Chapter XV: Preface (4)

"'She said unto them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

"'When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

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"'Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"

"'She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

"'Jesus saith unto her, "Mary!"

"'She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" which is to say, "Master."

"'Jesus saith to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God."

"'Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and how that he had said these things unto her.'"

"That is a very beautiful story, is it not?" said mamma, when she had finished reading. "And how glad Mary and all the friends of Jesus must have been to see him again! Now the sunset has faded, and I will sing you an Easter hymn."

[Footnote: Tune, "The Son of God goes forth to war."]

"The terror of the night has fled,
Its shadows fade away;
The tomb wherein our Lord lay dead
Is open to the day.

"That Easter morn when He came forth,
Who gave Him greeting there?
The flowers, the birds, the radiant earth,
And all the garden fair.

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"Once more the glorious day is here,
The day that saw Him rise,
When Love was victor over fear,
And glory filled the skies.

"Who comes to greet our risen King?
Not birds and flowers alone,
Our loyal hearts to Him we bring,
And worship at His throne."

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THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

Harold and Margaret had been hoping for a snowy Thanksgiving, and they were very happy when, two days before Thanksgiving, the snow began to fall in great flakes. The sun shone again on Thanksgiving morning, and at nine o'clock the sleigh with the two dapple gray horses was ready to take all the family to Grandpa Emerson's over the river and away four miles across the snowy fields in the country. How they enjoyed the ride in the fresh cold air! What a merry tune was sung by the jingling of the sleighbells! And how happy they were after they reached the big old farmhouse! First, of course, they were kissed and hugged by Grandpa Emerson and Grandma Emerson. Then they went out to the barn to see the horses and cows. Then they went sliding down the hill behind the barn. Then they made a beautiful snow man, and by that time they were ready for Grandma Emerson's Thanksgiving dinner. They were to stay at the farm for a few days, and toward evening as they sat before the roaring fire in the big fireplace they asked mamma for a story. "I will tell you," she said,

THE STORY OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

"The first settlers of New England were the Pilgrims who came across the sea from England in the ship Mayfower."

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"Oh, yes," said Harold, "I remember when we went to Plymouth and saw the Plymouth Rock and the old houses and the monument on the hill."

"Yes," said mamma, "that is where they landed and built their log houses. I will recite a poem which I learned when I was a girl and went to school like Margaret."

"The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rockbound coast,
And the woods against a stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed;

"And the heavy night hung dark
The hills and waters o'er,
When a band of exiles moored their bark
On the wild New England shore.

"Not as the conqueror comes,
They, the true-hearted, came,
Not with the roll of the stirring drums,
And the trumpet that sings of fame;

"Not as the flying come,
In silence and in fear,--
They shook the depths of the desert gloom
With their hymns of lofty cheer.

"Amidst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard and the sea!
And the sounding aisles of the dim wood rang
To the anthem of the free!

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"The ocean eagle soared
From his nest by the white wave's foam,
And the rocking pines of the forest roared--
This was their welcome home!

"There were men with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band--
Why had they come to wither there
Away from their childhood's land?

"There was woman's fearless eye,
Lit by her deep love's truth;
There was manhood's brow, serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth.

"What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?--
They sought a faith's pure shrine.

"Ay, call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod!
They have left unstain'd what there they found--
Freedom to worship God!"

"Did they have a very hard time at Plymouth?" said Margaret.

"Yes, my dear," replied mamma, "a very hard time. There were little children, and they often had to go cold and hungry. After the Mayflower brought them to Plymouth, it had to sail away again to England and leave them in the wilderness alone."

"There were Indians, too," said Harold.

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THRESHING

From a photograph taken by Mrs. Louise Seymour Houghton, and used by
her kind permission.

In the East the grain is threshed by the trampling of beasts, or
sometimes, as in this picture, by a rude kind of threshing wheel.
The wheels are carried in the framework on which the man is sitting.
Sometimes a sledge with iron or stone teeth driven into the bottom
is used.
[End illustration]

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"Yes," said mamma, "but they had the brave Miles Standish to protect them. At one time, so the story goes, they were almost starving. The winter was coming on, and they did not know what to do. So they set apart a certain day to fast and ask God's help in their distress. I am not sure that it is true, but we will suppose that a little girl and boy like you had climbed the hill to gather a few sticks of wood for the fire. We will suppose that the little girl was looking out to sea, and suddenly she cried, 'Oh, John, what can that be, is it a sail?'

