LITTLE Emma was one Sabbath evening alone in the room with her
grandmamma. Good old Mrs Allan (for that was her grandmother’s name) was
seated in her arm‐chair, beside a blazing winter fire. A small table was
before her, with a Bible and a pair of spectacles lying upon it.
Emma came jumping up upon her grandmamma’s knee, and kissed her, and
said—
“Dear grandmamma, there is much in that large Bible I do not understand;
I should like so much to know all it tells about. When I was at church
this forenoon, I heard Mr R., our clergyman, speak to the people about
what he called ‘doctrines;’ and when he was telling about them, there
were many things the people liked to hear which were too difficult for
me. Do you think you could tell me about them in very simple words, and
make them plain to me? I will promise to be very attentive to all that
you say.”
“I shall be truly happy,” said the other, looking with a kindly smile on
her little grandchild, “to do what you ask me. And if you will come to
me for a few minutes every Sabbath night, I will try to explain these
Bible doctrines to you as simply as I can.”
So saying, she put aside her spectacles, and drawing her chair closer by
the fire, with her arm round little Emma’s neck, began as follows:—