The Story of Jessie

who lived in it thought it a very pretty one. It consisted of the church, the vicarage, t

oses. From this, the one street-lined on either side by little cottages, with here and there a small shop-led to the green, around which stood in irregular fashion pretty houses and large cottages with gardens before their doors. The doctor lived in one of these houses

he might be able to see the donkeys and the ducks which were usually standing about cropping the grass, or poking about in the little stream which ran along one side of the green. She thought the ivy-covered church, with the t

e to cook it; but they all went together to the evening service, and Jessie dearly loved the walk to church in the quiet summer's evening,

granny was helping her on with her big print overall, grandfather would carry out two big arm-chairs, and a little one for Jessie, and there

, Jessie herself would take her turn too. Sometimes they would repeat a psalm or two in the same way, or a chapter, and

elt in her little white nightg

esus, mee

n a litt

y simp

e to com

ld to Thee

od, forbi

kingdom o

ttle child

nd grandmother, and all kind friends and relations, a

to see if grandfather was still there, she lay down in her little white bed, and with a kiss from gra

life was full of all sorts of delights, indeed she would have liked nothing better than for it to go on and on always in the

. She can't walk there and back three times a day, I am sure. If she walked there and back in the morning, and there and back in the afternoon, she wouldn't

yself for a bit on Sundays," he exclaimed triumphantly, his dear old face lighting up at the th

er schooling. What c

then she would be safe enough. We will begin our Sunday-school next Sunday"-his blue eyes lighting up with pleasure at the thought of it. The day-school was quite a secondary

ut, too, for grandfather's Bible and Prayer and hymn-books, and then, looking very pleased but serious, the pair seated themselves. The dear old man was a little bit shy and emb

to begin, granp?" sh

prayer," he said huskily, feeling that something was ex

"but why is it called the 'Lord's Prayer,' granp

ren to say, all the world over, and

body all over the world know about it, granp?

id the old man softly, as though speaking to himself. "He left word with His people that they were to teach each other, and they did. You see t

g suddenly bright, "I'll have to teach somebody. Who

knew it before she was your

ll teach

t too before she wa

prised. "She never said any

the lesson?" asked grandfather; "time is

against her grandfather, listened quietly while the o

Father,' too, granp

mother's an

, won't He, and see that she

tears of them that love and trust Him. Now shall we read

itting up and clasping her hands eage

n. You take

d, granp?" she

une. You begin a

and into her grandfather's rough one as it lay on his knee. "You begin, granp, please-no, le

childlike, and floated out on the still warm summer air. Mrs. Dawson, reluctant to disturb them, waite

murmured tenderly,

top of the other, and their first Sunday-school might fairly be said to be closed, Jessie, lo

away the books, granp, and help granny to bring out the tea-things. Now

his little granddaughter. There was nothing she

son with a delicious-looking apple-pie and a bowl of sugar, while to Jessie was entrusted, what she considered the most precious burthen of all-a dish of cream. And there, amidst the scents of the mignonette and stocks, the roses and jessamine, the Sunday twitter of the birds and hum of the bees,

em at the flowers close by and the hills in the distance, looking so far away and still and mysterious in the fading afternoon light. And as they

o her feet. "Go and open the gate for her, father, do. Why, whatever is she doing

gether the tea-things and carrying th

ing to pick it up. To her it seemed that every one must hunger for anything so delicious. Som

sing and replacing the pie on the table, "at any rate, I can but

flowers as they passed. Jessie stood by her little chair, watching the lady. She knew she was the Miss Grace Barley who liv

and kissed her. "You are Jessie, I know," she said kindly. "

ing what to say, but feeling that something wa

awson," she said brightly. "The organist at Hanford is ill, and I have been out there to play the organ at the morning and afternoo

glad you did, miss,"

any tea yet, Miss Gra

, I am really on my way to it, but I would rather sit

stopped me. She was sure you would like a piece of apple-pie and cream, and I was sure you'd like a cup of tea with it; so the kettle is on and I'll

seated themselves one on each side of their visitor. Mis

tle girl's shoulder. "A Sunday like this, when even the birds and the cattle,

have Sunday-school out here. We are going to have it every Sunday, ain't we, granp? We s

an," she cried enthusiastically. "Whose idea was it, yours, Mr

their difficulties about the school for Jessie. Miss Grace listened with the greatest attention, the matter seemed to interest her immensely, far more, in fact, than it did Jessie, indeed Jessie wished very much that they would talk of something else, for Miss Grace grew q

h her to the best of my ability, and enjoy doing so. At any rate, while she is a little thing. You see, she would not have to come and go twice a day, in fact, she need hardly come every day-but we can arrange the details later, if you agree to it. Now think it over well, and we will talk about it again in

ey; but at the same time they did feel it was too much for them to accept of her. Before, though, they had found words to express their fee

s without shocking any one? I must go home before I go to church, or my

gs, and leave them to wash on her return, for s

kept pace with their happy thoughts and busy tongues