網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

and hath given the scarlet berry to the birds. His hand hath provided thee a shelter from the cold', fuel for thy hearth', and food to make thee of a cheerful heart. The mercy of the Lord is great'! the goodness of the Lord is over all! The tender mercy of the Lord is wonderful`! Let all the earth praise the goodness of our God.

Is the brook for ever frozen'? Is the earth forever desolaté? What'! shall the trees resume their verdure'; shall the flowers of the forest and the plain again revive', and shall I, O man, sleep forever', neglected in the dust'?

The voice of Him who clothes the trees with verdure, and bids the blossoms of the spring to bud', shall reach me in the tomb'; His hand shall raise me from the dead.

The dark cloud ariseth from the north', the beauty of the moon is no more seen', and the brightness of the stars are hidden'; the north wind sweeps along the plain', and the path of the traveler is no longer discerned. The cottager bars fast his door against the sleet'; the fagot crackles on the hearth; his children hang the traveler's coat before the flame', the lamp trembles in the socket', the tempest beats upon the thatch, the wind howls in the chimney', the hail rattles against the casement': but the praise of the Lord is on his tongue; the goodness of the Lord is in his heart'; the word of the Lord is in his hand.

"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him', in those that hope in his mercy. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates'; he hath blessed thy children within theè: He maketh peace in thy borders', and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon the earth': his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool'; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels': who can stand before his cold'? He sendeth out his word', and melteth them'; he causeth the wind to blow', and the waters flow. Praise ye the Lord': praise the name of the Lord', for his name alone is excellent. His glory is above the earth', and the heavens."

10

LESSON XLV.

THEFT, OR THE BURNT WALLET.

Boys', and girls too', who have learned and repeated a great many times the commandment, "Thou shalt not steal"," often take things which do not belong to them. They seem not exactly to understand what stealing is. If a boy slily takes an apple or an orange from his mother's table, when he knows that she will disapprove of it', and thinks that he will not be observed', he commits theft. It seems a hārd name to give to so trifling an offence', but it is really so. Many a man has been sentenced to spend months, and years', and, it may be, to die within the gloomy walls of a prison',' who began his career of wickedness in boyhood', by stealing dainties from his mother's closet', or by putting into his pocket, for his own use', small sums of money that accidentally came in his way. Perhaps the taking of a single cent, or what was of no more value than that', was the beginning of wicked practices that ended in his ruin. Bad habits strengthen very fast. A boy may soon stifle conscience, but he will have a bitter cup to drink at last.

Be very scrupulous never to take the slightest thing to which you have not a perfect right', in school', at home', or when sent on errands. In whatever form temptation comes, resist it. The eye of God is never withdrawn from you. If you have taken what belonged to another, and wish to feel peaceful and happy again', go and confess your sin`; return the very article, or make up the loss, if it is possible', and then do so no more. This is the course which James took. I give his story in his own words. It is true.

"When I was about twelve years old, I went into a man's shop where little pocket wallets were manufactured. I wanted one very much', and I had money enough to buy one', but I thought that I could slip one slily into my pocket', and that nobody would know any thing of it. I took an opportunity, when I was alone in the back part of the shop', to take one. I went out to go home', but I felt very guilty. Nothing can describe the weight which seemed to be upon my heart. I could think of nothing but the wallet which I had stolen. I was so afraid that I should be found out, that

I could not bear to meet any one', and tried as I went home' to keep out of sight.

"At length I became so unhappy' that I was afraid to be alone', or in the dark. I could not sleep at night. I was so afraid, that I covered up my head with the bed-clothes. After a few days, I thought that if I could only get the wallet back to the owner', I would give any thing. But I was ashamed to go to him myself. Once or twice I thought of dropping it in the street, where he or some of his men would pick it up, but I could not be sure but that some one else would find it. I then thought of burning it', so as to be sure that I never should be found out. So I threw it into the fire'; but just as it was beginning to curl from the heat', I caught it out again. I had no right to burn it. It was my duty to carry it back to the owner. At last I was so miserable that I could bear it no longer. I took the wallet, all soiled and scorched as it was', and went, from my father's, two miles to the manufacturer's', and told him that I wanted to tell him something if he would keep it secret. I gave him the wallet', and confessed that I had stolen it. I felt at once relieved of my burden of guilt'; my heart seemed light again." "When the owner had heard my story', he said kindly', Well, you will never do so again', I think." He then took down a beautiful, gilt, red morocco wallet', and gave me', instead of the plain calf-skin one that I had stolen. Said he', 'I would give you that one, but I know what your feelings would be', whenever you might see it with the marks of the fire'; so I will give you another.'"

