Clara took her basket down she upset -this box, and some of the papers fell to the floor. She picked them up -and put them in their place; but after she had shut the door, she saw -that one little parcel had fallen upon the table near to the closet. -“Never mind,” thought Clara, “I will put it back directly, as soon as I -have fixed the basket for Ellen.” - -They continued their play, and an hour passed very happily. Clara had -forgotten all about the paper, which still lay upon the table. She was -showing Ellen the pictures in a large and valuable book of her father’s, -when Margaret looked in at the door, and inquired if they wanted any -thing. - -“Nothing at all, I thank you, Margaret,” replied Clara; “you may quilt -another hour, if you like. We are having a fine time.” - -Margaret gave them each a cake, and returned to her work. - -While they were eating their cake, Clara saw a little girl, of whom -Ellen was very fond, driving her hoop back and forth in front of the -house. - -“Oh, there is Mary!” she exclaimed; “look, Ellen, how fast she drives -her hoop! I wish I could take you out there.” - -Ellen knocked upon the window, and called “Mamy, Mamy!” but Mary did not -hear. - -“I will run to the door and call her,” said Clara, “and then she will -come and see Ellen. Will you sit still while I am gone?” - -Ellen sat down very quietly, and folded her hands, as she always did -when asked to wait for any one, and Clara ran to the door to call Mary. - -Mary was an obedient, thoughtful child, and she told Clara that she -could not come without her mother’s leave, but if she would wait a -moment, she would ask her. - -The house where Mary lived was next door to Mr. Gray’s, so Clara -promised to wait while she asked her mother. - -“Be as quick as you can, Mary,” she said, “for I left Ellen alone.” - -Mary ran into the house, but returned directly, saying, “I cannot come -now, Clara, because mother wants me to take care of the baby. But just -look at this beautiful present that my aunt sent me last evening,” and -she showed Clara a pretty little work-box, and, touching a spring, it -commenced playing a lively tune. “How pretty!” exclaimed Clara, “I never -saw a musical work-box before;” and she stood still listening to the -music until the sounds died away, and the box was as silent as any other -work-box. - -“Oh, make it play once more, Mary!” said Clara; and Mary again touched -the spring, and it played another tune even prettier than the first. - -Clara would still have begged for another, for the music and the pretty -box had banished every thing else from her mind; but her more thoughtful -companion reminded her that Ellen was alone, and that she must go to her -mother. - -“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Clara, “I forgot all about Ellen; I hope she has -not cried for me. Perhaps she opened the door and went up stairs. She -goes up alone sometimes. Good-bye, Mary,” and she ran back to the -sitting-room. - -Ellen had left the seat where Clara had placed her, and was standing by -the table, with the little parcel which had been left there in her hand. - -As her cousin entered the room, she looked up and said,— - -“Ellen cry when Tara gone,—then Ellen find sugar.” - -“Sugar,” said Clara, snatching the paper from her hand. “Have you been -eating it, Ellen? I wonder what it is.” - -As she spoke she looked at the writing upon the back of the paper, and -saw “Sugar of Lead” written upon it in large letters, and the word -“poison” beneath. - -Clara saw that the paper was now empty, and she knew that Ellen must -have eaten its contents. She turned deadly pale, and for a few moments -stood motionless, as if at a loss what to do. Then rushing to the -staircase, she screamed to her mother and Margaret in such a frantic -manner that they both ran to her in great alarm. - -“Oh, mother, mother!” she sobbed, “I have killed Ellen. I left her alone -for a few minutes, while I listened to Mary’s music-box, and she has -eaten some sugar of lead.” - -“Eaten sugar of lead!” exclaimed Mrs. Gray. “It is impossible, for it -was upon the upper shelf in the closet; she could not have reached it.” - -“No, no, mother, she did not reach it; but I left it on the table, and -forgot to put it back, and then I forgot to return to Ellen, and stood -listening to the music a long time. She has eaten it all, and she will -die, mother. Oh, what shall I do?” - -Poor Margaret had caught Ellen in her arms, and was now sobbing as if -her heart would break; but Mrs. Gray, with more presence of mind, begged -her to be calm, and not alarm the child, as any agitation might hasten -the effect of the poison. - -“Do you, Margaret, go immediately for Dr. Gregory,” she said, “and Clara -must go to her father’s office and ask him to come directly home. There -was but a small quantity in the paper. We may do much for her if we are -calm.” - -Then, taking the child in her own arms, she spoke to her in a quiet and -soothing manner, and taking her up stairs, gave her an antidote for -poison, and then amused her until the physician and Mr. Gray arrived. - -Prompt and judicious remedies in a measure counteracted the fatal -effects of the poison, but a serious illness could not be avoided. For -many days little Ellen seemed to hover between life and death, and even -after the physician had pronounced her out of danger, she was for a long -time so feeble that no one would have supposed her to be the same child -who had seemed so full of life and health but a few weeks before. - -I shall not attempt to describe the agony which poor Clara suffered -during the sickness of her little cousin. Her parents treated her with -great kindness, for they thought the lesson she had received was -sufficiently severe, without adding to it by their reproaches. - -For a long time she could not bear to say a word upon the subject, but -it was evident that a great change was taking place in her character. -She was now not only industrious and obliging, but so thoughtful and -considerate that her friends soon felt willing to trust her, even where -the greatest care was necessary. - -The cold winter months had passed away, and spring had again returned to -gladden the earth. Favorable accounts had been received from Ellen’s -parents. Her father’s health had improved rapidly, and they were now -about to return home. - -“Do you think they will be here in another month, mother?” asked Clara, -as her mother finished reading a letter which she had just received from -their distant friends. - -“I think they will, Clara,” replied Mrs. Gray. “Are you prepared to part -with our dear Ellen?” - -Clara’s eyes filled with tears as she replied, “I shall try to be -prepared, mother, but it will be a great trial. I always loved Ellen -dearly, and since I came so near being the cause of her death, I have -loved her more than ever. Every day I thank the Lord for His mercy in -restoring her to health. It was a sad lesson, mother, but it helped me -to see how really selfish I was. I could never quite understand why you -and father should call forgetfulness a kind of selfishness; but when I -sincerely endeavored to become more thoughtful, I found that the true -reason why I used to forget so often was because I thought so much more -of myself than I did of others. I now try to be very watchful of this -fault, and I pray to the Lord to help me put it away.” - -“And you will never look to Him in vain, my dear Clara,” said Mrs. Gray. -“You have already improved very much. Persevere steadily in the endeavor -to remove selfishness in all its forms. It is the fountain from which -many evils flow.” - - - - - THE SILVER MORNING - AND - THE GOLDEN DAY. - - -“O Father! please to come to the door, and see how pretty everything -looks,” exclaimed William Mason, running eagerly into the room where his -father was sitting. - -Mr. Mason was always glad to give his son pleasure, and he laid aside -the newspaper which he was reading, and followed him to the door. - -There had been quite a heavy snow-storm a few days before, which was -succeeded by rain, and then by severe cold. Everything was now entirely -cased in ice. - -“Is it not beautiful, father?” said William. “I have been all around the -yard and garden, and everything has put on its winter coat. Every little -branch and twig, every blade of grass, and even the little stones are -covered with ice.” - -“This is what we used to call a silver morning, when I was a boy,” said -Mr. Mason. - -“That is a good name for it, father,” replied William; “for everything -shines like silver. Look at the road; it is almost as smooth as the -pond. I think I can skate to school this morning.” - -“You would probably find some rough places, which would injure your -skates,” replied Mr. Mason; “but look towards the east, my son, and you -will see something more beautiful than anything you have yet observed.” - -There was a thick wood of pines toward the east, and, as William looked, -he saw that the trees glittered like diamonds, and he could see colors -like those of a rainbow in every direction. - -He clapped his hands with delight. - -“O father,” he exclaimed, “this is the most beautiful sight of all. The -sun is rising, and soon it will shine on all the trees and plants, and -then everything will look as beautiful as the pine trees do now. It was -a silver morning, father, but it will be a golden day.” - -“It will, indeed,” replied Mr. Mason. “Everything looked cold and dead -before the rays of the sun shone upon them, but now all are sparkling -with beauty. The trees will soon lose their icy casing, but the water -will sink into the ground, and perform many important uses. The frosts -and snows of winter prepare the way for the warmth and beauty of spring -and summer. The earth rests from its labors, and is in various ways -enriched and strengthened.” - -“I like all the seasons, father,” said William. “In winter, I am so -happy when skating and sliding in the fine cool air, that I wish the -weather might always be cold; but when spring and summer and autumn -come, with their long sunny days, and their beautiful birds and flowers -and delicious fruits, I quite forget winter and its pleasures.” - -“Yes, every season has its delights,” replied his father; “but look, -William, there is one of your school-fellows. Is he already on his way -to school?” - -“Oh, that is only Louis Cunningham,” returned William, glancing rather -contemptuously at a plainly dressed, but intelligent and manly looking -boy, who was passing by. - -“_Only Louis Cunningham_,” repeated Mr. Mason! “Well, is he not one of -your school-fellows?” - -“Why, yes, father, he goes to the same school. The master gives him his -schooling for making the fire and keeping the room in good order. We -call him the charity scholar.” - -“I am grieved to hear you speak in this manner,” said Mr. Mason, -gravely. “Mr. Cunningham died when Louis was very young, and his mother -has been obliged to deny him many advantages of education, which she -would gladly have given him if it had been in her power. Your teacher -heard of their situation, and finding, from conversation with Louis, -that he was an intelligent boy, and very desirous to learn, he kindly -offered to take him into his school. But Louis and his mother, although -they were very grateful for the offer, felt unwilling to accept it, -unless they could make some return for the kindness; and it was finally -arranged, that Louis should take care of the school-room and make the -fire, and I have been told that he performs these duties very -faithfully.” - -“He does, indeed,” replied William. “The room is always warm and -comfortable, and so nicely swept and dusted, that we never have any -cause of