KATIE SEYMOUR ;

OR, HOW TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY.

CHAPTER III.

KATIE'S thoughts were busy as soon as she awoke the next day, about Nelly and her mother. She was so glad that they would have a good breakfast and a better fire that morning; and she had no doubt that if Aunt Martha interested herself for them, she would get Mrs. Turner as much needlework as she could do.; for Aunt Martha was one of those persons who seldom fail in anything which they undertake.

"What a good thing it was that Nelly dropped her wrapper yesterday, and that I picked it up," said Katie to herself, as she nestled down on her warm pillow, " for if I had not done so, we might never have known anything about them. And then they would not have got that nice basketful of eatables, and must have been so badly off. But what a chance it seemed whether I spoke to Nelly or not. Yet I suppose it was not chance; there is not such a thing as chance; grandfather said that God took care of Mrs. Turner, and that he sent us to help her. And he is right, because the Bible says the same. Only, how wonderful it is that God should take care of everybody, and know just what they want, and put it into our hearts

to give them exactly what they most need! How great and good he must be!" Then Katie remembered these verses, which their minister had preached from on Sunday: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.. Fear ye not therefore. ye are of more value than many sparrows," Matt. x. 29-31 and she thought what a comfort it was to fee, that we have the great and holy God as our Father and Friend. "I cannot think how it is," she said, "that everybody does not trust in him ; it would make them so happy."

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Katie knew this, not only because she had read it, and had been taught it, but also because she had found it out for herself. She had learned it by experience. Suppose you had never seen a fire. You might be

told that if you were near one on a winter's day, it would warm you and make you comfortable, and you might believe what you were told; but this would not be half so good as having a real fire in your own room, and sitting by its cheerful blaze until you were quite warmed. Then you would not only believe, but you would experience its value. And this was the waythe best way-in which Katie knew that true happiness springs from love to God. She felt it in her own heart. It made her happy.

And it can make you happy, dear young reader, as well as Katie. Will you not seek the grace of God's Holy Spirit? Will you not trust in the Saviour now, and give him your heart? Then you will find, as Katie did, that religion's ways are ways of pleasant

ness, and its paths, paths of peace. For you will never be successful in making others happy, unless you are first happy yourself. Cross, discontented, and unamiable persons are not likely to take much pains in helping on the joy of those around them. They have neither the motive nor the desire to do so. But if you believe in Jesus, your heart will be so full of peace and gladness, that it will overflow in blessings to others.

How long Katie would have lain that morning thinking about Nelly, and forming certain little plans about her, I do not know, had not the loud and merry sound of her brothers' voices roused her from her pleasant day-dreams, and reminded her that it was time to get up. She rose hastily and dressed herself; and upon looking out of the window into the back garden, saw that there had been a heavy fall of snow during the night, and that Walter, and Alfred, and Charlie, were amusing themselves with making a snow man. Katie would have joined them, but she had a slight cold, and her mamma told her she had better keep within doors. So she contented herself with watching them from the window; and before breakfast was ready they had rolled together a large and most grotesque-looking figure, which the whole household were called upon to admire.

After breakfast, Walter went with his father into his study to write some letters for him. Katie sat down by her mother to work at some doll's things, which she was preparing for a little friend, and which she was rather in a hurry to complete. This little friend-Patty Cooper-had complained one day to Katie, that her best doll, a large new doll which had

been given her, was obliged to be kept shut up in a drawer for want of clothes to wear! Patty could not make any herself, and her elder sister would not help her, at least, not for a long time to come; she had plenty of her own work to do, she said, and could not be teased with doll's things. It was not very kind, nor very sisterly of her, Katie thought; for Patty was a sickly little creature, who wanted more in-door amusements than most children, because she was so seldom able to go out. Katie made up her mind to fill up the sister's place, by making a frock, and bonnet, and mantle, for the waxen baby; she had managed to take the length and size when Patty did not see her, and the new things were to be a pleasant surprise to the little girl. Katie's mother had furnished her with some pink muslin for the dress, and Katie had found silk enough among her own stores for the other articles, and was now very busy, under her mother's directions, in putting them together. And this snowy weather quickened her movements, for there was no hope of Patty's stirring out while it lasted; and how dull she would be, poor child, sitting all day long by the fireside. Katie was not very fond of work, but she was very fond of making others happy; and the thought of the bright looks with which her present would be received by little Patty, made her needle move cheerfully, although there was an interesting book on her table still unread; and who loved books more dearly than Katie ?

Alfred and Charlie found for themselves a new, and certainly a healthful employment. This was, sweeping all the snow which led from the front door to

the garden-gate. The front of the house was almost as retired as the back, for very few persons passed that way into the town; so Mrs. Seymour smiled at their wish to be useful, and told them that they had full liberty to sweep the snow if they chose to do so, only they must put on their thick shoes. All children, boys especially, like to do something which they call "work" it makes them feel more manly; and Alfred and Charlie were as much in earnest as if they were dependent upon their labour for a living.

Presently, as Katie was quietly talking to her mother, Alfred came in. He looked warm and annoyed. His mother saw in a minute that something was the matter. "What! finished already, Alfred ?" said Katie, glancing towards the garden. Charlie was still there, sweeping away as diligently as at first. "Why, you have left off before Charlie!" continued Katie, in a tone of surprise; were you tired first ?" 'No, I am not tired," said Alfred, "but I do not want to sweep away any more. I do not think it is just the thing to be seen clearing away the snow." "Oh, Alfred, who is there to see you ?"

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"Plenty of people," said Alfred, pettishly; "why, Miss Layton and her sister went past, and they stared so at us, and looked so surprised. I heard Augusta Layton say to her sister, 'How strange it is of their father to let them sweep away the snow, like poor boys! It is so very ungenteel!' And Miss Layton turned round again, as if she could hardly believe that it was us; and then she said something to Augusta, and they both laughed."

"I think that was quite as 'ungenteel' as clearing