CHAPTER III.
AT HOME.
And what did the children think of Mrs. Mordaunt's words? We willfollow them home and see. Little Jane Hutton, I am afraid, forgotthem; for during the service her eyes kept wandering round the churchin search of gay dresses and bonnets, and watching what herschool-fellows thought of her own new ribbons.
Kitty Harrison had attended to what Mrs. Mordaunt said, and resolvedto do it; so she found out all the places in her prayer-book, and wenthome full of plans of amendment, and in the evening she drew herlittle stool to the window, and began to read her Bible, _not_ somuch because she wished to learn what it said, as because she thoughtit _right_ to read it. But, in the first place, her thoughts wouldkeep wandering to Jane Hutton's ribbons, then she could not helplistening to what her father and mother were talking about, and thekitten would keep playing with her frock; and so she got through achapter without very well understanding it, and then was rather gladthat it grew too dark for her to read any more. Soon after, thechildren were sent to bed, and Kitty went upstairs wondering why shedid not like to read the Bible better, and rather pleased to thinkthat to-morrow was a play-day.
Kitty had forgotten two great things: she had forgotten that to love_God's Word_ we must first love _God_; and she had forgotten that thelittle seed could not sprout without rain, and that the dew of heaven,the Holy Spirit, must be _asked for_.
Meantime, Amy was feeling very differently. She thought how good itwas of Jesus, the Son of God, to care about the love of littlechildren, and to watch the good seed sown in their hearts, and nourishit, and water it, and make it grow; and she thought that it would bethe happiest thing in the world to be his disciple, and to do what hewished, and be loved and approved by him; and she resolved to try. Soas they walked home, she planned that she would go into a quiet placein the garden, under the trees, and pray to God.
But when they reached the cottage, they had to put away their Sundaythings; and when Amy came down her mother desired her to keep the babywhile she got the tea ready. Amy thought it hard to be hindered in herplans; but she remembered the verse, "By love serve one another," andit came into her mind that Christ might be as pleased at hercheerfully giving up her own way to help her mother, as if she hadbeen praying to him, and the thought made her happy, and she dancedthe baby, and played with it till it crowed with delight. After tea,she could not find any quiet in the room where the family weresitting, so she went into the bedroom and knelt down by the bedside.She had always been accustomed to say her prayers morning and evening,because she had been taught, and because she would have been afraid togo to sleep without; but now it was a different thing--_she wantedsomething which she felt only God could give_. She wanted to be madegood, to have her sins forgiven, to have strength to overcome herfaults, that Christ might love her and bless her; and she asked thisearnestly of him. She felt sure he would hear; and she rose from herknees with a lightened heart, and opened her Bible and read, until itwas quite dark, of the Saviour and his goodness. And that night shewent to sleep happy in the care of God.