SOWING LITTLE SEEDS.



LITTLE Bessie had a present of a new book, and she eagerly opened it to look at the first picture. It was the picture of a boy sitting by the side of a stream, throwing seeds into the water.

"I wonder what this picture is about?" said she. "Why does the boy throw seeds into the water?"

"I know," said her brother Edward, who had been looking at the book, "he is sowing the seeds of water lilies."

"How small the seeds look," said Bessie. 

"It seems strange that such large plants should grow from such little things." 

"You are sowing just such tiny seeds every day, Bessie; and they will come up large, strong plants after awhile," said her father.

"Oh! No, father; I have not planted any seeds for a long while."

"I have seen my daughter sow a number of seeds today.  "Bessie looked puzzled, and her father smiled, and said:

"Yes; I have watched you planting flowers and seeds, and weeds, today."

"Now I know that you are joking, for I would not plant ugly weeds.  "I will tell you what I mean. When you laid aside that interesting book, and attended to what your mother wished done, you were sowing seeds of kindness and love. 

When you broke the dish you knew your mother valued, and came instantly and told her, you were sowing the seeds of truth. 

When you took the cup of cold water to the poor woman at the gate, you were sowing the seeds of mercy. These are all beautiful flowers, Bessie; but I hope my little girl has been planting the great tree of love to God, and that she will tend and watch it until its branches reach the skies, and meet before the throne." 

"And the weeds, father?" 

"When you were impatient with baby, you sowed the seeds of ill-temper. When you waited some time after your mother called you, you sowed disobedience and self- selfishness. These are all noxious weeds. Pull them up. Do not let them grow in your garden." 




WILLIAM H. LANE.




PRIDE. Do you know what God thinks of proud people?

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord."

"Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly;

 but the proud knoweth  he is afar off."

"The Lord will destroy the house of the proud."

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."