bed."

"Bless your pretty tongue," exclaimed nurse; "but here, take this
parsley to cook, and say it is the finest double parsley I can find,
there's a darling."

As Reuben ran away on his errand, nurse addressed herself to Marten in
a kind motherly manner, for nurse was not a young woman, and she was
also a pious one. "Master Marten," she said, "I am sure you will be kind
to the little one--you always are--for I must say you are one of the
very best brothers I know, and that is saying a deal for you--for I
believe there are many good brothers and sisters in the world, and yet,
pardon your old nurse, young master, when she tells you you are doing
wrong, though I think your intention is good. Look to your own heart,
master Marten, and ask yourself why are you dragging this poor child
after you to Mr. Jameson's. I was in the room with Missis when she was
speaking to you the day before she left, and I heard what she said about
temptation, and how we are tempted every hour in the day. You did not
believe her, master Marten, and you do not believe her now, and you are
going to try temptation to the very utmost, and you think you will stand
it, and I know you won't, for I remember what my dear lady said, that no
one can resist temptation in their own strength. This is the reason why
I don't like my baby to go with you, but if you, my dear young master,
will just think over what your mamma said, and ask for the approval of
your Saviour and the direction of his Holy Spirit in all things--why
then, as I said before, I will trust my darling with you any where, for
I know that you love him dearly, and would not willingly hurt a hair of
his precious little head."

"Nurse," exclaimed Marten indignantly, "one would imagine I had been
very unkind to Reuben whilst mamma has been away; now I don't think it
is fair, and if I were to leave my brother at home and stay out a couple
of days enjoying myself, papa and mamma might both justly think I had
neglected him; No, I have undertaken the care of him till their return,
and I mean to fulfil my undertaking: and I must say, unless you have any
unkindness to charge me with, I consider you have no business to speak
to me as you have done." And Marten walked away with a heart determined
to resist the wise advice of nurse.

And now nurse had nothing for it but to get the things ready for the
boys the next day, for nurse knew that Marten was always allowed, if
convenient, to go to Mr. Jameson