n
the cupboard with all your pretty dishes."

"Yes, dearie, 'twas my grandmother's lamp, called in old times a
'Schmutz Amschel' which, translated, means a grease robin, or bird. I
have two of them. I remember seeing my grandmother many a time, when
the 'Amschel' was partly filled with melted lard or liquid fat, light
a piece of lamp wick hanging over the little pointed end or snout of
the lamp. The lamp was usually suspended from a chain fastened to
either side. A spike on the chain was stuck into the wall, which was
composed of logs. This light, by the way, was not particularly
brilliant, even when one sat close beside it, and could not be
compared with the gas and electric lights of our present day and
generation. That was a very primitive manner of illumination used by
our forefathers.

"Mary, did you notice the gayly-decorated, old-fashioned coffee pot
and tea caddy in the corner cupboard? They belonged to my grandmother;
also that old-fashioned fluid lamp, used before coal-oil or kerosene
came into use; and that old, perforated tin lantern also is very
ancient.

"Mary, have you ever read the poem, The Potter and the Clay?' No? Then
read it to me, dear, I like it well; 'tis a particular favorite of
mine, I do not remember by whom it was written."

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY.

(Jeremiah xviii 2-6.)

The potter wrought a work in clay, upon his wheel;
He moulded it and fashioned it, and made it feel,
In every part, his forming hand, his magic skill,
Until it grew in beauty fair beneath his will.

When lo! through some defect, 'twas marred and broken lay,
Its fair proportions spoiled, and it but crumbling clay;
Oh, wondrous patience, care and love, what did he do?
He stooped and gathered up the parts and formed anew.

He might have chosen then a lump of other clay
On which to show his skill and care another day,
But no; he formed it o'er again, as seemed him good;
And who has yet his purpose scanned, his will withstood?

Learn thou from this a parable of God's great grace
Toward the house of Israel, His chosen race;
He formed them for His praise; they fell and grieved Him sore,
But He will yet restore and bless them evermore.

And what He'll do for Israel, He'll do for thee;
Oh soul, so marred and spoiled by sin, thou yet shall see
That He has power to restore, He will receive,
And thou shall know His saving grace, only belie