HARRY'S LESSON.



HARRY CONNORS was fifteen years old, and he thought himself a very fine, manly fellow; and so he was in his way; he despised everything mean, never ordered about the little boys, and was always respectful to his parents; but he had some unfortunate notions of manliness. One of these was, that doing errands was not dignified and proper employment for a person of his age and experience, and should be left entirely to small boys.

One day his mother asked him to go to Mrs. Lucas' with a basket of work, and some food for the widow's dinner. Harry did not like to refuse, though he thought his mother might have sent some one else as well; so he took up the basket and walked along rather sullenly. Mrs. Connors looked after him, feeling a little proud of her boy, and at the same time a little sorry that he was no wiser.

The day was rather unpleasant, and the cold rain chilled Harry so that he felt uncomfortable, and it must be owned, quite cross, as he turned up the lane that led to Mrs. Lucas' door. He was glad to find a good fire inside and to have an opportunity, of warming and drying himself, while the good woman put away the work and the food he had brought, and thanked him over and over for his kindness. As he took up the empty basket and put on his cap, Mrs. Lucas said to him, "I believe the Lord sent you here this dismal day. Did you ever think what a privilege it is to do the Lord's errands?"

"I certainly didn't think of it in that way," answered Harry. "I came to oblige my mother."

"You have obliged me, too," said the widow; "but the best of it is that you have done an errand for our Master."

Harry said "good morning," and went out thoughtfully. He didn't think much about the rain on his way home, but he thought a good deal about what Mrs. Lucas had said to him, and his silly feeling that he was too much of a man to do errands. He was really manly enough to see where he had made a mistake and try to correct it, and the few words that reminded him that he was serving our Lord in the little service he had done for his mother put the matter in quite a new light. What can be nobler than to work for our Master our Father in Heaven?