Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-04-08
CHILDREN.

lttlo child shall lead thom."
One cold market morning, looked in
to n millinor's shop, and there saw
hale, hearty, well-browned young fellow
from tho country, with his long cart
whip and lion shag coat, holding up
some little matter, and turning it about
on his great fist And what do you sup
pose it was q? A bdby's bonnet. A little
soft, blue satin bood with swans down
border, white as tho new fallen snow,
with frill of rich blonde around tho
edge.
By his side stood very pretty woman,
holding with no small pride, tho baby
for evidently it was The baby. Any one
could rend that fact in every glance ms
they looked at each other, and the little
hood, and then at the largo blue, uncon-
scious eyes, fat dimpled cheeks Of the
little one. IL was evioent that neither
of them had ever seen baby Ike that
before.
But, really, Mary" said the young
man, "isn't three dollars very high ?"
Mary very prudent said nothing, but
taking the bonnet, tied it on the little
head, and held up the baby. Tho man
looked and grnned, and without another
word, down went the three dollars-all
that tho last weeks butter came to and
rs they walked out of the shop il is hard
to say which looked tho most delighted
with the bargain.
"Ah I" thought 1. "a little child shall
lead them"
Another day as was passing a car
riage factory, along one of our back
streets, / saw n young mechanic at work
on wheel. Tho rough BODY of car
riage stood beside him-and there, wrap
ped up snugly, all hooded and cloaked,
sat little darkeyed girl, about II year
old, playing with great shaggy dog.
AS l stopped, the man looked up from
his work and turned admiringly towards
his little companion as much as to say.
Sec what have got there"
Yes" thought |, "and if tho little
lady ever gets glance from admiring
swains rs sincere as that, sho will bo
| lucky.u
All, these children little witches
pretty even in all their faults and absurd
tiles winning even in their sins and in
iQuities SEQ, for example, yonder little
fellow in naughty ft-he has shaken
his long curls over his deep blue eyes
the fair brow is bent in n frown-the
rose leaf lip Is curled in infrite defiance,
and the white shoulders thrust haughtily
forward. Can any but a child look so
pretty, even in their naughtiness
Then comes the instant change fash
ing smiles and tears, as all the good
comes back all in rush, and you arc
overwhelmed with protestatiors, prom
ises and kisses | They are irresistable,
too, these little onos. They pull away
the scholars pen-tumble about his pa
pers-mnke somersots over his books
and what can he do They tear his
newspapers, litter his carpets, break,
pull, and upset, and then jabber unintolli-
gible English in self defence-and what
can you do for yourselfl
"If had child" says tho precise
man, "you should see."
lie does have a child, and his child
tears up his papers, tumbles over
his things, and pulls his nose tike all
other children, and what has the man
to say for himself? Nothing-he Is like
rybody else, "a child shall lead him"
Poor little children they bring and
teach us, human beings, more good than
they get In return. How often does the
infant, with its soft check and helpless
hand. awaken a mother from worldliness
and egotism TO whole world Of now and
higher feelings? How often does the
mother repay this by doing her best to
wipe, even before the time, the dew and
fresh simplicity of childhood, and make
her daughter too soon woman Of tho
world, as she has boon.
The hardened heart of the worldly man
is unlocked by the guiltless tones and
simple caresses of his son, but he repays
It, in time, by imparting to his boy all
the crooked tricks, and hard ways, and
callous maxims, which have undone him
self.
THE most attentive man 10 business on