lad I wore a
different one to-day." Yet, though Stella professed some annoyance,
she was secretly a little flattered at Nancy's thus recognising her as
a leader of fashion.

Alick and Harry were invaluable aids in promoting the enjoyment of the
boys, as was Fred also in his quieter way. Towards the close of the
afternoon Mr. Raymond appeared, and, after a pleasant greeting
interchanged with his older parishioners present, the children
assembled in the centre of the ground to listen to a few kind and
earnest words from their pastor. He took as his subject the
"remembering their Creator in the days of their youth;" and after
reminding them to whom they owed the innocent pleasures which had been
provided for them, he spoke earnestly of the Creator and Redeemer they
were to "remember," to whom they should now bring their young hearts,
that He might take them and make them His. The sunshine of His
gracious presence would, he said, hallow and sweeten their joyous
hours, and be a stay and support even when the "evil days" should
come, and all other sources of happiness should fail them. His
address was not so long as to weary even the most impatient, and when
it was concluded, the children stood up and sang a hymn, which, to
Nelly's great delight, was her favourite--"I lay my sins on Jesus."
Then, after Mr. Raymond had briefly asked a blessing on the food of
which they were about to partake, and the intercourse they had had,
and were still to have, the children quietly dispersed into little
groups, and sat down on the grass to enjoy the good things that were
liberally provided for them.

The distribution kept the assistants busy, and some care had to be
exercised lest too large a share of the cakes should be appropriated
by some of the more greedy,--alas that there should be such among
Sunday-school children! Nelly Connor had seldom had a treat in her
life, but she would not for the world have taken one cake more than
her share, or have hidden one away in her pocket, as she saw some
better-dressed children doing.

At last, when the dew was beginning to moisten the grass, and the
fast-lengthening shadows told that the long summer day was drawing to
a close, a bell sounded to collect the children, and after singing the
evening hymn, and having been commended by Mr. Raymond to the care of
Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps, all quietly dispersed to their
homes. The "picnic" so eagerly looked forward to was over, as all
eart