Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-02
For the watchmai
Lesson OF the Brown Moss.

"I'm sorry for little girls who have no
aunties to tell them stories; :" and the sunny
little head nestled more closely on my shout
der, as the brown eyes were lifted in plead
ing for " Just one more" The auntie said
in her heart " And am sorry for the aunties
who have no dear little ones to love;" but
her words only said, "What shall it be
now ?"-and this was the story
1t was in the spring-time, when the
fields were once more putting forth their
fresh green, and the early flowers were again
lifting their gentle faces to the sunshine, on
a warm hillside there lived a family of the
dear little star flowers, that we call limo
cence. You all know the flower, | am sure,
with its pale blue petals, and heart of gold,
among all the glad children of spring the
gladdest.
Well, this family of innocence, living as
said on the hillside, had made their home in
a bank of brown-green moss, and from this
lifted each its slender stem and starry face
into the sunshine, and as they blinked and
nodded to each other, softly murmured, " God
is good, God is good
One day little brown sparrow, who had
been busily at work getting home ready
TOR itself near by, and merriy singing as it
fitted hither and thither, came to this bank
to gather something for its nest, and hush
ing for moment its own song, heard tn,
gentle murmur OF the flowers.
"Silly little things" said he, "what can
YOU know of life or Joy What can you
know of goodness, earth-beund as you are.
never to rise on glad wings to the sky as p
aud with fresh gush OF wild melody, away
he flew
A gay butterfly who was that morning,
for the first time, spreading his wings
of gold and brown, came sailing along just
in time to hear what the sparrow said.
Poor things indeed" said the butterfly,
and with look of pity for the humble
flowers, fitted away into the sunlight.
But as the day went ON, the once sunny
face of spring was covered with dark
clouds, and soon the rain drops came patter-
ing down at first the sparrow shook them
from his wings, but by-and.by his song
| ceased, and as the drops came faster and
faster chill crept to his very heart and
he thought to hide himself away, but found
no shelter till he remembered the home OF
the innocence and came seeking refuge in
the soft arms of the motherly moss and the
moss opened her arms and sheltered the
poor bird in her bosom,
The butterfly, too, worn in its vain eff
| forts to find protection from the rain, came
with its gauzy wing dropping and weary
| glad to hide itself in the thick warm robe OF
the once despised greenbrown moss.
But the little innocence only bowed theil
heads, resting their faces on the bosom q
their kindly old friend, and sang on, ever
the same song; for the rain that brought
grief to the sparrow and butterfly, was but
another of Gods good gifts to Them. anC
they gladly drank their fill Of the sweet
spring shower
As the story ended, the little head wa
raised from my shoulder And so God tool
care of them all in the soft moss ? He wa'
very good"
Yes, dear, and now will give you ;
text to learn, and by-and-by, after you know
its words, you will, day by day, be learning
what it means. 'Oh give thanks unto thu
Lord for he is good, and his mercy endur
eth forever"