GIDEON. 117

the weather was wet or dry, he never was absent from
the place of worship. There was a bank about half way
between the cottage and the church—a pretty sunny
bank it was—there we used always to rest, if the day
was fine, both in going to church and in returning from
it. That bank is associated in my mind with peaceful
thankful feelings, for there grandfather delighted to dwell
upon the ten thousand mercies that were in his lot andin
ours. Indeed the whole Sabbath from morning till night
his mind seemed to be more filled with thankfulness and
praise than on any other day. Could we have more of
his loving thankful spirit, our Sabbaths would be holier
and happier too.

The second Sabbath that we spent at our grandfather’s
was one of those very lovely days that we used to see
so often in childhood, but see so seldom when childhood
is past. In the afternoon grandfather stayed in the house,
while we children went out to the garden to sit. While
George and I were busy with our Bibles, Johnnie slipped
away from us unobserved. We did not miss him till
we were called to tea; then George went to seek him,
and found him playing on the roadside with some other
children. Johnnie came in crying, because George had
told him how angry grandfather would be. Grandfather
did not look angry, but he seemed sorry, very sorry ; for
he thought that those who misspent the Sabbath were
‘ to be blamed certainly, but to be pitied much more. He
truly loved the Sabbath himself, and his earnest desire
and constant endeavour was, that every one about him