complaint.” - -“One would suppose, then, my son, that you would feel grateful to the -person who performs these kind offices, instead of regarding him with -contempt and dislike.” - -“Oh, we do not dislike Louis, Father. He is always kind and obliging; -but we do not like to see him placed on an equality with the rest of the -boys, and often pronounced the best scholar in his class.” - -“These are evil feelings, William, and I hope to have the pleasure of -helping you put them away. Sit down by me in the parlor for a few -minutes, and we will talk about Louis. Can you tell me why the boys -think he should not be placed upon an equality with them? Is he inferior -to the others as a scholar, or is he a wicked, profane boy?” - -“Oh no, father. Louis is a very good boy, and a better scholar than many -who have had greater advantages; but, as he does not pay for his -schooling, we do not think that he is entitled to the same privileges -that we are.” - -“Even if this were the case, he would be entitled to every privilege, -William, if Mr. Grant chose to instruct him without remuneration; but -Louis does pay for his schooling; not indeed with his father’s -money,—because the Lord has seen fit to remove his father to the -spiritual world,—but with his own labor. Mr. Grant considers his -services as an equivalent to his instruction, and, according to your own -account, the duties are well performed. Louis, then, pays for his -schooling as much, or more, than any boy in school; for the others -depend upon their father’s labor, while he depends upon his own. Your -school bills, as well as other expenses, are paid from the proceeds of -my daily labor in my profession, and the case is the same with the other -boys who attend your school.” - -“This is very true, father,” replied William, “and I know it is wrong to -despise those who are poorer than ourselves. We often laugh at Louis, -when he comes to school with coarse, patched clothes; but I suppose his -mother cannot afford to buy him any better.” - -“She cannot, indeed, William; and of how little consequence is external -clothing, compared to many other things in which Louis probably -surpasses your other school-mates. It is right to be neat and clean, and -as well dressed as our circumstances will admit; but the clothing of our -soul is of more importance than the clothing of our bodies. If Louis is -industrious, obedient, faithful in the performance of his duties, and in -the endeavor to shun evil words and deeds, he appears to the Lord and -the angels as if clothed in the most beautiful raiment.” - -William made no reply, but appeared much interested in what his father -was saying, and Mr. Mason continued,— - -“You must ever remember the Golden Rule, my son. Think how you would -wish to be treated, if you were situated like Louis; and then you will -be more careful not to wound his feelings, by contempt or idle jests.” - -“I will try to remember, father. I know I have done wrong, and I will -begin to-day, and treat Louis just the same as I do the other scholars. -Perhaps I may be able to help in some way.” - -“These are good resolutions, my son; and, if they are carried into -practice, they will do you and others much good. The light has dawned in -your mind. It is a _silver morning_, and the rays of the spiritual sun -will render it a _golden day_.” - -Within an hour after this conversation, William was on his way to -school, with his satchel of books and his skates slung over his -shoulder, and his dinner pail in his hand. He was soon joined by several -companions, and each boy tried to display his skill in keeping his -balance on the glare ice, which to many would have rendered the road -almost impassable. But boys have little fear of ice and snow, and, half -running and half sliding, they soon reached the school-house, where they -found, as usual, a comfortable and neatly arranged room. - -Louis Cunningham was busily engaged at his desk, and, being little -accustomed to any morning salutations from his school-fellows, he did -not look up when they entered. He was somewhat surprised to hear William -exclaim: “Good morning, Louis. What a grand fire you have got for us. I -am sure we are much obliged to you, this cold morning.” - -“You are very welcome,” he replied with a pleasant smile. “I came -earlier than usual, on account of the severe cold. I am glad you find -the room comfortable.” - -“I should not have liked to have been the one to make the fire this -morning,” remarked one of the boys. “In many schools the scholars take -turns in cleaning the room and making the fire.” - -“It is not fair that they should do so,” observed another. “Their -parents pay for their schooling, and it is not right that they should be -obliged to spend their time and injure their clothes in sweeping rooms -and making fires. It does well enough for those who cannot pay.” - -“For shame! John Gray,” exclaimed William. “You should not speak so -thoughtlessly. You trouble Louis,” he added in a whisper. - -John was a kind-hearted boy, but rude and thoughtless in his manners. - -“I do not wish to trouble Louis,” he said aloud. “I only spoke the -truth.” - -The color, which had deepened on Louis’s cheek, faded away, and he said, -kindly,— - -“You do not trouble me, John. I agree with you in thinking that those -whose parents can pay for their schooling should not be expected to take -care of the room. But as I am situated, I regard it as a very great -favor that I am in this way enabled to earn my own schooling.” - -“It is a great favor to us,” exclaimed several boys. “We never before -had so neat and comfortable a room.” - -The entrance of Mr. Grant, the teacher, prevented any farther -conversation, and each boy quietly took his seat, and performed his -accustomed duties. - -At noon, there was fine sport with coasting and skating, but, in the -midst of his