,,aunt ,,harding',s ,,keepsakes3 ,,or1  
,,the ,,two ,,bibles  ,,revised ,,by    
,,daniel ,p4 ,,kidder4   #ahea4         
,illustration ,a3 ,frontispiece         
,,contents4  ,i4 ,,guessing  ,,ii4 ,,the
 ,,presents  ,,iii4 ,,use ,,of ,,the    
,,keepsakes  ,,iv4 ,,two ,,characters   
,v4 ,,letters ,,from ,,india  ,,vi4     
,,trouble ,,between ,,sisters  ,,vii4   
,,aunt ,,harding',s ,,letter  ,,viii4   
,,use ,,of ,,money  ,,ix4 ,,aunt        
,,harding',s ,,return     ,,aunt        
,,harding',s ,,keepsakes4   ,,chapter   
,i4   ,,guessing4  ,can you guess1 said 
,louisa to her sister1 as they sat at   
their work in the summer-house1 can you 
guess what aunt ,harding will give us1  
as a keepsake1 before she goes away8    
,no1 ,i have not thought about it1 said 
,emma2 and aunt has lately given us so  
many pretty things1 that we can scarcely
 expect any more for a long time to     
come4 ,there is my doll and its cradle1 
you know1 and your baby-house and       
furniture1 how much money they cost6    

,no1 ,i do not think aunt intends to    
give us anything else4  ,but ,i am quite
 sure she will1 replied ,louisa2 for ,i 
was going past mamma's dressing-room    
this morning1 when the door was a little
 way open1 and ,i heard aunt ,harding   
say1 ',i should like to give the dear   
girls something really useful1 which    
they may value as they grow older4' ,i  
did not hear anymore1 because mamma has 
always told us it is not right to       
listen1 and so ,i came away as fast as  
,i could4  ,well1 ,i wonder what the    
present will be8 said ,emma1 now quite  
convinced4  ,what should you think of   
two handsome work-boxes--or1 perhaps1 as
 ,i am the eldest1 of a work-box for    
yourself1 and writing-desk for me8      
,that would be charming6 said ,emma2 and
 ,i would let you use my work-box1 and  
you could lend me your writing-desk     
sometimes4  ,i will not make any        
promises1 said ,louisa2 you know you are
 very careless1 and ,i should not like  
my nice new desk to be stained with ink1

 or1 perhaps1 scratched with the point  
of a pin4  ,but mamma says ,i am growing
 more careful1 said her sister2 and ,i  
do not think ,i am so heedless about    
other people's things1 though ,i often  
spoil my own4  ,remember my wax doll1   
said ,louisa1 which you left in the     
garden through that heavy shower of     
rain1 so that ,i could never play with  
it again4  ,o1 that was such a very long
 time ago6 said ,emma1 looking a little 
vexed4  ,perhaps it will not be a       
writing-desk nor a work-box that aunt   
,harding will give us1 said ,louisa2    
there are many other things which we    
should like4 ,i wish she would ask us to
 choose4  ,so do ,i1 added ,emma2 but   
there is nothing that ,i should like    
better than a work-box4  ,louisa thought
 of many other things which she should  
be glad to have2 for she was apt to     
indulge in a foolish habit of wishing   
for what she was not likely to possess4 
,it is a bad thing to give way to this  
failing2 for by doing so we may often   

make ourselves unhappy1 without any good
 or real cause4 ,people who do so should
 think of the words of ,st4 ,paul3 ,i   
have learned1 in whatsoever state ,i am1
 therewith to be content4 ,philip4 iv1  
#aa4 ,and children1 who have kind       
parents or friends to provide for all   
their wants1 should learn that it is    
very sinful to let the thoughts be often
 dwelling upon things that they cannot  
have1 and do not really need4 ,pray for 
a grateful heart1 that you may rejoice  
in the blessings that surround you1 and 
be thankful to your heavenly ,father1   
who gives you all things richly to      
enjoy4     ,,chapter ,,ii4   ,,the      
,,presents4  ,mrs4 ,harding1 the aunt of
 these little girls1 had been paying a  
farewell visit to their mamma1 before   
going with ,mr4 ,harding to ,india1     
where it was likely that they would     
remain for some years4 ,she had kindly  
given many little presents to her nieces
 during her stay with them2 but they    
were such as ,louisa and ,emma would    

cease to value when they became old     
enough to put away childish things2 and 
being a person of piety and judgment1   
she wished her last gift to be one which
 might be worthy of their regard in     
youth and in age1 and through all the   
changes of life4 ,it did not take any   
long time to determine what this parting
 gift should be4  ,the evening before   
she went away1 she called ,louisa and   
,emma into the room4 ,they both looked  
round upon the table and chests of      
drawers1 but no sign of a present was to
 be seen2 no parcel neatly wrapped up in
 brown paper1 nor anything like a       
work-box or a desk4 ,but1 to do them    
justice1 the thought of what they might 
receive was not then uppermost in their 
mind2 for their heart was full of grief 
at the prospect of parting with their   
aunt1 whom they dearly loved1 and who   
was going so very far away4  ,sit down  
beside me1 dear children1 said their    
aunt ,harding1 and let us have a little 
talk together1 quietly by ourselves4 ,i 

