Year: 1867

them, ana the promises having all Deeh
written down, they all sang together and
departed for their several homes.


"The next day, Madelen, their mother,
went to the goldsmith's with her budget
of clothes. She thonght what happy
time she would now have. But one week
was sufficient for, by the end Of that
time, she found that she was not vel
come in the house, though she had no
doubt her son loved her very much. His
children did not seem to be fond of her,
and indeed the whole family seemed to
consider her burden rather than
pleasure She next went to the tailor's
who had told her that he would drink
up the Rhine, go through great fire,
and leap down from a church-tower, for
his mother. Alas! for his promise. She
had not been there four days before she
learned that she was not welcome at his
house And SO she went through from
one house to the other, until she had
made visit to all her seven sons, and
there was not one Of the number who
seemed to enjoy her presence That
they all loved her. have no doubt; but
at the same time, she did not seem to be
welcome, and she felt that she was not
at home"


"All this is very true, father" said
Jacob; 'but at the same time, is it right
for sons to treat their mother so ?"


"Oh, no." replied old Casimer; 81
have not said that it is right; it is very
wrong. But it shows US how much
better our pareuts have taken care of us
than we take care of them. What would
kind mother to take care of me, and
what would have become of you if you
had not had good mother to look after
your interests ?'


"But, father" replied Jacob, 81 think
you have chosen rather an unusual case
to teach me this lesson. Do you sup
pose it is generally SO with people
throughout the world3'


Gas far as have seen," said old CAST
mer, II think it is general truth.
Come, now, want to show you how it
is with smaller beings than man. Do
you not know that in our bird-cage there
are just seven little birds, now just old
enough to fly about little? The old
bird takes care of them every day, and
we leave the door open, you know, for
her to go in and out, and bring them
worms, and whatever else they wish.
The cage is hanging up by the bean vine
at our back door. Let us see how that
old bird and her seven young ones man.
age. There she goes right in at the
open door, taking them something to
eat. See how they cluster round her.
and how they love her! What in the
world would they do without her2
Every one of them would die. Now, let
US see how she would get along if we
let them take care of her"


Then old Casimer took all the little
birds out of the cage on his lap, and
fastened the old bird up.


.sLet US see how soon they will bring
her worm, and do some act of kind
ness for her,


One little bird jumped off his lap upon
a pile of lumber that was lying near the
door; another one jumped down in the
door; a third flew on the window sill a
fourth few on the bean-vine; and so
they all went in different directions, and
did not pay the slightest attention to
their mother.


"Oh! the birds will get away-they
will get away!' said Jacob.


"Yes, think they will,' replied old
Casimer, ''if we do not catch them; for
they will never come back to take care
of their old mother


s'I believe they are right" said Jacob.


Old Casimer smiled and said: "It is
the same with men and birds, and all
the creatures G God has made. One mother
can take care of seven children better
than seven children can take care of one
mother. Let us thank our Heavenly
Father for good mothers.-[New York
Methodist.


~ "uo gsf,