play, William remembered his promise to his father; and, -finding that Louis was not among his companions, he sought him in the -school-house. He found him seated at his desk, busily engaged with a -pencil and piece of paper. - -“Come, Louis,” he exclaimed, “Come and play with us. There is fine -skating on the pond.” - -“Thank you,” replied Louis, “but I have no skates this winter. I had a -pair once, but they are worn out.” - -“Then I will lend you mine, and I will slide for a little while. I shall -like that quite as well. Do come,” urged William; and, as he spoke, he -approached the desk, and looked at the picture which Louis was drawing. - -“Why, Louis!” he said, with an expression of surprise, “I had no idea -that you could draw so beautifully. You almost equal our drawing-master. -Who taught you?” - -“No one,” replied Louis. “I love to draw. If it were not wrong to -neglect other duties, I would spend every day in doing nothing else.” - -“Why do you not take lessons with the rest of us, Louis? I am sure our -drawing-master would be proud of such a pupil. How you would laugh at -our strange-looking pictures!” - -“Mr. Grant is very kind, to give me so many other advantages,” answered -Louis; “I should not like to ask the privilege of a seat at the -drawing-tables, and then the pencils and paper are quite an expense. And -if I learned to paint, it would be still more expensive; but, oh! I -should love to learn so much,” and his face grew bright with pleasure at -the very thought. - -“You must learn, Louis; I am resolved that you shall,” said William; -“but come now, and have one good play before school.” - -Thus urged, Louis joined his companions, and, encouraged by William’s -example, all received him kindly, and were careful to allow him equal -rights with themselves, and not to wound his feelings by foolish jokes -and sarcastic observations. - -About fifteen minutes before the hour for school to commence, William -saw Mr. Grant enter the school-house, and, quietly leaving his -play-fellows, he hastened to follow him. - -Taking from Louis’s desk the picture upon which he had been so busily -engaged at noon, he presented it to the teacher, saying,— - -“Is not this pretty well done, sir?” - -“Remarkably well,” replied Mr. Grant. “You have improved wonderfully, -William.” - -“It is not mine, sir. Louis did it. He has never had any instruction in -drawing, but I am sure if you will allow him a seat at the -drawing-tables, he will soon equal our drawing-master himself.” - -“He shall have every advantage, certainly,” replied Mr. Grant. “I am -pleased with your request, William; for I have observed with pain that -some of the scholars regard Louis with feelings of contempt and dislike, -which are certainly quite undeserved.” - -“I have been in fault in this respect,” replied William, blushing -deeply, “but my father has convinced me that such feelings are very -wrong, and I am resolved to do better.” - -“I am glad that you have made so good a resolution, William. Your -example will help the other scholars to do right also. You may have the -pleasure of telling Louis that he can receive regular instruction in -drawing, on the afternoons when the drawing-master attends the school.” - -“Thank you, sir,” replied William, and he joyfully returned to his -play-fellows. - -A few whispered words told Louis of what had passed, and the glow of -pleasure which suffused his countenance, and the warm pressure of the -hand, amply rewarded William for his kindness. - -“I have pencils and paper enough for both, Louis,” he continued, “and I -know my father will be glad to have me share them with you.” - -The sound of the bell now summoned the whole party to the school-room, -and as this was the afternoon for the drawing-master, William had the -pleasure of seeing his new friend seated by his side, and of hearing the -warm commendations which were bestowed upon the contents of his little -portfolio, which, at the request of the teacher, Louis modestly -exhibited. - -Much of the ice in the streets had melted away, but the trees were still -glittering in the bright sunlight, when William left the school-house -and took the road toward home. To him everything seemed even more -beautiful than it had done in the morning, for his heart was filled with -that happiness which always results from doing good. His father met him -at the door. - -“Well, my son,” he said, “has it been a golden day with you?” - -“It has, indeed, father,” replied William. “I have remembered what you -told me, and I have already found an opportunity to do Louis some good.” - -Mr. Mason listened with much interest to William’s little story, and -gladly gave him leave to assist Louis, by lending him his own drawing -implements. - -It was pleasing to observe the effect which William’s example of -friendliness to Louis had upon the rest of the scholars. He was no -longer regarded with contempt or indifference, but became as great a -favorite with the boys as a play-fellow, as he was with the master as a -scholar. The younger boys looked to him for assistance in all their -pleasures and troubles, for they found that he was always willing to -give up his own pleasure for the sake of making them happy; and the -older ones frequently assisted him in his duties in the school-room, in -order to gain so valuable a companion in their plays. - -His improvement in drawing and painting was so rapid, that, before many -months had elapsed, the drawing-master declared he could teach him -nothing more, and advised him to procure a situation in some of the -large schools in the neighborhood, as teacher of these branches. But -about this time circumstances occurred, which induced Mrs. Cunningham to -remove to a distant part of the country, and Louis was obliged to bid -farewell to his teachers and companions. - -All parted from him with regret, but none felt