wish to give you a few parting words of 
advice4 ,i am sure that you will not    
forget me when ,i am gone2 and when you 
think of me1 ,i hope that the good      
things which ,i have tried to teach you 
will also come into your mind4  ,both   
,louisa and ,emma said1 again and again1
 that they could never forget her1 and  
they promised to remember her advice4   
,your mamma will often write to me      
concerning you1 said aunt ,harding1 and 
,i cannot express the joy that it will  
afford me to hear that you are learning 
to hate sin more and more1 and to live  
like children of our ,lord and ,saviour 
,jesus ,christ4 ,i shall be glad to find
 that you are improving in your studies1
 and ,i hope that every letter will     
bring me an account of your progress in 
useful knowledge2 but ,i shall be far   
more anxious to hear of your being good 
and dutiful to your parents2 and1 above 
all1 ,i shall long to know if you seek  
in earnest for the pardon of your sins1 
through the blood of ,christ1 and       

whether there is any proof in your      
conduct that your evil hearts have been 
changed by the grace of the ,holy       
,spirit4  ,if mamma sends you a good    
account of us1 said ,louisa1 please to  
remember1 aunt1 that you promised to    
write to us when that was the case4 ,and
 you will write to me first1 because ,i 
am the eldest1 you know4  ,since you    
claim to be thought of first1 replied   
her aunt1 because you are a year older  
then your sister1 ,i hope you intend to 
take the lead by setting before her a   
good example1 that it may be well for   
her to imitate you in every respect4    
,louisa blushed1 and was silent4 ,we    
will try our very best1 dear aunt1 said 
,emma1 that mamma may send you good     
news1 and then you will write to us     
both4 ,and1 perhaps1 before you come    
back1 we shall be grown such good girls1
 that you will not be able to find fault
 with either of us4  ,i am afraid that  
is not very likely1 said ,louisa2 for it
 seems as if we could not help being    

naughty sometimes4 ,i am sure ,i have   
often said to myself1 ',mamma shall not 
have to reprove me once to-day1' and    
yet1 directly after1 something has been 
amiss4  ,o6 that is quite true1 said    
,emma1 with a sigh4  ,the reason is     
this1 their aunt replied2 you were born 
with an evil nature1 which loves sin and
 leads you to do wrong1 so that you     
cannot be good and dutiful of           
yourselves4 ,when you have made such    
resolves1 it has been in your own       
strength1 without your having asked for 
help from ,god2 and this being the case1
 it was not possible that you should    
keep from sin4 ,the only way to lead a  
holy life is to put no trust in         
ourselves1 to have a constant sense of  
our need of divine grace1 and to pray   
earnestly that it may be given to us for
 ,christ's sake4  ,but you talk of my   
return1 added she1 as if it were certain
 that we should meet again2 yet how many
 things may happen to prevent it6       
,nothing can be more uncertain than the 

future1 though young people are apt to  
think that all will fall out just as    
they wish4 ,i may not live to come back2
 or if ,i should be spared to do so1 who
 can tell that you will be here to meet 
me8 ,long before that time you may be   
laid low in the narrow grave4 ',for what
 is your life8 ,it is even a vapor1 that
 appeareth for a little time1 and then  
vanisheth away4' ,james iv1 #ad4        
,before their aunt ,harding had done    
speaking1 both the children were in     
tears2 for the thought that they might  
never see her again was more than they  
could bear4 ,seeing that their hearts   
were softened to receive the word of    
instruction1 she went on to talk to them
 in a kind and earnest manner on the    
great importance of preparing for       
another world1 showing them their awful 
state without the ,saviour1 and urging  
them to seek him at once by faith and   
prayer2 then1 further to impress her    
advice upon their minds1 she unlocked a 
little cabinet which stood near her1 and

 taking out two handsome ,bibles1,a gave
 one to each of her nieces1 telling them
 that as it was the best present she    
could give them1 so she hoped they would
 value it1 not only for her sake1 but   
because it was the word of ,god1 and    
taught the way of eternal life4 ,after  
this1 she desired them to kneel down    
with her1 while she offered a fervent   
prayer that ,god would bless them1 and  
that they might be led by the ,holy     
,spirit into the fold of ,christ1 who   
died to take away their sins4 ,and she  
also prayed1 that if they should never  
more see each other in this world1 they 
and all whom they loved might meet again
 and be happy for ever in heaven4       
,footnote ,a3 ,see frontispiece4  ,now  
,i will not say that when the sisters   
were alone together1 and looked at their
 handsome ,bibles1 a thought of the     
work-box and the writing-desk never     
crossed their minds2 but it is certain  
that there was not a word said upon the 
subject1 and each seemed to be greatly  

pleased with her present1 admiring the  
rich purple binding1 and opening the    
book with care1 to look at the name     
which had been nicely written by their  
aunt on one of the blank leaves at the  
beginning4 ,in ,louisa's ,bible1 just   
under her name1 was the text1 ,open thou
 mine eyes1 that ,i may behold wondrous 
things out of thy law1 ,psa4 cxix1 #ah2 
and in ,emma's1 in the same place1 was  
written1 ,i love them that love me2 and 
those that seek me early shall find me4 
,prov4 viii1 #ag4     ,,chapter ,,iii4  
,,use ,,of ,,the ,,keepsakes4  ,the next
 day was a sorrowful one1 both to the   
friends who went away1 and to those who 
were left behind4 ,the children could   
talk of little else than their uncle and
 aunt ,harding4 ,they asked their mother
 many questions about the journey they  
had begun1 and the country to which they
 were going4 ,when ,louisa and ,emma saw
 that their mamma was very sad1 and not 
so ready as usual to join in their talk1
 they did not tease her1 as some        

