SUBMISSION AND OPPOSITION. 65

consider how much we have to be thankful for, and
that we do not deserve anything of all that is given to
us ; that if we meet with disappointments every day, and
every hour of every day, still we would have no right to
be discontented, for it would be only what we deserved ;
yet for one little disappointment we forget all the good-
ness of the Great Giver, and displease Him by cherish-
ing discontentment. Grandfather spoke to us for some-
time that night, and spoke so seriously and earnestly,
that I could not help crying, and I was truly sorry ;
so I do not think, if any one had come the next even-
ing and prevented us from hearing the story we ex-
pected, that I would have been disappointed at all. I
,am sure that George felt very nearly as much as I did.
Johnnie had nothing to do with it, poor little fellow ; he
was so tired that he had fallen asleep almost imme-
diately after tea.

No obstacle presented itself the following: evening, so
we three children took our usual places as soon as tea
was over, and grandfather immediately began.

Grandfather. There was a nation living in the land
of Canaan called Gibeonites. When they heard of the
great things done by the people of Israel, they saw that
there was no use in trying to oppose them, and formed
a plan for making peace with them. The other nations
in Canaan were hardened by these remarkable events.
The Gibeonites were softened by them. We must either
be the better or the worse for the knowledge of the
true God coming amongst us. The Gibeonites knew

FE