The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-04-22
fur tbs CHILDREN.
Jack and the Prophet Elijah.

Here's yer Evening JOURNAL All
about the lection. Only two cents"
Jack sang his song outside his grand
mothers gate, letting his voice fall a
minor third on the last syllable of each
clause, as all the other boys did. 1t was
only by way of joke that he sang 1t
there, for he had no expectation of
selling her paper, but it was as good a
way as any of letting her know he was
coming and would want his supper at
once, so that he might be off again
without any loss of time.
You always have it ready for me,
grandmother" he said, as she placed
the big bowl of bread and milk on
the table.
"I'll be all sold out in another hour,
and then I'll have time to read to you
after I've studied my lesson.
Jack ate at first with the appetite of
a hearty, hungry boy, but at length his
spoon moved more slowly and he bal
anced it on the edge of the bowl, look
ing as if some weighty matter were on
his mind.
"Seems to me you have to work
dreadfully hard, grandmother, he said,
looking at her as she bent over her
sewing.
"Well, you work hard too, Jacky."
eyes" He looked grave, thinking
how early he had to get up in the morn
ing in order to have his wood cut and
his other chores done before going to
school.
"Don't you like work % asked his
grandmother.
eyes, but not too much work. l
think it would be pretty nice if we could
have things fixed for us as they were
for some one they were telling about
in Sunday-school."
GLOW was that?" she asked.
"Well, there was a famine-that
means you don't get any breakfast or
dinner or supper-dear meP' Jack
shook his head soberly at the thought
of such dreadful state of things. And
there was a man named Elijah, and he
was good man, and first of all the
Lord sent ravens to take things to him.
Just think, grandmother, every morning
great birds coming with all you wanted
and not cost you cent?
"And after that Elijah went to
widow that lived-oh, somewhere or
other-and then how do you think they
managed? Why, grandmother, they
had barrel with just a little bit of
meal in it, and when it was gone every
day and every day there kept coming
more and more. Now, what do you
think of that?"
I" 1t was a wonderful thing, my boy"
Yes, l guess 'twasr' said Jack,
bringing his hand down on the table with
sounding clap. "And | don't see
univ ha I nr1 1nrtt do fhin,c hot
now"
What more did you learn about
Elijah, Jacky?"
Well, l guess that's about all 1
heard. He talked a lot more, but
got to thinking what jolly thing
'twould be to lay down in the shade
and sleep, or look up at the green
branches or the blue sky and have
those ravens bring you good things,
and Just have to hold out your hand for
'em. And just think, grandmother, if
every time you went to the flour barrel
or the milk pitcher you found more
there, and just so with everything else,
and you and me didn't have to work a
bitr'
81 think" said grandmother, with a
quiet smile, " that if you had listened
more attentively you would have made
up your mind that Elijah had pretty
hard time. You did not hear how, al
the Lords bidding, he went about
warning wicked people of the wrath OF
God which was coming upon them il
they did not repent of their sins. And
of the way in which he was hunted
from place to place by these very
people, who were so angry at being
told of it that they would have killed
him. 1t is not at all likely. that in al
your life you will ever know such hard
ships as he did"
" Any way, don't believe he ever
had better supper than that" sale
Jack, pushing away his bowl and spring
ing up to be off at his work
"You may be sure it tastes all thu
better because you have fairly earned
it," said grandmother. 6 Listen, Jack,
don't ever get into your foolish littl,
head the idea that it is not good to work
Work is blessing. The happiest PEG
pie in the world are those who can fint
plenty to do and who do it with honest
hearty goodwill. The Lord has givel
you active, lively feet and strong, skill
full hands; do you think he meant tina
Ilty llC ltllCs Ilt lids illduC SOD
things to grow for us in fields am
orchards and gardens don't you thin
he intended that we should make use O
them through CHEEKY, industrious labor
The hand of the diligent maketl
rich--'n
"There, now, grandmother" inter
rupted Jack, GIVE heard you say tha
a thousand times; but you're Away
working and you amt rich. Look ho'
shabby the carpet is, and think ho'
many things we don't have that we
like to have"
mot rich, Jacky? Why, my boy,
would not change my riches for all tn
carpets and other fine things in tn
world A good many years ago thel
was dear bright-faced boy very muc
like you. He wanted good education
and he and his mother worked han
that he might have it, for they kne
no riches were like the riches of ii
mind. And when he became a man
was in his heart to preach the Lord
holy gospel, and wasn't his moth
proud to work to help him lay up sue
riches as such do? And when he WI
ready to begin his work there came
call from far over the sea, and