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SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME.

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LESSON XI.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME.

"Mother'," said Margaret', "Is there a family in town by the name of Morrison' ?"

“None that I know of," said Mrs. Brown. "But why, Margaret' ?" asked Sarah.

"You know, Sarah'," replied Margaret', "that you said, the other day', that you met a boy in a real patch-work spencer', with beautiful dark grey eyes. That boy now goes to our school' though I didn't mind him till to-day. I knew him by the spencer. I don't believe there's such another in the world-all ōvēr patches."

"Poor child," observed Mrs. Brown'; "I hope that no one of the scholars is so cruel as to laugh at him for his mean clothes."

"Two of the boys laughed at him, and one of the girls did too; but he did not seem to hear them,” said Oliver.

"Who were they'?" asked Margaret.

"You know I don't tell tales, Margaret'," said Oliver.

"But what was you going to say about the Morrisons'?" inquired Elizabeth', raising her eyes from her lace-frame.

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'Why, nothing," said Oliver', " only that the new scholar is named so."

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Nothing, indeed," exclaimed Margaret', "except that he is very studious', and well-behaved', and poorly dressed'; and that he has no father', and his mother is sickly', and his sisters are obliged to stay from school to work for her`; and all the time he is out of school, he spends in picking up wood for their fire', and in teaching them to read."

"That's something of an account, really`," said Oliver.

"Well," observed Mrs. Brown', "I recollect your father mentioned to me, last Tuesday, that a widow woman, with her three children, had taken the old Newman place, about a mile above here'; they seemed to be veay neat, clever people, but meanly drest, and quite poor. He did not know their name."

"What a long walk poor Morrison must have to school'," said Sarah.

"With such miserable clothing`," added Elizabeth. "And he had only a crust of bread for his dinner, as I minded'," said Oliver; "and a dry crust it was, and a black one."

"Poor bōy'," said little Sophy', "I'll give him some of my cake, when he comes here', and some of my pudding', and some of my pie."

"Well," said Margaret, "if we see him at the Sabbath school to-morrow, we shall know if he hasn't any better spencer than that."

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Why," said Oliver', "if he has none but that', it isn't likely that he will go to the Sabbath school." "I hope he will not be obliged to stay away for want of clothing," said Mrs. Brown'; "I must make inquiry."

"And isn't it sad, mother', very'sad, mother'," said Elizabeth', "that these girls can't go to school, when it's a free school'? I don't believe they have good clothing."

"Well," ,"exclaimed Oliver', "I remember that Morrison hinted that there was some reason for their not going to school', beside the knitting and sewing'; but then he looked so red', I did not dare to say any thing."

They take in sewing," said Margaret', "and knit to sell. Perhaps Aunt Howard will be willing to send

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME.

them her work.

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She has a great deal, just now, be

cause George is getting ready to go to sea.

"Mother'," said Elizabeth', "couldn't we make up a neat bundle of our clothes, and send them to these girls privately'? I could spare my blue and green calico very well; and it is quite whole', and very pretty-if we find they are destitute."

"But, my dear girl'," replied her mother', " I can't afford to buy you another gown this winter, if you give that away."

"I will mend up those I have, so as to make them last me," said Elizabeth.

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"I could do without my purple bombazett' said Sarah'.

"Mother'," said Oliver', " you know that old blue greatcoat of father's, that was to be altered for me; if you'll have that made into clothes for the boy, I will wear my old one', and not complain of it any more."

"Well, my dear'," said Mrs. Brown', "let us find out if they are needy', and if they will accept assistance; and then we can make arrangements for their comfort. But until we can find out whether they are in want, we had better waive the subject', or perhaps it will cause us to overlook some present duty. After dinner, you will remember, Elizabeth and Sarah', to see that all the children's clothes are in readiness for the Sabbath. Every glove, and every handkerchief, must be in its place. You must see to your clothes, Oliver'. If any thing needs mending', hand it to sister Elizabeth', and she will put in order. Last Sunday, you know', one of your coat buttons was gone."

"All will be in order, to-day, mother', with Lizzy's help; Lizzy's a good girl, isn't she', mother' ?" said Oliver', catching his sister's hand.

Elizabeth was the oldest of those children-a sweet tempered, gentle girl', of sixteen. A tear started into

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her eye, when she heard her little brother's affectionate praise', and a slight blush glowed on her cheek. They are all good girls', Oliver'," said his mother. "Why, yes', ma'," said Oliver smiling'; "only Sarah is as wild as a hawk'; and Sophy is a little snarling thing, sometimes', though I love her dearly for all that; and my school-fellow here', Margaret', is a real Yankee'; she wants to know every' thing, mother'; what concerns her', and what does not."

"We are all Yankees, Oliver'," replied his mother`, laughing; "but I hope that Margaret keeps her curiosity within the bounds of courtesy."

"I hope she does'," said Oliver, significantly. "If I don't now, I mean to'," said Margaret.

"I won't be a little snarling thing again, if you'll love me as well as you do Lizzy," said little Sophy. "Then I will," said Oliver', "if you'll show me where you've hid the kittens."

"I will," said Sophy`; and away they went in search of them.

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Sarah did not care to exonerate her character from the imputation of wildness', for she was intently thinking how neatly she would fit over the purple bombazett', and how she would try to do without one of her pink aprons' if her mother would allow her to give it to one of the Morrisons,-of which she had no doubt. Come, Margaret'," said Mrs. Brown', after the dinner table had been removed, "it is your turn to day', to assist me in the usual preparations for Sunday. We will go into the kitchen. There must be no unnecessary work on that holy day. If we would be prospered in our affairs', we must call the Sabbath a delight', the holy of the Lord, honorable.' And we must honor Him, 'not doing our own ways', nor finding our own pleasure', nor speaking our own words' on his holy day."

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THE FATHER WHO LOVED HIS SON.

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LESSON XII.

THE FATHER WHO LOVED HIS SON.

There was once a number of little children playing in a public road, where there was constant danger of their being thrown down and hurt by carriages. Several persons who saw them, warned them of their danger', but these little heedless ones did not regard the cautions given. But, after a while, a man came all in haste from some distance', and going in among the crowd of children', plucked one from amongst the others', applying to him, at the same time', several severe blows..

And pray, said an old woman who was standing by`, why did you seize upon that child in particular, my good man, and lay your hand so heavily upon him : is he worse than his fellows, that you think it necessary to punish him rather than the others' ?

"No`, replied the man', he is not worse than the rest', but he is my own child."

"I tell you this story, my dear little readers', to prove to you that correction, whether it comes from God or from your parents, is commonly given in love', and because your welfare is particularly desired' by those who give it. For it is written, "My son', despise not the chastening of the Lord', neither be weary of his correction." "For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth', even as a father the son' in whom he delighteth."

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