d the lilies finely painted.

Now, let me tell you why I have sketched this incident as an
introduction to the following pages. On the 24th of December, 1850, a
letter came to me from a friend, asking if I was preparing a tract, as
in former days, for a New Year's Gift, or if I could help him, his
brother and sister teachers, in selecting some fit and cheap book for
all the two hundred children they love to meet every Sunday. At first,
I only thought of answering that I was sorry to say he must look to
somebody else for what was wanted. But I did not quite like to do
this; and, presently remembering the achievement of Mr. Perseverance,
I said to myself, if he got that cross made in a few hours, why cannot
a tract be made in a few days? I consulted the printer, and he agreed
to do all he could. So we went to work immediately, and here are the
"Gems Gathered in Haste."

* * * * *

GEMS GATHERED IN HASTE.

* * * * *

To show how great evils may be prevented by a little care, and how
much good a child may do, let me begin with the story of

THE LITTLE HERO OF HAARLEM.

At an early period in the history of Holland, a boy was born in
Haarlem, a town remarkable for its variety of fortune in war, but
happily still more so for its manufactures and inventions in peace.
His father was a _sluicer_,--that is, one whose employment it was to
open and shut the sluices, or large oak-gates, which, placed at
certain regular distances, close the entrance of the canals, and
secure Holland from the danger to which it seems exposed, of finding
itself under water, rather than above it. When water is wanted, the
sluicer raises the sluices more or less, as required, as a cook turns
the cock of a fountain, and closes them again carefully at night;
otherwise the water would flow into the canals, then overflow them,
and inundate the whole country; so that even the little children in
Holland are fully aware of the importance of a punctual discharge of
the sluicer's duties. The boy was about eight years old, when, one
day, he asked permission to take some cakes to a poor blind man, who
lived at the other side of the dyke. His father gave him leave, but
charged him not to stay too late. The child promised, and set off on
his little journey. The blind man thankfully partook of his young
friend's cakes; and the boy, mindful of his father's orders, did not
wait, as usual, to hear one