LITTLE KITTY BROWN --> --- BIBLE VIER SES. ºn ITT EN 1-0 R TITL A-II-I-IC A.N. S. U.N. D. W. S. Cº-O-O L L - U - PHILADELPHIA : AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, ----------------- Nº º Nº. 14" Nº Street. Boºroº, No. 9 Cºl. Louisº Nº. 100 Fºurth ºf Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1851, by the AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. º- No books are published by the AMERICAN Sunbar-school Union without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of fourteen members, from the following denominations of Christians, viz. Baptist Methodist Congregationalist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Re- formed Dutch. Not more than three of the members can be of the same denomination, and no book can be published to which any mem. ber of the Committee shall object. LITTLE KITTY BROWN AND HEI- BIBLE VERSES. - CHAPTER I. “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back," said little Kitty Brown. Mr. Brown, Kitty's father, smiled and said, “Did you select that verse yourself my little daughter?” “No, sir," said Kitty: “mother found it for me, and I learned it. I thought it was a very pretty verse." “So it is,” said her father. Kitty was a little girl only about six years old. She had just learned to read. Her father told her it would please him if - 5 6 LITTLE KITTY BROWN she would commit one verse from the Bible to repeat perfectly every morning at prayers, and this (with her mother's assistance) was her first selection. Kitty lived in the country in a white house, which had a large yard in front of it. This yard was full of cherry-trees, and there was a path through the middle of it which led down to the gate. The gate opened on the road, and the road ran along the side of the common, and just across the common, where the road turned, stood a little red school-house.” It was there Kitty went to school. On the week-days she went there to learn to read and spell, and on the Sabbath she went there to Sunday-school. It was Monday morning when Kitty repeated this verse about “A whip for the horse,” &c., and soon after family prayers she made ready for school as usual. She put on her warm coat and comforter, and her nice little hood and * See Frontispiece. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 7 mittens; then she took “Snow-bird,” (for that was the name of her little sled.) kissed her mother a pleasant good-by, and started off. She ran down the path in the yard, and across the common, and Snow-bird flew along behind her. Soon she was in the school-house entry. There were a great many little boys and girls there, but there were none with rosier cheeks or a happier heart than Kitty Brown. Kitty found her own nail, and hung up, first her sled and then her other things, and then went right in. Her mother did not like that she should be late, so she would not stop to talk. She took her seat like a good little girl, and she thought Miss Preston (the teacher) looked pleased that she was so punctual. And indeed Miss Preston was pleased. The other children, who stopped to talk about their sleds in the entry, did not get seated before the bell rang for the open- in prayer. So they could not bow down lº 8 LITTLE KITTY BROWN to worship God reverently, as Kitty did, but they were standing up, some in the passage-ways of the room, and some in the middle of the floor. These late- comers looked uneasy and ashamed. They did not hear the prayer either. Miss Preston seemed to be very sincere in her prayer. She thanked God that he had taken such kind care of all these little children; that none of them had died; that none of them were sick; that they all met again well and happy on that beautiful winter morning. She prayed that they might love God with all their hearts, and that they might begin a new week determined to be obe- dient and faithful in all their studies, so that they might please him. - There was one boy who did not hear one word of this prayer. He stood out by the door. He was the last of all. He had gone away to slide instead of coming directly to school, as his mother told him to do. He loved play better than study. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 9 - His name was Frank Hastings. He was the largest boy in school Disobedience and tardiness! This was a poor beginning, Frank, of a new week! When Miss Preston saw how late he was, she reproved him. This made him sulky, and he shuffled along to his seat, opened his desk, threw out his books, and then slammed the cover down so as to make a great noise. Miss Preston spoke to him again. This seemed to make him still more angry. He did not try to learn his lessons. He spilled ink all over his copy-book, and was glad of it. He got down to the foot of his class in spelling. He had not one of his sums right. He paid no atten- tion to his reading. He was so naughty, that Miss Preston would not let him go out at the time of recess. But this only seemed to make him still more ºllºy. When recess was over and the children ºne in little George Smith was passing 10 LITTLE KITTY BROWN him, and he put out his foot and tripped him up. George fell against the bench and cut his lip. It hurt him badly, and he cried. Miss Preston then thought Frank had been a naughty boy long enough, and she determined that she would have no more of his ill-humour; so she called him out into the middle of the floor. * Frank," said she, “you have been a very naughty boy. You have been dis- obedient and angry, and I am going to punish you." Frank turned very red in the face, and hung down his head. He knew that Miss Preston made a business of it when she did punish. Miss Preston opened her desk and took out a broad flat ruler. Little Kitty began to tremble all over, and her heart beat fast. * Hold out your hand, Frank." Frank did not mind. Miss Preston took his hand, and struck it two or three times hard, with the ruler. Frank's AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 11 face grew redder and redder, but he would not cry. Little Kitty was crying. “Now," said Miss Preston, “you may go and stay alone in the entry until I call you in.” Frank held up his head, and marched stiffly and proudly to the door. He was still very angry. “Come back, Frank,” said Miss Pres- ton. Frank hesitated. “Comeback,” said Miss Preston, again. Frank had to come. * Hold out your hand.” Frank held out his right hand, the one which had not been struck. “I want the other,” said Miss Preston. Now the other was still smarting with pain, but Frank had to give it, and the very first blow from the ruler hurt him so much, that he cried aloud, and held down his head to protect his hand, and the second blow of the ruler struck his forehead and made a slight cut in it. A 12 LITTLE KITTY BROWN - little blood dropped on his cheek, though he was not much hurt. - Kitty thought he was almost killed, and she sobbed aloud. Her little heart was broken. She felt as if she never should love Miss Preston again in the world. She was very glad when school was out. She did not stop to slide with the children, but ran home and Snow- bird after her as fast as both could go. She ran into the parlour. Her eyes were red with weeping, and she told her father and mother the wholestory as well as she was able, and how she had made up her mind that she never could love Miss Preston any more “I am sorry," said her mother, “that Frank was such a naughty boy." “So am I,’” said Mr. Brown, “and I think Miss Preston did right to punish him.” Kitty looked up quite astonished. “Why, father?" * Yes," said he, “that is Bible doctrine, AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 13 that is the way Solomon told us to do, and he was a very wise man. What was your verse this morning, Kitty?” “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.” “Yes, a rod for the fool,” said Mr. Brown. “A fool means here, Kitty, one who is naughty and wicked, as Frank was this morning. It means that such an one must be punished and made to do better. Miss Preston tried hard to persuade Frank to be a good boy by speaking to him, but he would not mind, and it was her duty to make him obey, and she had to punish him. Now you watch, and see if Frank does not behave himself this afternoon; and, if he does, you may be sure his whipping did him good, and you may like Miss Preston again as well as ever.” Kitty watched, and found Frank did behave himself very well. He had been quite subdued. He was obedient to Miss Preston, and Miss Preston was very 14 LITTLE KITTY BROWN kind to him. So Kitty felt quite happy again. When she was warming her feet that night, before she went to bed, she thought it all over, and concluded that Solomon was a very wise man indeed, to know so long beforehand what was best for Frank Hastings. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 15 CHAPTER II. “Mother,” said Kitty, one Saturday afternoon, “may I go and slide on the pond, back of the school-house? A great many little girls are going there.” “I do not know,” replied Mrs. Brown. “I think you are almost too small, Kitty. I am afraid you will get hurt.” “No, I will not, mother. Rosa Day is going. She will take care of me.” “Well, if Rosa is going, and will look after you, you may go." Kitty jumped up and down and clapped her hands. Then she hurried and put on her things so fast, that she was quite out of breath. I do not know but she thought the pond would run away if she was not quick. She took Snow-bird, and away she went across the common, in the little foot-path, to Rosa's house. Rosa saw her coming and opened the door for 2. 