"And we will suppose that John said, 'Oh, no, Priscilla, that is nothing but a seagull; there is no ship coming.'

"But Priscilla insisted.

"'It is, John, it is a sail.' And John looked again and cried, 'Yes! yes! it is, it is a sail!'

"Then how they ran to the village shouting, 'A sail! a sail!' and how the people came crowding out of the little church where they had gathered to pray, and how happy they all were!

"I do not know whether the children caught sight of the sail first, but it is true that on the day appointed for fast and prayer, a ship came from England, and the fast day was turned into a day of feasting and thanksgiving to God for his mercies. And ever after in New England, and now all over this country, the people keep this day; a day for feasting and joy, but a day also of humble thankfulness to God for all his goodness to his children.

"Now, we will draw the curtains and sing a Thanksgiving hymn."

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"O God, beneath Thy guiding hand
Our exiled fathers crossed the sea,
And when they trod the wintry strand
With prayer and psalm they worshiped Thee.

"Thou heard'st well pleased the song, the prayer:
Thy blessing came; and still its power
Shall onward through all ages bear
The memory of that holy hour.

"Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God,
Came with those exiles o'er the waves.
And where their pilgrim feet have trod,
The God they trusted guards their graves.

"And here Thy name, O God of love,
Their children's children shall adore
Till these eternal hills remove,
And spring adorns the earth no more."

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SHEEP
By Jacque

"Little lambs, so white and fair,
Are the shepherd's constant care;
Now he leads their tender feet
Into pastures green and sweet.

"Now they listen and obey,
Following where he leads the way;
Heavenly Father, may we be
Thus obedient unto Thee."
--_Selected_
[End illustration]

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WHO WAS THE NEIGHBOR?

"What is that long word?" asked Harold.

"That is 'neighbor,'" said mamma. "Can you tell me what it means?"

"Oh, yes," said Harold. "It means the people who live close by. Ralph and Elizabeth are our neighbors, because they live in the house next door."

"Yes," said mamma, "and in the old times when people did not travel as much as they do now, they did not know much about any except their neighbors. The Old Testament says that you should love your neighbor. That meant the people you meet day by day. The people of Jesus' time said that you should love your neighbor, but you might hate your enemy. Jesus said that was not right. Do you remember what he said about that, Harold?"

"I know," said Margaret, "we had it in our Sunday School class last Sunday. 'Love your enemies.'"

"Yes," said mamma, "and he once told a story about neighbors. It is called the story of

THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

"'And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

"'He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou?

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"'And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

"'And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

"'But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

"'And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

"'And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

"'And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

"'But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

"'And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

"'And on the morrow when he departed, he took, out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee.

"'Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?

"'And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.'

"What do you think that story means?" asked mamma.

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"I think," said Harold, "that it means that to be neighbor to anybody is to help him."

Margaret thought a minute. "It seems to me," she said, "that neighbors can live a long way off, then. Our teacher said she would tell us next Sunday how we could help poor little children in a big city five hundred miles away. That will make us neighbors to them, won't it, mamma?"

"Why, yes," said mamma. "So it will." Then she smiled a little and said, "I think we have some neighbors living in China and some others living in India."

What do you suppose mamma meant?

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Harold and Margaret were looking at a picture of an Eastern shepherd with his flocks.

"Mamma," said Harold, "is this our country? This man is not dressed as men are here."

"No," said mamma, "it is a picture of a shepherd and his sheep in the country of the Bible."

"What makes the shepherd go before the sheep, mamma?" asked Harold.

"In that country," said mamma, "the sheep are not driven, but led."

"Were sheep more plenty in the Bible land than in ours? I have never seen many sheep," said Harold.

