Page 201 - Child's own book
P. 201

very  fond  of maxims;  arid  one  of  his  favourite  ones  was—
                            Blessed are the peace-makers.”  This  made  them  elect  him
                          for  their  monarch;  and  he  was  always  called  Little  King
                          Pippin.  They joined  together  to  have a fine  crown  made for
                          him, on  which  was  placed,  in letters of gold, iL Peter Pippin,
                          King of the  Good  Boys."  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  all  Mr.
                          Teach well’s  children  did  not  deserve  the title of good;  some
                          incidents  occurred,  while  out  hero was  at sehool^ which dis­
                          played,  in  its  true  colours, the  danger of truancy, and  other
                          vicious habits.  One day, as George Graceless was playing with
                          other boys, at marbles, in the court-yard, his brother accidentally
                          stopped one of the marbles, on which the former threw himself
                          into a most unbecoming rage, and called him a foci, at the same
                          time taking the Lord's  name  in  vain.  King Pippin,  who was
                          present,  could  not  avoid  rebuking  him.  “ Master Graceless,’'
                          said  he,  41 attend  to  your  Bible, and  you will find, 4 He who
                          calleth his brother fool, placeth  himself in danger of heli-fiTe
                          and the third commandment saith,  1 Take not the name of  the
                          Lord thy God in  vain,' &c.”— u Keep your preaching to your­
                          self^ said Graceless, very Tudely,  il mind your hook, and leave
                          us to mind  our play.'1— u Pie, fie,  Master  Graceless,1' said  the
                          little  monarch,  Lt 1  fear  you  will  have  cause  to repent such
                          language;  God, if he pleases, can strike you dead in au instant,
                          or  bring  some  heavy  suffering  on  you.  He  is  everywhere
                          present, and His all-seeing eye surveys

                                        e Out  secret  thoughts,  our words  acd  wavs,*
                            At this moment the school-bell rang.  “ All  in I1f was the cry;
                          and the good boy a, with  Pippin at their  head,  ran  to  get  into
                          the room before their names  were  called  over  by the monitor,
                          lest they should lose their places  held  in  the  classes  to which
                          they  severally  belonged.       Graceless  and  his  companions
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