16 LITTLE KITTY BROWN her, and helped her and her sled over the steps. Rosa was three or four years older than Kitty. She was very sweet- tempered and obliging, and everybody loved her. Rosa made ready at once, when she saw Kitty was in a hurry, and went right out with her. “Let me lead you, Kitty,” said she “It is slippery.” Kitty put her hand in her’s and looked up in her face. Rosa had a sweet smile, and Kitty thought her beautiful. Her words and tones of voice, too, were so pleasant, that Kitty always felt quiet and happy by her. It was not far from Rosa's house to the school-house, and directly back of the school-house was the pond, and behind the pond was a little hill. From one point of this hill there was quite a de- scent, so that the children starting from there on their sleds could be carried quite across the pond. Only one sled, how- AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 17 ever, could go at a time. When Rosa and her little friend reached the pond, it was already covered with children. Frank Hastings was there at the top of the hill. He was determined to have the first slide, and he had just pushed Henry Niles into the snow. Henry was angry, and was making up snow-balls as large as his little hands could grasp, to throw at him. Some of the children said, “That's right, Henry, give it to him " and others said, “Never mind; go it, Frank!" and there was a great uproar. But as soon as the children caught a sight of Rosa Day, and looked up into her pleasant face, there was a division in the camp. They crowded around her and forgot all about the quarrel. They seized her other hand, two or three of them, and one little girl came up and tried to pull Kitty away. “You have had your share of Rosa," said she, “and now it is my turn." - *No," replied Kitty, “Rosa is to take 18 LITTLE KITTY BROWN care of me all this afternoon. My mother said so.” “I’ll tell you what we will do,” said Rosa, “You and Kitty each take hold of Snow-bird's bridle, and then hold on to my cloak, and the rest all follow with their sleds, and we will go up the hill and form a line of soldiers, single file, ac- cording to our height, and then we can all slide in turn. Frank has had his ride.” Frank, by this time, was quite across the pond, and no one seemed to notice him excepting Henry Niles, who was still throwing snow-balls after him, but he was glad to give it up and become one of Rosa Day's soldiers. She arranged all her company, and a pretty line it was too, each standing by a sled, with, * Hearts light and faces bright,” waiting, in perfect good-humour, his or her turn to slide. They were all there but Frank. He was sliding rather sul- lenly on the pond. * Come, Frank," said Rosa, “here is AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 19 your place next to me. I am alittle taller than you, you know." If anybody in the world but Rosa Day had called him, he would not have gone, but there was no resisting her sweet voice and pleasant words. So he came and took his place, and there was no more quarrelling. The afternoon passed very quickly and very pleasantly. The old school-house began to throw its shadow on the pond, and then the little ones knew that it was time to go home. They followed in Rosa's wake, as flowers turn to the sun, so long as they could, and then separated. Kitty was telling her mother at the tea- table what a pleasant time they had on the pond. “It was all because Rosa went, mother.” said she “We should not have had a good time at all if it had not been for Rosa, for Frank was there, and he would have wanted the place all the time.” “Does Rosakeep you from quarrelling.” 2* 20 LITTLE RITTY BROWN “I do not know, mother, but the children are always happy with Rosa, she is so pleasant, and when they are happy they do not quarrel.” * Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul,” said Mr. Brown. “Why, that is my verse,” said Kitty. “Yes," said her father, “and you have seen this aſternoon what it means, Kitty. The children all enjoy Rosa's company because she has such pleasant words and pleasant ways about her. They enjoy her as much as you did your honey in the honeycomb the other night.” “I do believe they do,” said Kitty, laughing. “She always makes us have a good time.” “I hope,” said Mrs. Brown, “my little girl will remember how sweet pleasant words are to her little companions.” * Yes, mother, I think I shall,” said Kitty with a very grave face, which almost made her mother smile. “I think I must say my verse to Miss Preston, and tell her it means Rosa Day.” AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 21. CHAPTER III. ONE Sabbath morning Kitty Brown woke up and reached out her hand to open the shutter which was near her bed, that she might let in a little light; but no light came. The window was all blocked up with snow. “Why, Eliza!" said she to the nursery girl, “what is the matter?” “Matter enough,” said Eliza, “we have had a great snow-storm. It has snowed all night long, and it's snowing now, and it is burying us all up. Old Jane, under the hill, is all buried up. You can't see anything of her house but the chimney." * Why, dear me!" said Kitty, “how can I go to church?" * I guess you cannot go," said Eliza, *nor any of the rest of us, either. I think it's a chance if the minister gets there.” 22 LITTLE KITTY BROWN “Oh, he will go," said Kitty. “Minis- ters always go. They must go, you know.” “But if he can't he can’t,” said Eliza sharply. Kitty made haste and went down into the breakfast-room. Her father and mother and Aunt Russell were there. Aunt Russell was sitting before the stove reading the Bible. She looked quiet and happy. “Only think," said Kitty, after she had bidden them all good morning, “Eliza says Jane is buried up, and the minister cannot get to church.” “Come here and look,” said her father. Kitty looked across what seemed a sea of snow. Fences and walls had all dis- appeared, and in the distance, where Jane's cottage used to be, there was only a chimney sticking out of a snow-bank, and no smoke came from it. * Why why" said Kitty, “will she not smother " AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 23 “No,” said her father, “but she can get neither wood nor water. The farmers must come out with their teams and dig her out, and then they will break a path for the minister and some of the rest of us as far as the church.” “Shall you go, father?" “No, not this morning.” “I think it would be pleasant,” said Mrs. Brown, “to have ‘meeting at home to-day. The girls will soon be through their necessary work, and then we will call them all in.” “Yes, it would be very pleasant,” said Aunt Russell. “A meeting for worship at home!" said Kitty; “but then who would preach?" “Your father,” said her aunt, “and you can help sing. You can be one of the choir.” “I should like that," said Kitty. “When shall we begin?” “When the bellrings we will assemble in the parlour," said her mother. 24 LITTLE KITTY BROWN “Shall we put on our things?” said Kitty. “No," said her mother, smiling, “the house is warm. We shall not need to have our things on.” “And what shall I do till meeting time?” said Kitty. “Study your Sunday-school lesson,” said her mother, “and we will have Sun- day-school at noon.” Kitty began to think they should have a very pleasant day of it, notwithstand- ing the storm. She imagined that she should like her father's preaching. After breakfast she sat down by the window to learn her lesson, and pretty soon one team, and another, and another, came ploughing along, through the snow, to Jane's house. Then the farmers pulled off their coats, and went to work in right good earnest to dig the poor old woman out. The drift was very deep, but they soon made a hole in it. By- and-by, an end of the house, then a win AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 25 dow, was visible; and soon, the door and steps were uncovered, and a path dug to the well and to the wood-pile. “Many hands make light work.” It did not take the farmers long. By the time old Jane's house was fairly in sight it had stopped snowing, and the sun shone out brightly. The teams on their way home broke a path up to the meeting- house, so that a few neighbours could get there, and all this was accomplished by the time the first bell had rung for wor- ship. Kitty watched them, and forgot to study her lesson. “I am afraid you will not be ready for Sunday-school," said her Aunt Rus- sell. “Oh, yes, I will,” said Kitty. “I am going to study now, very hard, and you must not talk, aunty.” She studied with a great noise a few minutes, and perhaps she thought that was studying hard. Then her book dropped, and she began to look out of 26 LITTLE IRITTY BROWN the window again, and to drum on the chair with her feet. “Aunt Russell, how long will it be before our meeting-time comes?” said she at length. “I thought I must not talk,” said Aunt Russell. “Oh, yes, you