MISS MEEKE'S LESSON.
FOR three days and nights the snow fell, covering all the ground very deep.
"We shall be all snowed up, and there's an end to our New Year's sleighing party to Oldfield," said Winnie, as she stood at the window on the third day of the snow-fall, looking drearily out over the white earth and powdery sky.
"It can't snow forever," exclaimed Ella.
"I believe it will snow forever. It looks like it. Just look out and see! The Scotch firs are so loaded down with snow I should think the limbs would snap right off! And still it is snowing as steadily as ever," said Winnie.
"Never mind; I'm sure it will clear off tomorrow," hopefully suggested Ella.
"I wouldn't mind it, were it not for the sleigh ride. We were all going in one sleigh, with four horses to draw us. How nice it would be! But no, it is going to keep on this way forever and ever," growled Winnie.
Next day, being New Year's, it came off clear and sunny. Happy were the faces of the children as they peered out to see how promising was the day for their ride. The roads would soon be trodden so that sleighing would be all the better for the snow.
Little Ella bade the suit a hearty good morning, and said, "We are so glad to see you!"
"Yes, after your uncommonly bad behavior in sulking and biding yourself for the last three days," added Winnie.
"You wrong the beautiful and benignant sun, Winnie, dear," said Miss Meekes, coming up behind them. "The sun is always shining for us. The earth turns from the sun, and it is night; it turns toward him, and it is day. The earth wanders far away from the sun, and it is winter; it comes toward him again, and it is summer. But the sun shines all the time, wherever the earth may be.
Fogs and mists arise from land and water, condense into, clouds, and obscure his glorious face; but they come down in rain or snow, clearing the atmosphere, and we say the sun shines again, when, in truth, he has been shining all the time.
"And as it is with the sun and the earth, dear children, so it is with our Father in heaven and ourselves. We turn away from him, and our souls grow dark; we turn to him again, and we receive his light. We wander from him into selfishness and worldliness, and we suffer a spiritual coldness and blindness; we come back to him, and we are warmed and enlightened by his love and wisdom.
Sometimes doubts and fears and hates—the opposites of faith and hope and love — arise from our lower nature, and hide us from the face of our Father in heaven; but he has not changed.
He is always ready to bless us when we turn again to him--turn in truth and love, not in terror and self-seeking. So, dear ones, when clouds and storms darken the atmosphere, think of the sun that is shining above them; and when doubts and fears and sorrows and temptations come, think of the, love and wisdom and power of our heavenly Father, and turn to him for light and strength and guidance."—
Selected.