TALKS TO LITTLE FOLKS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1191, 28 December 1894, Page 20

TALKS TO LITTLE FOLKS.

ANGELIC GRIT.

You have no doubt heard of John Brown. Many persons bear that name, but there is only one who is the John Brown. He lived to do good to others, trying to help slaves into freedom. I need scarcely remind you of the failure of his insurrection at Harper's Ferry, and that the Slave Authority condemned him to be put to death. With noble bearing and firm step John Brown walked towards the rope which was to hang his body. His arms were not ti«ad down, as we . fasten condemned criminals, but were folded across his breast, with the heroism of a god. As we walked along in the procession he saw a little coloured boy looking on, and Was both touched and cheered. Unfolding his arms, he stooped to the black child, and, kissing him on the forehead, exclaimed, "It is to deliver such as thee I die to-day !" They put the rope around his neck and hang the body until it is dead, but " John Brown's soul goes marching on" —they kill the body, but release himself to do mightier work for God. Now, little folks, God may not call on us to give our lives;to save the lives of others; but we can do something quite as noble as that which John Brown did, or as angels can do. Let me show you how to be noble. In God's Word it says that " the angels shall keep thee from dashing thy foot against a stone." But we can do something nobler though humbler than that. We cannot lift a boy or girl over the stone that will -cripple them, but cannot we stoop and shove the stone from" the path ? Mxy our Father enable us to remove the stumbling stones, and let us resolve to do good in little kindnesses. Girls, be pure sunbeams; boys, grow backbone and angelic grit! And let us all think as much of others as of self. I wish you a Happy New Year.