BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.
Thank God for little children!
Bright flowers by earth's wayside,—
The dancing, joyous life-boats
Upon life's stormy tide.
Thank God for little children!
When our skies are cold and gray,
They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.
I almost think the angels,
Who tend life's garden fair,
Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.
It seems a breath of heaven
"Round many a cradle lies,"
And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.
The humblest home, with children,
Is rich in precious gems;
Better than wealth of monarchs,
Or golden diadems.
Dear mothers, guard these jewels
As sacred offerings meet,—
A wealth of household treasures,
To lay at Jesus' feet.
SAM AND ANDY.
BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
A beautiful slave in Kentucky, named Eliza, had a very handsome little boy. One day she overheard her master making a bargain with a slave-trader by the name of Haley to sell them both. She made her escape that night, taking her child with her. Her mistress, who was much attached to her, and did not want to have her sold, was glad when she heard that Eliza was gone; but her master, who was afraid the trader would think he had helped her off after he had taken the money for her, ordered the horses Bill and Jerry to be brought, and two of his slaves, called Sam and Andy, to go with the slave-trader in pursuit of the fugitive. The way they contrived how not to overtake Eliza is thus told in "Uncle Tom's Cabin":—