the loss so keenly as -William Mason. He had been the first among the boys to love Louis and -endeavor to assist him; and, although the latter was some years older, a -warm attachment had sprung up between them. - -Many years passed before they again met. Both had grown to manhood, but -the remembrance of their early days was still fresh in their minds. -William was travelling through the principal States of the Union, and -stopped for the night in one of our most flourishing cities. In the -course of the evening he visited, with some of his friends, a gallery of -paintings which had been particularly recommended to his notice. The -collection was a fine one, and an hour soon passed pleasantly away. At -length William suddenly stopped before a small picture, and uttered an -exclamation of surprise, which brought his friends to his side. The -scene represented was not a remarkable one,—a bright winter’s morning, -and a lad with a satchel of books and a pair of skates slung upon his -shoulder, and a dinner-pail in his hand, quietly pursuing his way to -school. - -“What do you find surprising in this?” asked one of William’s -companions. “It is a spirited little sketch, to be sure. That lad bears -a strong resemblance to you, William.” - -“It is myself,” exclaimed William; “and there is the old school-house in -the distance, and the pond where we used to skate. Every object in the -picture is familiar to me, even that old tree which seems so completely -cased in ice. I must find the name of the artist.” - -“That is easily ascertained,” replied his companion, turning to the -catalogue which he held in his hand; “Cunningham, Louis Cunningham. -There are several other fine pictures in the gallery by the same person. -Do you know him, William?” - -“He is an old school-mate and particular friend,” replied William; “I -must inquire if he resides in this city.” - -Louis Cunningham’s address was easily obtained, and William had the -pleasure of hearing him spoken of as a young artist of uncommon talents. -At an early hour the following morning he sought his early friend, and -received a warm welcome. Louis’s story was soon told. His mother’s -situation in life had been improved, by a legacy left by a distant -relative, and she was thus enabled to give her son many advantages. He -had travelled in Europe, and received the best instruction in his -favorite pursuit, and his name was now becoming widely known as one of -our best American artists. - -“But I have not forgotten the old school-house, and our boyish days, -dear William,” he continued; “and I do not forget that my first -instructions in drawing were received through your kindness. It was a -bright day to me when I was first seated at the drawing-table, and -allowed free access to your pencils and paper.” - -“I remember it, as if it were but yesterday,” replied William. “We had -indulged a strange prejudice against you up to that day, Louis. My -father had labored hard that bright and beautiful morning, to show me -the sin of which I was guilty, in indulging such feelings, and his words -sunk deep in my heart. When I parted from him, at school time, he -remarked on the beautiful appearance of the earth, clad in its robe of -silver, but pointed out the new beauty it would receive when the rays of -the sun should fall upon it; and he prayed that the rays of the -spiritual sun might thus vivify and add new beauty to the good -resolutions springing up in my mind, that the silver morning might -become the golden day.” - -“It was indeed a golden day to me,” said Louis, with emotion. “A -fountain of kind feelings, which had been checked by the coldness of my -companions, gushed forth at the kindness with which you treated me; and -it seemed as if from that time all coldness toward me disappeared, and I -was treated by all with kindness which I have ever remembered with -gratitude. The little picture which you saw in the gallery is a proof of -my remembrance of that day. You must take it to your father, as a token -of my respect and love.” - -“I will gladly do so,” replied William. “My father will receive it with -pleasure, and it shall hang in our room as a memento of our early -friendship, and of a day which I shall always remember with pleasing -reflections.” - - - - - TWO SIDES TO A STORY. - - -“I should not think you would let him off so easily, father,” exclaimed -Herbert Archer, as he listened to a conversation between his father and -a poor tenant who begged for a little delay in the usual demand for the -rent. - -“And why not, my son?” replied Mr. Archer, as they continued the walk -which had been thus interrupted. “He is poor and has been unfortunate. -The wealthy should not be indifferent to the sufferings of those less -prosperous than themselves.” - -“I know they should not, father; but did I not hear you say last winter -that you would not assist Simon Brown again, for it was only encouraging -him in idleness? Do you not remember what we were told about his -allowing his poor wife, with her feeble health, to go out to wash, while -he remained sitting quietly at home smoking his pipe and attending to -the children?” - -“I do recollect it well, Herbert; but my conclusions were too hasty. -Upon inquiry I found that there was another side to the story. Poor -Simon had the rheumatism so badly that for several weeks he could not -walk one step. In this situation he could do nothing better than to make -himself useful in the house, while his wife procured what work she could -to aid in the support of their family. The truth is, my son, there is -almost always two sides to a story, and if we suspend our judgment until -we are sure that we know all the particulars, we shall avoid the -injustice which too often results from hasty decisions.” - -Herbert listened with respect and attention to his father’s words, and -acknowledged their