. If he were riding through the village, he always liked
to watch the boys at their play, or the little girls trundling their
hoops. Whenever there was a cry of distress he was off from his horse
in a minute, ready to assist the child who had fallen, or to relieve any
one of their troubles.

The children of course loved him. Many a time in the early spring, as he
came out of his gate in the morning, he would find a group of them
standing there to say "good morning!" or to offer him a bunch of
violets.

Sometimes papa took Josey on the saddle before him; and then how the
children would shout with glee, and press up to speak a word to the
pretty boy.

Mr. Codman was not the minister of the village, though he sometimes
preached for the clergyman; but he always improved every opportunity to
tell those around him of the love of God, who sent his only Son into the
world to save sinners.

[Illustration: JESSEY LEARNING TO RIDE. VOL. I.]

CHAPTER II.

THE TWO NURSES.

At seven o'clock Mr. and Mrs. Codman and Fanny started for church. Dr.
and Mrs. Reed went, too; and another clergyman with his wife, by the
name of Matthews. Mrs. Matthews had been invited to tea, and had brought
her baby, a little girl, nearly the same age as Mrs. Codman's.

Soon after they were gone, Ann perceived that Josey was sleepy, and
easily persuaded him to lie down on the bed. Then the two nurses, having
had their supper, began to chat, while they tended the babies.

"Look now!" said Ann, dancing Miss Emma on her lap, "the two of them
look as much alike as a pair of kittens."

"Except," answered Martin, "that your Miss has black eyes; and mine,
blue."

"That's true for ye, but then their mouths are the same, and sure enough
I thought before, that no baby could equal ours for a small mouth."

In the mean time Emma and Rose cooed and coquetted with each other in
the very best of spirits, until a late hour, when they both went quietly
to sleep.

"Feth and a pretty sight they're making," suggested Ann, pointing with
some pride to the bed; the two little ones lying side by side, and
Master Josey across the foot, with his rosy cheek resting on his hand.

"It looks for all the world like a baby asylum," was Martin's laughing
reply.

"I wonder what Mr. Codman is preaching about," she added; "I would like
to be within sound of his voice, it's a treat to hear him."

"I heard Miss Fanny saying to her sister that the text was to be from