162 NELLIE'S READING-LESSON. and she was asleep, and after that Leila and Agnes slept peacefully until quite late the next morning. Sarah returned earlier than they expected, full of gratitude to nurse for sparing her, and saying her mother was much better. Baby, too, was almost her own merry little self again, and Leila could not feel too thankful that for her sake she had been led to take the best of all ways to conquer her fears. A day or two later their father was well enough to spare their mother for a little time, and she came to see the children. Nurse told her of Sarah's absence, of baby's illness, and of how good and helpful the children had all been. Mrs. Wentworth was pleased with them all, and told them so; but she kept Leila back when the rest left the room, and kissing her, said how pleased she was to hear of what she had done to help her little sister. Leila's face flushed with pleasure, and creeping close to her mother, she told her the whole story, adding, 'And I hope I shall never be so silly again, mother.' 'I hope not, my darling. If anything could give me greater pleasure than your conquering your fears, Leila, it would be knowing how you had done it.' Mr. Wentworth continued to improve, and was soon so much better that he began to long for his children, with their noise and play, so the country visit came to an end. Leila did not quite lose her nervousness, but she never again gave way to fear as completely as she had once done. When she felt afraid, she knew what to do, and the strong Arm in which she trusted never failed her. NELLIE'S LENA. A LITTLE TALK FOR OUR dear Lord was crucified between two robbers, and so for our sakes was 'numbered with the transgressors,' but He was not buried with the robbers. Their bodies were taken away by the rough soldiers and cast into a grave with other criminals, but God took care that the body of the Lord Jesus should be laid in the tomb by loving hands. So He put it into the heart of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathæa, to go to Pilate and beg that he might bury Jesus in his own new tomb. Joseph and Nicodemus took the body down from the cross, and very tenderly they carried it to the garden and laid it in the grave. But the chief priests were afraid lest the disciples should come and steal away the body, and say that the Lord had risen from the dead; so they asked Pilate for a guard of soldiers to watch the grave all through the night and the Sabbath-day. Pilate told them that they might employ some of the soldiers of the Temple guard, so they took a band of men and told them to keep strict watch over the place. More than this, they put seals on the great stone which Joseph had used to close up the sepulchre, so that no one could move the stone without breaking the seals. Pilate had told them to make it as sure as they could. And so they did. But not all the soldiers, nor the great stone, nor the seals, could prevent our Saviour from rising again : 'Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Christ hath burst the gates of hell.' Easter Sunday is the most joyful day in all the year, for on the first Easter Day Jesus rose from the dead to show that God had accepted the sacrifice He offered for our sins when He died on the cross. When we heard on Good Friday of our blessed Saviour's death, and how He was scorned, and bruised, and crucified, did we not all feel very sorry for the sins which brought EASTER SUNDAY, "When the sad, sad story | Make me very sorry "We are but little children weak, Who is so high and good and great? And fight a battle for our Lord. Answer to Puzzle-Pictures. No. II.-OLD HOUSES. A. E. In olden times our forefathers dwelt in low huts made of branches cut down from trees, and covered with clay. The sticks were tied at the top. A fire burned in the centre, and the people had to sleep on beds of rushes. Later on they began to build with timber and stone, and to make roofs of thatch. They must have been uncomfortable, as they had only one room, little furniture, and no windows or chimneys. TOMMY TORMENT.' wanted. He did not care to torment anybody or anything unless his victims showed that they did not like it. HAT was not his real name, of of tempers. But this was what Tomi course. His own name was Thomas Houghton, but he had fully earned his right to the name of 'Torment.' And, on the whole, Tommy was very proud of it. He was certainly the greatest tease in the school, or even in the village. One Saturday afternoon Tommy was left in charge of the house and of his baby sister Maggie, who was just two years old, and able to trot about by herself, and therefore, as every one will know who has baby sisters or brothers, was able to get into all kinds of mischief. Their father and mother had gone to market together, taking Polly, Tommy's other sister, with them. Tommy had never been left in such an important position before, and he felt what a responsibility rested upon him. So he stayed in the kitchen, which was all bright and tidy for Sunday, for some time, playing with Maggie, pretending to be different sorts of animals. in turn for her amusement--a horse, a cow, a dog, and even a lion; and almost frightening the poor little girl sometimes, when his love for teasing made him roar very loudly, and Maggie would give a little scream, and a jump; fearing, I suppose, that her brother was really turning into one of those dreadful beasts. And then Master Tom thought it was time he went outside to see that everything was going on right. No, there was no thief lurking near the house, and the garden was just as usual. Tommy opened the wash-house door. No one there but puss; O, yes! there was Snap, the little dog, and at sight of him Tommy remembered that he was his own master. There was no one to tell tales, and so he got the bellows and began to practice a species of torment to which his mother had expressed her dislike. He sat down on a chair with the bellows in his hand, and began very softly. Snap was asleep, but Tommy soon woke him, and, as you may imagine, he was not in the best And this is what makes teasing wrong; because we are breaking our Saviour's 'golden rule:' 'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' Tommy went on blowing, and Snap got more and more excited, while Puss lay, with eyes wide open, knowing by sad experience that her turn might come next. But then when Tommy teased her she always seized an opportunity and ran away. Snap, like a silly little dog as he was, grew crosser and crosser, and at last began running round and round his master, and Tommy, pointing the bellows first one way and then the other, at last got up and made a dash at Snap. Snap jumped away and out through the door, and Tom after him, and neither of them noticed that baby Maggie was in the way. Snap ran against her, and Tommy immediately after, tumbled over both. There they were, all on the ground, quiet enough-too quiet, Mrs. Houghton thought, as at that very moment she came up the path from the gate. Tommy picked himself up none the worse, and Snap ran off with a little yelp, half of pain and half of relief at being free. But Maggie lay still, and her mother, putting Tom on one side, picked her up. Poor little girl! She was white; Tommy thought she must be dead. 'O, mother! I did it,' he said, in an agony. Yes, Tommy, this is the end of your torments,' said his mother, carrying Maggie to the house. I think it was then and there, all to himself, that Tommy made a resolve that if only the darling baby did not die he would. never tease anybody again. It was a terrible fall, and the doctor looked grave when he found poor Maggie had hurt the back of her head. She was very ill for several days. And now Tommy had time to think of his naughtiness. I cannot stay to tell you all his mother said |