thoughtless children would have done1   
but each chose for herself a pleasant   
and quiet employment4 ,louisa began to  
arrange the furniture in her baby-house1
 and ,emma brought a piece of brown silk
 from her drawer of treasures1 and set  
about making a cover for her new ,bible4
  ,why1 ,emma1 what are you about8 cried
 ,louisa1 after watching her sister for 
a moment2 surely you are not going to   
use that beautiful book8  ,yes1 ,i am1  
said ,emma1 quietly2 ,i mean to read a  
little in it every day4 ,ah6 ,i see that
 you think it will soon be torn and     
soiled2 but ,i assure you ,i intend to  
be very careful2 and look1 what a nice  
cover this will make6  ,i am afraid1    
said ,louisa1 laughing1 you will never  
be careful as long as you live4 ,to     
think of so soon beginning to use that  
handsome book6 ,i have made up my mind  
to read a chapter every day1 but not out
 of my new ,bible4 ,i think the old one1
 that lies in the school-room1 will do  
just as well4  ,so it would1 returned   

,emma2 and ,i thought of that myself    
last night1 when aunt ,harding told us  
how much she wished us to be good1 and  
to love the ,scriptures3 but then the   
school-room ,bible is not always in its 
place1 and that might sometimes hinder  
me from reading at all4 ,now ,i shall   
keep this book in my little drawer in   
our room1 where ,i can find it in a     
minute4  ,you must please yourself1 ,i  
suppose1 said ,louisa2 but ,i will ask  
mamma whether it is better to use aunt  
,harding's ,bible or the old one4  ,mrs4
 ,western heard what her little girl had
 to say1 but did not give just the      
answer that ,louisa expected4 ,you are  
right1 she said1 in supposing that it   
does not signify whether you read in an 
old ,bible or a new one4 ,it is from the
 divine blessing upon what we read1 and 
not from the book itself1 that we must  
look for benefit to our souls4 ,if you  
pray for this blessing with all your    
heart1 you will find the way of         
salvation as plainly declared in the    

worn-out school-room ,bible as in your  
aunt ,harding's keepsake1 with its      
purple binding and shining gilt leaves4 
,but yet ,i approve of ,emma's wish to  
use her new ,bible from this time1 and  
advise you to follow her example4 ,for  
though it ought to be our great delight 
to read the ,scriptures1 yet we have    
such sinful hearts1 so ready to put off 
doing what is right for any poor excuse1
 that even such a little thing as having
 to look for the ,bible1 when it happens
 to be mislaid1 will be likely to       
prevent you from reading it so          
constantly as you intend4  ,to this     
,louisa made no reply4 ,she had wrapped 
up her beautiful book in silver paper1  
and laid it carefully in a box1 under   
lock and key1 and she did not mean to   
disturb it1 except perhaps now and then 
for a few moments1 that it might be     
looked at and admired4 ,as for ,emma1   
she went on fitting the brown silk cover
 as neatly as she could2 and hoping     
that1 if she prayed for the divine      

blessing1 as her mother and aunt had    
told her1 she might learn from her      
precious ,bible the way to be good and  
happy4     ,,chapter ,,iv4   ,,two      
,,characters4  ,it is time that ,i      
should tell you the age of these two    
little girls4 ,louisa was just turned of
 ten1 and ,emma was one year younger4 ,i
 have no doubt that although you know so
 little about them1 you already like    
,emma better than her sister2 and the   
reason of this is plain4 ,no one could  
be long with ,louisa without finding out
 that she was a selfish child2 while    
,emma1 though she had many faults1 of   
which carelessness was the chief1 was of
 a kind1 good-natured disposition1      
always ready to oblige4 ,louisa1 too1   
was often willful1 and would not give up
 her own way2 while ,emma was           
humble-minded1 knowing that she had much
 to learn1 and thankful to be taught4   
,both of these children were sinners1   
like all who are born into this sinful  
world3 but ,louisa cared little about   

the concerns of her soul2 while ,emma   
had begun to pray in secret for pardon  
through ,christ her ,saviour1 and for   
the new heart which is the gift of his  
,holy ,spirit4  ,reader1 you too are a  
sinner1 and by nature far from ,god4 ,do
 you ever consider what is your present 
state8 ,have you been brought near to   
him by the blood of ,christ1 the new and
 living way8 ,you may have heard of     
these things before1 but without giving 
heed to the salvation of your own soul1 
or seeking to prepare for the world to  
come4 ,if this has been the case1 pause 
now1 and ask yourself whither you are   
going1 and what must be the end1 if you 
do not repent and turn from sin4 ,there 
are many awful texts in the ,bible      
concerning those who trifle with the    
offers of divine mercy1 and harden their
 hearts against the ,saviour's gracious 
call4 ,o6 pray that you may not be one  
of this unhappy number4 ,seek the ,lord 
while he may be found1 before the day of
 grace is past4 ,god has said that his  