"Yes," answered mamma, "most of the children in the Bible land knew all about sheep. Many of the hillsides had little white flocks of sheep on them. They were not kept in fields with fences. They wandered about over the open pasture lands; and so a man or a boy must be with them to watch over them. He was called the shepherd. He took them to the best pastures. At some seasons of the year he had to lead them a long way to find water. He kept the bears and the wolves and the lions away. He kept away the thieves who might come to steal the sheep. At night he drove the sheep to a fold, or shed, or sometimes he slept with them all night in the open air, beneath the stars.

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AN EASTERN SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP

From a photograph taken by W. J. Aitchison, Esq., of Hamilton,
Canada, and used by his kind permission.

These sheep are feeding just outside Jerusalem. "All the plateaus
east of the Jordan, and the mountains of Palestine and Syria, are
pasture grounds for innumerable flocks and herds. In the spring
there is plenty of grass. Later, when the rain has ceased, the sheep
still nibble the dry herbage and stubble and flourish where, to a
western eye, all is barren desert. They require water but once a
day. The descendants of the same shepherds who tended the flocks in
Bible days still occupy the great sheep walks of Palestine"
[End illustration]

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The shepherd named the sheep, and the sheep all knew him and loved him. They would follow him, but they would not follow a stranger. Because the people of the Bible land knew so much about the sheep and the shepherds, the writers of the Bible said a good deal about them. Now get the Bible and I will read you some of the things which it says about sheep."

Margaret brought the Bible, and mamma read first what Jesus said about himself as the good shepherd:--

"'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.'

"'Jesus said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall go in and out, and shall find pasture. The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, {286} and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.'"

"This means, my dears," said mamma, "that Jesus cares for you and for all his children, just as a good and faithful shepherd cares for his sheep. The good shepherd brings his sheep safely home at night, and the porter, or keeper of the fold, opens the door and lets them in. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls each one by name and they follow him, but they will not follow a stranger."

"What does 'hireling' mean?" said Margaret.

"It means, dear," replied mamma, "one who is hired to care for the sheep, but who does not know them or love them as the good shepherd does."

"I know," said Harold; "it means that Jesus can take care of us better than anyone else."

"Yes," said mamma, "that is just what it means. And here is another story from the Bible, which Jesus told to show how very tenderly he loves and cares for his little ones":--

"'Jesus said, See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. How think ye? If any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains and seek that which goeth astray?

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD
By W. C. T. Dobson

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for
the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth
because he is a hireling, and careth not for his sheep. I am the
good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as
the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life
for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall
become one flock, one shepherd."--_The Words of Jesus_
[End illustration]

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And if so be that he find it, verily, I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones shall perish.'"

"In the book of the Bible called the Psalms," continued mamma, "the twenty-third is often called the Shepherd Psalm."

"Oh, we know that psalm," said Margaret.

"Suppose," said mamma, "that one of the sheep in our picture could talk and think like you. Would he not wish to say something about his shepherd, very much like this psalm? The sheep would tell you how the shepherd led him to the green pastures, and let him rest by the brooks that flow gently through the meadows, and kept him safe in the valleys where no wild beasts were hiding to kill him, and put out his long staff to guide him and to help him up the steep paths of the hills. Now let us say the psalm together."

"'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me:
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: {290}
Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.'"

"Mamma," said Harold, "sheep don't eat at tables, or have cups."

"No," said mamma, smiling, "that shows us that, after all, this psalm is about a man, and not about a sheep. It means that when troubles and dangers are all about us God still gives all that we need. Sometime that will mean a great deal more to you than it does now."

"I don't understand," said Margaret, "about anointing the head with oil, and dwelling in the house of the Lord."

"In the Bible land," said mamma, "when a man wished to honor a guest whom he had invited to a feast, he poured out a little sweet-smelling oil upon his head. The psalm means that God makes his people, even when they are in the midst of danger, feel as happy as though they were honored guests at a feast. To dwell in the house of the Lord forever means that we are to feel always perfectly secure, as though we were living in God's own house, where nothing could ever harm us."

Harold thought a moment, and then he said, "I think that I know what all the stories about sheep in the Bible mean. They mean that people are like sheep, and they can't take care of themselves, but that God loves them very much, and that he will always take care of them."

