Little Alice's Palace; or, The Sunny Heart

								

New Testament and read to them a few verses about Jesus, who took upon
himself our nature and suffered for our sins.
The children were much impressed by the story of the Saviour's sufferings
and death; and when the teacher told them that every naughty word and
deed of theirs was like a nail in the Saviour's feet or hands, they felt
that they would never again do a wicked thing.
Then she told them how impossible it would be for them to keep from sin
without God's continual help; and she taught them how to look up to him
and ask for his aid and blessing.  And when she had made sure that they
could say a short prayer, and had obtained a promise from them that they
would go every Sunday to the Sunday-school, she kissed them all three
very affectionately, and went on to search for others of her heavenly
Father's wandering children.
"When she had gone quite out of sight, and they were taking another good
look at the changed rooms, that seemed so grand to them all, Lolly said
thoughtfully to Alice,--
"Do you think the great King will like to come here now?"
"He is here," said Alice reverently.  "Don't you feel it, Lolly?  We
never see him, you know, as we see each other; but we feel that he is
near, just as you feel that your mother is in the room even when the
darkness hides her from your eyes."
Lolly repeated the little prayer softly, "O my heavenly Father, I will
try to love thee.  Wilt thou not come unto me, and be with me wherever I
am, and help me to be thy child?"  And, as she said the words, she knew
that God was with her, and that from that hour there was a Presence in
the house that would drive away all the gloom, and make such brightness
as filled the cottage of her little friend.
It was time for Alice to go; but she lingered a little while longer to
teach Maddie how to prepare the supper, so that when her mother came home
weary from her labour, there might be no more hard work for her to do,
but real comfort and rest.
"Now, don't get tired of housekeeping," said she, as she tied on her sun-
bonnet to go.  "I shall run over some day to see how you get on; and I'm
sure it's so much prettier to be sweet, and clean, and tidy, that you'll
love to keep the house nice."  And away she tripped to make things
pleasant for her own dear, hard-working mother.
Sunny little girl!  She knew how many tiresome steps her diligent hands
and loving heart could save her poor widowed mother; and in everything
she did there was a tender thought of the warm heart against which her
infant head had lain when her little feet and hands were weak and
helpless.
She was glad now that they had grown strong to aid, that she could give
back some of the care and effort.  Alice never dreamed of growing
impatient in her mother's service.  She did not wait to be asked to help
her, but watched for opportunities, and so proved a great blessing and