,spirit shall not always strive with    
man1 ,gen4 vi1 #c2 and if you will not  
repent to-day1 to-morrow may be too     
late4  ,emma's ,bible was nicely        
covered1 and laid in her own little     
drawer2 and every morning she read a    
chapter before she went down stairs4    
,she prayed that ,god would teach her by
 his ,holy ,spirit to understand what   
she read2 and though her prayers were   
very simple1 and she scarcely knew what 
words to use1 yet she felt sure that he 
would hear her1 because he has promised 
to do so1 for the sake of his dear ,son4
 ,and by degrees1 as she began to love  
her ,bible more and more1 she learned a 
habit of going to their little room     
alone1 once in each day1 to read a few  
verses in private1 and to offer a short 
prayer to her ,father who seeth in      
secret4 ,matt1 vi1 #f4 ,she found a     
great blessing in this2 and it often    
happened that the thought of a text of  
,scripture which she had been reading in
 her room alone would come into her mind

 when she was afterward tempted to say  
or do something wrong1 and thus help to 
keep her from sin4  ,it was not so with 
,louisa4 ,the ,bible was often wanted in
 the schoolroom--for the children had a 
governess who came to teach them every  
day2 and ,louisa soon found it too much 
trouble to take the book up stairs at   
night1 and to carry it down again the   
next morning4 ,besides this1 she did not
 always rise from her bed in time to    
read a chapter1 so that it was often put
 off till after breakfast1 and then it  
commonly happened that she had other    
things to do1 and did not read it at    
all4 ,emma would sometimes gently remind
 her that her ,bible reading had been   
forgotten2 but this made ,louisa so     
cross that she left off doing so at     
last4 ,the truth was1 that this poor    
child had no real love for the          
,scriptures2 and as she did not seek for
 grace to help her1 the good resolves   
that she had made passed away quickly   
from her mind4  ,the difference between 

the sisters was seen in their outward   
conduct2 for ,emma's reading of the     
,bible would have been in vain if the   
effects had not been shown in her temper
 and daily life4 ,i do not mean to say  
that she never went wrong2 for ,emma had
 still an evil nature1 and a sinful     
heart1 often leading her to forget the  
commands of ,god4 ,but she was truly    
sorry when this had been the case1 and  
would ask to be forgiven with many      
tears2 and she also prayed for divine   
grace1 that she might try to be more    
watchful for the time to come4 ,louisa1 
on the other hand1 thought too highly of
 herself to be easily convinced of a    
fault2 and as she seldom received       
reproof in an humble and proper manner1 
she made but little progress toward     
improvement4     ,,chapter ,v4          
,,letters ,,from ,,india4  ,some months 
passed before there came a letter from  
,mrs4 ,harding2 for ,india1 as you know1
 is many thousands of miles from here1  
and it takes a long time for a ship to  

sail over the wide sea which lies       
between4 ,but great was the joy of the  
children and their mother when at last  
the good tidings came that1 through the 
mercy of ,god1 their friends had reached
 that distant country1 safe and well4   
,louisa danced and clapped her hands2   
and ,emma felt very happy1 sitting      
beside her mother1 and looking up in her
 face1 while she read the letter through
 tears of pleasure4  ,mrs4 ,harding had 
written a few lines to the children1    
which their mother read aloud to them1  
and then allowed them to look at for    
themselves4 ,the words were these3 ,i   
often think of you1 dear ,louisa and    
,emma1 and pray for divine blessings    
upon you both2 and ,i hope to hear that 
you are giving yourselves to the        
,saviour1 who died upon the cross for   
you4 ,you know the love of ,jesus for   
the young2 his kindness to them when he 
was upon earth2 and the tender way in   
which he still invites them to come to  
him4 ,go1 then1 to ,christ without      

delay3 ask him to be your friend1 and   
you will be happy for evermore4  ,a few 
weeks after this letter had been        
received1 ,mrs4 ,western's birthday     
arrived1 when it was usual for her      
children to have a holiday and a little 
treat4 ,on the morning of this day1 as  
,emma was running up stairs1 her mamma  
called to her from her dressing-room1   
and desired her to come in1 and to shut 
the door4 ,emma did as she was bid2 and 
then ,mrs4 ,western1 with a smile on her
 face1 told her to look round1 and try  
if she could discover anything in the   
room that she had not seen before4      
,almost before her mother had done      
speaking1 the little girl fixed her eyes
 upon a handsome work-box1 standing upon
 the table with the lid open1 and       
showing a lining of pale blue silk1     
edged with silver2 while within were    
scissors and thimble1 an abundance of   
needles and cotton1 everything1 in      
short1 that ,emma had long been wishing 
for in vain4  ,it is yours1 my dear1    

said her mamma2 it is a present from    
your aunt ,harding1 who1 in her letter1 
requested me to choose for you on my    
birthday something that you would like1 
if your conduct should have been such as
 to deserve a token of our approval4 ,i 
am happy to see that you strive to amend
 your faults1 and ,i trust that you will
 still go on trying to improve4  ,o1    
mamma1 how beautiful6 and how kind in   
aunt ,harding6 ,indeed ,i will try to   
deserve it4 ,and the little girl went   
close to the box1 and looked at its     
contents1 but without venturing to touch
 them2 then gently closing the lid1 she 
stood gazing upon it with silent        
delight4  ,but1 mamma1 said ,emma1      
looking up with a sudden thought1 and   
casting her eyes round the room as if in
 search of something which was not to be
 seen1 where is ,louisa's present8 ,she 
would like a writing-desk1 ,i know2 for 
the old work-box which she has had so   
long is not yet worn out1 because she is
 so very careful4  ,i am sorry to say1  

