Dear young friends (perhaps I may rather welcome some amongst you as old friends), I would once more gather you around me to listen to my simple stories. I have in each one endeavoured to exemplify some truth taught by the wise King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs. Perhaps the holy words, which I trust that many of you have already learned to love, may be more forcibly imprinted on your minds, and you may apply them more to your own conduct, when you see them illustrated by tales describing such events as may happen to yourselves.
May the Giver of all good gifts make the choice of Solomon also yours; may you, each and all, be endowed with that wisdom from on high which is more precious than rubies; and may you find, as you proceed onward to that better home to which Heavenly Wisdom would guide you, that her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
A. L. O. E.
Contents.
| I. | THE TWO SONS, | [9] |
| II. | THE PRISONER RELEASED, | [21] |
| III. | THE MOTHER’S RETURN, | [34] |
| IV. | THE FRIEND IN NEED, | [43] |
| V. | FORBIDDEN GROUND, | [62] |
| VI. | CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE, | [76] |
| VII. | THE GREAT PLAGUE, | [89] |
| VIII. | THE GREEN VELVET DRESS, | [99] |
| IX. | FALSE FRIENDS, | [115] |
| X. | COURAGE AND CANDOUR, | [129] |
| XI. | THE SAILOR’S RESOLVE, | [146] |
| XII. | THE GIPSIES, | [158] |
| XIII. | FRIENDS IN NEED, | [173] |
| XIV. | THE OLD PAUPER, | [190] |
| XV. | THE BEAUTIFUL VILLA, | [203] |
List of Illustrations.
| THE DISOBEDIENT BOY, | [Frontispiece] |
| OLD JONAS, | [Vignette] |
| THE FROZEN LAKE, | [10] |
| HARRY TENDING HIS MOTHER, | [13] |
| DR. MERTON AND PAUL, | [16] |
| THE FUNERAL, | [18] |
| MARIA AND MARY, | [35] |
| WATCHING FOR MOTHER, | [38] |
| GOING TO CHURCH, | [44] |
| ON A VISIT, | [45] |
| OLD WILL AYLMER, | [46] |
| SEEKING THE LORD, | [57] |
| LITTLE JOSEPH, | [63] |
| THE STREET STALL, | [65] |
| THE LAWN, | [68] |
| MRS. GRAHAM AND JOSEPH, | [73] |
| LUCY AND PRISCILLA, | [78] |
| THE TEACHER’S STORY, | [92] |
| THE PLAGUE IN LONDON, | [94] |
| JENNY IN THE STORM, | [101] |
| THE MESSAGE, | [103] |
| ALIE WATCHING THE CAT, | [135] |
| “POOR TABBY!” | [136] |
| ALIE AND THE GIPSY GIRL, | [161] |
| THE GIPSIES, | [163] |
| THE GIPSY’S APPROACH, | [169] |
| THE GREEN LANE, | [174] |
| THE OLD PAUPER, | [191] |
| MRS. WARNER AND JESSY, | [206] |
PRECEPTS IN PRACTICE.