THINKING ABOUT IT.
A GOOD Quaker mother had put her children to bed one evening, and left the - room. Hearing their voices, she stopped outside to listen, and heard Nellie say, Freddy, does thee know that the heavenly Father doesn't hear thee when thee prays unless thee thinks about what thee is saying?" "Doesn't he?" asked Freddy wonderingly.
"No, indeed," answered Nellie;" and thee ought to think how good he is, and how he loves us, and gives us good things, while the poor little beggars go from the door."
"Freddy, shall I tell thee a story about praying? Once there was a little boy, and his mother was very poor, and had no bread, and he said, Mother, I'll get some bread,' and he went into a corner, and knelt down and prayed, 'Please, heavenly Father, give me some bread.' And he thought about what he was saying, Freddy; and the heavenly Father heard him, and put a great big basketful into a good woman's heart, and she took it to the poor people, and they had plenty to eat.
So thee sees, Freddy," she went on, "we must always think about what we say."
Freddy seemed to understand what his sister meant, for he asked: "Does thee think about thine?"
"O, yes," replied Nellie, "always. Let me show thee," and she repeated her little prayer very solemnly, saying at the end, "There, Freddy, I thought about that."
Then Freddy called out at the top of his voice,—
"Mamma, mamma, come back; I want to say my' prayer over again, and think about it."
His thoughtful voice and manner, as he repeated the words of prayer, showed that he had learned a precious lesson.
Selected.