returned ,mrs4 ,western1 that ,louisa is
 not deserving of any present1 and      
therefore it would have been wrong to   
provide one for her4  ,at hearing this1 
,emma changed color1 and looked almost  
ready to cry4 ,dear mamma1 said she1 do 
pray have pity on poor ,louisa4 ,i      
cannot bear to show her my beautiful    
box1 if she is not to have a present    
too4 ,she would be so much grieved4  ,my
 dear1 said ,mrs4 ,western1 do you not  
perceive that it would be unjust and    
contrary to your aunt's wish1 if1 while 
,louisa gives way to her faults1 ,i were
 to treat her as though she were seeking
 to overcome them8 ,it is quite as      
painful to me as to yourself to make    
this needful difference between you2 but
 in all our actions we must think of    
what is right1 and not of what it would 
be pleasant to do4 ,when ,i see any sign
 of improvement in your sister1 ,i shall
 gladly provide her with a writing-desk2
 but not till then4  ,emma paused for a 
moment2 her eyes filled with tears1 and 

the color rose to her face4 ,then mamma1
 said she1 ,i will wait1 if you please1 
for my work-box1 until you think proper 
to give ,louisa her desk4 ,please to put
 it away in some safe place1 and ,i will
 not say anything about it4 ,i can do   
very well without the box a little while
 longer1 you know4  ,when ,mrs4 ,western
 found that ,emma was willing to deny   
herself a pleasure rather than give pain
 to her sister1 she consented to her    
wish1 because she desired to encourage  
kind and tender feelings between them2  
and she knew it would be easy to find   
some other way of showing ,louisa that  
her friends were grieved and displeased 
by her conduct4 ,so the work-box was    
safely put away for the present2 though 
,emma had her hopes that the time would 
soon come when1 with the promised       
writing-desk1 it might be again brought 
forward4     ,,chapter ,,vi4   ,,trouble
 ,,between ,,sisters4  ,i have told you 
that ,emma was not without her faults2  
and whether she was a little lifted up  

by her mother's approval1 so that she   
became less watchful over herself1 and  
felt less her need of the grace of ,god1
 ,i cannot say3 but so it was1 that on  
the very same evening of their mother's 
birthday1 the sisters had a quarrel1    
which would certainly have been worse1  
if ,mrs4 ,western had not been sitting  
by4 ,louisa was the first to blame2 but1
 on the other hand1 ,emma did not behave
 like a meek and ,christian child4  ,it 
was about ,louisa's old work-box that   
this quarrel took place4 ,emma wished to
 have the use of it for a short time1 as
 ,louisa did not want it herself3 but   
,louisa1 as you have seen1 was not very 
willing to lend2 and some sharp and     
unkind words passed between them1 such  
as children too often use when they give
 way to angry and sinful passions4 ,no  
doubt the thought of her own work-box   
was in ,emma's mind when she said1 ,you 
are selfish and ill-natured1 ,louisa1   
and do not deserve that people should   
give up any pleasure for you4  ,while   

she was speaking1 she saw her mother's  
eyes turned toward her with a look of   
surprise and sorrow2 and at the same    
moment the words of ,scripture1 ,be     
kindly affectioned one toward another1  
came into her mind4 ,she blushed and    
looked down while ,mrs4 ,western        
reproved them both1 and told them of the
 grief which1 she felt on account of    
their sinful conduct1 reminding them    
also of the example of the meek and     
lowly ,jesus1 who has commanded us to   
live in love4 ,emma was soon brought to 
tears1 and went out of the room to weep 
alone1 and ask forgiveness1 for her     
,saviour's sake1 from the holy ,god whom
 she had displeased by her sin3 but     
,louisa1 as usual1 was inclined to be   
sullen1 and did not think that she had  
been at all in the wrong4 ,upon this1   
her mother pointed out to her the       
unkindness of refusing so small a favor 
to her sister2 and in the hope of       
bringing her to a sense of her fault1   
she told her what had passed in the     

morning1 and made known to her the whole
 affair of the work-box4 ,louisa was so 
much struck by this proof of ,emma's    
love1 that her heart was quite softened1
 and she not only owned that she had    
done amiss1 but ran to seek her sister1 
and asked her to forget their quarrel   
and be friends4  ,emma was very glad to 
agree to this1 and was also ready to    
take her share of blame1 saying that she
 had been very wrong in speaking so     
unkindly1 and she hoped never to be so  
naughty again4 ,it was pleasant after   
this1 to see ,louisa's desire that her  
sister should use the old work-box1 and 
what care ,emma showed in keeping all   
its contents nicely in their place4     
,the loss of the birthday present had a 
great effect upon ,louisa1 so that she  
became more watchful over her temper and
 conduct4 ,in a few months she had      
improved so much1 that though she was   
still far from being all that could be  
wished1 yet her mother thought she might
 safely buy her the writing-desk1       

according to the desire of her aunt     
,harding4 ,emma had still waited for her
 work-box with hope and patience2 and   
you may imagine the joy of both when    
they at last received these long        
wished-for gifts4 ,and as ,emma was now 
not so careless as formerly1 and ,louisa
 had grown more kind1 the work-box and  
the writing-desk were often lent in     
exchange2 while the sisters soon found  
out the truth of what their mother told 
them1 that such little frequent acts of 
mutual kindness do more to increase love
 than those greater deeds which children
 sometimes talk about1 but seldom have  
the power to perform4  ,the second      
packet from aunt ,harding was received  
with not less joy than the first2 for   
there was in it a letter for ,louisa and
 ,emma2 and that she might show no favor
 to one above the other1 she had        
directed it to both4 ,louisa1 however1  
claimed and was allowed the privilege of
 breaking the seal4 ,i wish you could   
have seen their happy faces1 as ,emma   

