Our Gift | Page 7

how did you like Abba's Sunday school?"
"Oh, mother! I was so happy; do let me go there. They sing so sweetly,
and the pastor was so kind. He had an affectionate word for all. Their
superintendent, too, was so pleasant, I know I should love him."
Her mother said to her, with a very sorrowful countenance, "Do you
know, my child, that they teach very erroneous doctrines there, in
regard to a future life? They teach that all will be eventually holy and
happy, both the good and the bad."
"But, mother, I should think it would make us all happy to believe so.
The minister told us that 'God is Love;' and that cannot be a bad
doctrine. I am sure I would much rather think so, than that he would
hate any of us, for you have often told me that hatred was very wicked.
I cannot think that a good and wise being would do that which you
have taught me is wrong. Then they all seem to love each other dearly.
They are like a pleasant family of brothers and sisters. Do let me go,
will you not, dear mother? I should be so happy."
Her mother said many things to convince her that it was not right to
change her school. But she was very unhappy, and said so often, "Do
let me go," that her mother consented to gratify her; thinking, perhaps,
that she would soon tire of it.
Sunday came, and Emma was nearly the first one there; so anxious was

she to be in season.
She entered the schoolroom with a bright and happy face, and when the
superintendent came to her, she said, "I have come to join your Sabbath
school. Will you receive me?"
To add to her joy, the superintendent gave her a seat in the same class
with her friend Abba, who was a very kind and good little girl; and she
found a number of others in the class who were very glad to see her
there. One little girl lent her a book to study, and when the teacher gave
her a lesson for the next Sabbath, she said, "I have a lesson now. Fanny
lent me her book, and I have already learned a lesson from it."
This pleased her teacher very much; for she thought that there were
many little girls who would have been very glad of such an excuse to
put off their lessons. Ever after, she was very constant in her attendance,
always had her lessons very perfect, and never stayed at home, even if
it chanced to be a rainy clay; for she would say, "My teacher will be
there; and I am sure if she is there, I can go. Besides, I know it will
make her very happy to see me always in my place."
In this way did this good little Emma continue to go on, acquiring
knowledge, and gaining the love and good-will of all who knew her.
She was always happy and cheerful; kind to her parents, obliging to her
brothers and sisters, ever ready to assist the poor and destitute, having a
kind word and a happy smile for all. And this she learned from that one
great and ennobling truth, that "God is Love."
THE OLD SABBATH SCHOOLROOM.
A PARODY.
How dear to our hearts is that old Sabbath schoolroom,
Which each
Sunday morning presents to our view;
The seats, the piano, the
portrait that's near it,
And ev'ry loved thing which our memory knew.

Our dearly-loved pastor, his wife who comes with him,
Our
Superintendent, and dear Mrs. G.,
The teachers, the pupils, and

faithful Librarians,
We each Sabbath morning invariably see.
That
old Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, That blessed
old schoolroom where all love to be.
That old Sabbath schoolroom we hail as a treasure;
For often, when
weary and anxious with care,
We've found it the place of a heavenly
pleasure
We seek for with ardor, but find not elsewhere.
How eager
we enter, with hearts that are glowing,
And quick to our places,--we
all know them well,--
And then with our song-books, and souls
overflowing,
The anthem of praise we unitedly swell,
That old
Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, That blessed old
schoolroom where all love to be.
Blest truth,--from our teachers with joy we receive it,--
That God is
our Father, our Savior and Friend!
There's nought so alluring could
tempt us to leave it,
Though fraught with all pleasures the fancy can
lend.
And when far removed to some distant location,
The tears of
regret will intrusively swell,
As mem'ry reverts to our former
vocation,
And longs for the schoolroom we all loved so well.
That
old Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, That blessed
old schoolroom we all love so well.
THE HUNTER, AND HIS DOG JOWLER.
A FABLE.
A famous hunter in the woodland country had a dog which was