LETTERS FROM SISTER JANE.

NO. I.

LISBON.

MY DEAR LITTLE CHILD,

I am sure you will be pleased to receive a letter from sister Jane, for I well remember when I was a little girl, being very much delighted with any thing that came from abroad, and although I have since learnt that there is no place like my own country, I think it proper for you to know something about the manners and customs of other nations, that you may be able to prize your home as you ought, for you enjoy many comforts that the Portuguese children know nothing about.

When I tell you that Oranges, Grapes, and Figs grow here in abundance, you will perhaps exclaim "I wish that I lived at Lisbon :" but again I am sure you would not say so, when you are told that the people here are very quarrelsome, very ignorant, and very dirty: now you know that no good children like to be dirty, and when folks are ignorant, they are made to believe many foolish stories. The other day I went over the Cathedral, which is a very beautiful building, and I was shewn by the priest an iron cage, in which were two large black crows these he told me were several hundred years

LETTERS FROM SISTER JANE. NO. I.

15

old; he said they were the very crows that piloted St. Antonio into Lisbon when he was shipwrecked; the masts were carried away by the violence of the storm; the sailors had left the ship, leaving the saint to perish, when two crows came to his aid; one stood on the bow of the vessel, and the other on the stern, and guarded the ship safely into the harbour. This foolish story is believed by the poor Portuguese children, but I am sure you will not, neither did I at the time he told it me. After that I went into the church, and saw two or three dead bodies, without any coffins, lying on a shelf, which to me was a very shocking sight. I asked the reason of their lying there? and was told that when the poor cannot afford to bury their relations, they take them to the church, where they lay until a saint's day, which is very frequent, and then the priest buries them without any fee. How much better are the poor people cared for in England, you will say; and such, as you grow older, you will find to be the case.

I must now wish you good bye, my dear child, until the next packet sails for England, when you shall have a longer letter from, your affectionate sister,

JANE.

WHEN I kneel down my prayers to say,
I must not think of toys or play;
No! I must think what I should be,
To please God, who is good to me.

He loves to see a little child
Obedient-patient too-and mild;
Not often angry, but inclined
Always to do what's good and kind.

And I must love my dear mamma,
And I must love my dear рара;
And try to please them, and to do
Things that are right, and say what's true.

For God is always pleased to see

Even little children such as we,
Whose hearts (as angels' are above)

Are full of peace and full of love.

In commencing this series of Bible Histories, our only aim is to place before our young readers, a simple narrative of the most interesting characters mentioned in that Sacred Book; we wish to interest and familiarise their opening minds, with the contents of that blessed volume, and as they grow in stature, so may their minds grow in the knowledge and love of God.

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More than three thousand years ago, when almost all the inhabitants of the earth had left the worship of the living God, and had become worshippers of the sun, moon, and stars, and of various idols, of their own invention; it pleased God, in order to preserve faith in, and love to the Maker, from being totally lost, to appear to Abraham, a Chaldean, a man who was seriously desirous of knowing and doing what was just and right,— to command him to leave his kindred and friends, and go into a distant country. Abraham was at that time seventy-five years of age, and very rich in cattle, in which the chief possessions of those early times consisted. He, without doubt or hesitation, prepared to do as God required him; and, with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, his father Terah, their families, flocks, and servants, departed from their homes and kindred. Having proceded on their journey about half way to the land of Canaan, Terah, the father of Abraham, died in Haran, he being then very old. Abraham, together with Lot and their families, continued their journey, according to the direction of Him, whom they knew would lead them to a place of rest.

We have already told you that Abraham was rich in cattle, therefore water and pasturage were of the utmost importance; and his servants finding several springs, digged wells, which caused much dispute between the original inhabitants of the land, and the new comers. During this time, Abraham was not free from trouble and vexation. The riches of himself and Lot increased