“‘Don’t you think, Mark,’ said his mother, ’that we could keep Thanksgiving for at least one day with only such blessings as these?’
“‘Why yes,’ said Mark, ‘I suppose we could, mother—though I wasn’t thinking of that.’
“‘No, of course not,’ said his mother; ‘and that is the very reason why we so often long for earthly things: we are not thinking of the heavenly blessings that God has showered upon us.’
“‘But mother,’ said Mark, not quite satisfied, ’it goes on to say,—
“‘Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’
“And Mark looked up as if he thought his mother must be posed now, if she never was before.
“It did occur to Mrs. Penly as she glanced at the child, that his cheeks were not very fat nor his dress very thick; and that a greater plenty of pies and other relishable things might exert a happy influence upon his complexion: but she stilled her heart with that word,—
“‘Your Father knoweth that ye have need of such things.’
“‘I am sure we have a great many good things, Mark,’ she answered cheerfully,—‘don’t you remember that barrel of flour that came the other day? and the molasses, and the pickles? We must have as much as is good for us, or God would give us more; for it says in another part of that Psalm, ‘Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.’ I wouldn’t keep from you anything that I thought good for you.’