For Our Young Readers

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 39, 22 January 1897, Page 25

For Our Young Readers

NELLIE'S LESSON. 11 It's dreadful to think of the suffering souls ! " And Nellie's bright face grew quite bad. '• I really would like to help them all, But, you see. I'm entirely too bad. •• I never get up when first I'm called. And don't get my breakfast till eight; I can't always find my books fast enough, And when I reach school, why it's late. " I don't like to mind the baby one bit. And somehow my aprons will tear ; Then, often I think of a funny thing 1 . Right in the midst of a prayer." Her mamma half smiled as she heard the words, And she drew Nellie to her side. Explaining how everything" that she did To their needs could be applied. If every day she arose when called For the suffering' souls' dear sake. And every time that she studied well. Or a sacrifice small did make. She helped the poor souls more than w r ords could do, And broug-ht them nearer to heaven, Where they would surely remember her, Through whom the kind help was given. '■ what'll poor mother do?" A little Boston newsboy in endeavouring" to carry a paper to a gentleman on a car, fell beneath the wheels and was crushed. As kind hands bore him away, his last and only words were, " What'll poor mother do .' "—Daily paper. Great souls have passed away from mortal view On battle-plain, on ocean tide, 'Mid all life's scenes and places, and alone, And ott' in lo\ing" arm-- have died.

And dying: breathed a peaceful, fond farewell, A prayer, a pardon or a plea, Righted some wrong, or caused some strife of state Or cried aloud of things to be. But none have whispered tenderer, truer words Than this child spoke For his poor, sorrowing mother, as his soul passed Like a white dove through city Kmoko. L. W. W.