truth; but it was not until after several useful -lessons that he learned to put this simple rule in practice. - -Among the most valued of his playthings was a fine kite, remarkable for -its beauty and the swiftness of its flight. - -On his return from school one pleasant afternoon, Herbert perceived that -there was a fine breeze, and hastily putting away his books, ran for his -kite. But, to his surprise, it was not in its proper place. Who could -have taken it? He felt quite sure that he put it away when he last -played with it, and he felt much displeased that any one should have -ventured to touch it without his leave. - -He inquired of his mother and sisters, but they knew nothing of it. He -then went to the kitchen, and Alice, the chambermaid, told him that -about an hour before she had seen his younger brother, Henry, with it in -his hand. - -“He had no business to touch it without my leave,” exclaimed Herbert -angrily. “I wish he would learn to let my things alone,” and his -feelings toward his brother were filled with unkindness. - -He went to the barn in search of him, but Henry was not there. In one -corner, however, he discovered his kite, soiled and torn, with the -sticks broken and the tail draggled in the dirt. This sight vexed him -still more, and he seized a little wagon which he had been making for -his brother that morning, and dashed it in pieces. - -“He is a naughty, bad boy,” he exclaimed, “and I will do nothing for -him.” - -Upon further inquiry, he found that Henry had received permission to -pass the afternoon at their Uncle’s, and would not return until evening. - -For several hours Herbert suffered evil thoughts and feelings against -his brother to remain in his mind, and he complained to his mother and -several others of the injury which had been done to his favorite kite; -and when his father came in to tea, he repeated the story to him, with -many severe comments on the unkindness of his brother. - -He felt somewhat rebuked when his father said quietly, “Wait till you -hear your brother’s explanation, my son. Remember there are always two -sides to a story.” - -“There cannot be two sides to this one, father, for Alice saw Henry with -the kite in his hand, and no one else has touched it.” - -“Strong proof, certainly, Herbert; but, nevertheless, suspend your -judgment until Henry comes. It is possible that he did not tear the -kite.” - -Herbert was silenced, but not convinced. His feelings were not changed, -and he met Henry in a sullen and irritated manner. - -“Oh, Herbert!” exclaimed the little boy, “I wish you could have been -with me. I have had such a delightful play with my cousins. I should -have been quite happy all the afternoon, only I could not help thinking -of your poor kite. Did you see it in the barn?” - -“To be sure I did,” replied Herbert, crossly; “I wish you had taken a -fancy to destroy some other of my playthings and let my kite alone.” - -“Why, Herbert, I did not destroy it. I found our dog Pompey playing with -it in the yard. I do not know where he got it, but I took it away as -quickly as I could. I was very sorry that I did not see him before it -was spoiled.” - -A deep blush of shame overspread Herbert’s face as he thought of the -wicked and unkind feelings which he had harbored for so many hours. He -now remembered perfectly, that, being called away in haste, he had left -his kite beneath a tree in the yard, and no doubt Pompey had found it -there. There was, indeed, two sides to this story, and now that the -truth was known, it was quite plain that he alone was to blame for the -accident. - -His sorrow was increased when Henry eagerly inquired if he had finished -the little wagon which he had begun for him in the morning. - -It was hard to tell his affectionate little brother that he had been so -very angry with him for his supposed injury, that he had purposely -destroyed the wagon from which he had expected so much pleasure; but -Herbert, though often hasty and passionate, was an honest boy, and he -answered frankly,— - -“I have done very wrong to-day, Henry. I supposed that you had taken my -kite without leave, and had carelessly spoiled it, and I felt so angry -that I tossed the wagon upon the ground and broke it; but, if you will -forgive me, I will make you a much larger and better one to-morrow.” - -Henry readily expressed his forgiveness, and Herbert, of his own accord, -sought his father and told him “the other side of the story.” - -For some time the little incident of the kite was well remembered, and -served as a warning to Herbert to be less hasty in judging evil of -others; but as the recollection of it faded from his mind, he was -frequently led into the same error, and often had cause to repent of his -rash decisions. - -Among his schoolfellows was the son of a poor widow, who had, until -lately, labored hard with the neighboring farmers to aid his mother in -the support of her little family. His admittance into the school -occasioned considerable surprise among the scholars, who had hitherto -regarded him as on a footing with their fathers’ workmen, rather than on -an equality with themselves; and there were some who were wicked and -foolish enough to wonder what business William Camden had to attend the -best school in the neighborhood, and where he got the money to pay for -his tuition. - -The greater part, however, were pleased that he could have so good an -opportunity for acquiring knowledge, and were surprised to find that he -had already made great progress in many branches which they were -pursuing. - -Herbert Archer seemed particularly pleased with the studiousness and -good behavior of the widow’s son, and with the consent of his parents -frequently aided him in various ways, by presents of suitable books and -other things necessary to his advancement. - -There was one circumstance, however, in