ind,
wherever you go, that those who are most grateful to God for his
mercies are most inclined to thank each other."

CHAPTER V.

THE UNGRATEFUL SON.

"Hatty is all ready now, ma."

"It is not a very long story, my dear; but it shows God's displeasure
at ingratitude to parents.

"In Birmingham, England, there once lived a family who were poor. The
father died, at last, and all the younger children, leaving the widow
with her two eldest sons. At this time, they had gone into business,
and were able to assist her; but they forgot all she had done for
them, often denying herself food that they might have enough. They
forgot the days and nights she had watched by them in sickness; and,
when she humbly entreated a little help, they refused her.

"She was so feeble that she could do little for her own support, and
was obliged with great reluctance to apply to the parish for
assistance.

"For two years she received the small sum of two shillings a week from
the overseers of the poor, which, with a little help from some
Christian friends, was all she had to live upon.

"During this time the younger of these two sons died; not peacefully
on his bed, trusting that Jesus would forgive all his sins, but in the
most terrible agony both of body and mind, cursing and raving because
he must leave all his property, and go to a world of darkness.

"The eldest son was shrewd in his business, and in a few years became
rich. He was still unmarried; but he refused again and again to assist
his mother, though many persons applied to him in her behalf. He held
offices of trust in the city, but still allowed his infirm mother to
eke out her poor existence on the parish allowance.

"At last his ungrateful, inhuman conduct rendered him so notorious
that he caused her name to be struck off the parish books, and allowed
her the two shillings from his own pocket; but not a penny more, even
when he was possessed of thousands of pounds.

"One day some friends of the old lady were assembled, among whom was
her clergyman. They expressed great indignation at the base
ingratitude of the son, and proposed that a remonstrance be drawn up.

"'No,' said the minister; 'if that man dies possessed of the property
which he is now worth, I shall be greatly deceived. God will never
suffer such base ingratitude to prosper.'

"Shortly after, the mother died a happy death, and very soon the
prospects of her wicked son began to change. He met