A lady had two children--both girls. The elder was a fair child; the
younger a beauty, and the mother's pet. Her whole love centered in it.
The elder was neglected, while "Sweet" (the pet name of the younger)
received every attention that affection could bestow. One day, after a
severe illness, the mother was sitting in the parlor, when she heard a
childish footstep on the stairs, and her thoughts were instantly with
the favorite.
"Is that you, Sweet?" she enquired.
"No, mamma," was the sad, touching reply, "it isn't Sweet: it's only
me."
The mother's heart smote her; and from that hour "only me" was restored
to an equal place in her affections.
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Children are usually what their mothers were, or are.
--_Landor._
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Be careful to discountenance in children anything that looks like rage
and furious anger.
--_Tillotson._
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Children will grow up substantially what they are by nature--and only
that.
--_Mrs. Stowe._
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_St. Luke, xxiv, 29_--"Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the
day is far spent."
(Two of the disciples to our Lord on the way to Emmaus.)
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