Effie Maurice | Page 2

this subject, and
when you understand it better, we will talk more about it.'
'I think I understand it now, mother. Every thing we love better than the
God of heaven becomes our god, and if we don't bow down to pray to it,
we give it our heart-worship, as you said, and that is quite as wicked.
But after all, mother, I don't think there is any danger of my breaking
the first commandment.'
'Do you remember the text Harry repeated at the table this morning?
"Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."'
Effie looked very thoughtful for a moment, and then laying her face in
her mother's lap, she said: 'It is not because I am so good that I think so,
mother; I know I am very wicked, but I am sure that I love my
heavenly Father better than any thing else.'
'I am glad to believe you do,' said Mrs Maurice, drawing the child
nearer to her and kissing her cheek. 'I am persuaded that calmly and
deliberately you would not prefer the world to Him. But perpetual
distrust of self, with constant trust in God, is your only ground of safety.
Those who do not fall, may for a moment slip, and you with all the rest
of us must watch and pray.'
CHAPTER II.
PLANS PROPOSED.

The conversation that Effie Maurice had had with her mother made a
very deep impression on her mind; but still, with all the confidence of
one who has had but few trials, she was grieved that any one should
suppose she could for a moment forget her heavenly Father, or prefer
any thing to His glory and honour. She repeated what her mother had
said to her brother Harry, and he increased her self-confidence by
recalling a great many little sacrifices she had made, which he was
quite sure other young persons would not do.
'And now, Effie,' said the kind-hearted brother, 'we will talk no more
about this, for it makes you very sober. Remember that to-morrow is
New Year's day, and we've got the money to spend that Aunt Norton
sent us, so we must be out early, or all the prettiest things will be sold. I
went by Mr T.'s shop to-night, and it was all lighted up so that I could
see great sticks of candy, almost as big round as my wrist, and jars of
sweetmeats, and there was a rocking horse all saddled and bridled, and
the neatest little whip you ever did see, and such a little rifle--but I
forgot, girls don't mind those things; let me think--I dare say there were
dolls, though I didn't look for them, and then such a pretty little
rocking-chair all cushioned with purple silk, just about big enough for
dolly, and heaps of other nice things--so we must be out early, Effie.'
'Harry--'
'What is it, Effie?'
'I was thinking--'
'What about? Do you want something I haven't mentioned? I dare say it
is there.'
'No, I was thinking--I--I believe I will give my money to the
missionaries.'
'Now, Effie!'
'Then I shan't make a god of it.'

'But Aunt Norton gave you this to buy some pretty things for yourself.'
'I know it, but--'
'And you have given ever so much to the missionaries.'
'Well, Harry, I don't know that I need any new toys.'
'When you see Mr T.'s shop--'
'I don't want to see Mr T.'s shop, that would be going in the way of
temptation.'
Harry was silent a few moments,--he was two years older than Effie,
and although sometimes dazzled by appearances, as in the case of the
attractive toy shop, when he waited to think, his judgment was usually
very good for one so young. At last he looked up with a smile, 'I've
thought it out, Effie, we don't need any new toys; we might buy books
for our little library, but father has promised us two or three more soon.
Then our subscriptions to the Missionary Society, and the Bible Society,
and the Colporteur Society, are paid (to be sure it wouldn't hurt us to
give a little more), but I have just thought what to do with this money
(that is, yours and mine together, you know), which I think is better
than all the rest.'
'What is it?'
'We'll make a New Year's present of it.'
'To whom?'
'Can't you think?'
'To father, or mother?'
'No, I should love to buy them something, but they would rather not.'
'To old Phillis, then?'

'Old Phillis!--it would be a good notion to buy her a gown, wouldn't it,
but I was thinking of John Frink.'
'You didn't mean to give it to him, I hope, such an idle,
good-for-nothing boy as he is?'
'He