SONGS FOR THE

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     
 
    
   
   
   
     
    
   
   
   
   
   
  
 

THE CHILD AND THE SCEPTIC

A little girl was sitting beside a cottage door,

And with the Bible on her knee, she conned its
pages o’er, |

When by there passed a traveller, that sultry
summer-day,

And begged some water, and a seat, to cheer

him on his way.

“Come in, sir, pray, and rest awhile,” the little

maiden cried;

“To house a weary traveller is mother's joy
and pride.”

And while he drank the welcome draught, and
chattered merrily,

She sought again the cottage door, the Bible on

her knee.

At length refreshed, the traveller—a sceptic

he—uprose : |

“What, reading still the Bible, child? your
lesson, I suppose :”

“No lesson, sir,” the girl replied, “I have no
task to learn ;

But often to these stories here with joy and love

I turn.”