ct 
 
 tbt f hwlogtrjt/ 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. ^ 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION 
 
 T\L 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/jessiemorrisonorOOmcke 
 
Mrs. Morrison allowed Jessie to place her table under the trees, where 
 she sat to sell her flowers to persons passing by. p. 41 
 
JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 V 
 
 HARKIET B. McKEEVER. 
 
 ^PJilatrclpfita: 
 
 Presbyterian Board of Publication, 
 Ho. 821 Chestimt Street, 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by 
 JAMES DUNLAP, Treas., 
 
 in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Eastern District 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY 
 
 JESPER HARDING & SON, 
 
 INQUIRE a BUILDING, SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 
 
OR 
 
 THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 — — 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ROSE COTTAGE. 
 
 Rose cottage, what a pretty name ! 
 Somewhat hidden by green trees, it 
 stood in a sweet, secluded spot at the 
 end of a shady lane. 
 
 It was an humble dwelling, situated 
 beyond the outskirts of a large city, 
 but it was the abode of piety and peace. 
 
 The house was an old fashioned stone 
 building, with low ceilings, and small 
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
4 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 windows, having a piazza stretching 
 along the front, with small rude benches 
 for seats. 
 
 A smooth green lane, a row of very- 
 fine trees, which bordered the lane, 
 twining roses climbing up the posts, 
 and at the south end of the house, 
 creeping, in their luxuriance, almost 
 into the chamber windows, gave a taste- 
 ful air to the rural spot. 
 
 The little homestead occupied a space 
 of about ten acres ; the grounds nearest 
 the house were laid out in beds and 
 paths filled with beautiful flowers. 
 
 At the end of the garden, stood a 
 green house ; beyond lay a large veg- 
 etable patch, one third of which was as- 
 signed for corn. 
 
 Beyond this patch, stood the small 
 stable for a couple of cows and a horse ; 
 on the opposite side was seen the neat 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 5 
 
 little spring house, shaded by a fine old 
 oak. All the rest was laid out in 
 orchards of rare fruit trees. 
 
 A sign on one of the trees at the 
 front, on which was painted, 
 
 EGBERT MORRISON, FLORIST, 
 
 indicated the calling of the occupant. 
 
 Perfect neatness reigned every where. 
 Nicely whitewashed fences, clean gar- 
 den paths, plants carefully tied up, a 
 clean stable and spring house, where 
 every milk-pan was shining like silver, 
 all indicated that the careful hand of 
 industry ruled over the pleasant spot. 
 Even the dog-house was as neat as could 
 be, and old Tray himself looked as if 
 he took a daily bath, so purely white 
 was his shaggy back. 
 
 The house consisted of a roomy 
 
 kitchen covered with a new rag carpet, 
 1 * 
 
6 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 where brilliant red and green predom- 
 inated. On one side of the room stood 
 a large fire place, where a fine cooking 
 stove was placed ; at one end a com- 
 fortable settee covered with cushions of 
 domestic manufacture, offered a place 
 of repose for the weary father, when 
 the day’s toils were over. 
 
 A large pine table scrubbed as white 
 as soap and sand could make it; one of 
 smaller dimensions with a green baize 
 cover which was brought out on eve- 
 nings when the family assembled with 
 their work ; a cradle in the corner 
 where baby crowed and played with 
 her little bare feet, were also found in 
 this snug little kitchen. Added to 
 these, were a rocking chair for mother, 
 a large arm chair for father, a few plain 
 Windsor chairs, two or three smaller 
 ones, a dresser white as possible, on 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 7 
 
 which glistened dishes and other articles 
 for household uses, with drawers filled 
 with table cloths and towels, and un- 
 derneath, closets where the cleanest 
 pots and kettles might be seen at any 
 time. On one side of the room hung 
 a few shelves for books; on the prin- 
 cipal shelf of which, lay the time hon- 
 oured family Bible, whose well worn 
 pages told that it was notplaced there for 
 show, but for daily use. Several books 
 on horticulture, some children’s Sabbath- 
 school and hymn books, a number of 
 volumes, the lives of good men and 
 women, the works of Doddridge, Bun- 
 yan, Legh Richmond, and Hannah 
 More, with others, might lead one to 
 hope that intelligent piety dwelt be- 
 neath that humble roof. 
 
 The family parlour was very plainly, 
 but neatly furnished ; an ingrain carpet, 
 
8 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 a neat sofa with a chintz cover, some 
 cane-seat chairs, a book-case well filled, 
 and a couple of comfortable rocking 
 chairs ; a plain looking-glass, a few 
 pictures, green blinds to the windows, 
 and a few vases for flowers, completed 
 the simple furniture. 
 
 A shed outside of the kitchen was suit- 
 ably provided with articles for rough 
 work, where the washing and ironing 
 were done, in order to keep the kitchen 
 neat as a sitting room. 
 
 Above were three plainly furnished 
 sleeping rooms, all covered with nice 
 rag carpets, having plain white muslin 
 curtains shading the windows; above 
 were two garrets, where the working 
 people slept, when busy seasons made 
 it necessary to hire a few hands. 
 
 Robert Morrison, the tenant of this 
 comfortable dwelling, was a poor man, 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 9 
 
 a Scotchman by birth ; he was a man 
 of sterling worth and piety, was well 
 educated, and united to a wife of real 
 excellence. In early life he had mar- 
 ried Mary McDonald, a Highland lass, 
 who, having been trained in all the vir- 
 tues of the Scotch peasantry, was in- 
 dustrious and economical ; but most of 
 all, being truly pious, she had proved a 
 great blessing to the ^mung man, who 
 had sought a home in America, some 
 years after his marriage. 
 
 They had commenced life with very 
 little, but the blessing of God had 
 smiled upon their humble efforts, and 
 Robert was now able to rent the place 
 which we have described; and enjoying 
 many of the comforts, but none of the 
 luxuries of life, he was enabled to bring 
 up his young family decently, in habits 
 of order, industry, and piety. 
 
10 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 His family consisted of Eflfie, the 
 eldest daughter ; Alexander, or Sandie, 
 as he was generally called, aged fifteen; 
 Jessie thirteen, Robert ten, and Mattie 
 the baby. 
 
 Elfie had been left at service, in the 
 manse of her native parish, and the 
 letters which they constantly received, 
 were very encouraging to the parents’ 
 hearts; occasionally they heard from 
 their minister, who gave gratifying ac- 
 counts of her excellence. 
 
 Sandie, Jessie, and Robert, were all 
 at school ; under the guidance of good 
 parents, they were generally among the 
 most punctual and diligent of all the 
 scholars, not only at the day-school, 
 but also at the Sunday-school, which 
 was taught about a mile from their 
 home. 
 
 Though, by careful industry, the pa- 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 11 
 
 rents kept their children neat and com- 
 fortable, little was left beyond the 
 means necessary to provide for their 
 daily wants. Very anxious to educate 
 their children, these wise parents kept 
 them longer at school than was usual 
 among labouring people, as they knew 
 how to value the benefits of a good 
 and thorough training in early life. 
 Many called them proud, and wondered 
 why Sandie Morrison was any better 
 than their own sons, who had to help 
 their parents earn their living ; but the 
 father looked to the future, and believed 
 that a few years, now, of careful cul- 
 ture, though it caused him to hire more 
 hands in the busy season, was really 
 gain for the future of his dear son; 
 therefore, with real Scotch indepen- 
 dence, he pursued his own quiet path 
 of duty. 
 
12 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A WINTER EVENING. 
 
 It had snowed all day, the children 
 had come in brimful of excitement, 
 followed by old Tray, who enjoyed the 
 fun of a race in the snow, equally with 
 the rest. 
 
 “ Down, Tray !” exclaimed Robert, 
 as the shaggy old dog was bounding 
 around the little boy, in the excess of 
 his delight. While they were shaking 
 the snow from their clothes, and knock- 
 ing it off their shoes, the father entered, 
 his hat and coat covered with snowy 
 fleece, and his hands benumbed with 
 working in the cold. 
 
 “ Here, father,” said Jessie, “ sit down 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 13 
 
 in your big chair, I’ll take off your 
 boots, and get your nice warm socks ; ' 
 let me rub your hands, father, they look 
 so cold.” Sandie put away his hat and 
 over-coat, Jessie saw him comfortably 
 seated before a warm fire, then taking 
 the little chair by his side, affection- 
 ately rubbed his coarse hands. These 
 little offices warmed the good man’s 
 heart, as well as his cold hands ; and 
 something stood in the corner of his 
 eye, which he hastily wiped away, 
 while he smiled kindly on his little 
 girl. 
 
 If children only knew the precious- 
 ness of kind words and grateful atten- 
 tions to their dear parents, if they only 
 knew what sw^eet thrills of joy these 
 trifling acts send through their hearts, 
 they certainly would more frequently 
 
 seek, each in a happy home, to kindle 
 2 
 
14 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 up this warm glow of parental and 
 filial love, and to scatter these rays of 
 sunshine around the family hearth. 
 
 It was a pretty picture of domestic 
 happiness in that lowly kitchen ; puss 
 purred under the stove, old Tray 
 stretched himself out near his master, 
 while Mattie crowed and played in the 
 cradle. 
 
 The wind howled terribly around the 
 house, as Mr. Morrison looked out upon 
 the winter landscape. ‘‘ Robert, this is 
 a real Highland snow, drifting and 
 blowing in every direction ; it seems to 
 me, that we shall be buried in it before 
 morning.” 
 
 “ Father,” said Sandie, “ shan’t we 
 go to school to-morrow in the old sleigh ? 
 It has been so long since we have had 
 a ride.” 
 
 “Yes, my son, if the snow is not too 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 15 
 
 deep, but sometimes sucb a drifting 
 snow makes the banks too heavy to 
 plough through early in the morning, 
 before the roads are broken.” 
 
 With a feeling of real comfort, Mrs. 
 Morrison turned to attend to her house- 
 hold cares. Jessie set the table for 
 supper, while her mother prepared the 
 meal, baked some nice batter cakes, 
 and cooked a substantial stew for her 
 wearied husband. 
 
 Seated around the table, they seemed 
 a comfortable, happy party ; and with 
 feelings of real gratitude, the father 
 asked for a blessing on the humble 
 meal. 
 
 Little Mattie, seated in her high 
 chair, laughed and crowed, and patted 
 her little hands, pointing to many of 
 the good things on the table, which 
 mother did not choose baby to have, 
 
16 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 SO she had to be contented with her 
 nice little porringer of bread and milk. 
 
 Old Tray drew nearer to the table, 
 and setting himself up in a begging 
 posture, gave his master many signals 
 of his wishes, by his rough paw laid 
 upon his lap, or jogging his elbow. 
 Puss perched herself upon a chair near 
 to Jessie, and mewed wishfully for her 
 share. 
 
 “ Father,” said Jessie, “ I have been 
 thinking a great deal about last Sun- 
 day.” 
 
 “ Well, my child, what was done 
 then ?” 
 
 “ Why, father, it was the day of our 
 Missionary Meeting, and Mr. Gilbert 
 told us so many beautiful stories about 
 ways of doing good, that I wondered 
 what I could do.” 
 
 “ Well, my daughter, you know the 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 17 
 
 old saying, ‘ Where there’s a will, 
 there’s a way.”’ 
 
 “ That’s just what Mr, Gilbert said. 
 Now I think that I have the will, how 
 shall I find the way ? He told us such 
 a nice story about ‘ little Mary Wood, 
 who did what she could;’ indeed, father, 
 1 felt so badly, when I saw that almost 
 all the children had something to hand 
 in, but I had nothing.” 
 
 “ God has been very good to us, my 
 child ; we ought to do something in 
 return for him. Now I think of a plan ; 
 you and Sandie shall have a bed in 
 the garden, which you may cultivate 
 yourselves ; all the flowers raised there, 
 you may sell on market-days, and do 
 what you please with the money ; for a 
 commencement, you may begin with 
 the first crocuses, and snow-drops, and 
 2 * 
 
18 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 we will call the bed, ‘ Missionary 
 Flowers.’ ” 
 
 Thank you, dear father,” said 
 Jessie, as she threw her arms around 
 his neck, and kissed him, “ that will 
 be delightful. I know that we shall 
 make a great deal of money; part of it 
 shall help you too. I think that if we 
 are industrious, and take good care of our 
 garden, the money will buy all our 
 shoes, and still have a great deal for 
 the Missionary box.” 
 
 ‘‘ I will tell you how to manage your 
 flowers, Jessie. I have many seeds to 
 give you; there are already many 
 bulbous roots in the bed, which will be 
 among the first flowers ; the seeds we will 
 plant early in the green house, and set 
 them out in the spring as soon as it is 
 perfectly safe.” 
 
 “ Oh ! father, I wish spring would 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 19 
 
 come ; let us see ; how long must we 
 wait ? This is January ; when will the 
 crocuses and snow-drops appear ?” 
 
 “ I think we generally have them in 
 March.” 
 
 Perfectly delighted, the children kept 
 on chatting about their new plan, with 
 all the enthusiasm of warm young 
 hearts. Little Robert sat thoughtfully 
 listening to all their talk ; at last draw- 
 ing near to his father, he looked up 
 wistfully in his face, and said, 
 
 “ Father, I must do something too. 
 You know I have a pair of pet pigeons ; 
 they have always been my pets, my 
 playthings ; but now I mean to raise 
 their young ones, and take them to 
 market too, if you will let me.” 
 
 “You shall do so, my little boy. I 
 will find the corn, and I dare say that 
 
20 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 you will make a great deal of money 
 for the Lord’s treasury.” 
 
 “Now, Tray,” said Jessie, “do you 
 know, sir, that we are going to have a 
 beautiful garden? and I tell you what 
 it is, sir, you had better not run over 
 it with your heavy paws ; and, pussy, 
 don’t let me see you scratching round 
 the plants, and biting the flowers. I 
 should not like to pull your teeth, and 
 cut your claws, but, pussy. I’ll have to 
 punish you, if you spoil my flowers 
 and thus the excited little girl con- 
 tinued to talk, until the signal for fam- 
 ily worship; when the large Bible was 
 brought out, the hymn books distrib- 
 uted, and the happy family commended 
 to the care of their kind heavenly 
 Father; the children’s plan of bene- 
 volence was especial brought before 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 21 
 
 the Lord, and his blessing invoked 
 upon the undertaking. 
 
 They retired with their heads full of 
 the new scheme. 
 
