Chapter I: Front Matter

PRECEPTS IN PRACTICE.

_THOMAS NELSON AND SONS_,
LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK.

PRECEPTS IN PRACTICE;

OR,

_STORIES ILLUSTRATING THE PROVERBS_.

BY
A. L. O. E.,
AUTHOR OF “THE SILVER CASKET”, “THE ROBBERS’ CAVE,” ETC., ETC.

WITH THIRTY-NINE ENGRAVINGS

London:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW.
EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK.

1887

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Preface.

Dear young friends (perhaps I may rather welcome some amongst you as _old_ friends), I would once more gather you around me to listen to my simple stories. I have in each one endeavoured to exemplify some truth taught by the wise King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs. Perhaps the holy words, which I trust that many of you have already learned to love, may be more forcibly imprinted on your minds, and you may apply them more to your own conduct, when you see them illustrated by tales describing such events as may happen to yourselves.

May the Giver of all good gifts make the choice of Solomon also yours; may you, each and all, be endowed with that wisdom from on high which is _more precious than rubies_; and may you find, as you proceed onward to that better home to which Heavenly Wisdom would guide you, that _her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace_.

A. L. O. E.

Contents.

I. THE TWO SONS, 9

II. THE PRISONER RELEASED, 21

III. THE MOTHER’S RETURN, 34

IV. THE FRIEND IN NEED, 43

V. FORBIDDEN GROUND, 62

VI. CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE, 76

VII. THE GREAT PLAGUE, 89

VIII. THE GREEN VELVET DRESS, 99

IX. FALSE FRIENDS, 115

X. COURAGE AND CANDOUR, 129

XI. THE SAILOR’S RESOLVE, 146

XII. THE GIPSIES, 158

XIII. FRIENDS IN NEED, 173

XIV. THE OLD PAUPER, 190

XV. THE BEAUTIFUL VILLA, 203

List of Illustrations.

THE DISOBEDIENT BOY, _Frontispiece_

OLD JONAS, _Vignette_

THE FROZEN LAKE, 10

HARRY TENDING HIS MOTHER, 13

DR. MERTON AND PAUL, 16

THE FUNERAL, 18

MARIA AND MARY, 35

WATCHING FOR MOTHER, 38

GOING TO CHURCH, 44

ON A VISIT, 45

OLD WILL AYLMER, 46

SEEKING THE LORD, 57

LITTLE JOSEPH, 63

THE STREET STALL, 65

THE LAWN, 68

MRS. GRAHAM AND JOSEPH, 73

LUCY AND PRISCILLA, 78

THE TEACHER’S STORY, 92

THE PLAGUE IN LONDON, 94

JENNY IN THE STORM, 101

THE MESSAGE, 103

ALIE WATCHING THE CAT, 135

“POOR TABBY!” 136

ALIE AND THE GIPSY GIRL, 161

THE GIPSIES, 163

THE GIPSY’S APPROACH, 169

THE GREEN LANE, 174

THE OLD PAUPER, 191

MRS. WARNER AND JESSY, 206

PRECEPTS IN PRACTICE.