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sake of learning about God and worshipping Him, she would get no good from being forced to do it.' And Mrs. Fletcher went off to see to some of her house duties.

The little sitting-room was very quiet: the children's father was reading a magazine; Arthur stood sadly at the window, hoping in vain for the clouds to pass away, or that, as it was still early, Emily would come to a better mind before it was too late. As for Emily herself, though she

had resolved on reading, she was turning over the pages of her book in a restless way: for, much as she wished to read the tales, it seemed now as if they failed to interest her. Patter, patter, came the rain against the window; Emily shivered and drew nearer the bright fire. I'm glad I'm not out in it,' she said to herself; but she did not look glad, and the next thought was that if she had not said that she meant to stay at home, even the going out in wet

and damp would be better than sitting there, feeling so uncomfortable.

Once more she turned to her book, shook back her curls, and settled herself to reading. 'Light and Dark, I've read that,' she murmured. 6 Agnes Hilton and her Two Friends; dear me, wherever is my place? for I passed all those! Ah, here it is! Maggie Russell, or Weary in Well-doing. It looks pretty: I wonder if it is?' Yet, in spite of Emily's 'wonder,' it seemed as if she was in no haste to satisfy it. The fact was, the second title had a sort of accusation in it which did not add to her peace of mind.

Weary in Well-doing!' mother and teacher would probably say that was her own case; that a change in the weather made her feel weary of Sunday-school, and Catechism, and hymn-singing.

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'I wonder if the other girls will be there?' was the next thought, as, after reading halfa-dozen lines, she stopped in her tale, and gazed across at the window where Arthur was standing. Really, I do believe I'll go; it's only the setting out that is so horrid. I shan't mind the rain a bit when I'm fairly in it.' One more glance at the fire-another hesitation-then Emily jumped up. Arthur,

make haste! I've changed my mind, and I'll take the big umbrella, and we will go.'

Arthur needed no second bidding. In five minutes they were both ready, and their mother, with a glad face, was seeing them off at the door.

'Keep close to Emily,' she said to Arthur: 'hold your cap on, or the wind will take it. It's rough, but it won't do you any harm. going to a good place never does, I really believe; and, thank God, you are both of you strong and well.'

Emily looked still a little downcast. It's very fine for mother to talk, she wouldn't like it herself,' was the first thought, as the wind blew sideways, in the most tiresome

way, nearly driving the big umbrella out of

her hand.

'Oh, Emily, it isn't so bad, I'm glad we came,' said Arthur, gasping for breath, as he struggled on bravely by his sister's side, holding his cap as his mother had bidden him. The sight of his bright face took away the cross feeling from Emily's heart; she felt ashamed to grumble at wind and rain when a little fellow like that trudged along so willingly.

In a few minutes they were safe at the school-door, and there was Miss Mansfield just putting down her umbrella and unfastening her water-proof cloak.

Ah, Emily Fletcher! I knew I should find you here, for a little wind and rain would not keep you from your place,' she said brightly. Emily's colour was very fresh then; it might have been the walking, or the wind, or it might have been conscience, but whatever it was she certainly seemed rather at a loss how to answer.

It was a small attendance that afternoon. Many were kept away by distance or illhealth; but the strange thing was, that it was those who lived nearest who made the most vacant places on the forms and the 'absents' in the class-book.

Miss Mansfield looked pleasantly at the four or five girls who gathered round her. 'It always cheers me to see that some of you, at least, will not let trifles hinder you from pleasing God. Now it would have been more comfortable, I dare say, for you to stay at home by the fire; but as you are strong and well, I am sure the little sacrifice and self-denial you have made are pleasing to our good God.'

The usual teaching then went on; but Emily Fletcher was restless, and her thoughts went wandering back an hour earlier to all she had said and purposed in the little sitting-room at home. Now she had been

praised without meriting it, and she felt as if she were deceiving Miss Mansfield; and

SHUT THE EYES TIGHT.

being a truthful girl, in spite of all her faults, LITTLE Harry had been quite sick, and

Emily could not bear that. So when school was over she lingered last, and whispered, 'Teacher, I did not deserve what you said. I felt tired of Sunday-school, and though mother wasn't pleased, and Arthur cried to come, I had settled to stay in and read a tale-book all the afternoon, instead of coming out in the wet.'

'But, my dear, you did come, you see; so you bravely overcame the temptation.'

'But I tried hard not to listen to what I knew was right; only the tale which came next in the book was about being "weary in well-doing," and that made me ashamed of myself.'

Emily felt happier to have the truth known; and the few kind words Miss Mansfield spoke sank down into her heart.

Thank God for rousing you to conquer your idleness then, dear child, and for making you tell the truth about it. Oh, Emily! He is such a good, kind Master, it is worth a little difficulty and trouble to serve Him. Do remember this, and never, never yield to pleasing self and forgetting Him; and if the temptation seems very strong, why, perhaps there may come the memory of the title of your tale, Be not Weary in Welldoing, to help you to struggle on.'

When the Fletcher family sat round the table drinking tea that evening, Emily's face was the brightest there.

'Well, my girl, you're none the worse for the rain, then?' said her mother smilingly.

'Oh, mother, no! I am ashamed of even thinking of being so idle. I hope I'll never feel so again; but if I do you will remind me, mother-won't you? Tell me how glad I was, after I had gone out to school in the wind and rain on the Wet Sunday Afternoon.'

mother was obliged to be very care

ful of his diet. One of the orders was that he was to eat nothing but what she gave him.

One day, little Jennie came in eating a piece of cake. Oh! how nice it looked to the little hungry boy, who felt, as you do when you are getting better, that he wished to eat all the time. He knew, if he just asked his dear, obliging little sister, she would gladly give him 'the biggest half.' But he only said, 'Oh, Jennie, you must run right out with that eake, and I'll keep my eyes shut tight, so I shan't want any."

Now, that was a great triumph for a boy only seven years old. Some big boys of seventeen could not have done so well. They are far from shutting their eyes tight when temptation to taste wrong things is before them. They rather suffer their eyes to lead them straight into mischief.

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity,' is an excellent prayer. 'Look not upon the wine when it is red,' and you will never be likely to fill a drunkard's grave.

So many boys think, 'What's the harm in looking?' but it is just here they are made prisoners by Satan. The eye-gate' is one of the most important points he attacks. If he can pin your eye very intently on some charming but forbidden object, he gets a serpent's power over you. You have heard how those dreadful snakes charm little birds and rabbits with their glittering eyes, until at last they drop down powerless in their terrible coils.

Do not stop even to look at temptation, but turn your face like a flint the other way. Shut the mind's eye tight as well, and God will help those who bravely try to flee from temptation.

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Published for the Proprietors by W. WELLS GARDNER, 2 Paternoster Buildings, London.

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