 “We shall have hyacinths and tu- 
 lips, jonquils and daisies, violets, hearts- 
 ease, and sweet lilies of the valley ; 
 then we shall have roses and phlox, 
 petunias, pinks, china-asters, ladies-slip- 
 pers, mignonette, heliotrope, and ger- 
 aniums. Oh ! how I wish spring would 
 come !” said Jessie, as she fell asleep, 
 and dreamed of flowers. 
 
 Next morning she had nearly for- 
 gotten her daily work, which her mo- 
 ther had appointed her ; her little head 
 was almost turned. 
 
 “ My child,” said her wise mother, 
 “you must not allow yourself to be so 
 much excited ; you have forgotten to 
 dress your little sister. I do not think 
 
22 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 that you have looked at your lessons 
 once this morning; you have done noth- 
 ing but talk to yourself ever since you 
 first arose ; if a plan intended for good 
 is allowed to make you so negligent, it 
 must be given up.” 
 
 “ Forgive me, mother,” said the im- 
 pulsive child ; “ I will try to do better, 
 and wait patiently for God to send the 
 pleasant spring.” 
 
 When they looked out upon the road 
 in the morning, the children found that 
 the ox-carts were busily engaged in 
 breaking up the snow, and their father 
 bade them prepare for a ride to school. 
 JMuffled in their warmest winter gar- 
 ments, with joyful hearts, followed by 
 old Tray, they started off in the old 
 sleigh. 
 
 The sound of the bells, and the cold, 
 frosty morning, exhilarated their spirits, 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 23 
 
 and pleasantly talking about their bed 
 of flowers, they enjoyed their winter 
 ride. 
 
 Ploughing wearily through the snow- 
 drifts, they perceived little John and 
 Mary Simpson, very poor children, 
 who went to the same school that they 
 attended. Mary was a very little girl, 
 and seemed to walk with great diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 “ Good morning, Mary,” said Jessie, 
 “ don’t you find it hard to get along ?” 
 The poor child turned her face to 
 Jessie, who perceived that tears were 
 streaming down her purple cheeks. 
 
 “ I am very cold, Jessie, for I have 
 no stockings on my feet.” 
 
 “ Father,” said the kind child, “ shall 
 we not take them into our sleigh ?” 
 
 “ To be sure,” answered Mr. Mor- 
 rison; ‘‘come in, children, we can make 
 
24 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 room for you;” and in they jumped. 
 Jessie saw that poor little Mary’s feet 
 were purple with the cold, and from 
 the way in which she complained, she 
 feared that they were frost-bitten ; 
 moreover, she had on a threadbare 
 blanket shawl, and a thin calico dress. 
 J ohn was not much better off. Without 
 stockings, .and with thin, worn-out 
 clothes, he also seemed a suffering child. 
 
 Jessie remembered her mother’s 
 closet of old clothes, kept carefully 
 mended for those poorer than herself. 
 She thought of a warm winter hood, 
 some comfortable stockings, and an old 
 cloak of her mother’s, which had been 
 altered for some child. Her kind heart 
 was full of the good which she hoped 
 to do to the little children. 
 
 Sit close to me,” said Jessie, as 
 she hugged up the little shivering thing. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 25 
 
 and covered her under her own warm 
 blanket-shawl. 
 
 That was a pleasant morning ride, 
 and when they drove up to the school- 
 room door, Jessie’s cheeks glowed not 
 more brightly from the cold frosty air, 
 and cheerful drive, than from the 
 warm glow which welled up from a lov- 
 ing heart. 
 
 Some naughty, envious children 
 laughed at the humble party, as they 
 sprang out of the sleigh. “What a 
 splendid turn out ! and what grand 
 company ! Where did you pick up 
 those beggars ?” But Sandie and Jessie 
 did not mind their silly talk ; they were 
 too glad to have made the poor shiver- 
 ing children happy for one morning; 
 and those cruel words fell upon hearts 
 too full of kind thoughts just then, to 
 
26 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 have any room for anger, spite, or 
 revenge. 
 
 When they drove back from school, 
 they took the children home, and Jessie 
 did not rest quietly with kind words 
 and good intentions, but saw that both 
 were provided with warm stockings; 
 Mary with a good cloak and hood, and 
 John with warm clothes for winter. 
 There was a will in Mrs. Morrison’s 
 heart to do good, and she was also sure 
 to find many ways, even with her slen- 
 der means. 
 
 “ Mother,” said Jessie, “ when I saw 
 you throw aside Sandie’s old clothes, 
 I never thought that they would do 
 any body good, but you have patched 
 and cleaned them so nicely, that really 
 they look quite decent on poor little 
 John ; and it did my heart good to see 
 the nice hood, which you have made 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 27 
 
 out of my poor old skirt, and I was so 
 glad to see the bright little face that 
 sparkled underneath. Mother, it takes 
 a very little to make us happy. Isn’t 
 it a pleasant thing to do good ?” 
 
28 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SPRING FLOWERS AND BUDS OF PIETY. 
 
 My children,” said the mother, “ you 
 seem greatly interested in your mis- 
 sionary plan ; do you ever ask what is 
 the reason that you feel so anxious 
 about it?” 
 
 “ Why mother,” said Sandie, blush- 
 ing, “to tell the truth, I suppose that 
 I don’t want the other scholars to bring 
 more money than I ; and then I guess, 
 sometimes I have felt ashamed to let 
 it be known how poor we are, and then 
 if I take as much money as the rest, 
 they will never know how I got it.” 
 
 “ These are not right notions in the 
 sight of God, Sandie ; all must be done 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 29 
 
 from love to Jesus, or else it will not 
 be a pleasant offering to your heavenly 
 Father.” 
 
 “ How is it with you, Jessie?” 
 “When I first began to think about 
 it, I fear that my reasons were no 
 better than my brother’s ; but, mother, 
 every day, I think more and more of 
 my own sins. I have wondered if it 
 is exactly right to be thinking and 
 working for the heathen, while my 
 own heart needs the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost; and then, mother, I think more 
 of my Saviour ; I pray to him to take 
 my heart and make it all his own. 
 Sometimes, mother, I feel as if I 
 could do anything for him, and think 
 how sweet it will be to take the lovely 
 flowers which he has made, and use 
 them in his service.” 
 
 A tear glistened in the mother’s eye, 
 
30 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 as she listened to this artless story, 
 and hailed the little germ of youthful 
 piety, putting out its first green shoot. 
 She took Jessie alone, and bowing 
 before the mercy-seat, prayed most 
 earnestly, that the tender bud might 
 open, and produce the full blown flower 
 of devotedness to God. 
 
 Jessie continued to manifest much 
 interest in missions. She read all the 
 little Sunday-school papers, and child- 
 ish books, wfliich described the con- 
 dition of the heathen, or the labours of 
 missionaries in foreign lands. 
 
 Sometimes her thoughts would travel 
 far away to India, and she would 
 weep over the little children sacrificed 
 in the river Ganges ; then again to 
 China, and occasionally, she would won- 
 der what her own lot in life would be, 
 and whether she might not at some 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 31 
 
 future day become a missionary, but 
 these were scarcely whispered thoughts. 
 Meanwhile, her young heart was really 
 touched with love to her Redeemer. 
 She was very earnest and faithful in 
 her hours of devotion, and gave evi- 
 dence, by her daily life of humble piety, 
 that she had, indeed, been with Jesus, 
 and learned of him, the great Teacher, 
 holy lessons of humility and love. 
 
 Winter was rapidly speeding by, the 
 snow lay long upon the ground, the 
 children began to watch anxiously for 
 its melting, for then they expected to 
 see the bright-eyed crocus, and the 
 pure snow-drop, and like eager child- 
 hood, they watched for their first visit 
 to market. 
 
 “ Oh ! Sandie, come here,” cried 
 Jessie, one morning in March, “here 
 is the first snow-drop and sure enough, 
 
32 JESSIE MORWSON, 
 
 there peeped up through the white 
 snow, the delicate green shoots of the 
 sweet harbinger of spring. Their first 
 visit every morning was to their gar- 
 den, where they anxiously watched 
 for the dawning of the smiling-eyed 
 crocus. 
 
 One Saturday morning, early, what 
 was their delight to see a beautiful bed 
 of those delicate spring flowers, the 
 pure snow-drop, the white, the lilac, and 
 pale-yellow crocus, all smiling on them 
 so brightly on the still chilly spring 
 morning ! 
 
 “ Look, father, at our beautiful 
 flowers,” said Jessie; “shall we go to 
 market to day ?” 
 
 “ Get ready, my children, arrange 
 your bouquets, and we will offer your 
 flowers. I hope that you may be suc- 
 cessful.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 33 
 
 “ I know we shall,” said Jessie, with 
 a bright smile, “ for I have constantly 
 prayed for God’s blessing, and he has 
 promised to answer even children’s 
 prayers.” 
 
 The father laid his hand upon her 
 head, and blessed his child. 
 
 “What must we ask, father?” said 
 Sandie. 
 
 “ I think eight cents a bunch would 
 be sufficient.” 
 
 As soon as the neat market wagon 
 was brought up to the door, Sandie 
 and Jessie, neatly clad, with their little 
 basket of twenty bouquets, stepped in, 
 full of joyous anticipations. The mo- 
 ther stood smiling at the door, and 
 little Robert called out, “My turn will 
 come as soon as I have young pigeons. 
 I hope that you will sell all your 
 flowers.” 
 
34 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 Good bye, children,” said the mo- 
 ther. “ God bless you, darlings.” 
 
 “ What do you think, Sandie?” said 
 Jessie. “Do you expect any one to 
 buy our flowers ?” 
 
 “ To be sure I do, Jessie ; you know 
 the first spring flowers are always so 
 welcome.” 
 
 “ If we sell all, we shall have one 
 dollar and sixty cents. We will put 
 one dollar aside for missions, and the 
 rest in a fund to help father. We 
 know how much good even a dollar 
 may do.” 
 
 “We have a good father, Jessie, 
 and I think that it will please God for 
 us to help him. You know that the 
 commandment says, ‘ Honour thy father 
 and thy mother, that thy days may he 
 long in the land which the Lord thy 
 God giveth thee.’ My Sunday-school 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 35 
 
 teacher says, that means, that God 
 will give special blessings to good, obe- 
 dient children in this world, and if they 
 obey for the sake of pleasing God, in, 
 the world to come, life everlasting.” 
 
 So they continued chatting, until the 
 wagon stopped at the market. Soon, 
 all the produce was taken out, and ar- 
 ranged upon the stall belonging to Mr. 
 Morrison, 
 
 The flowers were stood in two large 
 basins of water, which the children 
 had brought with them. 
 
 Anxiously they watched the people 
 as they passed ; several stopped to look 
 at, and admire the fresh flowers, but 
 for some time no one purchased. 
 
 At last, a pleasant looking lady, 
 attracted by Jessie’s sweet, modest 
 face, and the lovely flowers she was 
 tending, drew near, and asked the 
 
36 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 price. When told, she replied, “ These 
 are just what I want for my sick 
 daughter. She has been sick for many 
 months, and really longs for the sight 
 of spring flowers. Give me two bunch- 
 es and taking them, paid to the 
 delighted children, the amount of their 
 first sale. Jessie smiled at the silver, 
 as she jingled it in her hand, and then 
 deposited it in her little purse. 
 
 Next, came a little girl. “Oh! what 
 a sweet bouquet ! What do you ask for 
 your flowers ?” On being told, she 
 took a bunch, paying for them, and 
 saying, “ These are for my mother ; it 
 will be such a surprise ; she does not 
 know that flowers have come yet,” and 
 away she tri];)ped, with her gift of love. 
 
 Then came the keeper of an ice- 
 cream saloon, wishing seA^eral to dec- 
 orate his rooms ; he purchased six 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 37 
 
 bunches. Jessie was in high spirits. 
 “ Father, see how fast we are selling ; 
 I think we shall part with all.” 
 
 For a while, several passed by. At 
 last, Jessie’s Sunday-school teacher, 
 Miss Ross, stopped at the stall. 
 
 Come, look at my flowers. Miss 
 Ross,” said Jessie ; “ do you know what 
 we call them ? Missionary flowers.” 
 
 “ And why, my dear ?” 
 
 When Jessie told her artless story, 
 Miss Ross took two bunches, and bade 
 her God-speed in her work of love. 
 
 Soon several ladies called, sent b}'’ 
 her kind teacher, and by the time 
 market was over, all the flowers were 
 sold, and the children went home, the 
 delighted owners of one dollar and 
 sixty cents. 
 
 “ See, mother, look at our purse,” 
 said Jessie, “ we have sold all our 
 
 4 
 
38 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 pretty flowers ; now, where shall we put 
 our money ?” 
 
 Mr. Morrison gave them two boxes, 
 with a lock and key. In one they 
 placed one dollar for missions, and in 
 the other, sixty cents for shoes. 
 
 When Jessie retired to her bed that 
 night, she was a happy child, and 
 thanked her heavenly Father for the 
 success which he had given her. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 39 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE FIRST OFFERING. 
 
 Warmed by the sun, which daily 
 became more powerful, the seeds which 
 had been planted began to sprout ; and 
 the daily walk of little J essie gave evi- 
 dence that the blessed Spirit was also 
 ripening, in her young heart, the fruits 
 of holiness. 
 
 “ Sandie, what are these plants just 
 beginning to show their green leaves ?” 
 “ I think, sister, that they look like 
 hyacinths ; but it will be some time 
 before we have any flowers.” 
 
 “ How good God is, Sandie ! He has 
 not only given us plenty to eat, but 
 he makes the flowers smile upon us, 
 
40 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 though we are so sinful and ungrateful. 
 You know, Saudie, that he need not 
 have made any at all, but they must 
 be sent, just to ])lease us. I often 
 think how strange it is, that we do not 
 all love God, he has done so much for 
 us. Sandie, do }mu never think of 
 heaven? If this world is so beautiful, 
 even where there is so much sin, what 
 must that world be Avhere all are holy !” 
 
 And thus the sweet flowers preached 
 to the children lessons of peace and 
 love. 
 
 All the time not devoted to labour, 
 or study, was spent in the garden ; up 
 in the morning early, they were busily 
 occupied in setting out their }mung 
 plants in one part of their flower bed, 
 and in keeping them clear of weeds ; 
 soon the most lovely of the spring flowers 
 gladdened their eyes : hyacinths of 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 41 
 
 every hue, tulips of richest dye, pure 
 lilies of the valley, modest, fragrant 
 violets, jonquils, daffodils, and blue- 
 bells, rewarded their pleasant toil. 
 