may tell me that,” said Kitty. “Well, in just half an hour.” Kitty took up her book and began to study hard again, still looking out of the window, as before. Pretty soon she jumped down, and exclaimed, “Aunt Russell! Aunt Russell! There is the stage, and it has stopped at Mr. Johnson's, and it will stop for us, I do be- lieve.” Aunt Russell got up and looked out of the window. Kitty's father and mother came in just at this time, and seemed in a hurry. “Pettingill has got his stage out, I see." said Mr. Brown; “so I think we can go AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 27 to church, after all. We must hurry, for they will be here in a minute.” “And I too?” said Kitty, clapping her hands. She thought it would be a very fine thing to ride to church in Pettingill's stage. “Yes,” said Mrs. Brown, “if you can dress yourself.” Kitty was ready as soon as the rest. Indeed, they were all ready when the stage stopped for them. “I will take you in my arms,” said Kitty's father to her, “and the rest must step in my tracks as well as they can, down to the gate.” As they were going out of the door, Kitty looked over her shoulder at Aunt Russell. Something in Aunt Russell's face attracted her attention. There was a very happy, peaceful, glad expression on her countenance. She wondered with- in herself if it was because her aunt was going to ride in a stage. The wind blew back her cloak as she tried to shut the º 28 LITTLE KITTY BROWN - door after her, and Kitty saw that in her hurry she had forgotten to take off her apron. “Aunty,” said she, “you are going to meeting with your apron on " Her aunt smiled, took it off, and threw it back into the entry. That pleasant smile seemed to stay about her lips. Kitty looked at her several times while they were riding to church. She knew that Aunt Russell felt happy about some- thing. Frank Hastings and Charles Smith were in the stage, and they next stopped for Rosa Day. Pettingill's stage seemed to be made of India-rubber. It held all the neighbourhood. The last one who got in was the minister. He looked pleased when he saw so many people, and especially so many little folks out. They got to the church without any trouble. The minister preached a good sermon. His people had an idea that he always did his best on a stormy Sabbath. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 29 Perhaps he did. People that make an effort to go to church through difficulties are generally paid for it. This day his sermon was a very comforting one. Aunt Russell seemed to enjoy every word of it. The hymns which he gave out, too, were such as the children understood, and could sing, and they seemed to enjoy it. It was, on the whole, a delightful Sabbath. Just before evening prayers that night, Kitty sat by the breakfast-room fire, thinking about it. Aunt Russell came in and sat down by her. It seemed as if she still had the very same smile on her face, which she had when Kitty told her about her apron. “Aunt Russell,” said Kitty, “what made you look so pleased this morning when you saw the stage coming?" “I was glad," said she, “when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Kitty was still for a moment. 30 LITTLE KITTY BROWN - “Aunty,” said she then, “is that a Bible verse?” “Yes, my dear.” “I think it is a very pretty one,” said Kitty. “So do I,” said her aunt. “I wish you would teach it to me, and let me say it at prayers to-morrow morn- ing. Father will like it, I know.” “Well, I will,” said her aunt. Kitty soon learned it, and she did repeat it the next morning at prayers very correctly, and her father was much pleased. | | º/ || | º/ lº AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 31. CHAPTER IV. Not long after this great snow-storm, there came a change in the weather. The sun did not shine. It was ſoggy and warm. The snow did not melt and run off in streams of water, but seemed to be sinking silently into the earth. It was in just the right state for children to work with. Quite a fortification had been thrown up around the pond, back of the school-house. This was pierced at regular distances, so that the children might look through. Some of the younger boys, among whom was Henry Niles and George Smith, thought they should get along better by themselves; so they left the fort and came round into the little yard, in front of the school-house. They decided to build a snow-man, and were quite ambitious to have him as tall as Miss Preston. They º 32 LITTLE KITTY BROWN worked away all the play-time they had during a whole day, and had him built about up to his knees at the close of the afternoon recess. It was their intention to remain after school and finish him. Now the days were beginning to lengthen a very little. It was lighter through those western windows, when the first bell rang for the children to lay aside their books, and take their Bibles, and they could find their places more readily. There was something cheerful about the hour of evening prayer. The children felt quiet. Their day's work was done and at this season of the year there was generally a glorious sunset to be seen through those old windows. So it was often the case, that when they were dismissed they were all in good humour. It was so this evening, though there was quite a rush for hats and cloaks. Henry and George, being among the smaller boys, had their nails at the end of the long passage, which ran along by AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 33 the wood-closet, and the passage was so narrow, and there were so many in it, they could not get out as soon as they wanted to. Frank Hastings hung his cap near the door; so he was off almost as soon as school was dismissed. When Henry and George were fairly out, they ran immediately to finish their snow-man. How astonished they were to find Frank Hastings there before them, working away like a beaver! “It’s just like him,” said George, stop- ping short, “he must have his finger in everybody's pie. We may as well give it up.” - “I shall not, either,” replied Henry Niles, his face reddening very much. “It’s none of his business, and he shall let it alone, or I'll give it to him " Henry cleared the steps at one leap, and ran through the snow. He was very angry. He would have been glad could he have struck Frank Hast ngs, and hurt him. As soon as he reached him he 34 LITTLE KITTY BROWN caught him by his coat, and began to kick him. “Let that man alone,” said her “He’s mine.” Frank turned round, but the beauty of those western clouds, or, probably, the beauty and peacefulness of that evening prayer had subdued him, and the spell was on him yet. With perfect good humour, he twisted himself out of Henry's hands, and said, pleasantly, “I thought you would like my help to finish him. You can't get him done before dark, and the snow may be all gone to-morrow; but if you don't want any help, that's another affair.” As water puts out fire, this reply put out all Henry's anger in a moment. He stood, ashamed and silent, before Frank Hastings. “Yes, we do want help. said George. “Do help us, Frank. We are not tall enough to put his hat on." “Henry does not want me to,” said Frank. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 35 “You may,” said Henry, “if you won't call him your’s.” “I don't care whose you call him,” said Frank, and the three boys went good- naturedly to work. Rosa Day was standing in the path, and Kitty Brown on the other side of Miss Preston. They were both listening to the boys, and so was Miss Preston, though she seemed to be trying to lock the school-room door. * A soft answer turneth away wrath,” said Miss Preston, as she finished locking the door, and put the key in her basket. “How true that is " “Yes, ma'am,” said Kitty, thinking Miss Preston spoke to her. “I know it. That is one of my verses. Sometimes I say it at prayers; pretty often I do, be- cause it is a short one, and I can think of it easily.” Miss Preston and Rosa smiled. Then they stood a few minutes to see the snow-man go up, but they left before 36 LITTLE KITTY BROWN he had his head on, as it was growing chilly. The next morning they found him standing there, large as life; taller even than Miss Preston, cocked hat and all on, and a very grand looking snow-man he was; but it is quite certain he never would have been finished, had it not been for that “soft answer” which “turned away" that little boy's wrath. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 37 CHAPTER V. THE thaw which I spoke about in the last chapter continued for some time. The snow-man fainted away and disap- peared. The fog thickened, until one afternoon, when the children were dis- missed, it turned to rain. “What shall we do?” said they. “We shall get wet through and through, walk- ing in this “slush.” “Let us wait a few minutes,” said Miss Preston. “Perhaps some one will come for you.” Miss Preston was right in this conjec- ture, for soon Mr. Brown's well-known old covered sleigh was seen coming across the common. Tom (Mr. Brown's boy) whipped up his horse and came to the door on the full gallop. The children laughed and shouted, for both Tom and 38 LITTLE kitty Brown his establishment were great favourites with them. “You cannot all ride,” said Miss Preston to the eager little group. “Pretty much all, ma'am, I guess,” said Tom. “If you will please get in first yourself and take Kitty, we will manage the rest.” “I am afraid we shall like it better than your horse,” said Miss Preston. “Oh, never mind him. He's used to it,” said Tom Miss Preston laughed and stepped in with Kitty. “Rosa Day must come next,” said Kitty; so Rosa got in, and then a great many other little girls. “Now, boys," said Tom, “cling on the runners.” I do not know where Tom stood. I know he was not in the sleigh, and that he looked round on his load with great satisfaction as he started off, and with the same good humour and the most untiring patience, he dropped them at AND HER Bible verses. 