“I am ready, with God’s help, to commence the work to-morrow,” said the missionary.
“Not to-morrow,” replied Mr. Brown; “you must not disregard your health when duty does not demand the sacrifice. As this matter has not been much agitated here, and no appointment is out, a few days rest until your strength is sufficient to carry on the work when commenced, will not be a neglect of duty. As the young people have singing-school in our school-house to-morrow after noon, we will send and have an appointment given out for you on Tuesday evening. We will also have the announcement made at the other school-house; then the people will have a little time to think and talk the matter over, and have their curiosity aroused, and we will have a good turn-out.”
“As you seem to understand matters so well, I will leave all to you,” said the missionary.
Under the kind care of Mrs. Brown, our traveler improved rapidly, and his wonted cheerfulness was gradually returning.
“Do you know what is in that bundle there in the corner?” inquired Eliza of her brother Henry, in a loud whisper, and pointing toward the stranger’s satchel.
“I guess the stranger has his ‘things’ in it,” answered Henry, looking in the same direction.
The missionary, hearing their conversation, and wishing to gratify their curiosity as well as please them, asked them to bring the satchel to him.
After showing them a book full of pretty pictures and a Sunday-school paper, he allowed them to look at a great many beautiful cards, upon which were printed hymns and prayers. He explained the use of these things, and gave each of them a card and paper. To show “mother” what they had received was of course the next thing to be done, and they had almost forgotten to thank the missionary in their hurry and glee. The mother was almost as much pleased as the children, especially with the papers. After admiring them again, the children asked her to lay them away that they might not become soiled.
Sunday-school scholar, do you prize your cards and papers as these children did? Or do you carelessly soil and lose them—or perhaps tear them up without reading them?
If you have thus indifferently treated them, think of these little children, and, like them, place your Sunday-school gifts among your precious treasures. When you are grown to manhood and womanhood, and called upon to battle with life, you may look upon these mementoes of childhood and youth with sad but sweet recollections.