 Now the flowers were so abundant, 
 that once a week Avas not sufficient to 
 dispose of them; consequently, as their 
 house stood by the side of the road, 
 where many citizens passed in their 
 afternoon rides, Mrs. Morrison allowed 
 Jessie to pluck her bouquets, and after 
 school to place her table under the trees, 
 where she sat to sell her flowers to per- 
 sons passing by, or to others, who 
 came to obtain plants from her father 
 to set out in their gardens. 
 
 She was a pleasant, attractive little 
 girl, with her simple straw hat, decor- 
 ated with a wreath of flowers. The 
 fame of her pretty bouquets, and the 
 
42 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 story of her plan for aiding the Lord’s 
 cause, drew many to patronize her. 
 
 Some of her hyacinths were in pots, 
 others were arranged in bunches, and 
 mixed with a variety of spring flowers 
 were purchased in large quantities. 
 
 Not wishing to be idle, she occupied 
 herself with sewing; and frequently 
 ladies stopped at the humble dwelling, to 
 purchase from the interesting little girl. 
 
 Among those who came most fre- 
 quently, was the lady with the sick 
 daughter, and as the weather became 
 more mild and inviting, frequently the 
 invalid accompanied her mother in her 
 rides. The family soon became inter- 
 ested in the sick stranger, for it was 
 very evident that she was the victim 
 of consumption, and was rapidly hasten- 
 ing to a better world ; for Mary Thorn- 
 ton was a Christian. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 43 
 
 Mrs. Morrison always had a nice glass 
 of new milk ready for the invalid, or a 
 saucer of strawberries, of which she 
 was very fond. 
 
 Mrs. Thornton became well acquaint- 
 ed with the family, and deeply in- 
 terested in Jessie Morrison; she found 
 her to be pious, and far more intelligent 
 than children of her class generally ; 
 she soon discovered her thirst for 
 knowledge, and desire to do good. 
 
 She furnished her with suitable books 
 for reading, and on talking with the 
 little girl, it was evident to Mrs. 
 Thornton, that the Lord designed her 
 for something more than Providence 
 had yet made known ; and the kind lady 
 sought to know his will, for she w'as 
 wealthy, and delighted in works of 
 benevolence. 
 
 The children prospered, their after- 
 
44 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 noon sales amounted to about one 
 dollar daily, and on Saturdays, they 
 frequently brought home two or three 
 dollars, for Robert was now taking his 
 young pigeons to market, and adding 
 to their stock. 
 
 At the close of the first month, they 
 had made fifteen dollars ; five were put 
 aside for shoes, and ten were placed in 
 their Missionary box, on which was 
 painted “ Missionary flowers.” 
 
 The day at last arrived for their 
 monthly meeting at the Sunday-school ; 
 Sandy and Jessie folded their two five 
 dollar gold pieces, in separate envelopes, 
 with the mottoes, “ Missionary flowers,” 
 on each, and “from Sandie Morrison” 
 on one, from “Jessie Morrison” on 
 the other. ' 
 
 When Mr. Gilbert received the pro- 
 ceeds of the several classes, Jessie 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 45 
 
 modestly walked up to the desk, and 
 presented her first otTering to the Lord. 
 Her good pastor was greatly pleased, 
 and took private opportunity to ask 
 what the motto meant. Anxious to en- 
 courage the pious efforts of the little 
 girl, he spoke of her flowers to many 
 members of the flock, and thus secured 
 a large amount of patronage. 
 
 June glowed with beauty ; roses of 
 every description adorned the garden 
 of Mr. Morrison, and even the children 
 had a large supply to meet the daily 
 demands. 
 
 There was to be a Floral Fair for 
 the benefit of the Sunday-school, and 
 many obtained their flowers from the 
 children to present to the fair. 
 
 Jessie was very happy in the con- 
 sciousness, that even she, feeble child 
 
46 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 that she was, could do something for 
 the Lord. 
 
 She had never known so much happi- 
 ness before, even when receiving gifts, 
 and thus had learned the holy lesson, 
 that “it is more blessed to give than 
 to receive.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 47 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 A VOICE IN Jessie’s heart. 
 
 One morning early, the children 
 started for their regular occupation ; 
 while the dew lay heavily upon the 
 ground, they generally hoed, and weed- 
 ed the;r garden. On this occasion, 
 joyful were the bursts of delight, with 
 which Jessie called her brother to look 
 at the beauty which met her gaze. 
 
 “0 Sandie, look at the roses. How 
 lovely that moss rose-bud is ! how they 
 all seem to smile upon us ! Brother, 
 the Bible tells us that we are living in 
 a world, where even the ground is 
 cursed on account of man’s sin. I 
 have often thought if a world under 
 
48 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 God’s wrath is so beautiful, what will 
 it be in the days of the millennium, 
 when the curse will be removed.” 
 
 “ Jessie,” said her brother, “ I won- 
 der if we shall live to see the day 
 when ‘righteousness shall cover the 
 whole earth.’” 
 
 “ Brother, I never feel so happy as 
 when I am among the flowers, and then 
 it is so pleasant to help father by our 
 work, and to make some money for the 
 cause of the Lord Jesus. Brother, I 
 want to tell you a great secret,” and 
 Jessie drew nearer to Sandie, and 
 began to whisper, “ I feel that I love 
 Jesus Christ, and the other day, when 
 the good Missionary visited our Sun- 
 day-school, and asked, ‘Who will follow 
 me to China ?’ I felt as if I could say, 
 ‘ Lord, when I am old enough, send me,’ 
 and, brother, I was afraid it was a proud 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 49 
 
 thought, and I could not help blushing 
 for fear somebody should read what 
 was in my heart; and I am almost 
 afraid to tell you, Sandie, I feel that I 
 am such a weak, sinful creature ; but 
 indeed, it seemed like the voice of God 
 speaking in my heart ; if it was, it will 
 come again, and God will make it all 
 plain, but don’t say anything about it, 
 for fear that it may be a proud thought.” 
 “ Sister, what a blessing these flowers 
 have been to us ! I do not think that 
 we cared half so much about doing 
 good, and serving the Lord Jesus, as 
 we have since we found that we could 
 do so much by raising these sweet 
 flowers.” 
 
 ‘‘ Sandie, they seem just like friends 
 to me. I love them as if they could 
 talk, and indeed, they do talk to me 
 
 a great deal about the power and 
 5 
 
50 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 goodness and love of our heavenly 
 Father; why, do you know, Sandie, 
 that sometimes I find myself bidding 
 them ‘ good morning,’ and I often kiss 
 the sweet buds ?” 
 
 By the next month they had twenty 
 dollars to offer, for little Robert’s 
 monthly sale of his pigeons, was four 
 dollars, and Sandie and Jessie eight 
 each, besides six dollars placed in the 
 box entitled, “ a help for father.” 
 
 The time of their communion ap- 
 proached ; among the applicants for 
 admission with their parents’^consent, 
 were Sandie and Jessie Morrison. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert was very particular in 
 his examination, and having made dili- 
 gent inquiries at home, and of their 
 teachers both in the Sabbath and day- 
 school, was so well satisfied by the 
 reports which he heard, and their own 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 51 
 
 simple accounts of God’s dealings with 
 their souls, that he received them into 
 the church as real, though youthful, 
 disciples of the Lord Jesus. Sandie’s 
 evidences were not so marked as his 
 sister’s, but there could be no doubt, 
 that, according to his knowledge, he was 
 sincere in his professions of love and 
 trust in his Saviour. 
 
 It was a blessed family who gathered 
 on that Sabbath morning around the 
 domestic altar, where the deeply grate- 
 ful father poured out a heart-warm 
 prayer for the dear children, who would 
 that day profess to be on the Lord’s 
 side. 
 
 Sandie and Jessie seemed to regard 
 the act with deep solemnity, and when, 
 with their dear parents, they partook 
 together of the blessed emblems of 
 - their precious Saviour’s love, the whole 
 
52 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 group enjoyed some sweet foretaste of 
 that higher feast in heaven, when they 
 hoped to sit down and feast together at 
 the marriage-supper of the Lamb. The 
 experience of after years proved to 
 Mr. Gilbert, that in this case he had 
 acted wisely in admitting such young 
 persons to the church of Christ, sur- 
 rounded as they were continually by 
 the discipline, guidance, and example 
 of remarkably pious parents. 
 
 Mrs. Thornton still kept a watchful 
 eye on Jessie, frequently visiting her, 
 and encouraging her to persevere in 
 her Christian walk; but her sweet 
 daughter Mary was evidently growing 
 weaker. One afternoon she rode out in 
 company wdth her mother to Hose 
 Cottage, supported in the carriage by 
 pillows. She was lifted out, and laid 
 in the parlour on Mrs. Morrison’s sofa ; 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 53 
 
 for some time they had to fan her, her 
 debility haAdng produced faintness. 
 After taking some slight refreshment, 
 she called Jessie to her, and said, “I 
 think, Jessie, that this is my last visit 
 to your cottage; the exertion is too 
 much, it does me harm, but I am not 
 afraid to die. Jesus is mine, and I am 
 his. Often when I am alone, I have 
 such sweet communion with my Sa- 
 viour, that I can never describe to any 
 human being how happy I am ; but yet, 
 Jessie, it sometimes wrings my heart 
 to leave my mother; she will have no 
 child when I am gone, and she loves 
 me so dearly; but then I know that 
 she is a real Christian, and when the 
 trial comes, the comfort will follow.” 
 Exhausted by these few words, she 
 lay panting for breath, while Jessie, 
 
54 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 bathed in tears, stood by her side, 
 tanning her. 
 
 “ Miss Mary, you will soon be done 
 with pain and sickness; sorrow and 
 sighing will all flee away in your 
 heavenly home ; but there is one thing 
 I should like to tell you ; ever since I 
 became a Christian, the voice of God 
 has been speaking loudly in my heart, 
 and I feel as if he w^as preparing me 
 to be a missionary. When I see ignorant, 
 wicked children, 1 feel so anxious to be 
 old enough to teach them; or when I 
 see poor people, I feel so anxious to 
 help them, I often wonder what it 
 means ; do you think it is God’s voice. 
 Miss Mary? I know that I am too 
 young to teach yet, but then there 
 was little Henry, that Mrs. Sherwood 
 wrote such a sweet story about. He 
 was a very little boy, and yet he was 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 55 
 
 the means of converting his bearer. It 
 was all God’s work ; so if he calls me, 
 it will all be his doing ; all I want to 
 know is, do you think it was really 
 God’s voice ?” 
 
 Mary lay listening very earnestl3^ 
 Taking Jessie’s hand she said, “Ask 
 mamma, Jessie. I know that she thinks 
 the Lord has some blessed wmrk for 
 you to do; mamma loves you, Jessie, 
 she will be a faithful friend to you 
 always, and I think that you will be 
 the one to comfort her when I am gone ; 
 but, Jessie, it seems to me that the 
 voice of God calls us to do our duty 
 in that station of life, where he has 
 placed us. You are now a daughter and 
 a sister; you can serve God in these 
 sweet relations now; when you are 
 older, there are a great many ignorant 
 
56 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON; 
 
 children at home all around, whom you 
 could teach their duty to God.” 
 
 “Yes, Miss Mary, that is just what 
 I think too, but there are very few 
 walling to go away to distant lands, to 
 teach the poor dark heathen children, 
 and when one is willing to leave all, I 
 have sometimes thought that was the 
 wvay God was making known his will.” 
 “ Don’t think too much about it, 
 Jessie; perform your present duties, 
 and pray that he will direct all your 
 goings in your future life.” 
 
 Thus these young Christians talked 
 together; then Jessie went out, and 
 gathered one of her sweetest bouquets, 
 and placing it in Mary’s hand, said, 
 “ That is all I have to give, but it is 
 a gift of love, and I know that you 
 will value it for my sake. Miss Mary.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 57 
 
 When she had sufficient!}'’ rested, 
 her mother had her conveyed to the 
 carriage, and all gazed after it with 
 sorrowful eyes, as they saw her lifted 
 in, and beheld her looking wistfully 
 out of the window, waving her feeble 
 hand, and smiling faintly on the sorrow- 
 ful group. It was her last farewell to 
 Rose Cottage. 
 
 In a few days, intelligence was sent 
 to them, that sweet Mary Thornton 
 had entered into the joy of her Lord; 
 and the servant came for some of 
 Jessie’s flovrers to scatter over her cold 
 remains. 
 
 With blinding tears, the little girl ad- 
 ded a lovely bunch of white rose buds, 
 and delicate lilies of the valley, as her 
 own humble offering to her lamented 
 friend. 
 
58 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 When Mrs. Thornton came again, 
 which was not for many weeks, it was 
 with an altered aspect, and clad in deep 
 mourning, for her cherished Mary slept 
 in Jesus, and she was now a childless 
 mother. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 59 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A KLND FRIEND. 
 
 The children’s flower-bed still con- 
 tinued its gentle teachings, and its pro- 
 duce yielded abundantly for the Lord. 
 On the third month, their joint con- 
 tributions had amounted to twenty- 
 five dollars for their Missionary box, 
 and ten for “ a help to father.” 
 
 They were very busy children, for 
 their household duties, their studies, 
 and their garden kept them fully oc- 
 cupied; but the latter was a delightful 
 recreation, and they felt as if they 
 needed no more. 
 
 Little Robert was greatly interested 
 
60 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 in his pigeons, and kept up a good 
 supply for the weekly market. 
 
 One morning, after a wet spell, they 
 found that the weeds seemed to be 
 getting too fast ahead. 
 
 “ Sandie,” said Jessie, “doesn’t the 
 garden resemble our hearts ? There are 
 so many weeds, and they require such 
 constant watching ; just so it is with 
 sin ; sometimes I feel as if my sins 
 were almost rooted out; and just when 
 I don’t expect it, when I think that I 
 am serving Grod, up starts wicked 
 pride to stain my motives, weariness 
 when I attempt to praise him, a secret 
 temptation to want my own way, when 
 God crosses me. Oh ! Sandie, some- 
 times I feel as if I should never be 
 holy enough for a holy heaven.” 
 
 “Yes, sister, this is just what I find. 
 Then you see how much faster the 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 61 
 
 weeds grow than the flowers, how 
 hardy they are, and how easily the 
 sweet flowers are kilted ; too much 
 rain, too much sun, a little frost, any 
 of these things may kill our sweet 
 blossoms ; but cut off the heads of the 
 weeds, pluck off their branches ever 
 so close, expose them to the hot sun 
 and the heavy cold rains, they seem 
 to grow the faster. Now, sister, this 
 is the way with sin; while the root 
 remains, cut off one branch, a multi- 
 tude shoots out; and the delicate na- 
 ture of the flowers puts me in mind of 
 holiness, which takes root so slowly in 
 our hearts, and so many things may 
 hinder, and choke its growth ; what is 
 the reason ?” 
 