"Yes, that is just it," said mamma, "and now! as it is {291} growing dark, let us sing that song which is the twenty-third psalm put into different words."

"The Lord is my shepherd; no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe-folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wandering, redeems when oppressed.

"Through the valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since Thou art my guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.

"In the midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o'er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?

"Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod
Through the land of their sojourn, Thy kingdom of love."

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LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE AIR AND FIELDS

Margaret and Harold had learned to be kind to animals. They belonged to a "Band of Mercy," a company of boys and girls who were pledged never to be unkind to any dumb creature, and to rescue any poor beast who might be in distress or suffering cruel treatment. They had many chances to help poor dogs and cats which were being persecuted by cruel boys. One day they came home from school and told about a poor little kitten which they had protected when it was almost dead from fright. "That was very kind," said mamma, "and to-night I will read you some stories and poems about kindness to animals which I have been saving. Margaret and Harold played with their dog Sport and their big cat Spot until supper time. After supper they were ready for the stories and poems.

"Once upon a time," said mamma, "there lived a very good man who came to be known as St. Francis of Assisi. He was very kind to all birds and animals. He called the birds 'little brothers of the air' and the animals 'little brothers of the field and woods.' These stories are told about him:--

"'Once, full of joy, he was going on his way when, perceiving some flocks of birds, he turned aside a little from the road to go to them. Far from taking flight, they flocked around him as if to bid him welcome.

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HEAD OF DOG
[End illustration]

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"Brother birds," he said to them, "you ought to praise and love your Creator very much. He has given you feathers for clothing, wings for flying, and all that is needful for you. He has made you the noblest of his creatures; he permits you to live in the pure air; you have neither to sow nor to reap, and yet he takes care of you, watches over you and guides you." Then the birds began to arch their necks, to spread out their wings, to open their beaks, to look at him, as if to thank him, while he went up and down in their midst stroking them with the border of his tunic, sending them away at last with his blessing.'

"'In this same tour, passing through Alviano, he began to preach to the people, but the swallows so filled the air with their chirping that he could not make himself heard. "It is my turn to speak," he said to them; "little swallow sisters, hearken to the word of God; keep silent and be very quiet until I have finished.'"

"'At Rieti a family of redbreasts were the guests of the monastery, and the young birds made marauding expeditions on the very table where the Brothers were eating. Not far from there, at Greccio, at another time, they brought to Francis a little rabbit that had been taken alive in a trap. "Come to me, Brother Rabbit," he said to it. And as the poor creature, being set free, ran to him for refuge, he took it up, caressed it, and finally put it on the ground that it might run away; but it returned to him again and again, so that he was obliged to send it to the neighboring forest before it would consent to return to freedom.'

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"'One day he was crossing the Lake of Rieti. The boatman in whose bark he was making the passage offered him a fish of uncommon size. Francis accepted it with joy, but, to the great amazement of the fisherman, put it back into the water, bidding it bless God.'

"Here is a story which I once read about a very good and distinguished man who tells how he learned when he was a boy not to kill even the smallest animal needlessly.

"'I saw one day a little spotted turtle sunning itself in the shallow water, and I lifted the stick in my hand to kill it, for, though I had never killed any creature, I had seen other boys kill birds, squirrels, and the like, and I had a disposition to follow their wicked example; but all at once something checked my little arm, and a voice within me said, clear and loud, "It is wrong," and so I held my uplifted stick until the turtle vanished from my sight. Then I went home and told my mother, and asked her what it was that told me it was wrong. She wiped a tear from her eye, and took me in her arms, and said: "Some call it conscience, but I call it the voice of God in the human soul. If you listen to it and obey it, then it will speak clearer and clearer, and always guide you right. But if you do not listen to it, or disobey it, then it will fade out, little by little, and leave you in the dark without a guide. Your life, my child, depends on heeding that little voice."'

"And here are some poems which teach us to be gentle and kind to the dumb animals who depend upon us for life and look to us for mercy. The poet Cowper says:--

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BOY AND DOG
By Blume
[End illustration]

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"'I would not enter on my list of friends,
Though graced with polished manners and fine sense,
Yet wanting sensibility, the man
Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm.'

