When you kneel down to pray, will you not remember that it is to a father you are speaking, and will you not love him as truly and warmly as you do the dear father who takes you on his knee, and speaks so kindly and affectionately to you.  Your father in heaven has given you this earthly parent, and you should surely love him for all he has done for you.

Do not let the precious words, “Our Father who art in heaven,” be unmeaning ones to you; but strive to realize the great goodness and condescension of God in permitting you to call him by so sweet a name, and give him the only thing you can in return,—­your young and grateful hearts.

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HATTIE AND HERBERT.

“Was there ever so good a mother as you are?” said Hattie Atherton, throwing her arms around her mother’s neck, and kissing her with great affection.

“Oh yes!” answered little Herbert, in a solemn tone, “there is one a great deal better.”

“Why, Herbert! what do you mean?” exclaimed Hattie, who knew Herbert loved his mother as dearly as she did.

“I mean God.  He is better than mother.”

“But God is a Father.  He is our Father in heaven,” continued Hattie.

Herbert was quite satisfied with Hattie’s correction, and was then ready to agree with her, that his mother was the best mother in the world.

Herbert was a very little boy, but he had been taught that God was more worthy of love than even his father or mother could be.  He was too young to understand much about the being of God, and when he called him a mother a great deal better than his own mother, it was an expression of his love and reverence.

Do you, dear children, when you realize something about the love which your mother feels for you, and which enables her cheerfully to do so much for your comfort, remember that God loves you even more than she does, and that He is far more deserving your strongest affections?

“He that loveth father or mother more than me,” the Saviour said, “is not worthy of me.”  God should occupy the first place in your heart, and next to Him you should love your parents.

Happy is that child who is so willing to be governed by her mother’s wishes that she is at all times ready to exclaim, “Was there ever so good a mother as my mother!”

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THE TWO WILLS.

When a man of wealth dies, there is always much interest felt in regard to the disposition he has made of his property by will.  Sometimes large bequests are made to benevolent societies, and the donor is generally considered a very generous man.  Many bless his memory, and his name is cherished with grateful respect.  It is right that it should be so.  God loves the cheerful giver.

I have just read the last “will and testament” of a little boy nine years old, who lived in Ohio.  Not very long ago he was taken ill with fever.  The disease was violent, and he suffered much.  At length it became evident that he must die.