39 the different houses where they be- longed. - Just as he was driving up to Mr. Niles to leave Henry and his little sister, there was a great laughing among the boys who were standing on the runners. The reason of it was this. Sarah Niles had stayed at noon. She had a very little coffee-pot, full of milk, with her dinner. There was some left, and, fearing she might spill it when getting out, she found a little hole in the canvas covering of the sleigh, and, putting the nose of the coffee- pot through it, she poured it out, and it had run down into a boy's neck! This made the children laugh so much, that they did not mind the rain at all. At last, all got home safe and happy. This was the end of the thaw. It grew colder that night after sun-down; the rain turned into a glazing storm, and in the morning the fog had all disap- peared, and the sun shone out brightly on a world of icicles. Tall trees and 4. 40 LITTLE IXITTY BROWN tender shrubs, branch and twig and gos- samer grass, were all cased in ice, and shining like diamonds. Kitty Brown could scarcely eat her breakfast. She was running every minute or two to the window. She could think of nothing but a fairyland she read about Once. “I don't know how you will get to school to-day, Kitty,” said her mo- ther. “Cannot Tom carry me?” said Kitty. * I do not dare to let him take the horse out,” said her father. “It is so slippery. He is not very well shod for ice. Besides, the branches of the trees are constantly breaking, the ice is so heavy on them, and the horse might get fright- ened. I think I will walk over with you myself.” Kitty was pleased with this. She liked to go with her father anywhere. He always made it pleasant for her. “You had better let the fairy land go, AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 41 and eat your breakfast,” said Aunt Rus- sell, “or you will not be ready.” So Kitty hurried and was quite through by the time the prayer-bell rang. Her father read in the Bible; but Kitty did not pay very good attention, for she was looking out of the window. Her father closed the Bible, and waited for her to repeat her verse. She was thinking about the diamond trees, and did not know even that he had stopped reading. “Repeat your verse, my daughter," said her mother. Kitty started and blushed. She was quite confused, and could not immediately recall one. After hesitating a while, she said rapidly: “God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and ºn truth.” No remark was made on her hurried manner. Soon after prayer, her father called her, and told her he must go with her then, as he was obliged to go down street. It was rather early, but Kitty 4+ 42 LITTLE KITTY BROWN knew the school-room would be warm, and thought perhaps Rosa Day would be there. She was soon ready, Aunt Rus- sell helped her. Then she kissed them all good-by, and, taking her dinner-basket in her hand, went out with her father. She found the walking very slippery; indeed, she could scarcely stand in their own path, but the path across the common was better. On each side of this path were magnificent elm trees, which com- pletely shaded it in summer, but in winter they were upright and bare. They were, however, neither upright nor bare on this morning, when Kitty Brown walked there with her father, but cased in thousands of glitteringicicles. Bending beneath the weight of their shining armour, branch bore down upon branch, forming what seemed a solid roof of diamonds over the path. As the wind swayed them to and fro, they groaned and creaked, and now and then came tearing and crashing down. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 43 Kitty was bewildered and a little terri- fied. All thoughts of fairy land merged into thoughts of heaven. To her awe- struck mind, it seemed as if God dwelt in that shining roof above her, that she could see him and hear him. She clung closer to her father, and almost trembled at the sigh of the wind among those icy trees. She was not afraid to talk to her father; so she tried to tell him how she felt. “It seems to me,” said she, “as if God was up there. Does not he live in such a place 2 If it was not so bright I do not know but I might almost see him.” “You cannot see him,” replied her father. “God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and ºn fººtſ.” “Then he is not a shining light?" said Kitty, “and I cannot see him or hear him; but don't I feel him?” *You feel that there is a God, my little Kitty. You know there must be a God º 44 LITTLE IRITTY BROWN to make such a beautiful world as this. Just look back through that path.” “I cannot,” said Kitty, “it puts my eyes out.” “Glorious glorious, indeed!" said her father. Kitty was silent until they had nearly reached the school-house. “Father,” said she then, in a gentle tone, “I don't know but I said that verse too fast this morning, about ‘God is a spirit.' I was not thinking much about it.” “I saw you were not, my little daugh- ter,"said her father. “There is a great deal of meaning in every verse in the Bible, and we ought to think about them when we repeat them, Kitty. The Bible is God's book, and God is a great God. Though we cannot see him, he sees us.” “Yes, sir, I know it,” said Kitty. They were now on the school-house steps. Rosa Day was there, early as it was, and she came, with her pleasant good morning to meet Kitty. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 45 CHAPTER VI. Not long after this glazing storm, there came a very “cold snap.” The children crowded around the old Franklin stove in the school-room, with aching fingers and blue noses. There was more con- fusion than warmth there. Miss Preston came late that morning, and the children observed, almost as soon as she entered, that shelooked quite sober. “What is the matter?” said she, almost immediately, and not in a very gentle tone. “Standback, children. Do you see how you make it smoke?" The children pushed back. Frank looked over his shoulder at another boy, and winked. This was as much as to say, “She's cross to-day!”. Miss Preston tried to fix the fire, but she found the wood had been sawed too 46 LITTLE KITTY BROWN long for the stove, and there was no way to prevent its smoking. “What shall we do?” said she, in a despairing tone, to Rosa Day. “It will not burn, and the room is as cold as a barn.” “Perhaps some of the boys might saw the sticks in two,” replied Rosa. “The man has left his saw and horse here.” “I will I will! I will 1* was heard from half a dozen. * Frank and Henry may go," said Miss Preston, “and the rest of you may put on your over-coats and take your seats. There is nothing gained by standing here. We will open the school.” Miss Preston's prayer was short, and her voice seemed sad. Some of the children observed that she frequently put her hand to her head. Frank brought in his armsfull of wood, and Miss Preston asked Rosa Day if she would attend to the fire, which the child- ren also noticed, as it was unusual. Then AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 47 she attempted to hear the class in spell- ing, and the little spellers soon found out it made no difference whether they spelled right or wrong. All at once, Miss Preston turned very pale, and laid her hand down upon her desk. The school-room was very still. In a minute or two, Rosa Day stepped softly up to her and spoke to her. “Yes, thank you!” said Miss Pres- ton. Rosa got her a cup of water, and she revived a little. Soon, she felt able to hold her head up again. She talked a few minutes with Rosa, keeping her eyes half-closed, and then spoke to the children. “I have a very violent head-ache," said she, “and I find that I shall not be able to stay. I am going to leave you in charge of Rosa. I trust you will do the best you can to make it easy and pleasant for her. I shall take it as a great kind- ness to me if you behave well." 48 LITTLE RITTY BROWN The children looked as if they meant to do their best, and Miss Preston went home. They did behave very well, indeed, through the morning; but, at the noon recess, they became rude and noisy. Frank addressed Rosa as “School- ma'am Day," which made the younger ones laugh, and set them a bad example. Then he began running over the tops of the desks, and, as he had heavy boots on, he made a great deal of noise. Soon, other heavily-booted boys chased him. Rosa was seriously afraid that some of the neighbours would come in to see what the disturbance was. She sat in Miss Preston's chair, thinking what she should do. Finally a bright thought seemed to enter her mind. She opened Miss Preston's desk, and took out half a sheet of foolscap paper. She ruled two parallel lines, about an inch apart, and, placing the sheet on the desk, with pen and ink by it, she wrote something in AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 49 pencil on a scrap of paper, and laid it on top of the sheet of paper. This done, she looked up at Frank Hastings, who was just then trying to wrench out some iron spikes from the wall. “Frank,” said she, “will you come here a minute?” “Certainly, school-ma’am Day.” “Don’t call me so, Frank, Call me Rosa.” Frank ran across the desks, and jumped down, making a great noise. “What do you want?” said he “I want you to do some printing for me if you will. You print so much better than I do.” “Print! I don't want to print.” “Oh! it is only four words; do, please, Frank. Here is the paper, and here is the copy.” *Is that all?” said Frank. “Yes, that is all.” “I must do it with a pencil, first,” said Frank. 