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With such a disposition, you will easily see how it was that Susie did not always get on very smoothly with her companions. She often fancied that her brothers and sisters treated her unkindly when they had no intention of doing so. Nor could she bear to be laughed at. Nobody, perhaps, likes it; but it is foolish to make a trouble of it, and let it stir up angry feelings in one's heart.

After Susie had been at home a short time, she went with her sister Jane to a day school. It was a very nice school, kept by a widow lady named Mrs. Ashley. Mrs. Ashley was a cheerful, kind-hearted mistress, and made learning pleasant to the children.

Susie liked going to school. She was fond of writing and ciphering, and she took pains with her lessons, because she wished to improve herself. She was very backward for her age when she returned home, but under Mrs. Ashley's management she was getting on very nicely.

Soon after Susie became one of her scholars, the little girl was standing by her side one morning with her spelling-book in her hand, waiting until Mrs. Ashley had finished setting a copy for her sister Jane to write. Susie watched her as she formed the letters, and thought how nice and regular they looked. The copy was this short sentence out of the New Testament-" Love your enemies." Susie read it slowly over, and then, looking up in some surprise at her governess, she cried, "Love your enemies! Is that right ? Shouldn't it be, Love not your enemies ?"

A general laugh went round the school. Susie's manner and earnest tone made even Mrs. Ashley

smile. But she answered very gently, "No, Susie, that would not be right. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us to 'love our enemies.' You know the meaning of enemies, Susie ?"

"It means people who are unkind to us, and who try to hurt us."

"And you think it seems strange to love such people, Susie ?"

"Yes; I am sure I could not," said Susie. "How could anybody?"

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Only by loving Jesus first, Susie. Then we shall get our hearts filled with love to every one else; and we shall be able to try to do good to those who are trying to do harm to us."

Mrs. Ashley said a few more words on this subject, and then she was obliged to attend to the writing lessons. But Susie could not see how it was possible to love one's enemies.

Susie was a good deal teased for her mistake by some of her companions.

"How clever you must think yourself, Susie," said one, "to find fault with Mrs. Ashley-as if she did not know what to set for a copy without your help." "Yes; and worse than that," said another, "to want to alter a text of Scripture. Oh, Susie !" "Susie lets us know how she

intends to treat us if we offend her," added a third; we must not expect

a civil word from her then."

now.

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The girls did not have many kind words from Susie She was very angry indeed with them for laughing at her; but when they saw how cross she was, they only laughed the more.

It was wrong of them to do so, but it was not wise of Susie to mind them. Had she been quiet, and taken but little notice of them, they would soon have been tired of mocking her.

One of the girls, Emma Perkins, was cousin to Jem Horton, and she happened to tell him one day what Susie had said; and so, whenever Jem met Susie, he had generally some remark to make about "her text." He was a great friend of Susie's brother John, and that made him often come in her way. She disliked him very much, and if she could have done anything in return to vex or annoy him she would gladly have done it. It was very plain to everybody that Susie had not yet begun to love her enemies.

REMEMBER.

A LITTLE boy was amusing himself with his playthings upon the sabbath. 'Edward," said his mother, "it

is the sabbath day."

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Oh, is it ?" said he; "I did not remember." "That is the very command which God has given us," said his mother: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.'

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Children often excuse themselves by saying, "I did not think," "I forgot," "I did not remember;" but such excuses are not acceptable to God. We may plead ignorance as an excuse for the neglect of duty, but not forgetfulness.

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QUESTIONS ON THE PARABLES OF OUR

LORD.

THE RICH FARMER.

Luke xii. 13-21.

VER. 13. What did one of the company say to Jesus ? -What is an inheritance ?

14. How did Jesus answer him ?-Had the Lord Jesus a right to be a judge and divider ?-On what grounds? Why did Jesus decline the proposal ?

15. What is covetousness ?-Which of the brothers was chiefly reproved ?-What is here meant by a "man's life ?"-If a man has a great abundance of goods, can he make his life longer than God pleases ? 1 Tim. vi. 6, 8.

16. What is a parable?

17. What did the rich man think within himself?What ought he to have done with his fruits?

18. Was his purpose wise or foolish ?—What does the Lord Jesus say about laying up treasures on earth? Matt. vi. 19.

19. What is here intended by the "soul ?" ver. x. 27.—How many years can any one be sure of in this world ?-What is written in James iv. 13-15?

20. In what did this man's folly consist ?*-What is the answer to the question ?-What is the meaning of "thy soul shall be required of thee ?"

21. What class of persons is here described ? ver. 15. -What is it to lay up treasures for one's self ?-What are Christians warned against in verse 29?—What is

The word "fool" means unwise, inconsistent.

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