84 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOCS.

 secret; but her one hope and desire was
 GERTIE'S CONFESSION.
 to be a singer and make people happy,
 HERE were once two little girls as mamma did."
 who were great friends. Their Gertie was a dear, lovable child, with
 names were Daisy and Gertie. no especial talent for music or anything,
 Daisy's papa was a rich mer- unless it was for making everybody love
chant, while Gertie was the daughter of a her. How she did that, nobody could
minister. Daisy was always handsomely tell; but, sooner or later, each one fell
dressed and reminded Gertie of the pic- under the silent spell and became, from
tures in the fashion-papers, which Miss henceforth, Gertie's devoted friend and
Staples, the dress-maker, brought with slave. It was really laughable to see how
her, when she came to work for mamma, devoted to her were Anne and Bridget
But I don't think Daisy was at all vain and even black Tom, who did not look
nor inclined to "put on airs," as some as if he cared for anything. But Gertie
children and grown persons do. She had won his heart by asking him if he
was so accustomed to being dressed pret- did not want to learn to read, and so,
tily that she thought nothing about it. after that, he could not do enough to
She sometimes noticed that Gertie still show his gratitude to his little teacher.
wore simple frocks and aprons; but she At school. Gertie Raynor was the fa-
loved her just as well, for all that, and vorite with all and was treated like a
liked just as much to come to the par- princess; only it was a great deal better
sonage and play with her and her little than being a princess, really, because it
baby brother, Alfred. was done for love and not on account of
 Daisy was an only child and so she her station in life.
was often lonely, although she lived in a Gertie seemed born to make people
beautiful house and had all sorts of happy and she helped them so much in
toys and games with which to amuse such little ways that they all felt tenderly
herself. Her mother, who was a very towards her, without exactly knowing
beautiful lady, was a remarkably fine why.
singer, and Daisy had inherited both Papa, whom I have said was a minis-
her another's beauty and her fondness for ter, loved his little girl very dearly and
music. She would sit for hours, curled was never weary of hearing her childish
up in a great arm-chair or in a window- questions and answering them They
seat, listening with delight to the sweet spent many happy twilight hours together
voice, sometimes crying silently, for very in the study," when the sermon was
joy. Then, when all alone in her cham- laid aside for awhile; and papa taught
ber or play-room, she would sing softly to her many things.
herself and try to imitate the sounds she Mamma, also, loved the thoughtful lit-
had heard. She kept this a profound tie daughter who helped her so much and