The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-08-12
For the Girls and Boys,
From tho American Messenger.
The Four wv ords.

Z was NON, luhll Nlll"hI any lhlllF 'l0'J HNWI
gentleman the other day. 4 cnnuot
reckon up all the good they have done me;
they were The first words which my mother
taught me-
"lndcod; what were the four itllo words?"
snid !.
He answered me by relating tic following
story.
"Ny father grated pear tree; it WINS n
very choice graf, aud he watched it with
grcnt care. The second yeor it hlossomed
but it bore but one penr. They were said TO
he n very nice kind Of pcnr, md my father
was quite anxious 10 SEQ it they came up to
thc mans promises. This single pear, then,
was an Object of some concern TO my father
Jlo wanted it to become fully ripe; the high
winds, he hoped, would not blow Off the
penr;nnd he give express directions TO all the
children Oh no account to touch it. The graft
was low, and easily reached by us 1t grew
finely. q think that graft will meet my cX-
pectnlions,said my father many times TO my
mothcr. y hope, now, there il some pros
pGci of our having good pears
"!vcry body who came INTO the garden,
no took to the graft. and every body snid, 'lt
will prove TO be n most excellent pear
alt begun to look very beautifully it was
full and round; ii rich, red glow was gradual
ly dying its cheeks and its grain was clear
and healthy.
ais it not almost ripe? Hong for bite.
long for n bite" cried, rs followed father
ono day down the alley to the pear tree.
90 Wait patiently, my child; it will not be
fully ripe for week. said my father.
81 thought loved pears better than any
thing else: often used to stop and look long
ingly up to this. Oh, how good it looks, |
used to think, smackng my lips wish ii
avas all nj e.
"The early apples did not taste as good
tho curr0nis were not as rclishing, and the
damsons thought nothing Of in comparison
with this pear. The longer stopped alone
under the pear tree tho greater my longing
for it, until was seized with the idea ofget-
ting il. O, wish bad it, was the selfish
thought tllat gradually got uppermost in my
dnind.
"One night after we were in bcd,my BROTH
ers fell asleep long before did, tossed a.
Bout and could not get to sleep. ! crept up
and went to the window. Ii was warm,
still, summer night; there was no moon; no
noise except the hum of numherIcss insects.
My father and mother were gone away.
pnt my head ont Of the window and pecped
auto the garden. snulfed very pleasant
smplls. traced the dark outlines of the
srccs glanced in the direction of the pear
cree. The pear tree, then the pCnr My
.mouih was parched; was thirsty. thought
BOW good would juicy pear taste. was
sempted.
"a few moments found me creeping down
abe back stairs, with neither shoes, stockings,
CIR trowsors on. The slightest crenking fright
enod me. Istnpped on every stair to listen.
Nancy was busy somewhere else, and John
bad gone 10 bed. At last fiIrly felt my way
10 the garden door, 1t was fastened. 1t seem.
od to.take me ages to unlock it,so fearful was
| Of making a noise, aud tic bolt grated.
got it open, went ont, and latched it after me.
1t was good to get out in the cool night air.
/ ran down tho walk. The patting of my
feet naIc no noise on the moist earth.
stopped Il moment and looked all around,
then turned in the direction ofthe pear tree.
Presently | was beneath its branches,
'fathor will think the wind has knocked
at oil; but there was not breath ofuir STIR
ring. Father will think somebody has stoI-
en- it-some boys came in the nights robbed
abe garlen-he'll never know. ltrembled at
thG thought of what was about to do. Oh,
it win taste so good, and father never will,
never can know it; Inc never would think /
took it.
I(eaned against the trunk Of the tree and
raised my hand 10 find it, and TO snatch it, On
tiptoc, with my hand upliftcd and my head
turned upward, i heheId star looking down
,slpon me through the leaves. 'THoU Con
sEEsT MEp escaped from my lips. The star
seemed like the eye Of God spying me out
-&inder the pear tree. | was SO frightened
did not know what to do. Thou Cop SEE
ST MEH could not help saying, over and
over again. God seemed on every side. He
avas looking me through and through. was
afraid to look, and hid my face. 1t seemed
as if father and MOTHER and all the boys, and
every body in town would take me for
thief. 1t appeared as though all my conduct
had been seen as by the light of day. 1t was
some time before dared to move, so vivid
Svas the impression made upon my mind by
ashe awful truth in those four words, Thou
Sod seeat me- kne,0 he saw me. fell
= that he saw me.
II fastened from the pear tree; nothing on
earth would ut that moment have tempted
me to touch the pear. With very different
feelings did creep back TO bed again. ] lay
down beside Asa feeling more like a con-
demned criminal than any thing else. No
one in the house had seen me, but oh, it
seemed as ifevory body knew, and | Should
never dare meet my fathers ficc again. 1t
was great while before went to sleep.
heard my parents come home, and ! invol-
untary hid my face under the sheet. But
could not hide myself from a sense OF Gods
presence. His eyes seemed everywhere, div
ing into the very depths ofmy heart. 1t
stared u train ofiuHucuces which. God be
praised, never got over. III was ever
tempted to any secret sin, Thou God seest
me- started me in the t;ce,and stood back
restrained and awcd." The gentleman finish
od; his story interested me greatly. | think
it will interest many children. I hope it will
do more than interest them, hope it may do
them much good
"Thou God seest me-" Those four little
words arc from the Bible. IIngar uttered
them. She fled in anger from her mistress,
Sarah,aud went into the Wilderness. Anan-
gel met her by fountain Of water. The an
gel bade hcrreturu to her mistress, and told