Roger"s dying mother heard his voice, and his sobs, and although she had been nearly insensible to everything around her, yet she requested the attendant lady to bring the boy and lay him near her side. Her request was granted, and the child"s rosy cheek nestled in the bosom of his dying mother.
"Now you may repeat this verse after me," said his mother, "and never forget it: "When my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up."" The child repeated it three times--then he kissed the pale cheek of his mother, and went quietly to his little couch.
The next morning he sought as usual for his mother, but she was now cold and motionless. She died soon after little Roger retired to his bed.
That was her last lesson to her darling boy--he did not forget it. He has grown to be a man and occupies a high post of honor in Ma.s.sachusetts. I never can look upon him without thinking about the faith so beautifully exhibited by his dying mother. It was a good lesson.
THE GOLDEN CROWN.
A teacher once asked a child, "If you had a golden crown, what would you do with it?" The child replied, "I would give it to my father to keep till I was a man." He asked another. "I would buy a coach and horses with it," was the reply. He asked a third. "Oh," said the little girl to whom he spoke, "I would do with it the same as the people in heaven do with their crowns. I would cast it at the Saviour"s feet."
EARLY AT SCHOOL.
One Sabbath evening a teacher was walking up and down in the porch before his house, in one of the South Sea Islands. The sun was setting behind the waves of the ocean, and the labors of the day were over. In that cool, quiet hour, the teacher was in prayer, asking a blessing on his people, his scholars, and himself. As he heard the leaves of the Mimosa tree rustling, he thought the breeze was springing up--and continued his walk. Again he heard the leaves rattle, and he felt sure that it could not be the wind. So he pushed aside the long leafy branches of the trees, and pa.s.sed beneath. And what did he find there?
Three little boys. Two were fast asleep in each other"s arms, but the third was awake.
"What are you doing there, my children?" asked the teacher. "We have come to sleep here," said the boy. "And why do you sleep here; have you no home?" "Oh, yes," said the lad, "but if we sleep here, we are sure to be ready when the school bell rings in the morning." "And do your parents know about it?" "Mine do," said the lad, "but these little boys have no parents; they are orphans."
You know the nights in the South Sea Islands are not cold and damp like ours, but as the teacher thought a heavy rain would fall in the night, he roused the orphans, and led the three little boys into the large porch of the house, where they might rest in safety. He was happy to find that they were some of his scholars, and that they loved their school. What would these little Islanders think if they could look from their distant homes into some of our schools and see how many late comers there are!
THE PLUM BOYS.
Two boys were one day on their way from school, and as they were pa.s.sing a cornfield, in which there were some plum trees, full of nice ripe fruit, Henry said to Thomas, "Let us jump over and get some plums.
n.o.body will see us, and we can scud along through the corn and come out on the other side."
Thomas said, "I cannot. It is wrong to do so. I would rather not have the plums, than to steal them, and I think I will run along home."
"You are a coward," said Henry, "I always knew you were a coward, and if you don"t want any plums you may go without them, but I shall have some very quick."
Just as Henry was climbing the fence, the owner of the field rose up from the other side of the wall, and Henry jumped back, and ran away.
Thomas had no reason to be afraid, so he stood still, and the owner of the field, who had heard the conversation between the boys, told him that he was very glad to see that he was not willing to be a thief. He then told Thomas that he might step over the fence and help himself to as many plums as he wished. The boy was pleased with the invitation, and soon filled his pockets with plums which he could call his own. Honesty will always get its reward.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
GEORGE AND HIS DOG.
George had a large and n.o.ble dog.
With hair as soft as silk; A few black spots upon his back, The rest as white as milk.
And many a happy hour they had, In dull or shining weather; For, in the house, or in the fields, They always were together.
The faithful creature knew full well When Master wished to ride; And he would kneel down on the gra.s.s, While Georgy climbed his side
They both were playing in the field.
When all at once they saw A little squirrel on a stump, With an acorn in his paw
The dog still looked with eager eye, And George could plainly see, It was as much as he could do To let the squirrel be.
The timid creature would have feared The dog so bold and strong, But he seemed to know the little boy Would let him do no wrong.
He felt a spirit of pure love Around the gentle boy, As if good angels, hovering there, Watched over him in joy.
And true it is that angels oft Good little George have led; They"re with him in his happy play.
They guard his little bed;
They keep his heart so kind and true, They make his eye so mild, For dearly do the angels love, A gentle little child.
THE FIRST DOLLAR.
I will tell you an affecting story about a young lad by the name of Emerson Terry, who lived in Hartford, Ct. He was very kind to the poor, and could never see the suffering of his fellow beings without making an effort for their relief. Here is one instance of his kindness and liberality.
While he resided in Bristol, his father, Dr. Terry, took little Emerson with him to ride into Hartford that he might see the city. Emerson had one dollar, and it was the first dollar he ever earned. He took the dollar with him, thinking to buy something with it in the city. While they were riding along on the way, they overtook a poor fugitive slave seeking his freedom in the North. Mr. Terry kindly took the wayfaring man into his carriage when the poor man related to him his sufferings and poverty, and also his trust in G.o.d. Young Emerson"s heart was touched, when, of his own accord, he drew out his _first_ and _only_ dollar and gave it to the poor fugitive. When he returned home he told his mother what he had done, with a satisfaction that indicated his pleasure in being able to relieve a suffering stranger. How n.o.ble was this act. He felt willing to forego the pleasure of spending his dollar for himself, for any pleasing toys, that he might help a poor wanderer on the earth. When he was fifteen years of age, he was drowned in the Connecticut River. He was beloved and respected by a large circle of acquaintance. He was noted for his kind disposition, tender feelings, and lovely spirit. He sleeps in peace, and we all hope to meet him in heaven.
THE SHEPHERD AND HIS BIBLE.
A poor shepherd, living among the Alps, the father of a large family, for whose wants he provided with great difficulty, purchased an old Bible from a dealer in old cloths and furniture. On Sunday evening, as he was turning over the leaves, he noticed several of them were pasted together. He immediately began to separate the pasted leaves with great care. Inside of these leaves he found carefully enclosed a bank bill of five hundred dollars. On the margin of one of the pages was written these words: "I gathered together money with very great difficulty, but having no natural heirs but those who have absolutely need of nothing, I make thee, whosoever shall read this Bible, my natural heir."
We cannot promise our young friends that they will find money in the leaves of their Bibles, but you may be a.s.sured that if you study its pages, and follow its precepts, you will find wisdom, which is better than silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
REVELATION OF G.o.d"S HOLY WORD.
Ye favored lands, rejoice, Where G.o.d reveals his word: We are not left to nature"s voice To bid us know the Lord.