HONORING PARENTS
HONORING PARENTS.
and revised by theCommittee of Publication.
BOSTON:
MASS. SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY,
1851.
HONORING PARENTS.
I suppose all my young readers have learned the fifth commandment,and have often been told that children should honor their parents bycheerful and prompt obedience to all their commands. This is one way inwhich parents should be honored continually.
But there is another way by which you may not only show that you feelrespect for your father and mother yourself, but you may force others tofeel the same respect for them.
That you may understand what I mean, I will tell you a story of a littleboy who, for once, at least in his life, honored his mother. Thiswas not by any command, however, for she was not with him at the time,and I do not suppose that she ever heard of the circumstance which I amabout to tell you.
One morning, a teacher entered her school of about sixty children,accompanied by another young lady,—her friend. The children did notcluster around as thickly as usual. Some quietly took their seats; andothers, disliking the restraint of a stranger's presence, ran into theplay-ground. But nine o'clock soon came; and the teacher, havingconducted her friend to a seat where she might observe what passedaround her, rang a small bell, and the seats were soon filled with rosycheeks and smiling countenances. The morning hymn was sung, and then allknelt to implore the blessing of him who loved little children when hewas in the world, and who loves them no less now he is in heaven. Theyrose from their knees; and soon the teacher was busied with classes, andthe children who could study, with their books.
Miss H. (the stranger) soon became interested in watching the movementof six or eight little boys, of four years old, who occupied a low benchnear her. The smallest of these was a little black-eyed boy, who movedabout on the seat as much as any one, and made rather more than hisshare of noise. He had a little book of pictures, which he was eagerlydisplaying to the little ones around him; and several times had hisearnest explanations been interrupted by the voice of the teacher,saying, "Willy, my dear, you must look at the pictures without talking;"when a rude boy stepped up and snatched it from his hand.
Now, what would you have done, if you had been in Willy's place justthen? Would you have struck your naughty little playmate, or called himbad names? or should you have tried to snatch the book back again? Willyknew a better way. He looked troubled, indeed, at first. He asked forthe book in a very coaxing tone; but when he found that the selfishHenry would not give it up, he quietly turned away to find amusementin something else.
A little girl, who sat near, now handed Willy a large yellow-coveredbook