The Pearl Box Part 4

"'I think I shall leave my apples on the tree till my birthday, then papa and mamma and sister f.a.n.n.y will come and see me, and we will eat them together.'

"'A very good thought,' said his grandmother; 'and you shall gather them yourself.'

"It seemed a long time for him to wait; but the birthday came at last, and in the morning as soon as he was dressed he ran into his garden to gather his apples; but lo! they were gone. A naughty boy who saw them hanging on the tree, had climbed over the garden wall and stolen them.

"Arthur felt very sorry about losing his apples, and he began to cry, but he soon wiped his eyes, and said to his grandmother:

"'It is hard to lose my nice apples, but it was much worse for that naughty boy to commit so great a sin as to steal them. I am sure G.o.d must be very angry with him; and I will go and kneel down and ask G.o.d to forgive him.'

"So he went and prayed for the boy who had stolen his apples. Now, William, do you not think that was returning good for evil?"

"O, yes," said William; "and I thank you, mother, for your pretty story.

I now understand what my new book means." Little Arthur grew to be a man, and always bore a good name.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE MOTHERLESS BIRDS.

There were two men who were neighbors to each other, living in a distant country where they had to labor hard for the support of their families.

One of them was greatly troubled to know who would take care of his children if he should die. But the other man was not so troubled, and was always very cheerful, saying to his neighbor: "Never distrust Providence."

One day as the sorrowful man was laboring in the fields, sad and cast down, he saw some little birds enter a bush, go out and then return again. He went towards the bush, and saw two nests side by side, and in both nests some little birds, newly hatched and still without feathers.

He saw the old birds go in a number of times, and they carried in their bills food to give their little ones.

At one time, as one of the mothers returned with her beak full, a large vulture seized her and carried her away; and the poor mother, struggling vainly under its talons, uttered piercing cries. He thought the little young birds must certainly die, as they had now no mother to take care of them. He felt so bad about them that he did not sleep any that night.

The next day, on returning to the fields, he said to himself: "I will see the little ones of this poor mother, some without doubt have already perished."

He went up to the bush, and saw that the little ones in both nests were all alive and well. He was very much surprised at this, and he hid himself behind the bush to see what would happen. After a little time he heard a crying of the birds, and soon the second mother came flying into the bush with her beak full of food, and distributed it all among the little birds in both nests. He now saw that the orphan birds were as well provided for as when their own mother was living.

In the evening he related the whole story to his neighbor, and said to him:

"I will never distress myself again about who will take care of my children, if I should die before them."

His neighbor replied: "Let us always believe, hope, love, and pursue our course in peace. If you die before me, I take care of your children, and if I die before you, you will be a father to mine; and if we are both taken away before our children are able to provide for themselves, there is a Father in heaven."

STORY ABOUT A ROBBER.

I will tell you a true story about a robber. A gentleman was once travelling through a very unfrequented road, alone in a chaise, in the latter part of the day. There was no house nor a sign of a human being there. It was a very lonely road. Presently at a sudden turn in the road, directly towards his horse's head, a man came out of the woods.

The gentleman was convinced by his appearance that he came for no good purpose. He immediately stopped his horse, and asked the stranger to get in and ride. The man hesitated a moment, and then stepped into the chaise. The gentleman commenced talking with him about the loneliness of the road, and observed that it would be an admirable place for a robbery if any one was so disposed. He proceeded to speak of robbery and criminals, and how he thought they should be sought out and instructed, and if possible reformed; and that we ought to try to convert and reform them; and then he began to tell him what course he should take with a man who should attempt to rob him. He told him that he should give him all his money first, and then begin to talk kindly to him, and show the evil consequences of his course of life. He then said:

"Yes, I would die on the spot rather than to injure a hair of his head."

They soon came to another road, when the man, who had silently listened to all the gentleman had said, desired to get out, saying that his home lay in that direction. The gentleman stopped his horse, and the man got out, took his adviser by the hand, saying:

"I thank you, sir, for this ride and for all you have said to me; I shall never forget any part of it. When I met you, it was my intention to rob you. I could easily have done so, but your kind act and your kind words put better thoughts into my heart. I think I never shall be guilty of the crime you have saved me from committing this afternoon. I thank G.o.d for having met you; you have made me a better man."

GOOD COMPANIONS.

One day, says a Persian poet, I saw a bunch of roses, and in the midst of them grew a tuft of gra.s.s.

"How," I cried to the gra.s.s, "does a poor plant like you dare to be found in the company of roses?"

And I ran to tear away the tuft, when the gra.s.s replied:

"Spare me! It is true, I am not a rose; but you will perceive from my perfume that I have been among the roses."

This is a very pretty fable for young people. It makes us recollect one of the proverbs of Solomon: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Young people like to have companions, and it is proper that they should have them. If we had no one to a.s.sociate with, we should be unhappy. We need friends that we may confide in, and that we may tell them what we feel and what we think. But we must take care as to the choice of friends; for just as the gra.s.s in the fable imbibed the scent of the roses, so we become like those with whom we a.s.sociate.

BERTIE'S BOX.

A very little boy by the name of "Bertie," kept a box in which he deposited his little treasures. After he died his mother took the key and opened it. It was full of all sorts of things. There were specimens of stones, and sh.e.l.ls, and moss, and gra.s.s, and dried flowers. There were, also, curious flies, found dead; but they were not destroyed by him, as he would never sacrifice a short sunny existence for self gratification. There were a number of books and small ornamental toys which had been given him--a drawing slate with pencils, colored chalks, a small box of colors, some little plates which he had colored in his own untaught style--a commenced copy of the hymn, "I know that my Redeemer liveth"--an unfinished letter to his grandpapa, and some torn leaves which he had found with pa.s.sages of scripture upon them--a copy of the "lines on the death of an only son." Also a number of sketches of missionary stations, chapels and schools, which he had cut out and colored. His mother once asked him why he cut them out, saying, that there might be some reading on the back of the pieces worth saving. "Oh no, mamma," he replied, "I looked carefully at the backs first." In the box was a purse containing three s.h.i.+llings.

Such were the treasures which this little lamb had left when he died.

And as you will be pleased to know what was done with the box of treasures, I will tell you. "The thought struck me," says his mother, "that after he was gone, I should not know what to do with Bertie's Box of treasures; I therefore asked him what I should do with them." He replied, "Oh, give half to G.o.d and half to the children, and be sure to divide them fairly." The money in the box was devoted to the purchase of the Bible--and a collecting box made in the form of a Bible; for, said he, "when my friends come and give money to the children, then hold Bertie's box for Bertie's share." This is a good example for all children. Your little treasures may serve a good purpose when you die.

THE CHILD AND FLOWER.

The Atheist in his garden stood, At twilight's pensive hour, His little daughter by his side, Was gazing on a flower.

"Oh, pick that little blossom, Pa,"

The little prattler said, "It is the fairest one that blooms Within that lowly bed."

The father plucked the chosen flower, And gave it to his child; With parted lips and sparkling eye, She seized the gift and smiled.

"O Pa--who made this pretty flower, This little violet blue; Who gave it such a fragrant smell, And such a lovely hue?"

A change came o'er the father's brow, His eye grew strangely wild, New thoughts within him had been stirred By that sweet artless child.