Children’s Hymn. — Air, “Little Drops of Water”
From the sunny morning
To the starry night,
Every look and motion
Meets our Father’s sight.
From our earliest breathing
To our latest year,
Every sound we utter
Meets our Father’s ear.
Through our earthly journey,
Wheresoe’er we go,
Every thought and feeling
Doth our Father know.
Let us then be careful
That our looks shall be
Brave and kind and cheerful,
For our Lord to see.
Let us guard each accent
With a holy fear,
Fit our every saying
For our Lord to hear.
Let no thought within us,
Hidden or confessed,
Ever bring a sorrow
To our dear Lord’s breast.
Help us, O our Father!
Hear our earnest plea—
Teach thy little children
How to live for Thee!
HANS BRINKER;
Or, THE SILVER SKATES.
By Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge,
Author of “Rhymes and Jingles,” &c., and Editress of St. Nicholas.
Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates is one of those stories which is destined to be a source of perennial delight to generation after generation of children. It tells of life in Holland—a country which changes so little that a story of people who lived there twenty years ago might be told of to-day as well, and it is marked throughout by a vivacity, a freshness, and a healthy vigor which goes straight to the heart of every reader whether he be old or young.
From the Nation.
“The authoress has shown, in her former works for the young, a very rare ability to meet their wants; but she has produced nothing better than this charming tale—alive with incident and action, adorned rather than freighted with useful facts, and moral without moralization.”
From the Atlantic Monthly.
“‘Hans Brinker’ is a charming domestic story, which is addressed, indeed, to young people, but which may be read with pleasure and profit by their elders. * * The lessons inculcated, elevated in tone, are in the action of the story and the feelings and aspirations of the actors.”
From the Congregationalist.
“For children what could be better as a Christmas gift than a copy of Mrs. Dodge’s Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates, of which we are now given a new and beautiful edition? This is one of the most charming of juvenile stories, dealing with fresh scenes and a strange life, and told with sweet simplicity and great beauty.”
From the Watchman and Reflector.
“It has fine wit and natural pathos, and abounds in sentiments which are inspiring to the heart of any reader, young and old. * * * The character and incidents are of unusual interest. The plot is somewhat intricate, but is managed with a master’s skill. The tone is remarkably pure, and the lesson which the story itself presses home on the reader is in the highest degree significant.”
From the Cleveland Leader.
“Mrs. Dodge never permits her story to lag, and the bright eyes which have scanned its opening pages will not be content till they have followed the fascinating romance to its close.”
From Appleton’s Journal.
“A better present to a youngster of the right mind we should find it hard to select.”