 “ Ah ! Sandie, it is the soil ; our hearts 
 are, by nature, so corrupt, that if an 
 evil seed is sown in them, it springs 
 6 
 
62 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 up fast, and strong, just like the weeds ; 
 but plant a seed of holiness, and oh! 
 how slowly it grows, how much the 
 soil needs preparing ; yes, it must be 
 all changed itself, before the good seed 
 can take root.” 
 
 “ Well, sister, there is one comfort, 
 the Holy Spirit can make the soil of 
 our hearts good. He is the gracious 
 Gardener, let us go to him every day, 
 and pray for him to make the ground 
 new, so that the seeds of holiness may 
 grow, and ripen last.” 
 
 “ Sandie, I often wonder what we 
 should do without our dear Saviour. 
 Sometimes when I try to pray, my 
 thoughts wander away off, and even 
 bad thoughts come in to draw my 
 heart off from God; then I lay my 
 poor prayers at Jesus’ feet, and I know 
 that he will take them to my heavenly 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 G3 
 
 Father, will pluck out all the weeds that 
 are mixed with them, and offer them 
 before God, in his own name, and if 
 washed in his blood, they will be ac- 
 cepted.” 
 
 All this while, the children were 
 diligently employed in plucking up the 
 weeds, and before they left their flower 
 bed, it was perfectly clean and neat. 
 
 “Don’t you wish, Sandie, that our 
 hearts could be made clean and pure 
 from sin just as soon ?” 
 
 “ Yes, indeed, sister, but where then 
 would be the striving? Still there is 
 a great comfort, for our Saviour says, 
 that he will ‘ present us faultless be- 
 fore the presence of his glory,’ at last.” 
 “Well, Sandie, have not the flowers 
 preached us a good sermon to day? 
 Thank you, kind friends, you are dear 
 
64 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 little preachers,” said Jessie, as she 
 turned to go into the house. 
 
 That afternoon, Mrs. Thornton paid 
 them a visit. She was sad, for she 
 had lost a lovely child ; but her heart 
 was tranquil and resigned, for she had 
 kissed the rod which had afflicted her. 
 Calling Jessie to her, she asked to see 
 her alone, and soon opened the purpose 
 of her benevolent visit. 
 
 “ Jessie, I have lost my dear Mary ; 
 she loved you dearly, my child, and 
 before she died, she told me of your 
 last conversation with her. I have 
 thought much of it ; I do not feel pre- 
 pared to answer the question which 
 you asked her, while you are so young, 
 because children’s minds are very 
 changeable; but in order to fit you for 
 usefulness as a teacher somewhere, I 
 wish to place you at a school in New 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. G5 
 
 England, where young persons are 
 qualified to teach. There you will 
 have the very best advantages, and if 
 your mother can spare you, I will place 
 you there for three years, and bear all 
 your expenses.” 
 
 “ Thank you, dear Mrs. Thornton, 
 
 this is what I have always longed for, 
 
 for although I have learned a great deal 
 
 that is useful in my day-school, nothing 
 
 there is taught of our duty to God ; 
 
 the Bible is not read there, nor prayer 
 
 offered. We are only educated for this 
 
 world. When I am there, I feel as if 
 
 I was to live here always, and that 
 
 there is no such a thing as hereafter; 
 
 but in Sunday-school, I seem to feel 
 
 myself quite another person. I have 
 
 always wished to be where I could be 
 
 instructed daily, as if I were immortal, 
 
 and accountable; but I am afraid, dear 
 6 * 
 
66 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 madam, that my mother cannot spare 
 me, and I should not think it right to 
 leave her, with no one to help her in 
 all her cares.” 
 
 That is a right feeling, my child. If 
 however, it is best and right for you to 
 go, the way of Providence will he a 
 plain path before your face ; but do not 
 let us forget to ask God to guide us all, 
 and wait patiently for the teachings of 
 his holy will.” 
 
 Mrs. Thornton spoke to Jessie’s pa- 
 rents on the same subject. They ex- 
 pressed the deepest gratitude, but saw 
 the same difficulties, for the present, in 
 their path. But God, their Father, was 
 planning all wisely for them, and they 
 piously waited for his directing hand. 
 
 They were still in the habit of hear- 
 ing constantly from' their daughter 
 Effie. In the next letter that they 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 G7 
 
 received, she asked permission to come 
 to America, saying that the family at 
 the manse was broken up, as Mrs. 
 McLeod was dead, and her minister 
 had gone to live with his married 
 daughter. She could not bear the idea 
 of going among strangers, and there 
 were other reasons, why she wished to 
 be with her parents. She had care- 
 fully saved her wages, and had plenty 
 to pay her passage to America. She 
 should wait anxiously for a letter. 
 
 The parents immediately wrote for her 
 to come to them, and as it was now 
 late in July, they would expect her 
 early in October. 
 
 They regarded this letter, as some 
 indication of God’s will concerning their 
 dear Jessie, for if Effie was at home, 
 the only obstacle to their acceptance 
 
68 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 of Mrs. Thornton’s offer, would be re- 
 moved. 
 
 “ In all thy ways acknowledge him, 
 and he shall direct thy paths.” Act- 
 ing upon this Christian precept, God 
 was fulfilling his promise to them. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 69 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AWAY TO SCHOOL. 
 
 August and September passed away. 
 During those two months, they had 
 made forty dollars for their Missionary 
 box, and fifteen for “a help to father;” 
 making for their whole amount, one 
 hundred and five dollars for the Mis- 
 sionary fund, and thirty-two for their 
 father. This was a source of great 
 happiness to the family ; it had cost 
 them very little, for the seeds were 
 of small value. The growth was abun- 
 dant, and the children’s labour had 
 been amply repaid, in the health which 
 had been improved, the teachings which 
 they had received from the lovely 
 
70 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 flowers, and in the good which had 
 been accomplished in the Lord’s cause; 
 the gentle ministry of their silent 
 preachers was not yet ended. As 
 Autumn was approaching, the children 
 carefully gathered, and marked their 
 seeds, looking forward to another sea- 
 son, with the hope of like results. 
 
 The first of October rapidly drew 
 near, the papers were watched care- 
 fully which announced the arrivals of 
 vessels. At last, one morning, with a 
 joyful countenance, Mr. Morrison en- 
 tered with a paper in his hand. 
 
 “ The vessel has arrived, Mary, in 
 which Effie sailed. I must go to New 
 York, to bring her on, as she will not 
 know how to find her way home in a 
 strange land and the father was soon 
 ready to set olf for his daughter. 
 Joyful exclamations of delight were 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 71 
 
 abundant in the happy household, as 
 they had not seen Effie since she was 
 a little girl, and she was now eighteen. 
 On the evening of the next day, she 
 was expected. The little parlour was 
 in readiness for her reception; some 
 pretty fall flowers were placed in the 
 vases ; the children all dressed in their 
 Sunday attire, and a very nice meal 
 prepared for the stranger. Sandie took 
 the little wagon into the city, ready to 
 meet the cars. Jessie and Robert were 
 in a state of great excitement; long 
 before the time appointed for their ar- 
 rival, the children were running out to 
 the middle of the road and straining 
 their eyes to see when they appeared 
 in the distance. They were doomed 
 to frequent disappointments; for every 
 wagon they imagined was their father’s. 
 At last to their unbounded delight, the 
 
72 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 wagon appeared. They ran in to their 
 mother, exclaiming, “ Here they come, 
 here they come and in a few minutes, 
 Mr. Morrison drove up, and the happy 
 mother received her beloA^ed daughter 
 in her arms. All crowded around to 
 kiss sister Effie. She was a bright, 
 healthy looking girl, with a frame 
 that looked as if it had been strength- 
 ened by Highland air, and exercise. 
 Clad in her gay Tartan plaid, she was 
 an object of much curiosity to the 
 youthful portion of the family. 
 
 Jessie hung around her sister, with 
 affectionate caresses, for she had none 
 at home to love, whom she could call 
 sister, but little Mattie ; and here was 
 one who could be a sweet companion. 
 
 Effie was the very picture of radiant 
 happiness, for she had been separated, 
 for many years, from the household 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 73 
 
 circle. Her Scotch accent excited no lit- 
 tle amusement among the children, for 
 they had almost forgotten the language 
 which they had lisped in their early 
 days. 
 
 “What a sweet bairn !” said Effie, as 
 she kissed little Mattie ; “ and w'hat a 
 bonnie lass !” as she threw her arms 
 once more around Jessie. 
 
 It was a happy family group, that 
 sat around the table that evening, in 
 their snug little parlour; and Robert 
 Morrison’s grace was rather longer than 
 usual, as he returned warm thanks, 
 and implored rich blessings upon the 
 new member added to the family. 
 
 “ Effie, you are company to night,” 
 said her mother, “ so we entertain 5mu 
 in our parlour and then they chatted 
 about all their fiimily plans ; the chil- 
 dren told about their flower-bed, Robert 
 7 
 
74 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 about his pigeons, and the mother 
 about good Mrs. Thornton, and her 
 offer for Jessie. 
 
 Effie smiled as she said, “ Now, mo- 
 ther, ye can let her go, I dinna ken 
 that she is ower strong, and I can help 
 about the hoose, while Jessie is awa at 
 school.” 
 
 Effie told the story of her adven- 
 tures at her home in the Highlands. 
 They were very simple, but all had an 
 interest for the group, who loved the 
 youthful speaker. 
 
 She had brought a letter from her 
 minister to her parents, and another to 
 Mr. Gilbert, speaking warmly of her 
 piety, and fidelity as a servant in her 
 master’s house, and expressing warm 
 wishes for the health and happiness of 
 his young friend, in her new home. 
 
 Mrs. Thornton was delighted to hear 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 75 
 
 of her arrival, as she now hoped that 
 the only obstacle was removed, which 
 prevented Jessie from going to school. 
 
 The young girl was busily engaged 
 with her studies during the winter, and 
 her leisure time was occupied in aiding 
 her mother to prepare her wardrobe, as 
 it was decided that she should go in 
 the spring, as early as May. Her 
 benefactress sent an abundant supply 
 of all that was necessary for her out- 
 fit for the whole year, as she did not 
 desire her to come home until the close 
 of the second year. It kept them all 
 pretty busy in the winter evenings, for, 
 added to all their other work, there 
 was a great deal to do. 
 
 Effie was very active with her needle, 
 and helped with a cheerful spirit, to 
 prepare her sister for school. Mrs. 
 Thornton, who observed her affection- 
 
76 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 ate industry, sent to Etiie, as her 
 Christmas gift, a full winter suit for 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 “ Oh ! but she’s a gude lady,” said 
 Effie ; and may the blessing of the 
 Lord be upon her for ever and aye, 
 for all her luve to me and mine.” 
 
 When the spring flowers first showed 
 their tender shoots, it was not quite 
 such a joyous group, that hailed their 
 advent, as the spring before ; for they 
 felt that Jessie, whom they all loved 
 so dearly, would be far away in the 
 time of their richest bloom. 
 
 “Jessie,” said Sandie, as he looked 
 at the first blossoms, “ the flowers are 
 preaching another sermon to-day. They 
 are very sweet, but very fading ; they 
 are here to-day, and gone to-morrow. 
 That is like our childish joys, Jessie, 
 they are fading too.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 77 
 
 “ I think I know what you mean, 
 Sandie. We have been very happy 
 together, brother, but we are going to 
 part for a long while. The joys of 
 our home are almost as short lived as 
 the flowers. As we grow up, we can- 
 not always be together, we must each 
 go out into the wide, wide world, and 
 who knows, dear Sandie, when we shall 
 meet again?” 
 
 ‘‘ But, sister, the flowers preach of 
 hope too; they will bloom again, and 
 we shall hope to meet again, and then 
 there is a blessed place, Jessie, where 
 we shall meet, and never part again.” 
 
 “ Sandie, I hope that you will be 
 very careful of our sweet flowers when 
 I am gone. Eflie will help you, and 
 the same Missionary work will still go 
 on, while God sends the same rain and 
 sunshine, the same buds and blossoms, 
 
78 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 the same willing hands to labour, and 
 loving hearts to trust.” 
 
 “ Let us plant two rose-bushes, sis- 
 ter ; I will plant yours in a flower pot, 
 that you may take it away with you, 
 and you shall plant mine in the ground. 
 Whenever we look at them, we will 
 think of, and pray for each other.” 
 
 Away went Sandie, and brought two 
 small rose-bushes. They were quickly 
 planted, and named after each affection- 
 ate child. 
 
 The time sped on almost too rapidly ; 
 when all was prepared for Jessie’s de- 
 parture, Mr. Gilbert, and Miss Ross, 
 who loved the child very dearly, called 
 to bid her farewell. Her pastor brought 
 her a handsome Bible, with her name 
 written in it by his own hand ; and 
 Miss Ross brought several valuable 
 books for a young Christian. After 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 79 
 
 many affectionate charges, and most 
 earnest prayer, her kind friends took 
 leave of her ; and Mrs. Thornton called 
 for her, as it was her intention to take 
 her to school, and place her there her- 
 self. She was to Jessie a second mo- 
 ther, and loved the dear child with al- 
 most parental love. 
 
 It was a bright May morning, and 
 though there was sunshine above, there 
 were tears on the faces of the loving 
 family. The mother held her child in 
 a close embrace, and bade God bless 
 her Jessie. Sandie could not speak 
 his farewell. Little Robert sobbed out 
 good bye; and E file, trying to smile 
 through her tears, said farewell, and 
 with a sister’s love bade Jessie trust in 
 God, and promised to remember her in 
 her prayers. 
 
 The trunk was soon strapped to the 
 
80 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 carriage, the father seated himself hy 
 Jessie’s side, as he intended placing 
 her in the cars, and the carriage drove 
 off. 
 
 At the depot, Jessie took leave of 
 her father, who strained her to his 
 heart, and said, “ God bless, and keep 
 my daughter in the narrow way. 
 
 When Jessie found herself at last 
 alone with Mrs. Thornton, she could 
 not restrain her tears ; but having re- 
 lieved her feelings, with a grateful 
 heart, she gave her hand to Mrs. 
 Thornton, and said, “ My kind friend, 
 do not be displeased at my tears ; my 
 family are very dear to me, and we 
 have never been separated before. 
 
