Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-09
yloMth's Column.
LITTLE ERNEsT's QUESTION.


middle of April, a lady was busily writ
ing letter in the breakfast room of
pleasant house near the city of c..
A little boy of about eight summers
looking out of window rather discon-
tentedly, and every now and then casting
a side glance at his mother.
At last the letter was finished and
Mrs. Summers turning to the little boy
said
"What is the matter. Ernest? you
look as if you had all the cares of the
world on you"
Ernest laughed and said
II have been wanting to ask you
something all this morning, mamma and
when 1 came home from school and found
you busy it made me feel quite angry"
"Little boys should never feel angry"
said his mother, gravely; "but what
is it you are wanting to know so i'm
patiently %
"Why, mamma, this morning teacher
gave us the fifth chapter of st. Matthew
to read, and I cannot understand the
twenty-ninth and thirtieth verses"
...Bring your Bible and read it to me.
and will endeavor to make it as plain
as possible.
Ernest brought his Bible and read
slowly. "'If thy right eye offend thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell
Now mamma" said he, "could 1 take
my eye out and throw it away? I can
not think" said he, after a pause,
''what Jesus could mean: can you,
mamma %
81 will try to do SO, my DEAR" said his
mother, kindly; "but first of all bring
your chair and come and sit by ny
side" Ernest brought his chair, and
after slight pause she said
"You remember your aunt Amy who
died a short time ago."
"Yes, mother" said Ernest.
"Whcn she was about your age she
was a lovely child, with large blue eyes
! and long golden curls. Everybody who
came to the house took fancy to her.
One day lady sent her beautiful
doll 1t was nearly as large as small
baby, and had several complete suits Of
clothing Amy was delighted. She
could not bear to be away from it. The
next day when it was time for prayers,
she who generally came willing enough,
refused to come unless she might bring
her doll with her. Permission being
granted, she came, and sitting down by
her fathers side babe her doll be quiet
till the reading was finished. Now my
father chose for reading that day the
same chapter you had this morning
when he came to that verse he stopped
and explained it. When prayers were
over little Amy came close to her mother
and laying her head on her lap burs
into tears. Her mother tried in vain t.
comfort her. At length when she wa
quieter she brought her doll to her ant
said
"'Take it away, mamma; | DON
want to see it any more
"'Why not, my dear 2 said her moth
er, anxiously.
"'Why, mamma she sobbed, 'whe
l have my doll cannot think of any
thing but it; when l am saying m
prayers l cannot help thinking of it
and you know papa said that if we ha
anything that took our thoughts fror
Christ, we ought to give it up directly
IL think l know what you mea
mamma said Ernest, after she had fir
ished.
"What is it, my boy ? said his mother
"Why, mamma" he said, "if "
have anything we like very much an
we find it takes our thoughts frol
Christ, we must give it up"
, "That is right" said his MOTHER
Chlidren'S Friend.