5 50 LITTLE KITTY BROWN “Well, I'll sharpen one for you!” “Now, how large do you want the letters 2" “Why, as wide as between those lines.” Frank went to work, and the school- room was comparatively still. * Shall I ink it?” said he. “Yes,” said Rosa. Frank inked it. “Now, what is to be done?” said he. “I will dry it first,” said Rosa, “and then I shall want you to help me some more.” Rosa dried it. “Now, Frank, won't you get a couple of nails, and nail it up there over the fire-place, as high as you can reach? I will hold the lower side.” - Frank was quite willing to do this. The printing was nailed up, and then the children began all at once to read, “Studi to be qui-it." *Study to BE QUIET,” said Frank. “Can't you read straight?" AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 51 “That is some of Rosa Day's composi- tions,” said the children, “to make us be still.” “The spelling might be mended,” said SOIne. One. “No, it is not Rosa Day's,” said Kitty Brown. “It is in the Bible, I know, for it is one of my verses.” “No, it is not in the Bible,” said some. “But I know it is,” persisted little Kitty. “Is it not, Rosa” “Yes,” said Rosa, “and I will show it to you in Miss Preston's Bible. Here it is, Frank. Hold it so they can all see it.” The children were all satisfied that it was in the Bible. “Now, believe Kitty Brown, next time, will you?” said Frank. “She knows more Bible verses than any of you.” “Or you either, Frank,” said Henry. “Well, did I say she didn't.” “What does it mean, Rosa” asked SOIſle One. 5 52 LITTLE IRITTY BROWN “Study to be quiet” it means don't dis- turb other people. Make a business of it to see how little you need to disturb other people,” said Rosa, hesitating a little how to express her thought. “I suppose it means, wherever we are, we must make a real study of it, to see how we can help disturbing others.” - “Yes, that is what it means,” said Kitty Brown. “My father explained it to me, but I do not remember his words.” “If we study to be quiet,” said one little girl, “then we must not run any more on the tops of the desks, because that disturbs others. Must we, Rosa” “I think not,” said Rosa, smiling. Frank began to whistle. “Let us all sit down around the stove, and eat our apples, and tell stories,” said Rosa. “The youngest must begin, and everybody must tell something.” This plan pleased them all very much, and there was no more noise of any conse- quence. If there came an outbreak, some AND LIER BIBLE VERSES. 53 little finger pointed up to Frank's print- ing, and the noise soon stopped. The children really seemed, after this, to “study to be quiet.” They all of them respected Bible verses. Miss Preston did not return, so Rosa took her place in the afternoon. She was gentle and pleasant, and the children were obedient and studious, and they got along harmoniously together. At length, golden light began to stream in through those western windows. The sun was going down, and it was time to dismiss school. Rosa asked the children to read in the Bible as usual. Her heart was beating fast, for Miss Preston had left her a prayer to read aloud. She was timid about it. She was afraid the great boys would laugh at her. But when Rosa felt it was her duty to do any par- ticular thing, she always did it, cost what it might. So she read the prayer, though her voice trembled and tears stood in her eyes. The great boys did not 54 LITTLE KITTY BROWN - laugh, and Rosa felt happy that she had done it. This is the way we all feel, when we make a proper effort to do right. º º - 2 - {" ' N. ºN --- º - º E). And her bible verses. 55 CHAPTER VII. “HERE, Kitty,” said Eliza, one day. “Your mother says you must have on your other frock, and a white apron, be- fore you go to school.” “Why? What for?" said Kitty. “Because you are going to some meet- ing or other.” “Meeting! What meeting” “I don't know. You must ask her or Aunt Russell.” “What is it? Do tell me, aunty.” “It is a meeting of the maternal asso- ciation, Kitty.” “Shall I come out of school?” * School is to be dismissed at three o'clock.” Kitty jumped up and down. It was her favourite way of expressing pleasure. “Oh, I am so glad! I shall like that," said she 5* 56 - LITTLE KITTY BROWN - Kitty hurried off to school and told the children about it, and Miss Preston found them in very earnest conversation on the subject. “Are we going to be dismissed early, to go to thematernal meeting?" Rosa Day asked her. “Yes,” said Miss Preston, smiling, “and we will spend what little time we have in making preparations for it. You may, each of you, select a hymn to say, and study it, and I will hear you repeat it.” The children hurried to their seats, and soon, buzz, buzz, went many little lips. Miss Preston heard their hymns as fast as they were learned, and three o'clock soon came. Then she dismissed the school, and the children were soon ready, and she was ready, and they all went out. The children waited in the yard, while she locked the school-room door, and then followed close behind her. She took the path which ran on the south side of the common, and walked along until she He F. - - They were both listening to the boys, and so was Miss Preston though she seemed to be trying to lock the school-room door. p. 35. Kitty tºrown. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 59 - came to a sudden turn. She followed the turn, went a short distance, and then struck off into a broad path which led directly up to the door of a large white house. Here she stopped and rang the bell. Her little flock quite covered the steps, as they looked up at her with bright and smiling faces. “Knock off all the snow from your feet,” said Miss Preston. There was a great stamping. The children were in earnest about it, and the servant who opened the door stood and laughed. “That will do,” said Miss Preston; * now we will goin.” “Walk in here, first, if you please,” said the servant. They followed her into a large dining- room, and took off their coats and hats. Then she opened the parlour door, and they went in there. Miss Preston spoke to the lady, but the children stood still 60 LITTLE KITTY BROWN and said nothing. They did not know what to do. * Let the children take seats on these benches," said the lady. The benches had been arranged around the room, but there were not quite seats enough for all of them. Kitty Brown and one or two other little girls were left stand- ing. “The little girls can sit on these crickets," said the lady. So she placed two or three crickets right before the fire. Kitty sat down on one. There was a bright wood-fire. The hearth was swept clean, the and irons shone like gold, and the fender before the fire (made of green wire and mounted with shining brass) Kitty thought was very beautiful. Kitty warmed her feet, and then ven- tured to look around the room. The walls were hung with pictures in little black frames. Kitty thought these very handsome too. As she was looking, she saw her Aunt Russell and her mother, and AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 61 she smiled and looked very happy. When the room was full, the lady of the house opened the meeting with reading and prayer. She then asked Miss Preston if the children were prepared to repeat anything. Miss Preston said they had, most of them, learned hymns expressly for the occasion. “Frank Hastings,” said she, “will you come and say your hymn." Frank came out rather awkwardly. “Go and stand by the lady, and make a bow before you begin,” whispered Miss Preston. Frank did so, but he repeated his hymn very rapidly. He did not say it near so well as he had done in the school-room. He was a littlefrightened. After he had taken his seat, other boys and girls came up. Some did well and some did not. Rosa Day repeated along piece of poetry, about the blind man whose sight was restored. * That is beautiful," said the lady, 62 LITTLE RITTY BROWN smiling, “and you have said it very cor- rectly, Rosa." Rosa blushed a little at being praised. After Rosa, a very little girl went up to the lady. She stood twisting up the cor- ner of her white apron, for she had for- gotten every word of her verse. “Can you say any thing?” said the lady, taking her kindly by the hand. “Yes," said the little girl: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pay