Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-06-12
For the Children.
NETTIE S VERSE.
BIZ Antoi..ette S. Mo6aa.

I
One morning, last summer, a pair OF
| bright, blue eyes looked Wistfully over
the low fence of a neatly kept, flower
filed garden, in which stood a small
but pretty; white cottage The owner
Of this pair. Of blue eyes is little name
sake of uaine, and the pretty white cot
tage with its garden belongs to her IA
ther.
Such a cozy, sunshiny, attractive
home is this Of Nettie's, with the breath
| of sweet flowers filing the air all sum-
mer long a little, sheltered nook
where the shadows play bo-peep with
the sunshine5 great trees beneath whose
cool green you can sit and listen to the
birds song among the branches, the
hum Of the busy working bees, and the
softened echo of human voices, and
tread of distant footsteps.
The cottage is perched or. the brow Of
steep hill its white walls cleaning
through the trees green foliage like
delicate pearls set in a cluster of emer-
aids. Nettie dearly loves this pleasant
home, and the warm, summer days are
only too short for her, as she watches
the birds and flowers and ripeniBg
frulty---
t'I wonder what's the name of that
gentleman who speaks Sc kindly 10 me,
whenever meet him on the street!
He's a real good man, know and
guess he'd like to have me call and see
him a little while. He lives in that
nice house over there, and it won't take
me a minute to run down the hill.
Mother won't care, for shan't be gone
long,"
Nettie said this to herself, as she
stood looking over the fence by the gar
den gate. In going down the street, oc-
casionaIly, on errands for her mother,
her bright face had attracted the notice
of a gentleman, who spoke to her IN
rassinar in such pleasant friendly tones
hot F7nrs oh
directly, Nettie was a warm hearted
impulsive child, and had way Of her
own in deciding very quickly upon any
course of action. So without asking her
mothers permission, she opened the
gate, crossed the green field beyond the
garden, ran down the street, and IN
moment more stood on the doorstep of
her friends house.
Ringing the bell, she soon made
known her erraud, and was ushered by
the girl, into the sitting room, where
the family were assem- bled for morning
prayers.
The gentleman, who was a Methodist
clergyman, greeted his little friend most
cordially, and led her to seat near his
own. It was his usual custom to re-
uuiTe each member of his family to re-
peat, in turn, a verse or two, of their
own selection, from the Bible, before
kneelfng with them in prayer.
Family worship was something new
TO Nettle, ana the eager questioning
look she turned upon each one as he or
she repeated their chosen text, induced
her friend to say.
"Perhaps YOU would like to repeat a
short verse from the Bible, Nettie. If
you can remember one, / should like to
hear you say it."
90, yes, sir, I've got a verse to say,
exclaimed the child, perfectly delighted
that her turn had come at last, the
smiles ripping all over her face, like
srubea1as on the water. ST can remem-
Der the whole of il, !" and with a quick
glance around the room, she repeated
in a clear distinct tone,
81 had q little dog and his name was AIufT,
I sent him down the street for penny's
worth Of snuff,
But he broke my new box and split all the
50 my story is ended and that is enough
For moment, the astonished family
could not restrain their mirtb, but the
intense satisfaction beaming on the dear
child's happy, little face, glowing as it
was, with a tremulOus consciousness Of
having contributed her share of the en-
/ tertuinment-whate she thought hat
entertainment might be-helped them
I quickly to control themselves, though
/ it was some moments before the rever
+ end gentleman could compose himself
sufficiently to proceed with the morn
Ing's exercises
/ SNever, in all my life" he said after
/ wards 10 her mother, ''was ] so put to
4 il to collect my thoughts for prayer, as
was that morning. I think neither NY
4 sell or family viii ever forget little Net
! ties verse '7'-LittLe Corporal.
{