_Mr. W._ Poor boy; then you never read the holy word of God. I am very sorry for you: it is the best of books, and by attending to what it tells us, even a child may learn how to become wise and happy.
_Boy._ Indeed, Sir, I wish I could read, for I am quite tired of having nothing to do while I mind the sheep.
_Mr. W._ I do not wonder at this; you would not only pass your time more pleasantly if you read the Bible, but you would also learn about our Lord Jesus Christ, and how he died for sinners; the Bible teaches us to love him, and to seek to do his will.
Mr. Williams then advised the boy to ask his master’s leave that he might go to the Sunday School; and said, that when the long winter evenings came, he might get one of his companions to help him, and he would very soon learn to read.
This kind gentleman then walked on till he came to a cottage where a weaver lived, to whom he wished to speak respecting some work.
Mr. Williams found the weaver very busy at his loom, and while they were conversing he heard the voice of some young person who was reading in the next room. It was the Parable of the Sower, which I dare say you recollect is in the 4th chapter of St. Mark’s gospel. It was read in a very distinct and proper manner, as if the reader understood it.
When Mr. Williams had given his orders, he asked who was reading in the next room.
_The Weaver._ It is my neighbour’s daughter; she is a very good girl, and comes every day to read the Bible to my aged mother, who has been blind for the last three months, so that she cannot read for herself; and I like to hear her as I sit in my loom.
_The Weaver._ She is not much above eight years old; but she is more steady than many of ten or eleven.
Mr. Williams then went to the room door, and saw the little girl standing by the old woman’s chair, reading a large Bible which lay on the window seat.
She read very distinctly, as I mentioned just now; she minded her stops, and took pains to pronounce every word properly, so that it was very easy to understand what she read. She did not gabble it over like some little folks I am acquainted with, as if she were trying to get the words out of her mouth as fast as possible.
The weaver’s aged mother listened very attentively, and appeared very thankful to hear the blessed word of God; when the little girl had finished the parable, she stopped, and the old woman explained what was meant by the good seed. She said that it was the word of God which taught us about the Saviour, and that when this good seed was sown in our hearts by him, and we were enabled to understand it by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, then we loved him for all he had done and suffered for us; and, being cleansed from our sins by his precious blood, we desired to do his will.