the Lord my soul to keep; If I should die before I wake, I pay the Lord my soul to take.” The children laughed at this, but the lady kissed the little girl, and told her she had done very well. So she went to her seat quite comforted. After her, Kitty Brown went up. Now Kitty had learned two verses of * Am I a soldier of the cross?” - and repeated them to Miss Preston, but after she got into the middle of the floor she could not call them to mind. She AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 63 began to twist her apron as busily as the other little girl had done, and the tears came into her eyes. Her mother spoke to her. “Can't youthink of your hymn, Kitty?” said she. “No, mother,” said Kitty, “I forget how it begins.” “Well, repeat the verse you said at prayers this morning,” said her mother. “That will do just as well.” “I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.” “That is a precious verse,” said the lady. “I hope all the children hear it, and will remember it. Do you know who is meant by I, there, Kitty?” “Yes, ma'am,” said Kitty, “I means God, our heavenly Father.” “Yes," replied the lady, “and God promises to love all the children who love him. How kind this is in him, when he has so many people to take care of: is it not, Kitty” 64 LITTLE KITTY BROWN “Yes, ma'am,” said Kitty, “and he promises, too, that if we try to be Chris- tians when we are little, he will cer- tainly help us. That is what father told me.” The lady put her hand on Kitty's head, who seemed to have forgotten her fear, and now looked pleasantly round the I'OOIll. “I hope all the children will think of this when they go away,” said she “Remember how much God loves them, and how ready he is to do all for them that they need in order to become Chris- tians, and how he promises to give them a new heart, if they seek one early. I wish you would repeat this verse together." The children repeated it promptly: “I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.” After some reading and conversation, the lady gave out a hymn, and the child- ren joined in the singing, and the meet- ing was over. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 65 Then they followed Miss Preston quiet- ly into the dining-room, and got ready to go home. They did not seem to wish to make a noise. Many of them were wishing in their hearts that they were Christians, so that God might love them. They made no noise after they were in the street—they did not seem inclined to play. They separated soon; joined their mothers and friends, and went, many of them, thoughtfully to their homes. 66 LITTLE KITTY BROWN CHAPTER VIII. Miss Preston's scholars were very much impressed by what they saw and heard at the Maternal Association. Children are great imitators: they like to act over what impresses them; and this was soon shown in the school-room. Miss Preston observed that the Bibles were in great use. That many of the children, when not studying, seemed to be reading chap- ter after chapter. The Bibles were filled with bright-coloured paper marks. For every chapter read, a mark seemed to be put in, and she judged from appear- ances that the strife was, to see who would get the most marks. She thought it best, however, to let it pass unnoticed, as the children were serious about it. One stormy day Miss Preston and the school, generally, stayed during the recess. The children, after amusing themselves AND HER IBIBLE VERSES. 67 quietly in the school-room a while, went, many of them, into the entry. All at once, the noise there ceased. Miss Pres- ton could not imagine what was going on. The truth was this: some of the children had proposed that they should go into the wood-closet and have a meeting. The proposal was instantly acceded to, and they crowded in there, as many as could stand, and shut the door. One girl said “she would open the meeting, and then the rest might pray according to their ages.” So she closed her eyes and folded her hands, and began to repeat: “Our Father who art in heaven.” She did not know what else to say. The one who followed her began to repeat Bible verses, and some of Miss Preston's usual expres- sions in prayer. During all this time, the children were by no means very quiet. There was a great deal of nestling and fidget- ing, for they were crowded. Sarah Niles had climbed up on the wood, and Kitty 68 LITTLE KITTY BROWN Brown stood by her. Kitty tried to be very serious, and keep her eyes closed, but the light twinkled so curiously, like stars, through the holes in the closet- door, that she could not help looking at it. Then Sarah was very uneasy. She was afraid that spiders and mice were there, and every time she moved, a stick of wood rolled down. This made Kitty laugh, though she did not wish to laugh. At last, Sarah was very sure she felt a mouse on her, and she tried to jump, when, over went the wood-pile, and she with it, tearing and crashing down on the other children! Some cried and some laughed, and all called out, “Open the door!" Miss Preston and Rosa Day came to see what was the matter. “Children, what are you doing?” said Miss Preston. “We were having a prayer-meeting.” said Kitty, “and Sarah Niles felt a mouse on her, and knocked down the wood-pile.” Miss Preston could not repress a smile. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 69 “You had better not go in there any more,” said she “Come back now, into the school-room.” The children did not exactly know whether they had been doing right or wrong. They were conscious of a little feel- ing of shame which they could not explain. That night, after the usual reading, Miss Preston said to the children, “You have read one verse, which I wish to have you particularly notice; it isthis: ‘LET ALL THINGs. BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN on DER.” Kitty, with a very intelligent smile, looked round at Rosa Day, who sat in the first seat under the window. Rosa understood that smile. It said, “That is one of my verses, Rosa.” So Rosa bowed, which meant, “I know it, Kitty." “Now," continued Miss Preston, “this means that there is a certain propriety in choosing the right time and place in which to do a thing. It is proper and right for you all to pray; is it not?" “Yes, ma'am.” Gº 70 LITTLE KITTY BROWN “God loves to hear children pray, but does it not seem more ‘decent and in order for you to pray at your mother's knee, orin your own room alone, or with a little friend by your side there, than to be crowded into a dark, narrow, dirty closet, where you make prayer half a play?" Some of the children smiled and some hung their heads, and looked under their eyebrows at their next neighbours. “You may all repeat the verse," said Miss Preston. “I think you will find it a very useful verse to remember.” “Let all things be done decently and in order,” said the children together. Miss Preston dismissed the school. The next day she observed that most of the bright paper marks had disap- peared from the Bibles. Some of the children thought that reading the Bible merely for the sake of putting in a bright bit of paper, was not exactly in order; so they took their marks out, and their example was soon followed by others AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 71 CHAPTER IX. Miss Preston's school was a select one, and the children were very much on an equality, so far as wealth and stand- ing were concerned. There was one poor boy, however, at school. Miss Preston gave him his tuition. His name was Ben Taylor, and he lived down in a lane, which led off from the turnpike. His mother was a widow. She had been left with two children; but the eldest, (a daughter) had died the winter before. Ben was all the child she had now. To support him and pay the rent of the little shop she lived in, she worked hard from morning to night. She was a worthy woman and much respected. Ben was going on to be seven years old. He was stout, but not tall. He helped his mother all he could. He cut her wood, (little as he was.) and brought in her water, 72 LITTLE KITTY BROWN and went on her errands, and made paths in the snow. He was a bright boy too, and he learned his lessons as well as any of them, and Miss Preston took a great deal of pains with him. But although he was almost seven, he still wore girls' clothes. The truth was, his mother was too poor to buy him clothes, while she had any on hand, and she thought he must wear out all which his sister had left. The boys very often laughed at him, and Ben would sometimeslaugh too, but sometimes, I dare say, his feelings were wounded, and he suffered pain. One morning the children were drying their feet around the stove. Rosa was trying to make the fire burn better for them. Ben came in shivering, and, step- ing up behind her, held out his hands over her head to warm them. “Look at Ben's hands," said Henry, laughing boisterously. “When did you wash them last, Ben? Is soap dear down at your house?" AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 73 “I washed them when I got up,” said Ben, “but I’ve had to bring in wood and peat since, and my hands are chapped. It's chap. It aint dirt. It won't come off—mother says so.” “So it is, Benny,” said Rosa, “and you are a good boy to help