"Coleridge in a great poem, 'The Ancient Mariner,' which I will read to you when you are a little older, says:--

"'He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast.

"'He prayeth best who loveth best
All things, both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all.'

"And here are two verses whose author I do not know:--

"'Maker of earth, and sea, and sky,
Creation's Sovereign Lord and King;
Who hung the starry worlds on high
And formed alike the sparrow's wing:
Bless the dumb creatures of Thy care,
And listen to their voiceless prayer.

"'All-Father! who on Mercy's throne
Hear'st Thy dumb creatures' faintest moan,--
Thy love be ours, and ours shall be
Returned in deeds to these and Thee.'

"There is a poem by John Ruskin which speaks of that good time coming when cruelty shall cease and terrible wars shall be no more."

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A SONG OF PEACE.

"'Put off, put off your mail, ye kings, and beat your brands to dust;
A surer grasp your hands must know, your hearts a better trust.
Nay, bend aback the lance's point, and break the helmet bar,
A noise is in the morning winds, but not the note of war!

"'Among the grassy mountain paths the glittering troops increase;
They come! they come! how fair their feet--they come that publish peace.
Yea, Victory, fair Victory, our enemies are ours,
And all the clouds are clasped in light, and all the earth with flowers.

"'Ah! still depressed and dim with dew, but wait a little while,
And radiant with the deathless rose the wilderness shall smile,
And every tender, living thing shall feed by streams of rest,
Nor lamb shall from the fold be lost, nor nursling from the nest.'"

"That reminds us of what the prophet said about the time when all the beasts even shall lose their cruel traits and live at peace with each other, and even play with little children."

"Could that ever be true, mamma?" interrupted Harold.

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ON GUARD
[End illustration]

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"Well, even now, my dear," replied mamma, "wild and fierce animals have been wholly tamed by kindness. We cannot tell what beautiful things might happen if all evil and unkindness should be driven from the world and men should live as Christ taught us to live.

"Here are the prophet's words: 'And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.'

"These verses are from the Psalms and the Proverbs:--

"'For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a
thousand hills.

"'I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the
field are mine.'

"'The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but he that is cruel
troubleth his own flesh.'

"'A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender
mercies of the wicked are cruel.'

"And here are some of the words of Jesus about animals and birds and about kindness:--

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"'Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.'

"'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.'

"'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay his head.'

"'Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than
the raiment? Behold the birds of the heavens, that they sow not,
neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your Heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not of much more value than they?'

"'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them
shall fall on the ground without your Father; but the very hairs of
your head are all numbered.'"

"And now it is late and my little lambs must go to their beds. I am
sure that you both will be kind in every way to your little brothers
of the air and the woods and fields, and your little dumb brothers
in the streets of the city."

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SHEPHERD HYMNS

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THE GOOD SHEPHERD
By Bernard Plockhorst (1825- )

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear
his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them
out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and
the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will
they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice
of strangers."--_The Words of Jesus_
[End illustration]

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SAVIOUR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US

Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tenderest care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare;
Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray;
Blessed Jesus,
Hear the children when they pray.

Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Holy Lord, our only Saviour,
With Thy grace our bosoms fill;
Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
--_Dorothy Ann Thrupp_.

{310}

WAS THERE EVER KINDEST SHEPHERD?

Was there ever kindest shepherd
Half so gentle, half so sweet
As the Saviour, who would have us
Come and gather round His feet?
There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.
--_Frederick William Faber_

{311}{312}

THE LOST LAMB FOUND
By P. Giradet

Sometimes in winter the sheep suffer greatly from the cold and heavy
snowstorms. This is a description of sheep covered by the snow in
winter:--

"The flock was buried Beneath a great white billow as high as a barn
and as broad as a house. This great drift was rolling and curling
beneath the violent blast, tufting and combing with rustling swirls,
and carved as if patterns of cornice where the grooving-chisel of
the wind swept round. Ever and again the tempest snatched little
whiffs from the channeled edges, twirled them round and made them
dance over the chine of the monster pile, then let them lie like
herringbones or the seams of the sand where the tide has been. And
all the while, from the smothery sky, more and more fiercely at
every blast, came the pelting pitiless arrows winged with murky
white and pointed with the barbs of the frost."--_Blackmore_
[End illustration]

{313}

GRACIOUS SAVIOUR, HOLY SHEPHERD

Gracious Saviour, holy Shepherd,
Little ones are dear to Thee;
Gathered with Thine arms, and carried
In Thy bosom, may they be
Sweetly, fondly, safely tended,
From all want and danger free.

