Hal prefers now to try his experiments on his father's door-step; as to the hen, poor chicken-hearted thing! she didn't dare to show her wet feathers to her lordly old rooster; so she smuggled herself into neighbor Jones' barn-yard and laid her eggs wherever it suited the old farmer, for the sake of her board.
I suppose that every boy and girl who reads my "Little Ferns," has heard or read of martyrs. You have all owned a primer with the picture of "John Rogers," who was burned alive for being a good man; then, you remember "Stephen," of Bible memory, who was stoned to death, for the same reason.
In 1853, when Religion walks in satin slippers, perhaps you think that no martyrs can be found. Dear children, Aunt Fanny sees them every day; bearing tortures worse than the fire, or the rack, and opening their burdened hearts to God alone.
But it is not of these that I would speak now. I am going to tell you of a little boy martyr.
"Knud Iverson" was a little Norwegian, a countryman of the famous "Ole Bull," the great violinist.
Knud's parents had come over from Norway to this country, and settled in Chicago. (You will find that place if you look in your Atlas, and I should like to have you find it, because I want you to remember all about this dear little boy.)
Knud had been early taught how to be a good boy. His parents' words did not pass into his ears to be forgotten. Knud remembered everything they said; and, what was better, he practiced it. They were quite sure that when Knud was out of their sight, he behaved just as well as if their eyes were on him. Can your father and mother be as sure of you?
Knud loved to go to Sabbath school; he never was absent from his class once. He was not frightened away by a drop of rain, or a warm sun; he loved to go. His mother did not have to say to him, "Come, come, Knud! don't you know it is time you were preparing to go to school?" or, "Come, come, Knud! it is time you were looking over your Sunday school lesson." No; he was always ready; his lesson in his head, and love for God in his heart; and away he trudged, cheerful and happy, to gladden the eyes of his kind teacher by being promptly in his place.