LITTLE ONES AT HOME. 183

 

“« And wherefore do you love that book, my little
maid, I pray,

And turn its pages o’er and o’er the livelong
summer day? |

« Why love the Bible, did you ask ?—how angry
sir, you look :

I thought that every body loved this holy,

precious book.”

The sceptic smiled, made no reply, and ponder-
ing, travelled on,

But in his mind her answer still rose ever and
anon :

“I thought all loved the holy book”—it was a
strange reply ;

“Why do not I then love it too?” he whispered

with a sigh.

He mused, resolved, examined, prayed; he
looked within, above ;

He read, acknowledged it, the truth, and wor-
shipped Him, the Love.

A nobler life from that same hour the sceptic
proud began,

And lived and labored many a year a Bible-

loving man.