﻿A CHILD'S PRAYER. 221 



Aaron was called up. 



" Did you put those crackers in the fire ? ' : inquired the teacher. 



"Yes, sir," said Aaron, "but Oliver Naylor gave them to me." 



Oliver was then called up, and the guilt of both being proved, they 

 were severely and deservedly punished. 



Theodore, from the moment that Aaron consented to burn the 

 crackers, had been in his seat, very demurely and gravely engaged 

 in looking at his book, and by this cunning and hypocritical behavior 

 escaped punishment, although he was the real instigator of the 

 uproar. 



But was Theodore happy because he escaped punishment ? Oh 

 no ; he felt guilty, and he knew he had caused the punishment of 

 his friends. He felt ashamed to meet them afterwards, for he knew 

 he had injured them ; and he has often said to the writer, that, 

 although grown up to be a man, he had never forgiven himself for 

 his ungenerous conduct in leading his playmates into trouble. Be 

 sure, my young readers, then, that although you may escape pun- 

 ishment by cunning and deception, yet your consciences will trouble 

 you. The best way is, neither to do nor invent mischief, and then 

 your conscience, your teachers, and your friends, will be at peace 

 with you. 



From the Religious Souvenir 



A Child's Prayer. 



BY WILLIAM JAMES HAMERSLEY, ESQ. 



Now, at the silent, evening hour, 



Before I sink in gentle sleep, 

 Father in heaven ! I seek thy power, 



My pillow of repose to keep. 



Let no rude dream disturb my rest, 



No danger seize my helpless frame, 

 No secret arrow pierce my breast 



With wan disease, or fever's flame. 



And when, to gild the morning sky. 

 Again the sun its beams shall lend, 