regard to William for which -Herbert found it difficult to account. He was frequently absent from -school for whole days, and when his companions inquired the cause, he -would answer indefinitely that his time had been much occupied. The -teacher expressed no displeasure on these occasions, which had the -effect of assuring the scholars that all was right, until one -unfortunate day, when a boy, who had appeared to regard William with -contempt and dislike from his first entrance into the school, made a -discovery which he eagerly communicated to the other pupils, hoping -thereby to convince them that his opinion was well founded. - -“Who would like to know the reason why William Camden stays from school -so often?” he exclaimed, as he entered the school-room, where many of -the boys were assembled. - -A large group immediately gathered around him, and he continued in a -sarcastic, contemptuous tone,— - -“I have at length found out the useful business which so occupies his -time. He is fond of wandering in the woods and fields, amusing himself -with robbing birds’ nests.” - -“For shame, George Wilson,” replied Herbert Archer. “It is impossible -that you have detected William engaged in so senseless and cruel a -sport.” - -“Impossible or not, Master Archer,” retorted the other, “it is -nevertheless a fact, and I can give you ample proof of the truth of my -words. One of my father’s workmen has recently been engaged in cutting -down several large trees in the wood adjoining our house. On the last -day that William was absent from school, he assures me that he spent the -whole of our school hours in climbing trees and robbing the pretty birds -of their young. He reproved him for his cruelty, but William only -replied that he had a use for them, and went on his way. Probably he -intended to enjoy the pleasure of giving the poor things to his cat.” - -Herbert, who was a great enemy to all cruelty, could hardly restrain his -indignation, and as William entered at that moment, he turned to him -abruptly, and demanded, with some authority of manner, if it was true -that he had stayed from school a few days before for the purpose of -robbing birds’ nests? Somewhat hurt and offended at the tone in which -Herbert addressed him, and at the indignant countenances of his -schoolmates, William answered, rather shortly,— - -“That it was perfectly true that he had taken several young birds from -their nests a day or two previous, and thought it quite probable that he -should do so again, if it suited his convenience.” - -This was a wrong way of answering, and only increased the ill feeling -which prevailed against him. George Wilson looked triumphantly at -Herbert, who was only restrained from a burst of passion by the entrance -of the teacher, and the usual summons to their studies. - -After school, instead of joining William, as usual, that they might walk -part of the way together, Herbert carefully avoided him, and selecting -another companion, declared his intention of having nothing more to do -with one who could thus wantonly engage in cruel sport. - -This resolution he also expressed to his father, after relating to him -the circumstances which had come to his knowledge. Mr. Archer shook his -head, saying, “Are you sure there are not two sides to the story, my -son?” But Herbert replied in a positive manner that there could not be -another side, as William had himself admitted the truth of the charge. - -Nothing farther was said upon the subject, and Mr. Archer soon forgot -the whole affair. - -Weeks passed on, and the intimacy between the two boys was not resumed. -William continued to absent himself occasionally from school, and -several boys testified that they had two or three times met him with -young birds in his hand, and when asked what he intended doing with -them, he had replied in his usual unsatisfactory manner. - -One day, as Herbert was returning from school, he met an old friend of -his father’s, a gentleman residing in a neighboring town, at whose house -he had often visited, and with whom he was very familiar. Mr. Morgan was -a widower, and he had one little son several years younger than Herbert, -to whose welfare he was constantly devoted. - -“I am glad to see you, Herbert,” he said, kindly; “it is a long time -since you have visited me. My little Arthur has missed you very much.” - -“We shall soon have a vacation at our school,” replied Herbert, “and -then I shall be much pleased to come and see you. My studies occupy me -very closely just now.” - -“That is right, my boy. Youth is the time for improvement. Speaking of -your school reminds me of one of your schoolfellows, of whom I should -like your opinion, for I know that boys have many opportunities of -finding out each other’s characters, and I can rely upon your statement. -I refer to William Camden. I knew his father well. He was a sensible, -honest man, and I have often thought that I should like to do something -for his family. I have lately formed a plan for travelling for the next -two or three years with my little boy, and I have concluded, if I can -find a well-principled lad, somewhat advanced in his education, to take -him with us as a sort of tutor and companion for Arthur. I shall watch -over them both myself, and shall procure the best instruction in my -power at the different places where we may sojourn; but there are many -of the common branches which Arthur would learn even more readily from a -sensible lad, a few years his senior, than from an older person, and he -would at the same time have the advantage of a pleasant companion. The -great difficulty is to find one on whose principles and habits I can -fully depend. I have thought of William Camden, as I have often heard -him well spoken of. His mother depends somewhat upon his assistance, but -I will make that easy for them. Now, tell me plainly