The Silver Knife.
"Then said Jesus unto him: Go and do thou likewise."—LUKE, x. 37.
Mary.—(After having searched about the dining-room,) "Who has seen my silver knife? William, John, Lucy, you who are amusing yourselves in the garden, have you seen my silver knife?"
William.—(Going up to the window, and in a sententious tone of voice,) "'Disorder,' says an ancient writer, 'occasions sorrow, and negligence, blame.'"
Mary.—"Admirable! But that does not apply to me, for it is scarcely an hour since I laid my knife on this very table, which certainly belongs to us."
Lucy.—"Are you quite sure of it, Mary!"
Mary—"Yes, indeed, there is no doubt of it, for Sophy asked me to give her a pretty little red apple, as usual, before going to school. I went immediately to the fruit-room for it, and as it was a little spoiled, I cleaned it with my silver knife, which I laid on this table, whilst I was kissing her. I am therefore quite sure of it."
John.—(Frowning,)—"For my part, I confess, I don't like all these strangers who come about the house. For instance, that little Jane, who sells lilies of the valley, and strawberries, and so on—I very much distrust her sullen look; and who knows, if perhaps...?"
Lucy—"Fie, fie, brother, to suspect that poor little modest gentle child, who supports her sick mother by her own industry! Oh! it is very wrong, John!"
"What is the matter?" said their Father, who had heard this dispute from the garden, where he was reading under the shade of a tree.