ildren do," said
grandfather gravely, "and walk there and back twice every day.
Some of the bigger ones would let her walk with them, then she would
be safe enough. We will begin our Sunday-school next Sunday"--his
blue eyes lighting up with pleasure at the thought of it.
The day-school was quite a secondary matter to him, with the idea of
that other filling his mind. "We can sit in the garden while the
fine weather lasts. It would be lovely there, and good for the
little maid too."
So, when Sunday came, grandfather's big chair and Jessie's little one
were carried out into the garden, and placed side by side, near the
porch, and a little table was carried out, too, for grandfather's
Bible and Prayer and hymn-books, and then, looking very pleased but
serious, the pair seated themselves. The dear old man was a little
bit shy and embarrassed, and very nervous when it actually came to
the point, and for a moment he looked more like a new shy pupil than
the teacher. Jessie was much the more composed of the two.
"When are you going to begin, granp?" she demanded anxiously.
"Now. I think we will begin with learning you the Lord's prayer," he
said huskily, feeling that something was expected of him, and he must
not fail. "Now, 'Our Father--'"
"I know that already," said Jessie reproachfully; "but why is it
called the 'Lord's Prayer,' granp? Did the Lord have to say it when
He was little?"
"No. He told it for all little children to say, all the world over,
and big children too, and men and women."
Jessie looked awed and puzzled. "How did everybody all over the
world know about it, granp? They couldn't all hear Him say it," she
asked.
"No, and they don't all know it yet, though it's nearly one thousand
nine hundred years ago since the Lord spoke it. But they will in
time," said the old man softly, as though speaking to himself.
"He left word with His people that they were to teach each other, and
they did. You see there wasn't such a great many heard Him, but
those that did went about and taught others, and then those they
taught taught others again, and--"
"And then some one taught you, and," her face growing suddenly
bright, "I'll have to teach somebody. Who shall I teach, granp?
Granny knows it, doesn't she?"
Her grandfather smiled. "She knew it before she was your age,
child," he said gently.
"Then I'll teach mother."
"Your mother knew it too before she was so old as you are."
"Did
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