leaned upon her sister's shoulder to    
read the welcome letter which had been  
sent to them from a country so distant1 
and by a friend whom they loved so well4
     ,,chapter ,,vii4   ,,aunt          
,,harding',s ,,letter4  ,would you like 
to know what aunt ,harding ,wrote to her
 nieces8 ,here then is the letter1 word 
for word3--   ,,my ,,dear ,,children1   
,,louisa ,,and ,,emma1--,it is with     
great pleasure that ,i read in your     
mamma's letter the account of your      
improvement1 and ,i am glad to fulfill  
the promise which ,i made of writing to 
you when that should be the case4 ,i    
hope that you will go on trying to grow 
better and better2 and for this end you 
should pray daily for the grace of ,god 
to help you every moment of your lives4 
,without his grace the evil desires of  
your sinful hearts will lead you from   
the right way2 and as one sin always    
brings on others1 you would1 if left to 
yourselves1 wander further and further  
from that which is good1 until you lost 

all love for your ,saviour and his      
commands4  ,i often think of you1 and   
wish that you could see the poor little 
,hindoo children1 who have never heard  
of the true ,god1 but are taught by     
their heathen parents to kneel down1 and
 pray to idols of wood and stone4 ,there
 is a river in this country1 the river  
,ganges1 which the people believe to be 
a goddess1 and they think that its      
waters can wash away their sins4        
,mothers often bring their little       
infants and bathe them in this river1   
because they believe it will make them  
holy4 ,do you not pity these poor       
people1 whose souls are perishing for   
want of knowledge8 ,do you not wish that
 some one would go among them1 and tell 
them about ,jesus the ,son of ,god1 who 
gave himself to die for sinners1 and    
whose blood alone can wash away sin8 ,if
 so1 you will be glad to know that there
 are some good men here who have left   
their own dear home and friends to live 
in this heathen country1 and to teach   

the poor ,hindoos the true and only way 
to heaven4 ,christians in other places1 
who love the ,saviour1 and wish that the
 heathen should learn to love him too1  
give money to send these good men here1 
and to pay for ,bibles1 and for other   
books which have been written on purpose
 to show how sinners may be saved4 ,all 
may help to do this who will spare a    
little money from their own wishes and  
wants4 ,you may help1 if you love the   
,saviour enough to deny yourselves some 
little pleasure now and then4 ,i think  
you would resolve to do so1 if you could
 go with me sometimes to the missionary 
school1 and see the little children     
sitting in rows1 learning to read about 
,jesus1 and hear them asking for more   
books to take home1 that they may tell  
the tidings of salvation to their       
heathen parents4 ,o yes6 ,i am sure you 
would want to help them then2 for you   
would remember that heathen children1   
like yourselves1 have souls which must  
live for ever and ever2 and you would   

long that they should come to the       
knowledge of the ,saviour1 who died for 
them as well as for you4  ,it is now    
time that ,i should finish this long    
letter2 so farewell1 dear ,louisa and   
,emma4 ,your uncle sends his love to    
you4 ,we often talk of you1 and pray    
that you may be the children of ,god1   
through faith in his dear ,son4 ,your   
ever affectionate1  ,,aunt ,,harding4   
,,chapter ,,viii4   ,,use ,,of ,,money4 
,emma found a great deal to think about 
in this letter1 and it led to frequent  
talk with her mother about the heathen1 
for whom she began to feel much concern4
 ,when she heard how ,christian people  
were trying to help them1 and had read  
some accounts which her mother lent to  
her1 telling of the happy change that1  
through the blessing of ,god1 had been  
brought about in many cases by the      
preaching of the gospel1 she wished that
 ,louisa and herself could join in doing
 something1 though ever so little1 for  
this good cause4 ,the love of ,christ   

was in her heart3 when this is the case1
 it will be sure to show itself in love 
for the souls of others4  ,but ,louisa1 
when spoken to on the subject1 said that
 she had not anything to give4 ,i am    
very sorry1 though1 that the poor       
,hindoos should worship idols1 she said2
 and when ,i grow older1 and have more  
money1 ,i will do a great deal for them1
 depend upon it4  ,but why not help them
 a little now8 said ,emma4  ,because ,i 
have no money1 replied ,louisa2 no money
 ,i mean except what is in my little    
savings bank1 and ,i should not like to 
part with that4 ,as for you1 ,emma1 you 
never can save up a shilling2 so that ,i
 am sure you have not anything to spare4
  ,ah1 said ,emma1 that is true1 to be  
sure2 ,i never can save my money1 and so
 ,i will tell you what ,i mean to do4   
,mamma gives us threepence a week1 to   
spend as we please1 you know2 but ,i    
will only take twopence for the time to 
come1 and ,i shall ask her to give the  
other pennies to the ,tract ,society at 

the end of the year4 ,four shillings and
 fourpence is not much1 indeed1 yet it  
will buy some nice little books for the 
,hindoo children in the schools2 and if 
you will also give a penny a week1 that 
will buy just as many more4  ,it was of 
no use4 ,louisa would not be persuaded  
to do anything for the heathen yet4     
,emma gave her penny a week1 and felt   
happy in giving it2 while ,louisa only  
talked of doing so by and by4 ,if       
,louisa had loved her ,saviour and her  
,bible1 she would have felt it a delight
 to assist in sending the glad tidings  
of the gospel to heathen lands2 but when
 the heart has not been changed by the  
,holy ,spirit1 we feel but little       
concern for our own souls1 and do not   
care for the salvation of others4  ,emma
 was not led away by the example of her 
sister2 but as she grew older she seemed
 to grow in grace1 and in the knowledge 
and love of ,christ4 ,this will always  
be the case with those who believe the  
promises of ,god1 and seek for divine   

