th schools of Old England. Will you
please to repeat it to me?

_Young. B_ I will. I did as well as I could. I have learned the hymn,
and am much pleased with it. I think of it the last thing when I fall
asleep at night, and awake in the morning with it on my mind. But I will
repeat it to you, and you will see that I have not been to the Sabbath
school, though for so short a time, for nothing.

_The Child's First Hymn._

Listen, Father, to my prayer,
Guard me with thy tender care;
Teach a humble child to know,
The path of duty here below.

Set a watch upon my heart,
Lest an evil thought should start;
Make me gentle, kind and good,
Through the Savior's cleansing blood.

All I have, and all I see,
Ever comes, great God, from thee;
Help me from my earliest days,
In thankful hymns to sing thy praise.

Bless my parents with thy grace,
On my kindred turn thy face;
Through the darkness of the night,
Give me rest till morning bright.

Teach me day by day thy will,
With pure love my spirit fill,
Till I'm fitted for that rest,
In the mansions of the blest.

_Eld. B._ It is indeed a very pretty hymn, and I am glad you have
learned it so well. I hope you will never forget it. Here comes my
teacher; and as it will be ten minutes before the school commences, we
shall have time for conversation.

Here the teacher drew near and spoke to the boys:--

_Teach._ Good morning, my boys; how do you do, this fine morning?

_Eld. B._ Good morning, sir; we are well, I thank you.

_Teach._ You are in good season this morning, and I am glad to see that
you are. It is so much better to be before our time, than to be a little
late. We get along so much better with the business of the school, and
have time to converse together. Besides, to be in school at the opening
of the exercises, shows that you value and wish to improve its
privileges.

_Eld. B._ We were talking about the school, and why we go there. I told
my brother that I went because I like to go. Will you please to tell us
the advantages of attendance on the Sabbath school?

_Teach._ I will, my dear boys, so far as I can. It is well to know what
we are doing, how we are accomplishing our work, and what is to be the
result of our labors.

_Eld. B._ I am very often asked what I learn at the Sabbath school, and
I sometimes answer that I learn what there is in the Bible, and that my
lessons are subjects derived principally from that book.

_Teach._ You answer rightl