 “ You are very excusable, my child; 
 hut when you get to Rockwood, you 
 will he so busy that I know you will 
 soon he very happy.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 81 
 
 Her friend was a pleasant travelling 
 companion ; being very intelligent, she 
 described all that was interesting in 
 the places w^hich they passed, and by 
 every ingenious and pleasing method, 
 drew off Jessie’s thoughts from herself. 
 
 In a few days they found themselves 
 at Rockwood, where they were kindly 
 received by the principal. 
 
 Jessie felt somewhat frightened at 
 first at the thought of living with so 
 many girls, but resolving to be guided 
 by Bible rules of duty, she committed 
 her all to God, and was at peace. Mrs. 
 Thornton had a private interview of 
 some length with the principal, in which 
 she bespoke her interest for her young 
 charge ; and on the next morning, having 
 seen her comfortably placed in her neat 
 little room, and appointed her proper 
 class in the school-room, she took leave 
 
82 
 
 JESSIE MOKEISON, 
 
 of Jessie, bidding her write every two 
 weeks. 
 
 The poor child had another fit of 
 real loneliness, when she saw Mrs. 
 Thornton drive off; hut, with a brave 
 heart, she drove back the choking tears, 
 and busied herself with her duties as 
 a scholar. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 83 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 LIFE AT SCHOOL. 
 
 Miss Lyman, the principal, was a 
 person well qualified to conduct the 
 business of education. She soon be- 
 came deeply interested in Jessie Mor- 
 rison, and acting upon Mrs. Thornton’s 
 hint, was carefully watching the bent 
 of the young girl’s mind. 
 
 Jessie was very conscientious in the 
 performance of all her duties as a pu- 
 pil, and soon exhibited decided marks 
 of uncommon talent. She was patient 
 and enduring ; not the least daunted 
 by difficulties. She was also self-deny- 
 ing and courageous. Her piety was 
 of a deep and humble character. All 
 
84 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 these qualities led Miss Lyman to look 
 forward to a life of great usefulness for 
 her beloved pupil. 
 
 The institution at Kockwood was 
 one, whose object was chiefly to train 
 teachers. Many had been sent out to 
 distant places in the South and West, 
 and quite a respectable number to posts 
 in foreign lands, as useful, and devoted 
 missionaries. 
 
 Wishing to place Jessie in some 
 position where her talents could be 
 tested, Miss Lyman gave her the charge 
 of a class of young children, in a Sab- 
 bath-school, taught by the young ladies 
 of Rock wood, in a school-house about 
 a mile distant from the institution. 
 This was a part of their training, all 
 being required to give their services, 
 as some compensation for their edu- 
 cation. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 85 
 
 Jessie was soon actively engaged in 
 her work. When she first found her- 
 self seated before a class of smiling 
 little children, she felt as if she had 
 found her vocation. Her scholars could 
 all read, but were all ignorant of the 
 Bible ; and being an untamed set of 
 merry little urchins, required all the 
 patience of their jmuthful teacher, for 
 she Avas now not much over fourteen. 
 
 They were required to commit to 
 
 memory a few Bible verses, and to 
 
 learn hymns ; not being accustomed to 
 
 study, they came several times without 
 
 their lessons. Miss Lyman watched 
 
 Jessie’s course, to see what she would 
 
 do, in such an emergency. She was 
 
 still patient and affectionate, but quietly 
 
 gave them their Bibles, telling them to 
 
 learn their lessons before they went 
 
 home. Several pouted, but looking at 
 8 
 
86 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 Jessie’s countenance, seeing that she 
 was in earnest, and knowing that she 
 was sustained and encouraged by Miss 
 Lyman in her course, they accordingly 
 set about their task, and soon accom- 
 plished it. One obstinate little girl, 
 Sarah Scott, refused to take her Bible. 
 Jessie told her that she should wait un- 
 til she had learned her lesson. Pertly 
 she replied that “she would not.” 
 
 Jessie looked inquiringly towards 
 Miss Lyman for guidance ; perceiving 
 that she bowed her head in answer to 
 her mute inquiry, she calmly com- 
 menced the task. The child remained 
 obstinate. She began kicking out her 
 feet, and in a very sullen mood, still 
 refused obedience. 
 
 The exercises of the school at last 
 were closed. Perceiving that the chil- 
 dren were dismissed, Sarah prepared, 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 87 
 
 with a look of triumph, to leave the 
 room. Jessie turned to her quietly, 
 and said, “ You cannot go until your 
 task is done.” Sarah pouted, but took 
 her seat, for she dared not rush out 
 before Miss Lyman. Coming up to 
 Jessie, that lady handed her a book, 
 and with an expressive look, said, ‘‘Per- 
 haps you may get tired, here is an in- 
 teresting book for you to read ; you 
 may have to stay a long while.” 
 
 Miss Lyman was pleased with her 
 quiet perseverance ; and when the 
 young teacher returned a few hours 
 afterwards, that lady did not feel it 
 necessary to ask what had been the 
 result, as she knew something of 
 Jessie’s firmness. 
 
 It was Miss Lyman’s practice to keep 
 a private note book in which she re- 
 corded her pupils’ names, and noted 
 
88 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 all the interesting traits which she saw 
 developed in their daily life. 
 
 Under Jessie Morrison’s name, on 
 this occasion, she wrote, “Much firm- 
 ness and wisdom for one so young.” 
 
 After this day, little Sarah under- 
 took no more contests with her young 
 teacher, but respecting her, she soon 
 learned to love her. 
 
 On another occasion, a severe snow- 
 storm on Saturday made the roads 
 very bad on Sunday. Several of the 
 girls declared that it was impossible 
 for them to venture out. Jessie quietly 
 looked out of the window, and saw 
 several men plodding their way through 
 the snow. Believing what others could 
 do in the morning, when the roads 
 were worse, she could accomplish in the 
 afternoon, when they were somewhat 
 trodden, she calmly made her prepar- 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 89 
 
 ations for her walk. Taking out her 
 thick boots, extra stockings, and all 
 her winter wrappings, Jessie was ready, 
 when the time arrived, to accompany 
 Miss Lyman. 
 
 “Are you not afraid, Jessie, of get- 
 ting stalled in the snow?” said that 
 lady. 
 
 “ Are you, Miss Lyman ?” 
 
 “ No, my dear, I am accustomed to 
 go out all kinds of weather,” answered 
 her teacher. 
 
 “ And I mean to he also,” said Jessie. 
 “ It is my duty to go ; and at home, 1 
 was early used to hardships.” 
 
 It required all her strength and per- 
 severance to overcome the difficulties, 
 for much of the road had not been 
 travelled, save by a very few footsteps ; 
 but she flinched not, and finally suc- 
 ceeded in reaching the school-house. 
 
 8 * 
 
90 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 About one dozen were present, 
 taught by Miss Lyman and herself. 
 Another note was placed in the pri- 
 vate book, under Jessie’s name, “ Great 
 perseverance and conscientiousness.” 
 
 Mrs. Thornton frequently sent to 
 her supplies of pocket money. Jessie 
 being very self-denying, but little was 
 spent on her own person ; while many 
 of the girls indulged their appetites, 
 some their love of dress, and others 
 desire for books. Jessie seemed to 
 care for neither of the first two ; she 
 did delight in the latter, and if tempted 
 to indulge at all, it was in a thirst for 
 books of an elevating and improving 
 character. 
 
 There was in school a box for mis- 
 sions ; and into that was dropped 
 quietly many a dollar sent for her own 
 wants. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 91 
 
 In the second year of her school- 
 life, money was sent to provide for a 
 renewal of her wardrobe. Miss Ly- 
 man knew of this supply ; and while 
 other girls were purchasing their new 
 spring bonnets, she observed that Jes- 
 sie wore her old one, cleaned, and 
 simply trimmed. She also observed 
 that her dresses were remodelled, and 
 a very few of the simplest kind added 
 to her wardrobe. 
 
 . Jessie had ordered a handsome set 
 of the British Poets, but Miss Lyman 
 discovered that the order was counter- 
 manded. She was still watching and 
 wondering, and observed moreover that 
 Jessie walked out frequently alone, 
 and ascertained, without herknowledge, 
 that her visits were to the house of 
 Mrs. Roberts, a poor, but pious woman, 
 who had been long confined to her bed 
 
92 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 with an incurable and painful disease. 
 Sitting up in her bed, she continued 
 to labour for her family of four young 
 children. Her health was rapidly fail- 
 ing, and unable to obtain regular sup- 
 plies, Jessie found them in a state of 
 great need and suffering. She received 
 her supply about this time, and looking 
 at her little fund, found that by deny- 
 ing herself a new bonnet, several new 
 dresses, and especially the set of books, 
 she could aid this poor family for many 
 weeks. She resolved upon the sacii- 
 fice, and by her self-denying love, had 
 contributed two dollars a week, for the 
 last month, towards the support of the 
 afflicted family. 
 
 Miss Lyman, hearing of her visits, 
 called herself upon Mrs. Roberts, where . 
 she heard from the grateful Christian, 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 93 
 
 all the story of Jessie’s self-denying 
 spirit. 
 
 She could now well understand, how 
 her dear pupil could afford to bear the 
 ridicule of some, who sneered at her 
 old fashioned bonnet, and despised her 
 plain and simple dress. 
 
 When she returned home, she en- 
 tered again by the side of Jessie’s 
 name, “ Self-sacrificing and devoted.” 
 
 The young girl was not in the least 
 aware, how closely her conduct was in- 
 vestigated and noted, or for what rea- 
 sons. 
 
 Deeply interested in her Sabbath- 
 school class, no weather, either of ex- 
 cessive heat or cold, kept her away. 
 Very affectionate, she soon secured 
 their warmest love. Having great apt- 
 ness to teach, and ingenious in illustra- 
 tion and anecdote, her class was alwa}'s 
 
94 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON. 
 
 among the most attentive, and the look 
 of fixed and rapt delight, with which 
 they hung upon Jessie’s words, con- 
 vinced Miss Lyman, that even at fif- 
 teen, she could record beneath her 
 name : ‘‘ Born for a teacher, full of 
 patience and love.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 95 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SILENT INFLUENCE. 
 
 Occupying the room with Jessie, was 
 a little girl of ten years, an orphan, 
 and a cripple. These two circumstan- 
 ces had called out all the kind feelings 
 of a loving nature, and she soon exer- 
 cised over this little girl, a most hap- 
 py influence. Having been neglected 
 in early life, little Nettie had thus far 
 lived without the fear of God to re- 
 strain her natural inclinations to de- 
 ception. She had also an ungovern- 
 able temper, but a very affectionate 
 disposition; and Jessie soon saw that 
 if she expected to do her any good, it 
 must be by gaining a hold upon her 
 
96 
 
 JESSIE MOmilSON, 
 
 warm little heart. Being an extremely 
 unpleasant child, hitherto she had no 
 friends, and when first associated with 
 Jessie, supposing that, like all the rest, 
 she must regard her as an enemy, she 
 commenced her usual course of tantal- 
 izing and tormenting. 
 
 On the next morning, after she had 
 passed her first night in her new room, 
 Jessie found that a little box, which 
 contained her soap and tooth powder, 
 had evidently been meddled with. This 
 annoyed her, but she said nothing 
 at first; then her boot-strings were 
 tied in so many knots, that she was late 
 at breakfast ; this was repeated several 
 times, and when Nettie supposed her- 
 self unobserved, Jessie saw the dark 
 countenance grinning maliciously over 
 what she had done. Then again several 
 sheets of paper were taken from her 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 97 
 
 portfolio. She found that this would 
 never do ; so when alone, she asked 
 Nettie why she took so much pleasure 
 in teazing her. 
 
 ‘‘Dear me !” said the little girl, “how 
 could you think that I would do it ? 
 I have not seen your soap ; the wutches 
 must have tied the knots in your boots; 
 and as to the sheets of paper, I have 
 enough of my own.” 
 
 “I am sorry, Nettie, that you per- 
 sist in falsehood ; I saw the soap in 
 your tray, the paper I saw you take 
 from the portfolio, and the knots 
 must have tied. I will not expose you, 
 but I am sorry that you feel so badly 
 towards me, when I only wish to love 
 you, and do you good.” 
 
 Nettie seemed surprised at this kind 
 forbearing treatment, for she had al- 
 ways experienced the reverse ; but 
 9 
 
98 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 looking at Jessie’s countenance, and 
 seeing there an expression of sincerity, 
 she was sorry for her bad conduct, and 
 though she would not confess it, in- 
 wardly resolved to cease her teazing. 
 
 That night she appeared very tired, 
 for her hip had been uncommonly pain- 
 ful all day. Jessie perceived this, and 
 when they retired, said, “ Nettie, don’t 
 stand to undress, it hurts you too much ; 
 I will unfasten your clothes, and see 
 you placed in bed.” 
 
 Very gently and tenderly Jessie un- 
 dressed her, laid all her clothes away 
 in their proper place, untied her shoe- 
 strings, and ere placing her in bed, rub- 
 bed her back with the embrocation 
 used when she had these attacks, 
 lifted the poor little cripple into bed, 
 kissed her affectionatelj", and was in 
 the act of leaving her, when Nettie 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 99 
 
 hastily threw her arms around Jessie’s 
 neck, burst into tears, and said ‘‘Forgive 
 me, I will never teaze you again. 
 I have annoyed you a great deal, but 
 I shall love you always, if you will 
 only let me.” 
 
 Jessie assured her of her forgiveness, 
 and said, “Now, Nettie, all I ask is, 
 when I see you do wrong, will you 
 listen to what I say ?” 
 
 “ Yes, indeed, you may say just what 
 you please, but as to the other great 
 girls in schools, I shall never love 
 them.” 
 
 “ Well, never mind, Nettie, we will 
 not talk about them to-night.” 
 
 When Jessie had committed herself 
 to God for the night, she retired to rest 
 happy in the thought that she had se- 
 cured a place in the heart of this way- 
 ward child. 
 
100 
 
 JESSIE JIOKRISON, 
 
 ^'Nettie, have you studied your les- 
 sons this morning ? You know the 
 I’ule — did you study before you left 
 your room ?” 
 
 This question was asked by Miss 
 Lyman in the presence of Jessie. 
 
 Nettie was so much afraid ot dis- 
 pleasing her teacher, that she said, “ Yes, 
 ma’am, indeed I diil for one hour. 
 
