DEAN'S 
 
 SllttBtratei /urtljiiig %uh. 
 
 f'^-te 
 
 DOING GOOD. 
 
 LONDON: DEAN & SON, 
 
 11, Lndo-ate Hill. Vo>'' 
 
 46 
 
 ei^-i — 
 
 
DOING GOOD. 
 
 '"'^^^^m 
 
 
 Little Alice arose one bright May 
 morning just as the sun was peering 
 through the white curtains of her little 
 chamber, and after oflering a simple 
 
DOING GOOD. 
 
 morning prayer from the depths of her 
 happy heart, she prepared herself for 
 breakfast. How beautiful the earth 
 looked, all sparkling with dew drops, and 
 how merrily the birds sang in the tops of 
 the apple-trees ! Alice's heart grew hap- 
 pier still as she looked out upon them, and 
 listened to their sweet hymnings. All was 
 astir in the yard below. The speckled 
 hen bustled about her ten chickens, 
 anxious to pick them up a breakfast of 
 stray worms and slugs ; the big Shanghai 
 stood on a stone and poured forth a blast 
 from his clarion, which might have 
 awakened an army. Alice laughed at his 
 pompous, ungainly figure, which seemed 
 still more uncouth by contrast with the 
 stately peacock, which just then^ swept 
 down the carriage walk. It was, mdeed, 
 a lovely morning, and the little girl had 
 arisen just in time to appreciate its beau- 
 ties. It always makes us happier and 
 better to sympathize with the lovely and 
 beautiful in nature. It brings us nearer 
 to God, the source of all true loveliness, 
 
4 DOING GOOD, 
 
 and makes us love more dearly all the 
 creatures He has made. 
 
 '* I will see if I cannot do good to some 
 one this day/' said Alice. '* I know I am 
 only a little girl, but I feel sure I can do 
 something ;" and with this good resolution 
 in her heart, she descended to the dining- 
 room, just as the bell rang for family 
 worship. 
 
 When breakfast was ready, the baby 
 worried and cried, and would not sit on 
 the carpet as usual, and amuse himself 
 Mother looked weary, and it was plain her 
 head ached badly. 
 
 '' Please let me take Willie, mother?" 
 said Alice. ** I would just as soon wait, 
 and I know he will he quiet with me." 
 
 ** I should be very glad if you could 
 divert him, Ahce ; he is cutting his teeth, 
 and has worried all the night. Poor little 
 fellow !" 
 
 ** Alice borrowed Frank's marbles, and 
 sat down with baby on the carpet. Tlie 
 bright-hued balls pleased him, and he 
 loved to roll them about with his little fat 
 hands. His sister patiently gathered 
 
DOING GOOD. 
 
 ^.V il:riij;;jiil 
 
 them up, Avhen they rolled beyond his 
 
6 DOING GOOD. 
 
 reach, and thus the mealtime passed. 
 She did not envy her brother his warm 
 breakfast ; the thought of helping her 
 dear, kind mother, was a hundred times 
 more satisfactory. The influence of a 
 good exam})le is often contagious, and 
 after breakfast, the usually careless, whist- 
 ling Frank sat down and played with the 
 baby while Alice was eating. 
 
 Slie did not conclude now that she had 
 done enough for one day, but after baby 
 had drank his cup of new milk she coaxed 
 him into his cradle, giving him one of her 
 gayest toys, and then sang a sw^eet lulling 
 song which presently soothed the weary, 
 restless little one into a quiet refreshing 
 slumber. It more than repaid her for all 
 Jier trouble to hear her mother say, '' Dear 
 Allie, you have helped me a great deal 
 this morning^ ; and your little brother will 
 feel much better for a good sleep." 
 
 Just then grandpa entered, leaning on 
 his staff', and walking feebly, as he felt 
 more than usually unwell that morning, 
 Alice sprang to his side, assisted him to 
 
DOING GOOD. 7 
 
 cross the room, where his easy chair was 
 placed beside his favourite window. 
 
 *' I will bring you in your toast and 
 tea, grandpa, as soon as Margaret makes 
 ■them," she said, cheerily. 
 
 *' Thank you, my child, but I do not 
 care much for them ; I have but little 
 appetite to-day.*' 
 
 *' Just try a little," she added, as she 
 passed out into the kitchen. She returned 
 presently with a nicely-laid tray, and 
 placing it before him, broke the egg ready 
 for him, and poured out a cup of tea, 
 chatting pleasantly all the while. The 
 old man's heart warmed as he listened to 
 her sunny, cheering words. The break- 
 fast was eaten with a relish he did not 
 anticipate, and his wasted frame was 
 refreshed and invigorated. 
 
 And thus she passed her day, going 
 about the house with a sunny face, which 
 shone pleasantly upon all around her. 
 Not even the old cat, nor the chickens, 
 were left without her efforts and sympa- 
 thies. When she went to rest that night, 
 her heart was full of sunshine, and with 
 
 "Z^ 
 
 ^^o\ 
 
8 
 
 DOING GOOD. 
 
 a tliankfal spirits he renewed her good re- 
 sohition for the coming day. 
 
 Who of my httle readers will form the 
 same, and then carry it out as did little 
 Alice ? 
 
 *g^>^^-=^