Eddie's Sermon.


EDDIE JONES (a little colored boy) knocked

timidly at Mrs. Ray's door, and begged for a

piece of bread for his sick mother. Mrs. Ray

knew that when Eddie's mother was well, she

was very industrious, and made her family

 comfortable;

and she was quite ready to comply

with the little boy's request, and give her a

helping hand, now that she was unable to

work. Accordingly, she took a loaf of bread,

wrapped it in a paper, and gave it to Eddie;

but, just as he was taking his leave, she 

remembered that he was probably hungry. She

called him back, seated him at the table, and

gave him a plate of cold griddle-cakes, with

syrup poured over them. Eddie ate them with

infinite relish; and when he had finished the

last mouthful, he said, "These cakes are so

good, it 'pears like as if the Lord had given

'em to me; and I thank Mrs. Ray, too."

Eddie didn't think of preaching a sermon

when he said these words; but they answered

the purpose of one to little Sarah Ray, who

was standing by the table where he was eating;

for they made her think how many more

blessings she enjoyed than Eddie did, and,

alas! How much less grateful she had been

to God. So far from thanking him for her

food, she remembered that the very day before,

at dinner, she had pushed away from her, in

displeasure, a plate of pudding, because there

were no raisins in it. It was a small action;

and perhaps, although she knew it grieved

her kind mother, she never would have

thought of it again if Eddie's words had not

roused her conscience. If he was so grateful,

she thought, for the crumbs which fell from

her father's luxurious table, how sinful it was

for her ever to complain! She felt very much

ashamed and reproved; and from that time,

by God's assistance, her conduct in this

 particular was much improved; and as 

reformation in one respect often leads to the

 correction of numerous faults, so it happened, 

in this case, that Sarah not only felt more 

thankful for her own comforts, but she was more

 compassionate, and thoughtful of those who

 were  in want and distress, and willing 

sometimes to deny herself that she might 

relieve them.




Child at Home.