 Jessie cast one look at poor weak 
 little Nettie ; blushes of conscious guilt 
 instantly overspread her face, for Jessie 
 knew that she had not opened her 
 hooks once that day. Her look of real 
 sorrow sank into Netties heart moie 
 deeply, than all the bitter words of 
 anger, which had ever been heaped 
 upon her. When alone, she came to 
 the young girl, and throwing her arms 
 around her neck, said, ‘‘ Oh ! Jessie, 
 forgive me, I thought that I would 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 101 
 
 never tell a lie again, but I was so 
 frightened that I could not help it. 
 Your sorrowful looks follow me about 
 all day, and I shall never forgive my- 
 self for making you unhappy.” 
 
 “ Nettie, that is not what I want 
 you to feel. I am glad that you love 
 me, but 1 want you to be sorry for sin- 
 ning against God. It is your best 
 friend that you have offended, by 
 breaking his holy law ; it is this which 
 makes me sorry.” 
 
 “Well, Jessie, by God’s help, I am 
 determined to break this habit; won’t 
 you pray for me ? I have deceived so 
 long, that it is hard to do any better.” 
 Jessie watched the little girl most 
 carefully, instructed her when alone, 
 and best of all, prayed constantly that 
 she might be made a new creature 
 
 in Christ Jesus. Treated with harsh- 
 9 * 
 
102 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 ness by other girls, she was still to 
 them spiteful and revengeful; but to 
 Jessie, who had found the key which 
 unlocked her heart, she was docile, af- 
 fectionate, devoted. 
 
 Having had the character of a pest 
 and nuisance so long, it was hard for 
 the poor child to obtain credit from 
 any of the girls save Jessie, in her ef- 
 forts for amendment. 
 
 “ Ileally, Jessie, I must admire your 
 taste,” said Maria Leslie; “I can’t 
 imagine what you see in that ugly, 
 swarthy little cripple, to make such a 
 fuss about. I believe that her dispo- 
 sition is as crooked as her body. I 
 think that she is perfectly hateful.” 
 That is exactly the reason, Maria, 
 why I try to be kind to her, and bear 
 with her. She has no personal attrac- 
 tion but her bright black eyes. She 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 103 
 
 is a poor afflicted child, with a pecu- 
 liarly unpleasant disposition, so that 
 no body loves her ; hut I have found, 
 Maria, that she has a warm affection- 
 ate heart, and I can see already, that 
 she is powerfully influenced by love.” 
 “ You are welcome to all her caresses, 
 Jessie. I would as willingly be kissed 
 by a monkey, as by her.” 
 
 ‘‘ Oh ! Maria, dont talk so, God has 
 made her thus, and we should pity, 
 instead of ridiculing her.” 
 
 Do as you choose, Jessie, but don’t 
 expect me to be kind to her. I am not 
 so deceitful.” 
 
 Jessie’s influence was on the increase ; 
 the poor child did really wish to be bet- 
 ter, but her old habits of ill-nature and 
 falsehood \vere not so soon conquered. 
 In return for Jessie’s uniform forbear- 
 ance and kindness, Nettie’s devotion 
 
104 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 was unbounded. She contended that 
 Jessie was the prettiest, and sweetest, 
 and smartest girl in school; and woe to 
 the girl that ever spoke a word against 
 her in the hearing of the warm-hearted 
 child ! And Jessie well deserved her 
 love; she aided her in her lessons, read 
 the Bible to her, and instructed her, 
 rubbed her poor lame back when she 
 was suffering, and in every way en- 
 deavoured to exercise a holy influence 
 over the aftlicted child. Frequently, 
 when Nettie was unable to take exer- 
 cise out of doors, Jessie would remain 
 with her, entertaining her with pleas- 
 ant chat, and interesting stories; and 
 as the lame child had to spend much 
 of her time in the house, Jessie taught 
 her many useful ways of emplo3ung 
 her time, so that she became quite a 
 proficient in crochet- work, and different 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 105 
 
 moles of knitting. As her aunt kept 
 her well supplied with worsted and 
 silk, Jessie must have a purse, and a 
 hood, a talma, and a scarf, and the 
 busy little fingers helped to keep her 
 spirit cheerful, while working indus- 
 triously for one she so dearly loved. 
 
 If she had an apple, or a cake, or 
 any little delicacy, she could never en- 
 joy it, unless Jessie shared it with her; 
 and her friend daily found that the 
 poor child had really fine traits of char- 
 acter, which only needed proper treat- 
 ment to bring into exercise. Before 
 she came to Rockwood, she had been 
 in the habit of retiring to bed, and going 
 about her daily duties without prayer. 
 She neglected her Bible, and was 
 brought up by a worldly aunt, in quite 
 a heathen manner ; but now the good 
 seed seemed to be taking root. She 
 
106 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 was very attentive, and often serious, 
 when Jessie read to her, frequently 
 asking questions, was faithful in her 
 devotions, and exhibited many en- 
 couraging marks of interest in sacred 
 things. Her conduct generally was 
 much improved, and though her tem- 
 per was still irritable, she endeavoured 
 to control it, and often did succeed, even 
 under powerful temptations to anger. 
 She kept close to Jessie, for she really 
 seemed to look up to her youthful 
 guide with reverence. Jessie hoped 
 that the Holy Spirit w^as leading her 
 little charge into all truth, and was 
 pleased with the increasing tenderness 
 of conscience which Nettie daily ex- 
 hibited. 
 
 Ever since Jessie had been at school, 
 she had kept up a constant and affec- 
 tionate correspondence with the dear 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 107 
 
 ones at home, and also with her kind 
 friend, Mrs. Thornton, who had paid 
 her several visits at Rockwood. She 
 was delighted to hear of the continued 
 success of the Missionary flower-bed, 
 and much excited by a late letter re- 
 ceived from her dear friend and Sab- 
 bath-school teacher, Miss Ross, who 
 announced her intention of going to 
 India as a missionary in a very few 
 months. She was about to marry the 
 Rev. Mr. Nelson, and was now making 
 preparations to leave America. 
 
 Jessie was very thoughtful after the 
 receipt of this letter, the old desires 
 of former years visited her heart once 
 more, but with increasing power, and 
 she felt as if, some day, these earnest 
 longings would lead her at last to a 
 foreign land. Sometimes she commun- 
 icated her wishes to Miss Lyman, who 
 
108 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 always directed her to ask counsel of 
 the Lord, in all the great afi'airs of 
 life. 
 
 Her second year was now drawing 
 to a close. At the next vacation, she 
 was to return home to visit her family, 
 and joyful were the bright anticipa- 
 tions, with which she looked forward 
 to the happy day, when she should 
 again he folded in the arms of her dear 
 parents. 
 
 She was now sixteen, had grown 
 rapidly, and was greatly improved in 
 appearance. She had made excellent 
 use of her privileges, and would take 
 home to her friends a number of prizes, 
 and the warmest commendation of her 
 faithful and affectionate friend. Miss 
 Lyman. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 109 
 
 CHAPTEK X. 
 
 AFTER VACATION. 
 
 The exercises were all over, and many 
 of the girls had departed. Poor little 
 Nettie clung more closely to Jessie, as 
 she did not expect to go home this va- 
 cation. Her spirits were very low at 
 the idea of parting with her dear friend, 
 even for a few weeks. At last Mrs. 
 Thornton arrived. Jessie was all ready, 
 and took leave of her kind friends with 
 grateful affection. As Nettie clung 
 around her neck, she whispered, ‘‘ Who 
 will love and guide me when you are 
 gone ?” 
 
 “ Be a good girl, Nettie, love Miss 
 
 Lyman; she will be as kind a friend to 
 10 
 
110 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 you, as she has been to me, if you are 
 only obedient.” 
 
 The carriage was waiting at the door, 
 Jessie’s trunks were all strapped, and 
 with a pleasant smile to all who stood 
 on the piazza watching the party, she 
 sprang in, and rapidly drove off. 
 
 “Now for dear Rose Cottage; when 
 shall we be there, Mrs. Thornton ?” 
 
 “ In two days, my dear. How your 
 friends wiU be surprised, Jessie, to see 
 the change which has taken place ! 
 You went away quite a little girl ; two 
 years have changed you into a young 
 woman.” 
 
 “ And how are Effie, and Sandie, 
 and Robert? I suppose little Mattie 
 is running about, and talking quite 
 plain. Dear father and mother, I can 
 scarcely wait to see them.” 
 
 At the close of the second day, 
 
I 
 
 OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. Ill 
 
 Robert Morrison was waiting at the 
 depot with his little wagon ; and the 
 moment that he spied Mrs. Thornton, he 
 knew that the fine intelligent looking girl 
 by her side, was his darling Jessie. Re- 
 gardless of observation, she threw her- 
 self into her father’s arms, and in the joy 
 of meeting once more, the pain of long 
 absence was soon forgotten. 
 
 They drove rapidly home. Jessie 
 could not restrain her tears at the 
 sight of the familiar objects which met 
 her gaze ; and when the wagon stopped 
 at the cottage door, and old Tray 
 bounded around her feet, and her mo- 
 ther clasped her daughter in speech- 
 less jo3", while Effie, Sandie, Robert, 
 and little Mattie, all received her with 
 such a heart- warm welcome, Jessie’s 
 heart was full of happiness, and as she 
 looked around, with eyes brimful of 
 
112 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 tears, she said, “ Dear, dear Rose Cot- 
 tage, how sweet it looks!” 
 
 She had left in May, it was now the 
 first of April, when the trees were 
 clad in vivid green, and the young blos- 
 soms were bursting in all their fresh- 
 ness and beauty. Her first visit was 
 to the garden, where early spring 
 flowers were just beginning to bloom. 
 She had left Sandie’s rose-bush at 
 llockwood, as she expected to return 
 for another }mar. 
 
 When he pointed to the one which 
 she had planted, she found that it had 
 grown into a very large bush, and in 
 its season bloomed abundantly. 
 
 Turning to her brother, she said, 
 You don’t know what a comfort the 
 rose-bush was to me at school. I kept 
 it in my own room, and many an even- 
 ing when I sat there alone, it used to 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 113 
 
 talk so sweetly to me of home, and 
 brother Sandie, that it seemed almost 
 like one of our own famil}'-.” 
 
 Sandie gave her a full account of the 
 progress of their Missionary flowers, 
 saying that last season, they had con- 
 tributed one hundred dollars to the 
 Lord’s cause, and forty for “A help 
 to father.” 
 
 The four weeks passed rapidly by ; 
 Jessie was hailed with great delight by 
 her friend, Miss Ross, and dear Mr. 
 Gilbert. During her stay, her teacher 
 was married, and sailed for India. 
 Before she left, a farewell meeting was 
 held at their church, where Mr. Gilbert 
 and others commended their cause and 
 themselves to the care of a kind heav- 
 enly Father ; and when Jessie saw the 
 feeling exhibited by the parents of 
 
 Miss Ross, when they bade her fare- 
 10 * 
 
114 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 well, she wondered whether her dear 
 parents would ever be called to ex- 
 perience a similar trial. 
 
 As Mrs. Nelson bade farewell to 
 Jessie, she whispered, “Follow me to 
 India, Jessie ; it would be delightful to 
 have you with me as a teacher.” 
 
 These words sank deeply in her 
 heart, and often, in her musing hours, 
 she recalled the sweet impressive mem- 
 ory of this parting charge. 
 
 By the first of May, Mrs. Thornton 
 conveyed her young friend once more 
 to Rockwood to complete her studies. 
 
 Nettie, knowing when to expect her, 
 was standing on the piazza, anxiously 
 watching for her friend; and though 
 she could not run to meet her, she 
 called out, “Dear Jessie, have you 
 come again ? Oh ! how glad I am ! I 
 have been so lonesome.” 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 115 
 
 Miss Lyman embraced her beloved 
 pupil, and joyfully hailed her return, 
 as she had always been one of her 
 greatest comforts. 
 
 Jessie ran up to her room, and found 
 that Nettie had been very faithful to 
 her rose-bush ; watering it daily, and 
 protecting it from harm. 
 
 This was a year of great improve- 
 ment to Jessie ; at its close, she gradu- 
 ated with high honours, and Miss Ly- 
 man had seldom parted with a pupil of 
 such promise as Jessie Morrison. 
 
 Under her sweet influence, Nettie 
 had continued to exhibit decided evi- 
 dences of childish piety, and even those 
 formerly most opposed to her, ac-. 
 knowledged that a great change had 
 been wrought in the once perverse 
 child. Under the influence of her new 
 character, an expression of gentleness, 
 
116 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 and a warm glow of happiness lighting 
 up her bright eyes, made even little 
 Nettie sometimes look pretty; for, after 
 all, expression of the heart’s loveli- 
 ness is real beauty. 
 
 When she came to take leave finally 
 of Jessie, her poor little heart was al- 
 most broken, for she was sure that none 
 would love her as well as her dear 
 friend ; but it was some comfort to 
 know that her aunt lived in the sub- 
 urbs of the city, near Jessie’s home, 
 
 and that when she returned to N , 
 
 she would see her friend frequently, 
 and perhaps attend the same Sabbath- 
 school. 
 
 Miss Lyman had become very much 
 attached to little lame Nettie, and see- 
 ing the impression made upon her by 
 Jessie’s management, took her es- 
 pecially under her own care, placing 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 117 
 
 her in a single bed in her own room, 
 and endeavouring, as much as possible, 
 to supply to her the place of Jessie 
 Morrison. 
 
 Jessie’s return was a most joyful 
 occasion at home. Soon she resumed 
 her usual occupations, took a class in 
 the Sabbath-school, and became one of 
 the most useful, and devoted, among 
 the labourers in the blessed field. She 
 still cultivated and sold her flowers, 
 and the fruits of their humble efforts 
 were gathered in future years of abund- 
 ant harvest. 
 
 None were more successful than 
 Jessie, as a Sabbath-school teacher. 
 Untiring in her efforts, self-denying 
 and prayerful, blessed results followed 
 her labours, and several, by her earnest 
 prayers and consistent example, were 
 
118 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 led into the fold of the blessed Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 Another year passed away. Sweet 
 and holy w\as the influence of the 
 youthful disciple; though her origin 
 was so humble, she Avas universally 
 respected for her consistent and in- 
 telligent piety ; and Mrs. Thornton 
 Avatched her ripening character with 
 the deepest interest. 
 
 One morning, when Jessie presented 
 herself before her class, whom should 
 she see, sparkling and glowing with de- 
 light, but little Nettie Moore, who rose 
 to meet her darling friend. 
 
 “ Where did you come from, Nettie ?” 
 inquired her friend. 
 
