“Your sermon?” said Lucy. “Do you have a sermon?”
“You’ll see,” said Mary Jay.
During the recess, some of the girls went out and stood upon the door step, or walked about upon the green. But they all came back again very soon; and when Mary Jay rapped upon the table, they were all ready to take their seats.
When they were seated, Mary Jay began to instruct them as follows:—
“What is necessary for us, children, in order that we should be happy in heaven, after we die?”
The children seemed to hesitate: at length, one or two said, “We must be good.”
“We must be good,” repeated Mary Jay. “Is that the right answer? All of you that think that is the right answer, may hold up your hands.”
Nearly all the children held up their hands.
“I don’t think it is the best answer,” said Mary Jay. “We will examine it a little. Must we be always good, or will it do to be sometimes good and sometimes bad?”
“Always,” replied the children, very promptly.