ie's class was asked to recite a verse that she
had chosen through the week. Jessie's was this:

"To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God
is well pleased."

The teacher talked a little about it and Jessie thought it over on her
way to Gardener Jim's. The result was that she said to her brother:

"Tommy, you know mother said we must not trouble Jim and Phoebe."

"Yes, I know it, but I don't think we will, do you?"

"No, I'm sure they'll be glad to see us, but I was thinking we might do
something to make them very glad. Suppose that while we're in there, I
read to them from the Bible, and then we sing to them two or three of
our hymns."

"What a queer girl you are, Jess! Anybody would think that you were a
minister going to hold church in the cottage. But I'm agreed, if you
want to; I like singing anyway. It seems to let off a little of the 'go'
in a fellow."

By this time they had reached the cottage, and if they had been a prince
and princess--supposing that such titled personages were living in these
United States--they could not have had a warmer welcome. Gardener Jim
opened the door in such haste that he scattered the ashes from his pipe
over the rag-carpet on the floor. Phoebe, too, contrived to drop her
spectacles while she was saying "How do you do," and it took at least
three minutes to find them again.

At length, however, the surprise being over, the children removed their
wraps, Jim refilled his pipe, and Phoebe settled herself in her chair.
She was slowly revolving in her mind the question whether it would be
best to offer her visitors a lunch of cookies or one of apples, when
Jessie said:

"Phoebe, wouldn't you like to have me read you a chapter or two?"

"'Deed and I would, miss, and I'd be that grateful that I couldn't
express myself. My eyes, you see, are getting old, and Jim's not much
better, and neither of us was ever a scholard."

So Jessie read in her sweet, clear voice the chapters beloved in palace
and in cottage, about the holy city New Jerusalem, and about the pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal; about the tree whose leaves
are for the healing of the nations; about the place where they need no
candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light;
and they shall reign for ever and ever.

"Dear me, dear me!" exclaimed Phoebe, "it seems almost like being
there, doesn't it? Now I'll have something to think of to-night if I lie
aw