from reading
at all. Now I shall keep this book in my little drawer in our room,
where I can find it in a minute."

"You must please yourself, I suppose," said Louisa; "but I will ask
mamma whether it is better to use aunt Harding's Bible or the old
one."

Mrs. Western heard what her little girl had to say, but did not give
just the answer that Louisa expected. "You are right," she said, "in
supposing that it does not signify whether you read in an old Bible or
a new one. It is from the divine blessing upon what we read, and not
from the book itself, that we must look for benefit to our souls. If
you pray for this blessing with all your heart, you will find the way
of salvation as plainly declared in the worn-out school-room Bible as
in your aunt Harding's keepsake, with its purple binding and shining
gilt leaves. But yet I approve of Emma's wish to use her new Bible
from this time, and advise you to follow her example. For though it
ought to be our great delight to read the Scriptures, yet we have such
sinful hearts, so ready to put off doing what is right for any poor
excuse, that even such a little thing as having to look for the Bible,
when it happens to be mislaid, will be likely to prevent you from
reading it so constantly as you intend."

To this Louisa made no reply. She had wrapped up her beautiful book in
silver paper, and laid it carefully in a box, under lock and key, and
she did not mean to disturb it, except perhaps now and then for a few
moments, that it might be looked at and admired. As for Emma, she went
on fitting the brown silk cover as neatly as she could; and hoping
that, if she prayed for the divine blessing, as her mother and aunt
had told her, she might learn from her precious Bible the way to be
good and happy.

CHAPTER IV.

TWO CHARACTERS.

It is time that I should tell you the age of these two little girls.
Louisa was just turned of ten, and Emma was one year younger. I have
no doubt that although you know so little about them, you already like
Emma better than her sister; and the reason of this is plain. No one
could be long with Louisa without finding out that she was a selfish
child; while Emma, though she had many faults, of which carelessness
was the chief, was of a kind, good-natured disposition, always ready
to oblige. Louisa, too, was often willful, and would not give up her
own way; while Emma was humble-minded, knowing that she had much to
learn, and thankful to be