Part 12

Ronald's mother gave the woman a large print Bible with a great many pictures in it; and when next year the tinker's van again visited the village, Susan was delighted to be able to exhibit her progress, and slowly and reverently she read the parable of the Lost Sheep.

"I read that to my old man most nights," she said; "his father was a shepherd, and he knows all about sheep. Oh, Master Ronald!" said the woman, suddenly changing her tone, "I do bless you for putting it into my head to learn to read."

Certainly Ronald was a happy boy that day.

A LITTLE MAN.

Bobby was not quite six years old, but he thought himself quite a man, and a very strong man too. He was a sturdy little fellow, and as he never caught cold, his mother allowed him to run about without shoes and stockings when the weather was warm and dry.

Bobby's mother was always a little afraid of his being hurt. She had only two children—Lucy, who was twelve, and Bobby—and she was sometimes very anxious lest Bobby should come to some harm when he would work among the men. She also forbade him the use of knives and all sharp instruments. This was a real grief to Bobby, as the men knew it, and would sometimes tease him, and it was then so difficult to pretend to himself that his knife wasn't in his pocket, as he could have done for his own satisfaction.

One day in the spring, when the laurel hedge was being cut, one of the men offered to lend Bobby a knife, and, without a thought of his mother's wishes, Bobby took it, and began cutting in a great hurry. Alas! after a few boughs had come off, Bobby tried to cut a thicker one, which he had to hold down with his left hand, so that when the knife slipped he cut his third finger rather badly. He ran at once to Lucy with the knife in his hand, and then dropped it on the ground close to his bare toes. In his thoughtlessness he might have cut his foot also if Mother had not come out and picked up the knife. She was more sorry than angry at Bobby's disobedience, but the boy was more careful to obey his mother after that, and among the presents on his next birthday there was a capital knife from Mother, but given on condition that at first it should only be used when his father was present, and could show him what ought to be done with it. Bobby is a very happy boy now, because no one can tease him, as he has that precious knife of his very own.

BED TIME.

I

I've been so happy all the day, And now its hours are over, Down by the meadows I have played, And all amongst the clover. And now tis time to go to rest, Within my bed so cosy. And soundly sleep the long night thro; Until the sun gleams rosy

II

Good night, dear little silver stars, Come to my window peeping, And shed your pretty light above, And watch whilst I am sleeping. Good night, Good night you pretty flowers, I love you all so dearly, Now close your eyes, and gently sleep, Until the moon shines clearly.

III

I've said my prayers at Mother's knee, To ask the Shepherd's keeping, He has so many little lambs, To tend whilst they are sleeping Yet surely I may go to rest, Without a fear or sorrow, I know that he will watch o'er all, Till sunlight gleams to-morrow.

M. I. Hurrell.

1. Nonstandard punctuation and spelling variants in poetry blocks have been retained. 2. Full-page illustrated poetry or images that interrupted a story have been relocated to the inter-story break. 3. Decorative illustrations without captions were not placed in the text-only version of the e-text. 4. The poem "Winter" in this book is reproduced here as printed and differs from the original.