 “ 1 have just returned from school, 
 and when I asked my aunt to let me 
 come to Sabbath-school, at first she 
 laughed at me, and said that none but 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOIVERS. 119 
 
 poor children came ; but when I coaxed 
 her very hard, she consented, saying 
 that 1 might do as I pleased, and I 
 hurried off this morning, in company 
 with a little girl, who lives near us, 
 and comes here to Sabbath-school, and 
 here I am once more, and so happy.” 
 
 “ Nettie, I am really very glad to 
 see you ; it has been a whole year since 
 we parted, and you have grown a great 
 deal. Do you expect to go back 
 again ?” 
 
 “ I do not; my back is a great deal 
 better, and I can walk now. My aunt 
 is going to send me to school in the 
 city ; so dear Miss Morrison, I can be 
 your Sunday scholar. 1 shall be so 
 happy. 
 
 Jessie was pleased to have her warm- 
 hearted little friend once more under 
 
120 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 her care, and found that the new mo- 
 tives of action, which she had hoped 
 began to operate in school, were now 
 ripening into principles. Even Nettie’s 
 aunt, who was a very worldly woman, 
 acknowledged that she was greatly 
 changed, since she had been away from 
 home ; but she attributed it to her 
 own superior sagacity, in discovering 
 that a boarding school was the only 
 place for such a wilful child. 
 
 In the meanwhile, our young friend 
 was rapidly growing in grace ; consist- 
 ent at home, her example was of a 
 very influential character, and Mr. Gil- 
 bert looked upon her, and loved her, as 
 one of the most useful members of his 
 church. 
 
 The “Missionary Flowers ” still of- 
 fered them abundant means of useful- 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 121 
 
 ness, and Jessie felt that she could 
 never be grateful enough to her father, 
 for the kind thought which had first sug- 
 gested this humble means of blessing so 
 many. 
 
 11 
 
122 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 LEAVING ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS. 
 
 Jessie corresponded regularly with 
 Mrs. Nelson, and the accounts which 
 she received of missionary life increas- 
 ed her desire to devote herself to that 
 blessed work. She read all that she 
 could find concerning India, but as no 
 very marked indication of God s will 
 was manifest as yet, she talked very 
 little, but prayed much upon the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 In about two years after Mrs' Nel- 
 son’s departure, information was re- 
 ceived, that as her health had sufiered 
 much from the climate, it was deemed 
 advisable for her to return to her own 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 123 
 
 country, to recruit her exhausted en- 
 ergies ; therefore, her friends were told 
 to expect her in the following Autumn. 
 
 Accordingly late in October, she ar- 
 rived, very much altered, sallow and 
 thin ; the climate had made great in- 
 roads upon her constitution. 
 
 Jessie visited her frequently, and 
 was never tired of hearing accounts of 
 the manners and customs of that hea- 
 then land, and of the children who had 
 been gathered into the Mission schools. 
 
 Mrs. Nelson frequently spoke of the 
 death of teachers, stating that there 
 were many who would come to their 
 schools, if there were only more la- 
 bourers. 
 
 Jessie ventured, on one occasion, to 
 speak of her long cherished desires. 
 
 “ Shall I tell you, Mrs. Nelson, that 
 for four years, this has been the great 
 
124 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 wish of my life, that I might be per- 
 mitted, at some future day, to labour 
 in this field for my Saviour ?” 
 
 “ Jessie, I have always hoped that 
 God would send you to me, and now 
 it does appear, as if he were making 
 the way plain before your face. With- 
 out your knowledge, Mrs. Thornton 
 placed you where you could best be 
 qualified for such a life. Your sister is 
 now at home with your mother, the 
 field is white to the harvest, I am 
 just in need of such a help as you 
 would be to me in my school in India, 
 and being under our care, your parents 
 would more willingly give you up to 
 the Lord. Let us pray, dear Jessie, 
 for Divine guidance.” 
 
 After careful self-examination, and 
 frequent consultations with Mr. Gil- 
 bert and Mrs. Thornton, and after 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 125 
 
 earnest, believing prayer, Jessie was 
 convinced that duty called her to this 
 distant field, and Mr. Gilbert was re- 
 quested to break the subject to her pa- 
 rents. 
 
 Instead of being startled at the 
 proposition, Mr. Morrison replied, “ I 
 am not surprised, Mr. Gilbert, at 
 your suggestion, for I have long had a 
 silent conviction, that our Lord de- 
 signed our darling Jessie for great use- 
 fulness; and what am I, poor sinful 
 man, that He should so honour me, as 
 to use a child of mine in such a glori- 
 ous service? So far from objecting, 
 although I love my dear child with a 
 father’s warmest love, I willingly resign 
 her to the Saviour who died for her, 
 if he has work for her in that distant 
 land. I have nothing to sa}% only Lord 
 
 take her, and make her a burning and 
 II* 
 
126 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 a sliining light in that land of dark- 
 ness.” 
 
 Mrs. Morrison sympathized entirely 
 with her husband, and these devoted 
 Christians willingly laid their dear 
 child on the altar, esteeming the sacri- 
 fice small for One who had laid down 
 his blessed life for them. 
 
 When her application was laid before 
 the Missionary Board, Miss Lyman’s 
 notes, so carefully preserved, were con- 
 clusive as to her eminent qualifications ; 
 and the universal testimony of her 
 pastor, and other Christian friends, led 
 the Board to hope that they had se- 
 cured a valuable labourer in the field 
 of missions. 
 
 During this year, Jessie was daily 
 employed in a course of study, such as 
 Mrs. Nelson was ((ualified to conduct, 
 and as she was well acquainted with 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 127 
 
 the Hindoo language, she was a compe- 
 tent teacher for a very apt and indus- 
 trious scholar. 
 
 Mrs. Nelson’s health rapidly im- 
 proved, and at the close of the year, 
 she was so much better, that it was 
 deemed proper that she should return 
 to her field of labour. 
 
 The time arrived for their departure ; 
 all the necessary preparations being 
 made, the farewell meeting was held at 
 Mr. Gilbert’s church. When he looked 
 upon the youthful missionary, his mind 
 went back to the period, when she pre- 
 sented her first offering to the Lord, 
 entitled “ Missionary Flowers and he 
 remembered how the name had struck 
 him, as perhaps indicative of the fu- 
 ture course of the young girl; he 
 remembered how earnestly he had 
 prayed, that the sweet flower of her 
 
128 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 own youth, should be the Lord’s ; now, 
 he thanked God for this answer to his 
 humble prayer, and took encourage- 
 ment for the future. 
 
 It was a melting season ; for all who 
 knew her, loved Jessie Morrison ; and 
 though her parents willingl}^ resigned 
 her, some natural tears must fall, when 
 the}^ realized that perhaps, in this world, 
 they never might see their Jessie again. 
 Mrs. Thornton, though seeing the ful- 
 filment of her long cherished hopes, 
 had not, until now, realized how ten- 
 derly she loved her young charge, and 
 found it difficult to suppress the rising 
 feeling of regret, at parting with her 
 beloved child ; still Christian faith tri- 
 umphed, and she rejoiced that she had 
 been the instrument of sending out 
 such a promising young servant, into 
 the vineyard of the Lord. 
 
• OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 129 
 
 Miss Lyman also was present on 
 this occasion, and blessed God for the 
 realization of her earnest desires for 
 Jessie Morrison ; and little warm- 
 hearted Nettie was one of the most 
 deeply affected spectators; her poor 
 little heart almost bursting with sor- 
 row at the thought of losing her dear 
 teacher. 
 
 After the meeting, Jessie tried to 
 comfort her, telling her that many 
 were willing to labour at home, but 
 few who seemed called to labour in 
 the Lord’s vineyard in foreign lands, 
 and that she ought to be willing to 
 give up one she loved for Jesus’ sake. 
 
 We must not suppose that this rend- 
 ing of domestic ties cost Jessie nothing;' 
 she loved her home, her parents, her 
 brothers and sisters, and her friends. 
 Every tree, and bush, and flower were 
 
130 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 cherished objects of affection, hut she 
 loved Jesus more, and having given up 
 all, she was willing to take up her 
 cross, and follow her Lord “ through 
 evil, as well as good report through 
 poverty and privation, as well as 
 through ease and comfort. 
 
 When the hour came to say farewell, 
 Sandie’s grief, especiall}'', almost over- 
 powered poor Jessie. Her parents were 
 sustained in the parting scene, and 
 could still say, ‘‘ Lord, she is thine, 
 take her for thy service.” 
 
 As Jessie turned away from the 
 home of her youth, she gazed mourn- 
 fully out of the window, as long as she 
 could see her beloved Rose Cottage, 
 and realized something of the bitter- 
 ness of leaving, perhaps for ever, ob- 
 jects so long and tenderly cherished. 
 
 In company with Mrs. Nelson, and 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 131 
 
 several other missionaries, she set sail 
 for Calcutta, and as her native shores 
 receded from her sight, she felt that, 
 sustained by divine grace, she could 
 sing : 
 
 “Jesus, I my cross have taken, 
 
 All to leave and follow thee. 
 
 Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 
 
 Thou henceforth my all shalt be.” 
 
 The voyage was long, but Jessie 
 busily occupied herself in the study 
 of the language, having pursued it for 
 one year before leaving home. By the 
 time of her arrival, she understood it 
 well enough to teach. At the close of 
 the fourth month, they entered the Bay 
 of Bengal ; passing by the beautiful 
 island of Ceylon, she was struck with 
 the richness and beauty of its natural 
 productions, and as she advanced up 
 the bay, her whole attention was en- 
 
132 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 grossed ; every thing was so new, so 
 strange, so entirely different from all 
 that she had ever seen or imagined. 
 
 The sight of the Hindoo temples, 
 meeting her at every point, filled her 
 heart with tender compassion for the 
 benighted heathen, who there bowed 
 in blindness to dumb idols. 
 
 The contrast between the brilliant 
 scenes which bloomed around her, in 
 the magnificent foliage, and superb 
 flowers of that oriental land, and the 
 deep degradation and idolatry which 
 enslaved the immortal soul, filled her 
 with indescribable emotions ; and her 
 young heart sent up earnest prayers, 
 that God would bless her feeble efforts, 
 in making known the precious tidings 
 of a Saviour’s love. 
 
 When they drew near Calcutta, 
 boats filled with natives came out to 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 133 
 
 meet their vessel, and as Jessie gazed 
 upon their swarthy countenances, her 
 heart was drawn out at once towards 
 them, in feelings of deepest compas- 
 sion, and Christian love. 
 
 They were hailed with great joy by 
 the Mission family, who looked with 
 deep gratitude upon the little band of 
 five more missionaries, added to their 
 number. 
 
 The first few days were occupied in 
 visiting different places of interest in 
 Calcutta. In every direction, Jessie’s 
 heart was pained by the sight of idols 
 of gold, silver, and clay, not only in 
 the temples, but in the streets for sale, 
 in private houses, everywhere calling 
 upon Christians to elevate the standard 
 of the Lord, in this strong hold of the 
 “Prince of darkness.” 
 
 When Jessie looked upon the swarm- 
 12 
 
134 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 ing multitudes of heathen, with their 
 countless temples, and their disgusting 
 rites of idolatry, and then turned to 
 the little band of disciples among all 
 this dark dominion, her heart almost 
 sank within her ; but when she re- 
 membered how the walls of Jericho 
 fell before the Lord, by the simple 
 blowing of a few rams’ horns, when 
 she thought of the little band of twelve 
 disciples filling the world with the 
 doctrines of the cross, she closed the 
 eye of sense upon the dismal scene, 
 and looking upon it with an eye of 
 faith, she rejoiced in the certain down- 
 fall of this dark idolatry, and blessed 
 God for sending her, as one of his 
 feeble instruments in hastening on the 
 latter day of glory. Already she saw 
 in the distance, the destruction of Hin- 
 doo temples, the vanishing of idols, 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 
 
 135 
 
 and where now naught was seen but 
 the dark signs of heathenism, in their 
 place erected the glorious standard of 
 the cross, with thousands of converted 
 souls bowing beneath its power. 
 
 In a short time, she was placed in 
 Mrs. Nelson’s school, having the charge 
 of a class of twenty Hindoo children. 
 They were both ignorant and stupid, 
 but she realized that they were im- 
 mortal, besotted heathen, and with 
 simple, earnest faith, she laboured pa- 
 tiently, assured that God, in his own 
 good time, would give his blessing. 
 
 After these days of toil in a very 
 hot climate, sweet was the evening 
 gathering of the Mission family in 
 their happy home. Never had Jessie 
 experienced more of the preciousness 
 of communion with God, than when in 
 this land of superstition, this little band 
 
136 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 could gather around their Saviour, and 
 realize his blessed presence. 
 
 The family consisted of three mis- 
 sionaries and their wives, Jessie, and 
 Miss Nelson, sister of the missionary, 
 four little children, and four Hindoo 
 servants. 
 
 When the time arrived for the jour- 
 ney of the car of Juggernaut, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Nelson took Jessie and Miss 
 Nelson with them to witness this dark 
 procession, in order that their hearts 
 might be still more deeply affected by 
 a sense of the degradation and misery 
 which prevailed everywhere. It was 
 a hideous spectacle, and the frantic 
 yells uttered by the wretched devotees^ 
 added to the horrors of the scene. 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 137 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 LIFE IN INDIA. 
 
 After this journey, Jessie wrote the 
 following letter to her brother : 
 
 Calcutta, Dec. 18 — . 
 
 Dear Sandie, — It is now six o’clock 
 in the evening ; with you it is six in 
 the morning. I suppose that you are 
 now preparing for breakfast, and I feel 
 that I am always remembered in the 
 hour of family devotion. I watch 
 these returning periods in this distant 
 land, and when I think my father is 
 praying for me, I join in these pe- 
 titions, if it be only a feeble ejacula- 
 tion shot quickly up to Heaven, some- 
 12 * 
 
138 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 times in the midst of my duties at 
 school. 
 
 What a blessed privilege is this 
 communion of saints! How it unites 
 our hearts, though continents and 
 oceans separate our bodies! I often 
 visit your rose-bush, dear Sandie, and 
 as I used to do in days of childhood, I 
 kiss it, and talk to it still, because it 
 always represents my darling brother. 
 
 I have so much to say that 1 scarcely 
 know where to begin, but this much I 
 can say, each day that I live, I am 
 more deeply convinced that I am just 
 where I ought to be, and where I can 
 most effectually promote my Hedeeni- 
 er’s kingdom, in one of the very dark- 
 est parts of Satan’s cruel dominions. 
 