assistance to enable them to obey his   
word4 ,we can do nothing of ourselves1  
for we are poor1 guilty1 helpless       
sinners3 but ,god1 who has given his    
only ,son to die for our sins1 has also 
promised to give his ,holy ,spirit to   
them that ask it4 ,therefore1 though we 
feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful1 
we need not despair of growing better1  
if we also feel our need of ,christ1 and
 go to him for help and pardon4  ,louisa
 and ,emma had often heard that life is 
short and uncertain2 but it is not easy 
for young people to feel the truth of   
this while they are healthy and strong4 
,when ,emma was about twelve years old  
she was taken very ill1 so that there   
was from the first but little hope that 
she would recover4 ,then she felt that  
it is an awful thing to die2 and the    
thought of the soul1 which cannot die1  
and of heaven and hell1 were far more   
solemn than they had ever seemed to her 
before4 ,at first she was greatly afraid
 of death1 for she knew she was a       

sinner1 and deserving of the anger of   
,god2 but by degrees1 as she lay on her 
sick bed1 there came into her mind many 
sweet verses of the ,bible1 which she   
had learned in her days of health1 and  
which gave her comfort1 by telling her  
of the love of ,jesus the ,lamb of ,god1
 who taketh away the sins of the world4 
,do you think she was sorry1 now1 that  
she had spent so many hours in reading  
that holy and blessed book8 ,no2 for the
 promises of mercy and salvation which  
it held out to her was her only support 
through many hours of pain and          
suffering1 when death seemed near1 and  
eternity close at hand4 ,though too ill 
to read1 or even to listen to the words 
of life1 she could remember many of them
 in her heart1 and think of them to her 
comfort in this season of trial4        
,sometimes she was able to talk to her  
mother for a few minutes1 when it was   
plain that her mind was chiefly filled  
with thoughts of ,christ and things     
divine4 ,and she often said that1 if it 

should be the will of ,god to restore   
her to health1 she hoped for grace to   
devote herself to his service1 and to   
live more to his glory than she had ever
 done before4 ,she also spoke oftener to
 her sister1 begging her to think of her
 soul1 to read her ,bible more1 and to  
seek for the pardon of her sins2 and    
,louisa1 who was in great distress at   
the thought of losing her1 was ready to 
promise anything that she asked4 ,but it
 did not appear that she was under any  
concern for her own state2 and this was 
a great trouble to poor ,emma1 who now  
felt more than ever the need of         
preparing for the world to come4  ,it   
pleased ,god to spare her life1 though  
she grew better very slowly1 and it was 
many weeks before she could leave her   
room4 ,when her long and painful illness
 was over1 she was again able to share  
with ,louisa in her lessons and her     
pleasures1 so that in time those weeks  
of grief and suffering seemed to be     
forgotten2 but they were not forgotten  

by ,emma3 she did not forget the mercies
 she had received1 and the resolve which
 she had made of leading a holy life3   
she daily prayed for an humble and      
watchful mind1 and for grace to keep her
 from falling into sin2 and1 as you may 
suppose1 she loved her ,bible more and  
more for the comfort which it had given 
her in the time of trouble4 ,she still  
took pleasure in reading it alone1 and  
prayed that she might have grace to obey
 its commands1 so that it might be a    
lamp unto her feet and a light unto her 
path4 ,psa4 cxix1 #aje4     ,,chapter   
,,ix4   ,,aunt ,,harding',s ,,return4   
,and now two more years had passed away1
 and the time when their aunt ,harding's
 return was looked for had come4 ,they  
had talked of it all through the winter2
 and when spring was over1 and summer   
begun1 the happy tidings came that the  
ship had arrived in safety1 and their   
uncle and aunt ,harding were on their   
way to visit them once more4 ,i will    
leave you to guess the joy that was felt

 by all2 and you must picture to        
yourself the pleasure of their meeting  
soon afterward3 how thankful all were   
that they were spared to behold each    
other again2 with uncle ,harding's      
surprise at seeing two great girls      
instead of little ,louisa and ,emma2 and
 aunt ,harding's smiles1 and her hopes  
that there would be found an equal      
improvement in matters of more          
importance4  ,the morning after she     
came1 when ,mrs4 ,harding began to      
unpack her boxes1 ,louisa and ,emma     
caught sight of many pretty and curious 
things which she told them were intended
 as presents for themselves4 ,but before
 we proceed any further1 said she1 as   
the girls were beginning to express     
their thanks and pleasure1 ,i wish to   
inquire about the parting keepsake which
 ,i gave to you2 and ,i should be glad  
to see how each book has been treated1  
that ,i may know the real value which   
you set upon the gift4  ,louisa and     
,emma both ran to fulfill their aunt's  