Let Thy holy words instruct them;
Fill their minds with heavenly light;
Let Thy love and grace constrain them
To approve whate'er is right;
Let them feel Thy yoke is easy,
Let them prove Thy burden light.

Taught to lisp Thy holy praises
Which on earth Thy children sing,
With both lips and hearts, unfeigned,
Glad thank-offering may they bring;
Then with all Thy saints in glory
Join to praise their Lord and King.
--_Jane E. Leeson and J. Whittemore_.

{314}

IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING

In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear,
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim,
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o'er me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
My path to life is free;
My Saviour has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.
--_Anna L. Waring_.

{315}

THE KING OF LOVE

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His,
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

And so, through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
--_Sir H. W. Baker_.

{316}

{317}

PRAYERS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

{318}

{319}

PRAYERS FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
AMEN.

Jesus, take this heart of mine,
Make it pure, and only Thine.
I Thy little child would be,
Help me, Lord, to live for Thee. AMEN.

I thank Thee, Lord, for quiet rest,
And for Thy care of me;
Oh, let me through this day be blest,
And kept from harm by Thee.
Oh, let me thank Thee, kind Thou art
To children such as I,
Give me a gentle, loving heart;
Be Thou my friend on high. AMEN.
--_Beginner's Reading Book_.

Dear Lord, for these three things I pray:
To know Thee more clearly,
To love Thee more dearly,
To follow Thee more nearly.
Every day. AMEN.

{320}

Father in heaven, help Thy little children
To love and serve Thee throughout this day.
Help us to be truthful, help us to be kindly,
That we may please Thee in all we do or say.

Dear Lord, we pray Thee, keep Thy little children
From doing wrong throughout this happy day.
Hear our morning promises. Father, help us keep them,
That we may please Thee in all we do or say. AMEN.

For Jesus Christ, the children's friend,
We thank Thee, heavenly Father.
For Jesus Christ, who keeps us to the end,
We thank Thee, heavenly Father. AMEN.

Father, we thank Thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light;
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that makes the day so fair.

Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good;
In all we do in work or play,
To grow more loving every day. AMEN.

Dear Lord, we thank Thee for Thy care,
And all Thy mercy sends;
For food we eat, the clothes we wear,
Our health and home and friends. AMEN.

{321}{322}

THE SOUL'S AWAKENING
By James Sant (1820- )

"Can a little child like me,
Thank the Father fittingly?
Yes, oh, yes,--be good and true,
Patient, kind in all you do,
Love the Lord and do your part,
Learn to say with all your heart,--
Father, we thank Thee;
Father in heaven, we thank Thee."
--_Mary Mapes Dodge_
[End illustration]

{323}

Loving Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child.
Make me gentle as Thou art,
Come and live within my heart.

Take my childish hand in Thine,
Guide these little feet of mine,
And the world shall ever see
Christ, the holy child, in me. AMEN.

Lord, though Thy home is in the sky,
Thou art not far away;
Thou lookest down with loving eye
When little children pray.

We thank Thee for Thy tender care,
And for Thy precious love,
For all the beauty Thou hast made
Of earth and heaven above. AMEN.

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me;
Bless Thy little lamb to-night.
Through the darkness be Thou near me;
Keep me safe till morning light.

All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast warmed me, clothed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.

Let my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take us all at last to heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell. AMEN.

