The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-18

sides l don't want to stay in here all
day alone"
So with another promise to be a good
boy and keep out of mischief, he was
permitted to 60 out and amuse himself.
his bow and arrow was present from
his brother, and he had not become very
expert In using them vet. None the less
was he very proud to own them: and he
really expected to do great things in
archery some day, that would astonish
the family
Well, l think that day had come, for
1T was not long before he let fly an arrow
that lodged in the top of an apple tree,
though aimed at the old cat summing her
self on the garden fence. Of course
Johnny climbed up in the tree to get his
arrow, and the next that was seen Of him.
poor child he lay white and limp upon
the ground with a broken arm.
A few hours later, when the arm was
set and the effects of the ether gone,
Johnny was lying upon his mothers bed,
somewhat sobered by the days mishaps,
but quite as CHEEKY as could be expected
under the circumstances. He had a nan
at last, after which his brother fed him
his supper of toast and marmalade, which
was Johnny's bill of fare whenever he
was ailing. Then he declared he was
ready for story or something" TAX
ing one brown chubby hand in his, Har-
ry told him this story:
There was little boy who had been
taught to pray morning and evening to
his heavenly Father. One night he knelt
down by his bed and prayed this way
Oh Lord, take care of me during the
night, and when get up in the morning
L will take care of myself The next
morning he went out in the garden and
bee stung him. After dinner he fell
in the creek where the water was deep,
and he would have drowned if a strong
man had not pulled him out. Then he
climbed up in tree from which he fell
to the ground and broke his arm. Now
do you think this boy took very good
care of himself, Johnny ?"
"Not very" said Johnny. "Guess he
forgot he promised the Lord he would"
But that was not all the trouble"
said Harry. Don't you know, dear,
that you can never, night or day, take
care of yourself without Gods help? No
one can. We all need his care every
moment of our lives. And he kindly
watches over US even when we forget
him, and more tenderly than our dear
mother did when we were babies. You
know we wouF' often get into danger in
spite of all her care. Sometimes she fell
down and hurt us, sometimes burned our
fingers, though she tried her best to
prevent it. Would it not have been very
foolish and wrong for us to think we
could do without our mother and take
care of ourselves when we were babies ?"
Yes, | 'spose so, " said Johnny.
Well, it would be more foolish to
think we could do without our heavenly
Fathers care at any time. The Bible
says a mother may forget her child, but
our God will never forget US. He has
preserved your life to-day, though you
have been in great danger and badly
hurt. Perhaps this lesson was needed to
teach you that you are dependent upon
his care at all times. And so you will
learn to ask him for it every day of your
life, will you not, little brother?''
Johnny's own little prayer that night
was this: ooh Lord, please to take care
of me nights, and daytimes, too, cause I
can't take very good care of myself, and
make me good boy, so when I grow up
III be most as good s Harry, for Jesus
sake. Amen. "-Z1aterior