what you think of -William.” - -Herbert hesitated, for he knew that the proposition of Mr. Morgan would -be of great advantage to his schoolfellow; and, in spite of his present -dislike to William, he was unwilling to say any thing which might -deprive him of an advantageous offer. But he thought it right to tell -the whole truth, and he answered, with some indignation in his manner,— - -“A few weeks ago, sir, I should have thought that William Camden would -have suited your purpose better than any boy of my acquaintance, but I -fear I was deceived in him. He frequently stays from school, and passes -his time in the woods engaged in the cruel sport of robbing birds’ -nests.” - -“Cruel sport, indeed!” exclaimed Mr. Morgan. “A boy who will do that -must be destitute of kind and generous feelings. It may seem a trifle, -but it would decide me at once not to make him the companion of my son. -You are sure that there is no mistake in this matter, Herbert?” - -“Quite sure, sir. I heard William acknowledge it myself. I was very -unwilling to believe it until there was no room for doubt.” - -“I am glad I met with you,” remarked his friend. “I have another boy in -view, who will perhaps suit me better. I must make all proper -inquiries.” - -Thus saying, he bade Herbert good afternoon, and rode away in the -direction of his own home. - -A few days after, Herbert accompanied his father to a large town several -miles distant from their own home. While his father was engaged in the -transaction of business, he walked slowly through the principal streets, -amusing himself with what was passing around him, and occasionally -stopping to look at something attractive in the shop windows. At length -he became much interested in watching the quick motions of several birds -of different kinds, whose cages were suspended at the door of a bird -fancier’s establishment. - -As he stood looking at their lively movements and listening to their -sweet songs, he was surprised to observe William Camden standing in the -shop with a large cage in his hand containing a great many young birds -of various kinds, for which he appeared to be just concluding a bargain -with the bird fancier. - -“This, then, is what he does with his young birds,” thought Herbert; -“but why was he so secret about it?” - -At this instant William turned around and recognized his companion. He -colored deeply, and at first seemed inclined not to speak; but better -feelings gained the ascendancy, and, approaching Herbert, he said -pleasantly,— - -“You have discovered what I do with my young birds. It does seem cruel -to catch them, but I try to do it as kindly as possible. I seldom take -more than one from a nest, and always watch the time when the old birds -are absent, that I may not alarm them. The money which I earn in this -way not only defrays the expenses of my education, but enables me to -assist my poor mother.” - -“But why were you so secret about it?” asked Herbert. “Why did you not -tell us plainly for what purpose you caught the birds?” - -“My first motive for secrecy,” replied William, “Was to prevent -thoughtless and idle boys from following my example, fearing that they -would not so strictly endeavor to avoid cruelty. But when you questioned -me on the subject, I should have answered frankly had I not felt -irritated by your manner, and hurt that you could suppose me capable of -engaging in such an occupation for sport.” - -“I did wrong,” replied Herbert; “as usual, my judgment was too hasty. I -ask your forgiveness, William, for my suspicions; but I fear I have been -the means of doing you a great injury. I must seek my father without -delay;” and thus saying he abruptly departed, leaving William much -surprised at his words. - -Mr. Archer listened with interest to Herbert’s story, and yielded to his -entreaties to go immediately to Mr. Morgan, in the hope that it was not -yet too late to repair the wrong which he had done his companion. - -When they reached the house, Herbert’s impatience was so great that he -could hardly wait until the customary salutations were exchanged, before -he said, with much earnestness,— - -“Have you yet found any one to fill the place of which you spoke to me, -Mr. Morgan?” - -“I have not, my young friend. It is a more difficult task than I -anticipated, and sometimes I think I will relinquish the plan -altogether.” - -“I am so glad I am not too late,” exclaimed Herbert joyfully. “I have -come to tell you, sir, that what I related to you of William Camden can -all be explained, and I am quite sure that he would suit you in every -respect.” - -He then gave Mr. Morgan a full account of the whole affair, to which the -gentleman listened with much satisfaction, and declared his intention of -calling upon Mrs. Camden that evening. - -“This will be a warning to you, my dear boy,” he said to Herbert, “to -judge less rashly of the actions of your friends.” - -“It will indeed, sir,” was the reply. “I have too often disregarded -these warnings; but in future I am resolved never to forget that there -may be ‘two sides to a story.’” - -[Illustration: back cover] - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - -Punctuation has been made consistent. - -Variations in hyphenation have been retained as they were in the -original publication. - -The following changes have been made: - -suprised —> surprised {page 178} - -The chapter entitled “Two Sides to a Story” beginning on page 167 has -been added to the Table of Contents, from which it was omitted in the -original book. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLAYING SANTA CLAUS AND OTHER -CHRISTMAS TALES*** - - -******* This file should be named 54803-0.txt or 54803-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/4/8/0/54803 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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