The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-10-05
Snnhap Rrnhinq.
The Bountiful Friend.


king walk on fine day in the begin.
nlng OF autumn saw u basket filed with
beautiful punches of grapes on the parlor
table; some were deep purple, and some
light yellow, like amLer.
'Oh where did these fine grapes come
fromF cried Edward, quite delighted, and
whose are they 2
They bolong TO you, dear Edward
SAID bis mother ! for your grandf rr,
hearing that you were not very well, sen,
them TO you with his love. He says they
are some of the first grapes tha, have
ripened in his green house.
How very good grandfather is y said
Edward Il will write to him without de.
lay, and thank him. Oh 1! il | could give
him any pleasure, how happy it would
make me-
Il am glad you feel so grateful said
his mother, but what would you say if
you had friend who would not only
send you grapes but all sorts of nice fruit
Would you not be as thankful TO him
as to your kind grand father T.
Yes, certainly, dear mother;I would
thank him with all my heart, and try
every means in my power to please him
But If this good friend continued his
mother. were to send YOU a thousand
other things moi merely agreeable and
useful but absolutely necessary to your
existence, and which you could not pe,
except from him y
Then, replied Edward, Il would be
| Or nj Gnl 10 a. 7
mother. ! would write long letters to
him every day 10 thank him for so many
gifts; and am sure should never cease
thinking OF what could do for him; for,
oh how great must be the love OF a
Trend who could be so exceedingly kind
and generous
'And,' continued his mother, 'wha. if
he should not only send you these pre-
Sents once, but every day, aud every hour,
and every minute "
oh, mother what wonderful friend
he would be lie mus, bo so rich and
powerful and full Of love -
And if besides all these good gifts bis
mother added, there was another and a
lar greater sign of bis love, to you if no,
satisfied with providing for you the com.
! forts and pleasures of this life, he had de
vlsed means for giving you JOYS which
should last for ever, and exceed all yoa
could Imagine and to do all this, had
gwen his only Son to die IA most painful
death y
Oh mother said the child, begin
ming to see her object, 1T would never be
possible for Inc to feel grateful enough for
such wonderful Lowell souId always think
OF that friend, | would do every thing
could to please him; yet still could nev
er love him enough
! No truly, my child said his mother,
while she pressed his little hand in hers 4;
'and yet you and all Of us hare such a
friend, one who is never weary of doing
good and Of renewing his gifts. He eau
ses the fruit from year to year to swell
and ripen on the trees, SO that We and all
creatures may not only live, but rejoice in
our being. If you are thus thankful 10
an earthly friend for . single gift, how
much more thankful should you be ia
our Father in heaven. for his innumera
hIe blessings; and for having so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosOever believed in him should
not perish, but have everlasting hfe.'
Mother, what a wicked heart a person
must have who could he ungrateful 10
God how wicked it would be-
Very wicked indeed. my child said
his mother, kissing him therefore be
careful not to be ungrateful to your dear
friend, for all his benefits to YOU. If you
do not love him, and strive, through the
Divine Spirit, to keep his commandments
you will be the source Of the deepest mis-
cry to me. should weep for you as for n
lost child we could no longer have any
JOY or peace. You can have no happiness
without the favor Of God nor could
have any hope for my Edward, If you are
not His child =