{324}

My Father in heaven, I thank Thee for my many blessings. I love Thee very much. Help me to love Thee more and to obey Thee better. Forgive all my sins, I pray Thee. Give me good thoughts. Give me understanding. Bless all my friends and keep them and me, both now and forever. AMEN. --_By courtesy of the Clarke School, Northampton, Mass_.

A CHILD'S GRACE

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit. AMEN.
--_Robert Burns_.

GRACE FOR A CHILD

Here, a little child, I stand,
Heaving up my either hand;
Cold as paddocks though they be,
Here I lift them up to Thee,
For a benison to fall
On our meat and on us all. AMEN.
--_Robert Herrick_.

{325}

OLD TIME VERSES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN

{326}

{327}

AGAINST IDLENESS AND MISCHIEF

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

How skillfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labors hard to store it well.
With the sweet food she makes.

In works of labor or of skill
I would be busy, too:
For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be pass'd;
That I may give for every day
Some good account at last.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{328}

AGAINST PRIDE IN CLOTHES

How proud we are! how fond to show
Our clothes, and call them rich and new,
When the poor sheep and silkworm wore
That very clothing long before.

The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I;
Let me be dress'd fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.
Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind;
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace!
These are the robes of richest dress.
No more shall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear;
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this best apparel, too.

It never fades, it ne'er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould;
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more 't is worn the more it shines.
In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven and wear it there;
God will approve it in His sight,
'Tis His own work and His delight.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{329}

THE ANT, OR EMMET

These emmets, how little they are in our eyes!
We tread them to dust, and a troop of them dies,
Without our regard or concern;
Yet, as wise as we are, if we went to their school,
There's many a sluggard and many a fool
Some lessons of wisdom might learn.

They wear not their time out in sleeping or play,
But gather up corn in a sunshiny day,
And for winter they lay up their stores;
They manage their work in such regular forms
One would think they foresaw all the frosts and the storms,
And so brought their food within doors.

But I have less sense than a poor creeping ant
If I take not due care for the things I shall want,
Nor provide against dangers in time;
When death or old age shall once stare in my face,
What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days
If I trifle a way all their prime!

Now, while my strength and my youth are in bloom,
Let me think what shall serve me when sickness shall come,
And pray that my sins be forgiven;
Let me read in good books, and believe, and obey,
That, when death turns me out of this cottage of clay,
I may dwell in a palace in heaven.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{330}

A MORNING SONG

My God, who makes the sun to know
His proper hour to rise,
And, to give light to all below,
Doth send him round the skies.

When from the chambers of the east
His morning race begins,
He never tires, nor stops to rest,
But round the world he shines.

So, like the sun, would I fulfill
The business of the day;
Begin my work betimes, and still
March on my heavenly way.

Give me, O Lord, Thine early grace,
Nor let my soul complain,
That the young morning of my days
Has all been spent in vain.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{331}{332}

MADONNA OF THE ANGELS
By Adolph Bouguereau (1825-1905)

"The mother with the Child,
Whose tender winning arts
Have to His little arms beguiled
So many wounded hearts."
--_Matthew Arnold_
[End illustration]

{333}

AN EVENING SONG

And now another day is gone,
I'll sing my Maker's praise;
My comforts every hour make known
His providence and grace.

But how my childhood runs to waste!
My sins, how great their sum!
Lord, give me pardon for the past,
And strength for days to come.

I lay my body down to sleep,
Let angels guard my head;
And, through the hours of darkness, keep
Their watch around my bed.

With cheerful heart I close my eyes,
Since Thou wilt not remove;
And in the morning let me rise,
Rejoicing in Thy love.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{334}

THE SLUGGARD

'T is the voice of the Sluggard: I heard him complain,
"You have waked me too soon! I must slumber again!"
As a door on its hinges, so he on his bed
Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head.

"A little more sleep and a little more slumber!"
Thus he wastes half his days and his hours without number;
And when he gets up he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about sauntering, or trifling he stands.

I pass'd by his garden and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags,
And his money still wastes, till he starves or he begs.

I made him a visit, still hoping to find
He had took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talked of eating and drinking;
But he scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.

Said I then to my heart, "Here's a lesson for me!
That man's but a picture of what I might be;
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who have taught me betimes to love working and reading."
--_Isaac Watts_.