 I can scarcely give you any idea, 
 Sandie, of the rich beauty which every- 
 where adorns the face of nature, the 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 139 
 
 most superb flowers, and magnificent 
 trees, in fact every thing to please the 
 eye of taste ; nor can I pretend to give 
 you any idea of the deep misery and 
 dark idolatry which everywhere pre- 
 vail. The gorgeous temples are crowd- 
 ed with benighted worshippers, the 
 houses are filled with heathen idols; 
 and, would you believe it, Sandie ? 
 English vessels actually bring out from 
 London, cargoes of idols, manufactured 
 there, and brought here as articles of 
 merchandize! Will not God visit a 
 professedly Christian nation for such 
 iniquity ? 
 
 Miss Nelson and I were walking on 
 the banks of the Ganges a few even- 
 ings since, when we witnessed what 
 we have so often read of. We saw 
 several women coming in the distance, 
 with smiling infants in their arms ; as 
 
140 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 they drew near, we saw the little 
 things clinging to their mothers’ necks, 
 and some of them playing with their 
 hair, and gazing with their innocent 
 eyes upon the hard faces of their hea- 
 then parents, bent upon the cruel sacri- 
 fice of their own offspring. They were 
 making a hideous noise, and as they 
 approached, we felt as if we must 
 rush forward, and implore them to do 
 these innocents no harm ; but while 
 we stood watching the fearful scene, 
 simultaneously they threw the poor in- 
 fants into the dark river. Several 
 came to the surface two or three times, 
 then sank to rise no more; but one 
 poor little thing was instantly caught 
 up by one of the crocodiles, which are 
 alwaj'^s watching for prey. It was aw- 
 ful to see the mothers turn away un- 
 moved, but I could follow the babes to 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 141 
 
 that place beneath the throne, Avhere 
 they have joined the slaughtered in- 
 nocents of other centuries. At least for 
 this portion of heathendom, through 
 the blessed Redeemer, we have hope. 
 
 Last week we witnessed the bloody 
 procession of the dreadful car of Jug- 
 gernaut. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson took 
 their sister and me to one of the points 
 through which it passed. I shall never 
 forget the scene ; many poor deluded 
 victims of superstition rushed forward 
 like maniacs, and threw themselves 
 beneath the ponderous wheels to be 
 crushed, staining the road over which 
 the car rolled so heavily, with the 
 blood of their mangled bodies. 
 
 There are days devoted to especial 
 heathen rites, when it is not proper 
 for a delicate female to be seen out of 
 
142 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 doors ; so disgusting are some of their 
 horrid ceremonies. 
 
 Oh ! Sandie, these are indeed the 
 dominions of the “ Prince of darkness,” 
 but they are doomed to fall beneath 
 the power of the all conquering cross. 
 How long, 0 Lord! how long shall 
 this dark reign continue ? 
 
 How inexpressibly precious are our 
 Christian privileges in this heathen 
 land 1 How sweet the hours when we 
 meet our blessed Lord ! 
 
 I am busily engaged in teaching 
 daily a class of twenty Hindoo chil- 
 dren, both male and female. They are 
 very ignorant and stupid, but I think 
 I see some improvement. I also teach 
 a class of Hindoo women every Sab- 
 bath, who are very anxious to learn 
 how to read. 
 
 We have a Hindoo servant that inter- 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 143 
 
 ests me deeply. His name is Gopal. 
 He attends upon our services regularly. 
 He has learned how to read the Gospel 
 of John very rapidly, and often comes 
 to me after I come home from school, 
 to teach him, and explain the meaning 
 of the Gospel. He is the most prom- 
 ising Hindoo that I have met. We all 
 think him uncommonly intelligent, and 
 very anxious to learn. He is dissatis- 
 fied with idolatry, and though he still 
 has his little god, I do not think that 
 he worships it as devoutly, as when he 
 first came ; he seems very unhappy. 
 
 Dec. 30th, — 1 am writing this letter 
 to be ready for the first opportunity 
 that offers ; consequently you see dif- 
 ferent dates. Gopal continues to visit 
 me privately ; he seems mild and teach- 
 able, asks me a great many questions 
 about the Lord Jesus. He says that 
 
144 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 he feels he is a sinner, and that heathen 
 gods have never done him any good ; 
 he wants to know the truth, his faith in 
 his gods is shaken ; he is without hope, 
 and yet afraid to become a Christian, 
 on account of the dreadful system of 
 caste, which here prevails. He will be 
 an outcast from his family, and an ob- 
 ject of cruel persecution, if he renoun- 
 ces idolatry. 
 
 Jan. 10th, — Gopal follows me con- 
 stantly, will do any thing for me. 
 His affection is very touching. To-day 
 he came in tears, “ Oh ! missy, what 
 shall me do ? Me, a poor lost sinner, me 
 want to find the good Lord Jesus.” 
 
 Do you pray to your gods any 
 more, Gopal ?” “ Oh ! no, missy, they 
 no hear me, the}-- do my poor soul no 
 good, I throw them all away.” 
 
 Sandie, you can easily imagine how 
 
\ 
 
 OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 145 
 
 I felt when talking to the poor Hindoo. 
 I directed him, as well as I knew how, 
 to “ the Lamb of God, that taketh 
 away the sins of the world and look- 
 ing at me, while tears streamed down 
 his swarthy cheeks, he said, “I believe 
 that Jesus is my only Saviour; will he 
 save poor lost Gopal ?” 
 
 He receives the gospel with all the 
 simplicity of a little child, but I trem- 
 ble for the trial of his faith that is yet 
 before him. Let us pray that it fail not. 
 
 Jan. 15th, — Mr. Nelson has carefully 
 examined Gopal, and believing him to 
 be a real subject of divine grace, to- 
 morrow he is to be baptized in com- 
 pany with another convert. When 
 this becomes known, he will be exposed 
 to dreadful persecution, but I believe 
 that he will remain steadfast. 
 
 Jan. 18th, — On Sunday last, Gopal 
 13 
 
146 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 was baptized. His deportment is hum- 
 ble, prayerful, consistent. During the 
 ceremony, I saw two or three swarthy 
 countenances scowling in at the win- 
 dow. 1 suppose that they were his 
 parents, for in the evening they came, 
 and with volleys of abuse, commanded 
 him to return home, but he firmly re- 
 fused to go ; whereupon they pronoun- 
 ced upon him the most bitter curses, 
 and for that evening retired. 
 
 On the following evening Gopal went 
 outside of the grounds for a few min- 
 utes, when a company of his relatives, 
 who had been watching for him, laid 
 hold of him, beat him most unmerci- 
 fully, and were about cutting out his 
 tongue, when Mr. Nelson heard the 
 uproar, and hastening out, with the 
 help of the male missionaries, and the 
 other servants, succeeded in rescuing 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 147 
 
 him from their cruel hands, and brought 
 him in all mangled and bleeding from 
 the injuries received. The forgiving 
 temper manifested by poor Gopal con- 
 vinces us of the reality of his conver- 
 sion. He is more intelligent than any 
 of his class, and we hope much from 
 his anxiety to benefit his benighted 
 brethren. I feel, dear Sandie, that I 
 am not labouring in vain, and would 
 add that all my class of women can 
 read the Gospel, and that most of my 
 day scholars can read also. If 1 only 
 succeed in that, it will be one step to- 
 wards bringing them acquainted with 
 the good tidings of the gospel. Mr. 
 Nelson tells me that it is time to close 
 my letter, as the vessel sails to-morrow. 
 
 Give my love to my dearest parents ; 
 say that my heart longs for a sight of 
 their dear faces, but that I have never 
 
148 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 for one moment regretted my sacrifice 
 in leaving them. 
 
 I have sent mother a beautiful fan, 
 father a copy of the gospel in the Hin- 
 doo language, and a likeness of Jessie 
 in her school; also some very choice 
 flower-seeds, which perhaps might grow 
 in my sweet bed at home. 
 
 It was a pleasant thought to devote 
 the money raised there to Jessie’s 
 school in a heathen land. I shed tears 
 of grateful joy when I received it. 
 
 There are some little gifts all marked 
 for Sandie, Effie, Robert, and little 
 Mattie. I have written to Mrs. Thorn- 
 ton, and Miss Lyman, and sent some- 
 thing also to them. Mr. Gilbert will 
 receive a box of idols which have been 
 worshipped in the heathen land. When 
 shown in the Sabbath-school, I think 
 that they will understand what idola- 
 
Jessie teaching the young Hindoos. 
 
 p. 14S. 
 
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OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 149 
 
 try really teaches. When you write 
 again, ask father if he will not send 
 me a family group ; do not leave out 
 old Tray. 
 
 And now, dear Sandie, fxrewell for a 
 time. My best love to all my Christ- 
 ian friends. Tell them to remember con- 
 stantly in their praj'ers, their humble 
 missionary, and your affectionate sister, 
 Jessie Morrison, 
 
 Jessie heard by every conveyance 
 from home, and many comforts and 
 sweet tokens of remembrance glad- 
 dened her young heart in her distant 
 home. She was very happy in ker la- 
 bours of love. The children of her 
 day-school were attracted by her bright 
 and cheerful spirit, and though they 
 caused her much perplexity, and many 
 
 trials of patience, still upon the whole, 
 13 * 
 
150 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 her influence was steadily on the in- 
 crease. 
 
 In the second year, her health began 
 to sulTer ; then came visitations of home- 
 sickness, and sometimes in her hours 
 of debility, she longed for the bosom 
 of her mother, where she might for 
 a while rest from her weary toils. 
 
 Believing the change necessary, Mr. 
 Nelson sent her for a while to another 
 station, nearer the mountains, where the 
 cooler climate would recruit her ex- 
 hausted energies. Gopal mourned over 
 the absence of his young teacher, but 
 she wrote to him constantly, and re- 
 joiced to find that he was fitting him- 
 self for a minister to his benighted 
 countrymen. He highly valued the 
 friendship of our young disciple, for it 
 was chiefly under her influence, that 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 151 
 
 he was led to renounce his idols, and 
 embrace Christianity. 
 
 At the close of a few months, when 
 the excessive heat at Calcutta had 
 somewhat subsided, Jessie returned to 
 her post, and joyfully resumed her 
 missionary labours. God blessed her 
 humble toil ; several of her adult class 
 were convinced of the sin of idolatry, 
 but fearing the dread results of apos- 
 tasy, hesitated for some time ; but un- 
 der the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 
 were strengthened to give up all for 
 Jesus, and Jessie was happy in these 
 blessed results. At the next season 
 of communion, a few more Hindoo 
 converts sat down with them to the 
 table of the Lord, and the work pros- 
 pered around them. 
 
 After due preparation, Gopal was or- 
 dained as a minister of the Lord Jesus. 
 
152 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 He manifested much talent, and the 
 Mission family thought that a visit to 
 America by this converted Hindoo, 
 might do much for their cause ; there- 
 fore, in company with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hobinson, who were about returning to 
 recruit their health, Gopal set sail for 
 the United States. 
 
 He still wore his Hindoo dress, and 
 being a fine looking young man, pre- 
 sented quite an imposing appearance. 
 Having improved rapidly, he spoke the 
 English language well. 
 
 Bringing letters to Mr. Gilbert, they 
 were warmly received by the good 
 man and his people. On the following 
 Sunday after their arrival, Gopal visit- 
 ed Mr. Gilbert’s church. 
 
 When the people assembled, seated 
 in the pulpit, by the side of their pas- 
 tor, they beheld a young man dressed 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 153 
 
 in the garb of a Hindoo. He had a 
 swarthy complexion, but there glowed 
 over his dark features, and beamed 
 from his black eyes, such a bright ex- 
 pression of warm Christian love, as be- 
 spoke at once for him the 'deepest in- 
 terest in the message he was about to 
 deliver. As he stood surveying this 
 Christian assembly, mighty emotions 
 seemed struggling for utterance, when 
 he addressed the congregation : 
 
 “ My friends, I have come from a 
 distant land, where darkness still reigns. 
 My home is on the distant plains of 
 Hindostan ; there in my youth, I was 
 taught to bow down to idols of wood 
 and stone, who could do my soul no 
 good. I read in your blessed Bible, 
 that angels are sent to minister to the 
 heirs of salvation, and it sometimes 
 seems to me, as if there are still some 
 
154 
 
 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 on the earth, who in human form still 
 bless the world. If a messenger is 
 sometimes styled an angel, you sent 
 one to me. Four years ago, from out 
 this church, you sent a bright eyed 
 loving Christian to our land. When I 
 was a poor benighted heathen, she 
 came, and taking my dark hand, she 
 asked me what my idols had ever done 
 for my soul, and then she spoke of 
 Jesus, and his dying love. My soul 
 was touched. I studied the Gospel, I 
 believed the Gospel, I threw my idols 
 to the moles and the bats. I became a 
 Christian ; my parents cast me off ; my 
 brothers and sisters hated me, but the 
 friends of Jesus loved and cherished 
 poor Gopal ; they gave me a good ed- 
 ucation, and I stand before you to-day, 
 a follower of the Lord Jesus, ready to 
 preach the Gospel of the Son of God 
 
OR THE MISSION FLOWERS. 155 
 
 to the benighted heathen in distant 
 India. Will you not help us, my 
 friends ? Your own young missionary 
 is labouring there yet, and I stand 
 here to-day to bless God that you ever 
 sent Jessie Morrison to India.” 
 
 No words can describe the effect of 
 this speech upon the congregation. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, with Jessie’s 
 brothers and sisters, wept tears of grat- 
 itude and joy; and Mrs. Thornton, 
 Jessie’s faithful friend, lifted up her 
 heart in fervent thanksgiving, that she 
 had lived to see this blessed day. 
 
 There are many little missionaries 
 needed in our land. First give your- 
 selves, dear children, to the Lord, and 
 he will show you in what way he 
 wishes you to serve him. 
 
 As loving and obedient children, as 
 kind and affectionate brothers and sis- 
 
156 JESSIE MORRISON, 
 
 ters, as good scholars in the Sahhath- 
 school, Avhere children can do much to 
 serve him, you may all glorify his holy 
 name. If asked tvliere you can serve 
 the Lord : let it he answered at home, 
 by the fireside, in school, by the way- 
 side ; at business, or at play, you may 
 all be little missionaries of love and 
 kindness, apostles of peace and gentle- 
 ness, and may hasten on the blessed 
 reign of Jesus, “ when all shall know 
 the Lord, from the least unto the great- 
 est and when the knowledge of the 
 Lord shall cover the earth, as the 
 waters cover the sea.” 
 

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