Various plans.

might be written in the middle of the page, opposite the proper parts of the line.

Roger. I do not think this would be so well, because we should not see the whole six thousand years together.

Samuel. No, we should not see it all together; but a book would be so much more handy to carry than a roll, and then it would not wear out so quick. But I think you had better make a roll, and I will make a book, and then we will compare them.

Very soon after this, the boys arrived at the teacher's house.

The boys assemble.

Teacher sick.

CONVERSATION VIL

THE boys knocked at the teacher's door, and while they were waiting for some one to open it, John observed that there was no light in the parlor where they had been accustomed to meet with the teacher; but that there was a light in the chamber above. Samuel said he was afraid somebody was sick. Presently the door opened softly, and a woman appeared, and, after looking at them an instant, said, Do you want any thing, boys?

Samuel. We came to see our teacher: we always come on Wednesday evenings.

Woman. Your teacher is sick, and you cannot see him to-night.

Samuel. What is the matter with him?

Woman. I do not know he has been sick two or three days. The doctor says, perhaps he will not live; so you had better go home.

Roger whispered to Samuel to ask the woman if they could not do any thing for him-but just then some one at the top of the stairs spoke in a low voice to the woman, and asked her if those were the Sabbath school boys who were at the door. The woman turned to the boys, and asked, Are you the Sabbath school boys?

Yes, ma'am, said John.

Then, said the voice at the top of the stairs, the teacher says he should like to have them walk up: he wants to see them a few moments.

Samuel and Roger immediately walked in-but John

Appearance of a sick room.

remained upon the steps, apparently unwilling to follow them. Come, John, said Roger, as he stood holding the door, ready to shut it.

John said he did not want to go.

What-don't you want to go and see the teacher? said Roger.

I don't want to see him, if he is sick, and going to die. He is not going to die now, and he wants to see us :

come, you must go.

With some persuasion he was led in, and they all walked softly up stairs. John had never seen a person dangerously sick, and he expected to find the teacher suffering a great deal of pain, and looking very unhappy. But when the door opened, and he followed Samuel and Roger in, he was surprised to find every thing looking so cheerful and pleasant. There was a bright glowing fire upon the hearth, and it shed its light strongly over all the objects in the room. The teacher lay, or rather reclined, in his bed, his back being raised by pillows. He was pale: but he smiled when the boys came in; and they thought they never saw him look so happy. Near the bed there was a table, covered with phials and medicines; and the doctor was sitting by it, doing up some little papers. The teacher's sister was sitting by the side of the fire, with a Bible in her hand.

I am glad to see you, boys, (said he, in a faint but cheerful voice, as they entered.) Sit down a few minutes : I want to talk with you a little, when the doctor has finished giving his directions.

The boys sat down, and listened to the doctor, while he gave the directions to the nurse about taking care of the sick man through the night. At last, he turned to the teacher himself, and said, taking hold of his hand,—

Well, Sir, I must bid you good evening. I hope you

The pious physician.

Sickness sudden.

will have a comfortable night. You may, however, suffer a good deal, and you are aware that you are constantly in some danger. I should not speak so freely of this, if I did not see that it does not agitate you.

Teacher. I think, Sir, you will find that the best way to keep me quiet and composed, is to tell me openly and plainly what is my condition. I am not reluctant to die, if it is God's will: but if my dying hour is approaching, I wish to know it.

Doctor. It may be near-but I hope not. But whether you live or die, I trust God will give you resignation to his will. But I must leave you--for you must not talk much. These boys, (continued he, looking at Samuel and his companions,) must not stay long, or they will tire you. I am glad, however, that they have come; for you will do them some good. It will certainly do them good to see how a Christian feels and acts upon a sick and perhaps a dying bed.

So saying, the pious physician bade all in the room good night, and went away.

Come, boys, said the teacher, come and stand by my bed-side, for I cannot speak very loud.

They came and stood by the side of the bed, and looked, with very sorrowful countenances, upon the teacher's pale cheeks and wasted form.

How long have you been sick? said Samuel.

Teacher. Not long. Last Sabbath I was at meeting, and as well as usual; and now you see how I am. It does not take long for God to take away our strength, and bring us to sickness and pain.

John. I am very sorry you are sick, Sir.

Teacher. I thank you for feeling for me, John: but I

do not know that we ought to be sorry.

a great deal of good.

Sickness does

Sickness teaches patience ;-humility.

Roger. Good? What good does it do, Sir?

Teacher. Perhaps I ought to have said, it may do a great deal of good. Why, in the first place, it may increase our patience.

Consider, for example, and sometimes I suffer

Roger. I should think, Sir, that to bear sickness and pain, would make men impatient. Teacher. No it ought not to. my case. God has laid me here, a good deal of pain but I know it comes from Him ; and I know it is for some good design, and I try to bear it patiently.- -If I am for a moment, when the pain is severe, fretful or uneasy,,-when I think of it afterwards again, it grieves me to think of my repining at an evil so trifling, compared with what Christ willingly suffered for me; and so when the pain returns again, I try to bear it better.I remember, too, that God is near me all the time, and that he is noticing all my feelings, and that he hears all my words; and this makes me careful to try to please him. Samuel. Sometimes people are sick without suffering much pain.

Teacher. Yes; and they may learn patience another. way. Perhaps they are confined to their rooms a long, very long time, or perhaps their business is interrupted when there was something they were particularly desirous of doing; and these things try their patience.

John. But sometimes people are sick, who are already very patient. I don't think you need to have to bear pain, to prevent your being fretful.

Teacher. O yes, John, every body needs it. No one is as patient and resigned to God's will as he ought to be. But there are a great many other advantages of sickness. It makes men feel humble.

Samuel. How?

Teacher. When we are strong, and healthy, and pros