86

This boy took the right course to bring back peace of mind. He went to the man whom he had injured', confessed the whole', and was forgiven. The man treated him very kindly and properly. He saw that the boy was truly penitent, and believed that he would never be guilty of such a crime again. James' decision to go to the wallet-maker, and to tell him the whole truth', was a noble one', and it doubtless had some influence in making him the very valuable member of society which he has since become.

If James had contrived some way of restoring the wallet uninjured' to its owner', I do not think that he would have felt so happy and light-hearted as he did after he had confessed the wholé, and received assurances that he was cordially forgiven. My next story is a good illustration of this point, and on that account it is given.

LESSON XLVI.

THE STOLEN APPLE.

Lucy was the member of a boarding-school. There were several scholars in the same family with her. They were not amply supplied with the kinds of food they would have chosen', and some of the girls seemed to think it no sin to commit depredations on eatables wherever they might be found.

One Sabbath, several remained at home unnecessarily. They met together in a room for conversation, and one proposed that the kitchen and its premises should be searched for something to eat. The others agreed to it. The family were all at church. The girls went down in a body with fear and trembling', lest one of the servants should make her appearance. The young lady, who took the lead in this enterprise', soon discovered a barrel partly filled with fine apples. As fruit was not very abundant in that place, the apples were more attractive than any thing else. Each one took as many as she chose, and hastily retreated to her chamber. Lucy knew that it was wrong. She stood for an instant at the barrel', with the apple in her hand. She could not stifle the whispers of conscience, but the fear of being laughed at by her companions prevailed. She went to her room and sat down at the window, her little table, on which lay her Bible', was before her,`-the stolen apple was there too. It was of a fine, clear, green', perfectly ripe', but she could not taste it. Guilty and wretched, she leaned her head. upon the table', and thought over the sins of the afternoon.

Her thoughtless associates had prevailed upon her to stay away from church`; and then she yielded to the temptation of talking about many subjects altogether improper for the Sabbath; and lastly', she had been guilty of theft. Others might call it by a softer name', but conscience was alive now, and she could give it no other. She resolved to carry it back. But she was unwilling to have the others know it'; so she went softly down stairs', opening the door as gently as she could', and put the apple back into the barrel. She returned to her room feeling somewhat relieved`, but not

happy. The stolen apple-the sins of that Sabbath-remained a burden a long time. If she had gone to her companions, and frankly told them how she felt about it', and that she should return what she had taken', it would have been much better. But she was ashamed of her penitence', and conscience was only partly quieted.

But, let it be remembered', whenever we do wrong', God is displeased', and his forgiveness' is to be sought first of all.

LESSON XLVII.

A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT.

A GENTLEMAN, just returned from a journey to London, was surrounded by his children who were eager, after the first salutations were over', to hear the news'; and still more eager to see the contents of a small portmanteau', which were, one by one, carefully unfolded and displayed to view. After distributing amongst them a few small presents, the father took his seat again, saying that he had brought from town, for his own usé, something far more curious and valuable than any of the little gifts which they had received. It was, he said, too good to present to any of them'; but he would, if they pleased, first give them a brief description of it', and then perhaps they might be allowed to inspect it.

The children were, accordingly, all attention, while the father thus proceeded. "This small instrument displays the most perfect ingenuity of construction', and exquisite nicety and beauty of workmanship'; from its extreme delicacy, it is so liable to injury that a sort of light curtain, adorned with a beautiful fringe, is always provided', and so placed as to fall, in a moment, on the approach of the slightest danger. Its external appearance is always more or less beautiful': yet in this respect there is a great diversity in the different sorts':-but the internal contrivance is the same in all of them', and is so extremely curious, and its powers so truly astonishing', that no one who considers it can suppress his surprise and admiration. By a slight and momentary movement, which is easily effected by the per

« 上一頁繼續 »