age, who lived near her, and who became her playmate. They were often together.

One day, when she had been out playing with this little girl, she came to her mother and said, "Mother, I have been talking to Fannie about the Bible, and she liked to hear me. She has no mother, you know, to talk and pray with her, and I thought I would speak with her about it. She said she should like to become good. We had a very pleasant time."

Although Gratia was but five years old at this time, she was quite familiar with the holy book of God, and was never known to use its passages improperly. She was in the habit of reading a chapter to her mother every night before going to bed; and she would frequently take up the Bible in the course of the day and appear to read it with much interest.

It was during this year that Gratia's dear grandmother died; and she was

deeply grieved to see her aunt M. so sad. She would often see her weeping, when she not only tried to comfort her, but would pray for her.

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One day Gratia came out of her little

room for prayer," as she called it, and said to her, "Aunty, I have been praying for you, that you need not feel so badly about grandmamma."

She

Gratia's faith was strong, though the summer of her life had been short. looked to God always. She had such confidence in his care, that she could trust him for every thing, feeling safety in the greatest danger. She never expressed any fear in a severe thunderstorm. Even when very young, she would say to her mother, at such times, "Mother, God can take care of us as well in the storm as in the sunshine." She knew that the great God who had created her, and watched over her when an infant, would shield her still, and

would never let her escape from his watchful eye. And he will care for you, my dear children; you need have no fear, for it is God who sends both the storm and the calm.

The winter that Gratia was six years old, she learned to sing, and from the first her whole soul was engaged in it. She gave all her attention as well in learning to sing as in learning to read.

When at the singing-school, she was not turning around to see what was going on behind her, or whispering to the little girl who sat beside her; nor did she, in any way, try to attract the attention of others; but she listened to all her teacher said, and thus, after the second or third lesson, she could sing a tune alone.

Before attending singing-school, she had no correct idea of a tune, and when she commenced going, her mother had little expectation that she would learn to sing. She was extremely fond of music,

however, and was so delighted to be able to sing at home, that she would clap her hands and jump about with glee.

Among her favourite tunes were—
"Come, come, the summer now is here,"

and:

"Flowers, wild-wood flowers,"
"A charge to keep I have,"
"Lord, teach me how to pray,"

"To thee, O blessed Saviour," &c.

At the close of the term of singingschool a concert was given, and the little ones sung to us. Many of them sung entirely alone, and Gratia was one of these. Her teacher said to her, "Gratia, you may sing, 'The Cuckoo."" She stepped out alone upon the platform, and sung it sweetly through, and so distinctly, that the whole audience could hear. *

* In such exhibitions too much care cannot be taken to prevent the excitement of vain or envious passions. There are always persons ready to flatter

Her voice was mellow, clear, and full. Most of my little readers love to sing, I am sure! It is a happy employment! If you do not now know, whenever you can you must try very hard to learn. I think you can learn, if you will only try long enough. Singing has a gentle and soothing influence upon children.

I have seen two little girls, who were crying and quarrelling with anger, quieted in a very few moments by being persuaded to sing together, and made as happy as if nothing unpleasant had occurred.

There is such a charm in music, it makes us love each other. Yes, and the

the pride of children, especially if their ways are interesting and attractive; and it would seem better and safer to present them as seldom as possible to public observation. We do not apply this caution to the case in the text, supposing that under these circumstances no such danger was to be apprehended.