{335}{336}

THE DIVINE SHEPHERD
By Murillo (1618-1682)
[End illustration]

{337}

PRAISE FOR MERCIES, SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL

Whene'er I take my walks abroad,
How many poor I see!
What shall I render to the Lord
For all His gifts to me!

Not more than others I deserve,
Yet God hath given me more;
For I have food, while others starve,
Or beg from door to door.

How many children in the street
Half naked I behold!
While I am clothed from head to feet
And cover'd from the cold.

While some poor wretches scarce can tell
Where they may lay their head,
I have a home wherein to dwell,
And rest upon my bed.

While others early learn to swear,
And curse, and lie, and steal;
Lord, I am taught Thy name to fear,
And do Thy holy will.

Are these Thy favors, day by day,
To me above the rest?
Then let me love Thee more than they,
And try to serve Thee best.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{338}

THE ROSE

How fair is the Rose! What a beautiful flower!
The glory of April and May;
But the leaves are beginning to fade in an hour,
And they wither and die in a day.

Yet the Rose has one powerful virtue to boast,
Above all the flowers of the field!
When its leaves are all dead and fine colors are lost,
Still how sweet a perfume it will yield!

So frail is the youth and the beauty of man,
Though they bloom and look gay like the Rose;
But all our fond care to preserve them is vain,
Time kills them as fast as he goes.

Then I'll not be proud of my youth and my beauty,
Since both of them wither and fade;
But gain a good name by well doing my duty:
This will scent like a rose when I'm dead.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{339}{340}

MADONNA AND CHILD
By Carlo Dolci (1616-1686)
[End illustration]

{341}

PRAISE FOR CREATION AND PROVIDENCE

I sing th' Almighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordain'd
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,
And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That fill'd the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are display'd
Where'er I turn mine eye!
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!

There's not a plant or flower below
But makes Thy glories known:
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne.

Creatures (as numerous as they be)
Are subject to Thy care:
There's not a place where we can flee,
But God is present there.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{342}

A GENERAL SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD

How glorious is our heavenly King,
Who reigns above the sky!
How shall a child presume to sing
His dreadful majesty?

How great His power is none can tell,
Nor think how large His grace:
Not men below, nor saints that dwell
On high before His face.

Not angels, that stand round the Lord,
Can search His secret will;
But they perform His heavenly word,
And sing His praises still.

Then let me join this holy tram,
And my first offerings bring;
The eternal God will not disdain
To hear an infant sing.

My heart resolves, my tongue obeys,
And angels shall rejoice,
To hear their mighty Maker's praise
Sound from a feeble voice.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{343}

INNOCENT PLAY

Abroad in the meadows, to see the young lambs
Run sporting about by the side of their dams,
With fleeces so clean and so white;
Or a nest of young doves in a large open cage,
When they play all in love, without anger or rage,
How much we may learn from the sight!

If we had been ducks, we might dabble in mud;
Or dogs, we might play till it ended in blood:
So foul and so fierce are their natures;
But Thomas and William, and such pretty names,
Should be cleanly and harmless as doves or as lambs,
Those lovely, sweet innocent creatures.

Not a thing that we do, nor a word that we say,
Should injure another in jesting or play,
For he's still in earnest that's hurt:
How rude are the boys that throw pebbles and mire;
There's none but a madman will fling about fire,
And tell you, "'T is all but in sport!"
--_Isaac Watts_.

{344}

AGAINST QUARRELING AND FIGHTING

Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
For God hath made them so;
Let bears and lions growl and fight,
For 't is their nature, too:

But, children, you should never let
Such angry passions rise;
Your little hands were never made
To tear each other's eyes.

Let love through all your actions run,
And all your words be mild;
Live like the blessed Virgin's Son,
That sweet and lovely Child.

His soul was gentle as a lamb;
And as His stature grew,
He grew in favor both with man
And God, His Father, too.

Now, Lord of all, He reigns above,
And from His heavenly throne
He sees what children dwell in love,
And marks them for His own.
--_Isaac Watts_.

{345}

LOVE BETWEEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS