When Frankie was nearly five years old, a large house in the neighborhood had been burned to the ground. He was aroused from his sleep by the loud ringing of the bells, and the cry of fire, and sat for a long time gazing from his mother's window at the bright, red flame. Ever since that time he had always prayed God to keep the house from being burned while they were asleep.
In the morning, Frankie said the Lord's prayer, and this pretty little hymn, which perhaps you will like to learn:—
"Fled away are the shadows of night;
The morning is smiling and clear;
The sun has arisen all bright,
And the birds fly aloft in the air.
"The sweet robins sing on the tree,
The little lambs skip on the hill,
And loud hum the bees as they work,
Their houses with honey to fill.
"'Tis time for the children to wake:
Come, little ones, open your eyes;
And your thanks and your praises return
To the Being who governs the skies.
"He has guarded you, all the long night,
From sickness, and danger, and pain,
And brought you, in safety and peace,
To a beautiful morning again.
"Whatever your parents command,
Be ready and willing to do;
For that, my dear child, is the way
To be happy, and prosperous too.
"But if (as is sometimes the case)
You should happen to do a thing wrong,
Just own it, and let not a lie,
In any case, come from your tongue.
"For the child who is gentle and kind,
And obliges as far as he can,
May be sure to be loved while a boy,
And respected when grown to a man."
The next morning, when Frankie went down to breakfast, Willie sprang out from behind the door, and gave him six loud kisses. Then he took from his pocket a beautiful new humming top, and said, "Here is your birthday present."