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One time a little boy was sent by his papa to plant some beans. He worked a while, then he sat down to play. While he was playing, he spilled part of his beans. At once he began to pick them up.
There were so many beans that he became tired. Then he thought he could cover them up with dirt. He thought no one would ever know he had spilled them. At last he got the rest of the beans planted and went home.
He often thought of the beans he had spilled. But he did not tell his papa. Some time after this his papa went to the patch. He wanted to see how the beans were growing. He found that all of them had come up--even those that the boy had spilled and had not picked up. The boy did not need to tell his papa then what he had done. For his papa knew it all.
So it is with some bad things you may have done. You may think that no one will ever know of them. But the secret will come out some time.
Even if no person should ever find it out, G.o.d sees all you do. You can not hide anything from him.
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Be Kind to the Aged
One fine spring day six children went to the woods to gather wild flowers. Oh, how they enjoyed the warm sunshine while they filled their little baskets with violets, b.u.t.tercups, and spring beauties!
And the air was filled with the sweet perfume.
[Ill.u.s.tration: KIND TO THE AGED]
The flowers were so pretty and there were so many that the children could hardly stop when the baskets were filled. Soon they started for home. "Let"s give some flowers to the old people," said one. "Yes, let"s do," said the rest, and off they went, and many were the smiles from the old people that day.
Let us be kind to the aged. When we meet any one who is old, let us speak to them kindly and give them a smile.
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The old people did much for us when we were too small to care for ourselves. Let us not forget their kindness.
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Little thoughts of kindness, Little deeds of love, Lead you from the wrong way To the heaven above.
G.o.d"s Garden
"My heart is G.o.d"s little garden, And the fruits that grow each day Are the things that he sees me doing, And the words that he hears me say.
"The flowers in G.o.d"s little garden Are "joy" and "truth" and "love"; And the seed by the Master planted Is raised in the garden above.
"There"s a spring in G.o.d"s little garden, Whose waters, so sweet and clear, Flow out into other gardens Which G.o.d plants very near.
"I must tend to G.o.d"s little garden, Lest the weeds and the sharp thorns grow; If the flowers should droop and wither, His heart would be sad, I know."
A Baby for a Nickel
A man told a little girl that he would sell his baby for a nickel. She liked babies well and thought that was very cheap. She ran home quickly to get the money. Her mama was very busy. She gave her the nickel and did not stop to listen to what the little girl wanted.
The little girl ran back to the man to get the baby. Of course, the man would not give up his baby. He did not mean what he had said. This made the little girl cry very hard.
Her mama always told the truth. She thought others meant what they said, just like her mama.
It was wrong for the man not to tell the truth. We often make others feel very bad when we say things that we do not mean.
We All Must Die
Some people are very wicked. This means that they do many bad things and do not love G.o.d. Some men swear and lie and steal and also do other sinful things.
[Ill.u.s.tration: MARILYN"S TEACHER TELLS HER OF THE HEAVENLY HOME]
To tell a lie is to say things that are not true, and to steal is to take something that belongs to some one else.
Now, it is very wrong to swear, lie, or steal. G.o.d does not want us to do any such things. All who do wicked things will some day be punished.
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Some day we shall die, for all of us must die. If a man should be going some place through the deep snow and should get lost and the cold should freeze him, it would kill him. He would not live any longer, but would be dead.
If we love G.o.d and live for him, he will give us a home in heaven after we die; but if we are wicked, we shall be lost and punished for our wicked ways after we die.
We should think about our life here and see that we live to please G.o.d.
If we do not, when we come to die we may be like the man in the boat.
At one time he could have been saved--while he was floating on the smooth waters. But he has let it go too far, and can only look forward to his doom.
Let us love G.o.d and live for him on earth, so we can live with him in heaven after we die. When Christ was here on earth he said: "I go to prepare a place for you, ... that where I am, there ye may be also."
The Path of G.o.d
The path of G.o.d That Jesus trod Is just the path for me; I"ll walk each day The narrow way, Where all is victory.