your mother. Here, stand by me and warm your hands. Do they ache?” “Yes, they do,” said Ben. “I’ll warm them,” said Rosa. So she took those little, chapped, black hands in her’s and warmed them. Ben looked happy. “Have you no mittens?" said Rosa. “I had some,” said Ben, “but mother is going to mend them.” “Why, in the name of common sense." said a great rough boy, “don’t your mother dress you decent? Is she going to keep you in petticoats till you're twen- ty-one? She'd better call you Peg, and have done with it. I declare!" said he, “that is a good name for him; let's call 74 LITTLE KITTY BROWN him Peg Taylor. Hurrah for Peg Tay- lor " George Smith and Henry Niles hur- rah'd for Peg Taylor, and stamped their feet. The tears came in Ben's eyes. He looked up imploringly to Rosa. “Mother says I must wear out sister's clothes,” said he, “She says she has not any money to buy me any more.” “Your mother does just right,” said Rosa, putting her arm around him. “She keeps you clean and nice, and it is no matter what those rude boys say. We all love you just as well as if you wore boys' clothes.” “So we do,” said Kitty Brown, coming up on the other side. “You dress very well, Benny. Now, boys,” said Kitty, look- ing very gravely, “if you had learned my verse this morning, you would not do so." * Let us have it, Kitty,” said Frank Hastings. “You are great on Bible verses.” AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 75 “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all,” said Kitty, shaking her head a little to give emphasis to the words. The boys laughed more at Kitty's manner than at her verse, but they were suddenly checked by the sound of Miss Preston's voice. “That was very well said, Kitty. I am sorry that any of my children have the heart to laugh at a little boy because he is poor. Come here, Benny. Now you need not feel troubled; you are just as much of a boy as any of them, if you do wear girls' clothes.” Benny's face began to clear up; and when Miss Preston dropped a fine rosy apple into the pocket of his frock, the smiles fairly chased away the tears. He took his seat, feeling happy, while the rude boys, who laughed at him, hung their heads and felt ashamed. When Kitty was at dinner that day, she told her father and mother what had 76 LITTLE KITTY BROWN occurred in the morning, and how she had given the children her verse, to make them behave better. Her parents looked at each other and smiled, as if they were pleased. Her father put his hand on her head and smoothed down her hair lovingly, and there was much affection lighting up her mother's eye, as it rested upon her. “I think Kitty applied her verse ex- ceedingly well,” said Aunt Russell. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.’” Ihope she will always have the Bible at her tongue's end.” “That is my verse, too,” said Kitty. “I know that about the apples of gold.” “I don't know,” continued Aunt Rus- sell, “but widow Taylor ought to be helped a little” That afternoon Aunt Russell went out. For a week after this, she was much occupied in her own room. No one knew what she was doing. At last, one morning, who should come into school and her bible verses. 77 but little Benny Taylor, all dressed up in a new suit of boys clothes. His little jacket was trimmed with buttons, and his trousers had pockets in them. There was not a happier boy in the world than Benny was that morning. He stood still at the school-room door, laughing, because he did not know what else to do, and then, in a minute or two, he walked away to his seat, as if he were a little prince Miss Preston was glad, and Rosa Day was glad, and Kitty Brown jumped up and clapped her hands. Now this was what Aunt Russell had been about all that week. So many people were made happy by the timely use of this verse. I trust my little readers will not soon forget it. * The ricſ and the poor meet together; the Lord is the majºr of them all." 78 LITTLE KITTY BROWN CHAPTER X. “MoTHER,” said Kitty, one morning, “may I have one of those tarts to carry for my luncheon?” “No,” said her mother, “they are too rich to be good for you. You cannot have anything but an apple. You are coming home to dinner." - Kitty was much disappointed. She loved the tarts very much, and she fret- ted. This troubled her mother. When school-time came, she took the little dim- ner-basket, which she usually carried, and, without bidding her mother good-by, went into the kitchen to get her apple. Eliza was there. “Do you want your luncheon, Kitty?” said she “Yes," said Kitty. “I want my apple.” “Well, here is an apple and a tart, too,” said Eliza, putting both into the AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 79 basket. Kitty drew back a little, and her heart beat fast. She had not asked for the tart, but it had been given her. She knew that she ought to take that tart directly out, and say, “’No, my mother told me I could not have one," but it looked very nice and she liked it, so she put the cover on her basket, and ran off as fast as she could go. She ran so fast that she fell down before she reached the gate, and hurt her hand on the hard frozen ground; but she was afraid to go back into the house, and she did not dare to cry aloud, lest her mother should hear her and come to her, and see that she had the tart. She felt guilty, and walked along crying to her- self partly because her hand smarted and partly because she was unhappy. She met Rosa Day, but Rosa’s “pleasant words” were not “sweet as honey-comb” to her that day. She continued to cry until she got to school. She hung up her little dinner-basket under her hood, 80 LITTLE IRITTY LROWN as if she feared to have the children see the outside of it, and then went in. All the morning she felt so unhappy, that Miss Preston asked her if she was not well. Then she burst into tears, and said, * her hand smarted.” Miss Preston looked at her hand, and told her she did not think she had hurt it much. Upon this, Kitty cried the more. The hurt was in her conscience, and when Miss Preston spoke kindly to her, it made her think of her mother, whom she had disobeyed. Recess came. The children were all eager for their luncheon. Ben Taylor pulled out of his pocket a dry crust of brown bread, and ate it as if it really did him good. Kitty stood by him with her rich cranberry-tart and her apple. She could not enjoy either. She turned the tart over. It was very inviting. She put it to her lips and tasted it. It was very delicious. She tasted again. Oh, it was AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 81 good! But still Kitty was unhappy, and trembled with fear. Pretty soon she broke the tart in two, and gave half to Benny. Then she tried to enjoy the tart, but she could not. Finally she ate out all the cranberry, and put a part of her crust back into her basket, and sat down to enjoy her apple. Still she was unhappy. She had disobeyed a kind mother. She knew that she had done wickedly. She did not want to walk home with Rosa Day, or any other little girl. She walked along silently and slowly alone. Then she left her basket on the entry table, and went—not into the parlour- but into the dining-room, and sat down on a cricket by the stove. By-and-by Aunt Russell came in. “Why, Kitty,” said she, “what are you doing here, all alone?” *Sitting down,” said Kitty. “Are you ill?” “No," said Kitty. “What is the * then?” 7 82 LITTLE IRITTY BROWN “I don't know,” said Kitty. “What is the matter with my Kitty” said Mrs. Brown, who came in just then. Kitty trembled violently, her lips turned white, and she burst out crying. Her mother knew instantly that some- thing was wrong, so she took the little girl by the hand, and led her into the parlour where they could be alone. “Now, Kitty,” said she, “tell me what you have done. What is it makes you unhappy?" - Kitty by this time was sobbing so violently, that she could not speak. Her mother waited quietly until she was able to tell her. * Eliza gave me the tart,” said Kitty, at length, “and I ate part of it.” “So you disobeyed me," said her mo- ther, sorrowfully. Kitty nodded assent. “You knew that you were disobeying me when you took the tart.” Kitty again nodded assent. