American Sunday-School Union

“ Rachel Brown did say to Alice Wood one day, "See, Alice, what beautiful candy Mother Grimes has put in her shop-window to day." But Alice only said, "Rachel, we have now a better use for our money; let us waste nothing, but save all we can, so that we shall not feel, when we meet our fellow-creatures at the last day, that any of them have perished through our [22] neglect, or because we were so selfish that we could not deny ourselves a small gratification for the sake of supplying their need."
One day a knot of little girls were so bold as to pass directly by the candy shop. ”

“ Those who do not read the Bible are ignorant of some of the most interesting and important parts of the world's history.
Sometimes Mrs. Pierce would walk out with little Orrin, and she always used to talk with him, so as to improve his mind. She would make him observe the works of God, and tell him of the wonders of Creation. Orrin was very fond of going to the sea-shore, and when he had been a good boy his mother would go there with him. He always took with him a basket to put his shells in, for there were many shells on the beach. ”

“ I believe our parents are none of them very rich, and yet we contrive to get a great many pennies, in one way or another, to spend for our own gratification. How many pennies do you think go, in a year, from our school into Mother Grimes's pocket? Why enough to send a great many Bibles to the destitute. Perhaps enough to support a missionary, or educate a heathen child, or give a library or two to a poor Sunday-school. Just think of it, girls! Now I, for one, spend certainly a [10] penny a day for candy. ”

“ He did not know the boy, but he knew he was about to commit sin, so he asked him if he would not leave his kite and go to the Sabbath-school. He opened his book and showed him where the lesson was, and told him that he would be much happier in learning to keep God's commandments, than all his kite-flying could make him. The boy thought so too, and was willing to take advice, so he hid his kite behind the fence, and went with Orrin. We should try to do good to all as we have opportunity. ”

“ Alice told them, that if some of them could only give a penny a year, she would gladly take [13] that; and then, that they might not be ashamed of giving so little, she read to them the story of the "widow's mite." And when the girls laughed, because one little girl, whose mother was very poor, said, "She would bring a penny if she could ever get one," Alice kissed her, and said,
"Perhaps, Kitty, your penny will be as acceptable, and do more good, than hundreds of dollars from some very rich man who does not miss it at all. At any rate you shall come into our Society and help us sew." ”

“ There Orrin spent many hours, gaining useful knowledge; and as he had a very good memory, he found, many years after, much use for the instruction he received in this way. Solomon says, "Get wisdom, get understanding, take fast hold of instruction, let her not go, keep her, for she is thy life."
Those who have read the history of this good boy, will like to hear something of him as a man. He became not only a respectable, but a useful and pious man. He was a kind friend; he warned and reproved those he found doing wrong. When a man, he was as fearless in reproving sin as he was when a boy. ”

“ James was so ashamed that he could not say a word to his aunt, nor even lift up his face to look at her.
“James,” said she, “I am really sorry that you cannot look upon any thing which you think nice, without taking some of it away. I bought these waxen apples this very day, of the man who made them, because I supposed they would amuse you and Sarah. ”

“ He was much comforted by these words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. ”

“ But when Orrin came he gave Jane a garden by herself in which her cousin worked, and they both kept it in order, and it was a great pleasure to her to pick flowers whenever she liked. She used often to gather a pretty nosegay for her mother. Orrin used to say when he looked at her flowers, why even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Many boys who have been taught by pious mothers to pray to God in childhood, when they become older forsake the law of their mother. They begin to think it is well enough for children, but not needful for men ”

“ Alice Wood now reckoned up the promised sums, and said,
"I think, girls, if we all keep the resolutions we have formed, that by only saving the money that [18] we should spend in other ways, and giving it to the society, we can pledge ourselves to give altogether fifty dollars a year; and with our Sewing Society, and the many other ways that have been mentioned of earning a little money, I should not be surprised if we should raise it to one hundred dollars a year. ”

“ Now I am going to ask him to continue the penny a week; and then I am going to see how long I can keep a pencil, for I have been very careless in losing them. And in these, and other ways, I hope I can save quite a sum of money in [11] a year. Now, girls, will you all think, between this time and tomorrow noon, how much you can save, and then we will put it all down together, and see how much we can hope to collect in a year?"
The girls readily promised, and then, as they had stayed a long time, they all set off in haste for their homes, full of the new project of the Missionary Society. ”

“ Susy Barnes, who was the leader of the party, "than to spend them in getting the tooth-ache, and making ourselves sick; and we have all made up our minds that we will not buy any more candy." The old woman flew into a passion, and talked so loud, that some of the little girls were for running off, but Susy stood her ground undaunted. ”

“ Wherever there is a library of useful books, a young person can gain a store of knowledge. Orrin was very fond of reading, and his uncle gave him the liberty of reading in his study, whenever he wished to do so. ”

“ Depend upon it, your interest in benevolent objects will increase from the very moment that you deny yourself for the sake of giving to others. Think what it would be to have even one soul saved from among the poor benighted heathen, to rise up in the last great day, and call you, yes you, my little reader, blessed. ”

“ Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by Paul Beck, Jr., Treasurer, in trust for the American Sunday-school Union, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. ”

“ For, said he, (and these words are from the Bible,) 'He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, will he pay him again.' And, 'The [20] liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall himself be watered.'"
As the girls went home, they all kept on the side of the road opposite to Mother Grimes's shop; for the old woman had a bad temper, and a very loud voice, and they were all afraid of hearing from her if they passed her shop without stopping to buy something. ”