desire4 ,to speak the truth1 ,louisa was
 now in hopes of having all the praise4 
,she quickly brought in her handsome    
,bible1 still wrapped in the soft white 
paper1 and in all the gloss of newness3 
not a mark upon the rich purple binding1
 not a speck upon the bright gilt       
leaves4 ,emma1 too1 brought hers1 but   
with a more timid look2 the neat brown  
silk cover was faded and worn--she had  
thought of making a new one only the day
 before--and the brightness was gone    
from the leaves1 and the binding seemed 
rather loose1 for the book opened       
easily1 and there were some pages1 less 
white than others1 which looked as if   
they had been often read4 ,to ,louisa's 
surprise1 ,mrs4 ,harding laid down her  
book without saying a word1 while1 as   
soon as she took ,emma's ,bible into her
 hand1 she smiled with pleasure1        
although tears came into her eyes4 ,this
 book has been valued as it ought to be1
 said she2 it has been used with care1  
but often used1 so that ,i trust it has 

been found a guide and a help to heaven4
 ,but yours1 ,louisa--and she pointed to
 the beautiful ,bible which lay upon the
 table--yours has been laid aside1 like 
the talent which was buried in the      
earth4 ,it has been of no benefit to    
your soul1 for you seem hardly ever to  
have looked to it for instruction2 as if
 its real worth consisted in outside    
ornament1 you have been careful to keep 
that from injury1 but have never sought 
or cared for the treasure that is       
within4 ,but dry your tears1 my dear    
,louisa1 added aunt ,harding kindly4 ,i 
am not angry1 for ,i know that your     
mistaken care was in some measure caused
 by your love for me4 ,i am only sorry  
that my parting present has not been of 
the use which ,i intended4 ,but it is   
not yet too late for you to learn that1 
while your ,bible should be kept with   
proper care--for it is the word of      
,god--yet it was given for our daily    
study1 that we might read it1 pray over 
it1 and practice it2 and thus1 by the   

divine blessing1 become 'wise unto      
salvation through faith which is in     
,christ ,jesus4' #b ,tim4 iii1 #ae4  ,i 
trust1 said the kind aunt1 looking at   
her two nieces with much affection2 ,i  
trust that my dear ,emma knows and loves
 her ,saviour1 and takes delight in the 
,scriptures1 because they testify of    
him4 ,may you both have grace to love   
him above all things1 to do his will1   
and to put your trust in him for        
evermore2 and then the heartfelt desire 
of your aunt ,harding will be fulfilled4
  ,reader1 beware how you neglect the   
word of ,god4 ,but remember it is not by
 merely reading it that you are to look 
for a blessing to your soul4 ,you must  
pray for the teaching of the ,holy      
,spirit1 who alone can open your        
understanding1 and incline your heart to
 heavenly wisdom1 that you may not read 
in vain4         99       99       99   
99       99  ,,prayer ,,for ,,divine    
,,guidance4  ,o that the ,lord would    
guide my ways   ,to keep his statutes   

still6 ,o that my ,god would grant me   
grace   ,to know and do his will6  ,o   
send thy ,spirit down to write   ,thy   
law upon my heart6 ,nor let my tongue   
indulge deceit1   ,nor act the liar's   
part4  ,from vanity turn off mine eyes2 
,let no corrupt design1 ,nor covetous   
desires1 arise   ,within this soul of   
mine4  ,order my footsteps by thy word1 
,and make my heart sincere3 ,let sin    
have no dominion1 ,lord1   ,but keep my 
conscience clear4  ,my soul hath gone   
too far astray1   ,my feet too often    
slip2 ,yet1 since ,i've not forgot thy  
way1   ,restore thy wand'ring sheep4    
,make me to walk in thy commands1       
',tis a delightful road2 ,nor let my    
head1 or heart1 or hands1   ,offend     
against my ,god4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,,value ,,of ,,the
 ,,scriptures ,,to ,,the ,,young  ,how  
shall the young secure their hearts1    
,and guard their lives from sin8 ,thy   
word the choicest rules imparts   ,to   
keep the conscience clean4  ,when once  

it enters to the mind1   ,it spreads    
such light abroad1 ,the meanest souls   
instruction find1   ,and raise their    
thoughts to ,god4  ',tis like the sun1 a
 heavenly light   ,that guides us all   
the day2 ,and through the dangers of the
 night1   ,a lamp to lead our way4  ,thy
 precepts make me truly wise2   ,i hate 
the sinner's road3 ,i hate my own vain  
thoughts that rise1   ,but love thy law1
 my ,god4  ,thy word is everlasting     
truth2   ,how pure is every page6 ,that 
holy book shall guide our youth1   ,and 
well support our age4   ,,the ,,end4    
99       99       99       99       99  
,,books ,,published ,,for ,,the         
,,sunday-,,school ,,union ,,of ,,the    
,,methodist ,,episcopal ,,church4       
99       99       99       99       99  
,,kindness ,,to ,,animals2 ,,showing    
,,the ,,sin ,,of ,,cruelty4 ,,by        
,,charlotte ,,elizabeth4 ,price eighteen
 cents4  ,,the ,m',,gregor ,,family4    
,price eighteen cents4  ,,the ,,cottage 
,,on ,,the ,,moor2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,evils  

,,of ,,pride4 ,price eighteen cents4    
,,old ,,anthony',s ,,hints ,,to ,,young 
,,people1 ,,to ,,make ,,them ,,cheerful 
,,and ,,wise4 ,price twenty cents4      
,,the ,,jew ,,among ,,all ,,nations1    
,,showing ,,the ,,present ,,condition   
,,of ,,that ,,wonderful ,,people4 ,price
 twenty-one cents4  ,,the ,,egyptian1   
,,by ,,the ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,jew4   
,price twenty-one cents4  ,,the         
,,strange ,,planet1 ,,and ,,other       
,,allegories1 ,,designed ,,to           
,,illustrate ,,important ,,subjects