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 83 “Did you feel happy, Kitty?” “I’ve felt bad all the morning, mother.” said Kitty. “I could not think about any thing else, and I hurt my hand, too.” “There is no suffering,” said Mrs. Brown, “like the suffering of a guilty conscience.” Kitty felt that she understood every word of this. Her mother talked with her for some time, and then, in much sor- row, punished her. Kitty knew that she deserved it. After confession and punishment, she felt much happier than she had done since she took the forbidden tart. That night, when her mother was un- dressing her, she said to her, “Kitty, I am going to repeat a verse to you, and I wish you to learn it and repeat it at prayers to-morrow. This is the verse: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Kitty said it, and then threw her arms 84 LITTLE KITTY BROWN - about her mother's neck. “Mother, I am very sorry I disobeyed you. Will you forgive me? I hope I shall never do so again." - “I can easily forgive you, my dear Kitty, but you have disobeyed God. He commands you to obey your parents. I do not know whether you have asked God to forgive you or not.” “Will you ask him, mother?" whis- pered Kitty. Mrs. Brown kneeled with her, and asked God to forgive her. After this, Kitty seemed peaceful and happy. She sat on her mother's knee and leaned her cheek upon her mother's cheek. She kissed her mothermany times. At length she was put into her little bed, and went to sleep with a smile upon her lips. AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 85 CHAPTER XI. SATURDAY forenoon at Miss Preston's school was devoted entirely to religious instruction. After a few questions in the Catechism had been asked and answered, the child- ren begged the privilege of saying their Bible verses. “Yes,” said Miss Preston, “we will have some Bible verses. As many of you as can recall one may raise your hands. I will give you five minutes to think." Kitty Brown's hand was up in a mi- nute, and so was Rosa Day's and Frank Hastings's Ben, too, after a time, raised his hand, and so did Henry Niles, and several others. But some of the children could not think of a single verse. * Pleasant words are as an honey-comb, sweet to the soul," said Rosa Day. “I was glad when they said unto me, 86 LITTLE KITTY BROWN let us go into the house of the Lord," said a girl who stood near her. “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back,” said Kitty Brown. “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all,” said Frank Hastings. “A soft answer turneth away wrath,” said George Smith. “God is a spirit; and they that wor- ship him must worship him in spirit and in truth,” said Sarah Niles. Kitty taught her this, that day of the glazing storm. “Study to be quiet,” said Benny. “Let all things be done decently and in order,” said Henry Niles. “A word fitly spoken,” said Frank, “is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” * May I say another?" asked Kitty, * Frank has said two.” “Yes," said Miss Preston. “I love them that love me; and AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 87. - those that seek me early shall find me.” “That is a beautiful verse, Kitty,” said Miss Preston: “it is the one you re- peated at the Maternal-meeting, and the lady hoped you would all of you remem- ber it.” “Yes, ma'am,” said Kitty. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right,” said a little boy who stood next to Kitty. Kitty coloured a little. She was reminded of the tart, and her disobedience, and the unhappy day that came after it. “Now," said Miss Preston, “I will say my verse, and you may all repeat it after me, and then take your seats.” * Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The children repeated it. Kitty looked at Rosa and laughed, for Miss Preston's verse was one of her verses, and she wished, as usual, to tell Rosa of it. 88 LITTLE IRITTY BROWN CHAPTER XII. It was a beautiful Sabbath morning. The sun shone out brightly. Under the cherry-trees in Kitty's yard, and along- side of the fence, and here and there in a shady nook, patches of snow were still visible, but for the most part it had dis- appeared. The path across the common was quite muddy. The elms, which a short time before had been so heavily cased in ice, now lifted their proud heads, and spread out their giant arms to the sun, seeking warmth. *Spring is really here, aunty,” said Kitty Brown. “I do believe I heard a robin.” * Oh, I guess not said Aunt Russell. “The time of the singing of birds has not come.” * Yes, I certainly think I did," per- sisted Kitty, “and I am going to ask my AND HER BIBLE VERSES. 89 mother if she won't let me go to meeting to-day without my coat, it is so warm.” “Well, you had better study your Sunday-school lesson now, and talk about that by-and-by.” said Aunt Russell. Kitty studied awhile, and then stopped and looked out of the window. “Do you remember, aunty,” said she, “that Sunday when we had the snow- storm, and Jane's cottage was all covered up, and the stage came for us, and you were going to meeting with your apronon?" “Yes, I remember.” “So do I remember it, because you said one of my verses: ‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Kitty's mother now came in and sat down by her to hear her lesson. She had committed it to memory, though she did not seem to understand it very well, and her mother explained it to her. Then it was time for her to go, and her mother made her ready, though she thought º - 90 LITTLE RITTY BROWN it best for her to wear her coat and over- shoes. Kitty walked slowly along. She had her little Bible in her hand. It was one which her father had presented her on her first birth-day, and she liked very much to take it to Sunday-school. Pretty soon Rosa Day joined her, and in a few minutes Sarah and Henry Niles were seen coming up the other road, and then George Smith and his little brother called out to them, to wait till they could come up, and by-and-by Frank Hastings came running along through the mud; so all our acquaintances had met, before they reached the school-house yard. They spoke quietly to each other for they had been taught to remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. They did not talk about their play. They knew that was not proper for Sunday. Rosa Day, who looked so happy that Kitty Brown could not help observing her made some in- quities about the day's lesson. Some had AND HER LILLE VERSES. 91 learned it and some had not, and they were talking quite eagerly about it, when Miss Preston and another Sunday-school teacher came up. Miss Preston had something under her arm. The children could not see what it was. “I want you to wait here a minute,” said she addressing them. “Don’t come in until I call you.” She smiled and looked pleased, and the children began to wonder very much what Miss Preston had to show them. When she came to the door and called them, there was a great rush for the school-room. Frank Hastings was in first, for he pushed, and Rosa Day and Kitty Brown came last, as Rosa stood back to let the children pass, and Kitty had hold of her hand. But, first or last, they all stood still as soon as they got into the room, for there, over the mantle- shelf just where Rosa had hung Frank's printed verse, STUDY TO BE QUIET, 92 LITTLE KITTY LIROWN Miss Preston had now hung a fine large coloured picture! The children wondered and admired. There were a great many figures in the picture, but the most pro- minent was, a figure dressed in scarlet, with a purple robe thrown around him, who sat on the marble step of a palace. Around his head was a circle of light. It was a representation of Jesus Christ. A little boy had just stepped upon the marble platform, and had nestled close to the feet of the Saviour, and ſolded his hands as if he prayed. Jesus seemed to be looking lovingly upon him, and had placed his hand on the boy's golden curls, as if he were blessing him. Another child, with outstretched arms, was running eagerly towards him, hoping that he, too, might receive a blessing; but his mother, who kneeled behind him, threw her arm about him, and seemed afraid to let him go for behind Jesus stood some stern looking men, who held up their fingers to her and frowned upon her. So another AND TER TITLE VERSES. 93 mother, who was approaching with a beautiful baby in her arms, seemed to hang back, and looked up mournfully at the frowning men, who appeared to be saying, “Don’t trouble Him with such little folks.” This was what they did say, for the picture represented a true scene in the life of our Saviour. The reply which Jesus made to these forbid- ding men was printed underneath in large letters: “But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the ſºngdom of God.” Miss Preston touched the scarlet-robed figure with a long stick. Then she looked around on the group of eager faces. “You see,” said she, “He did love the little folks and called them to him. Who is he " “Jesus Christ,” said the children, alto- gether. “And what is he saying to those for- bidding disciples” S* 0.4 LITTLE IN ITTY GROWN. * Suffº the little cºlºren to come ºnto me and forbid them not for of such is the lºng- down of God,” they replied again. After this they took their seats. Each little heart seemed to be tuned for the employ- ments of the morning, and all enjoyed the Sunday-school. That night, when Kitty had taken her favourite seat in her mother's lap, she told her about the picture-card which Miss Preston hung up. “I like that verse, mother,” said she about Suſier little children, and I should like to say it to-morrow at pray- ers, and have it for one of my verses." “I hope you will believe it, Kitty." said Mrs. Brown, “and think about it, for Jesus really said it.” * Yes, mother,” said Kitty. Here we must leave little Kitty Brown and her Bible verses. Some other time, perhaps, we may tell you more about her. THE END. - - - - - º -- - - - - - _ I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | - - - --- - - … - - - - - - - - - - - - | --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - - - - - | - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------- - - - - --- - ------- | - - --- - - - - - º - - - - - - - - - - ºfflº - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ - |-