"O, mamma!" cried Frankie, when they had finished the tune, "can I read the pretty verses on my handkerchief?"
"Yes, dear, I should like to hear them," said mamma.
This was Sally's birthday present, which he had kept nicely folded in his coat pocket. I have already described to you the picture, which was of a little boy calling his sister to take a ride. Frankie could read now quite well, though he was obliged to pronounce the words slowly, once in a while stopping to spell one to himself. He began,—
"The coach is ready, sister; run,
And put your gloves and bonnet on;
It is about a week ago
Our parents promised us, you know,
If we were good, that we, to-day,
Should have the coach and ride away.
Our cousins, too, are all at home;
How glad they'll be to see us come!
And they, such lovely girls and boys,
Will have so many pretty toys!
And we shall have the sweetest ride,
Through trees along the river side!
Come, sister; come, make no delay!
'Tis time for us to start away.
What ails you, Mary? ar'n't you well?
What makes you cry so? sister, tell!"
"Harry, I can't; don't ask me why;
And yet I must—I've told a lie!
And here shut up I'm doomed to stay,
And mourn and weep the livelong day.
I shall not dare my face to show,
Nor join the children's plays, you know;
They'll see my tears, and then inquire
What I have done—and call me liar.
And, Harry, I'm afraid that you
And Harriet will hate me too.
But what is worst of all, mamma
Don't speak to me, nor does papa;
Not once upon me have they smiled,
Since I was such a wicked child.
O, it will break my heart, I'm sure!
I never told a lie before,
And never, never will again,
If I their pardon can obtain.
Go—it is time that you were gone,
And leave me here to cry alone."
Nelly sighed two or three times while her little cousin was reading; and when he had finished, she said, "I'm glad I don't tell lies now. I didn't use to know how wicked it was."
Mrs. Gray bent down and kissed her little niece, and then said, "I am sure, my dear, God will forgive the past, if you ask him, for the sake of his dear Son."
"I wonder whether her mother let her go to ride," said Frankie, fixing his eyes on the picture. "I should think she would, when the little girl was so sorry."
As no one replied to his remark, he said, presently, "Here is another pretty piece; may I read this too, mamma?"
"Perhaps Nelly would like to read," said the lady.
"O, yes, aunty," said the little girl; "may I, Frankie?"