'Mother,' said little Effie Maurice, on a Sabbath evening in winter, 'Mr
L---- said to-day that we are all in danger of breaking the first
commandment,--do you think we are?'

'Did not Mr L. give you his reasons for thinking so?'

'Yes, mother.'

'Didn't you think he gave good reasons?'

'I suppose he did, but I could not understand all he said, for he
preached to men and women. Perhaps he thought children were in no danger
of breaking it.'

'Well, bring your Bible--'

'O mother, I can say all the commandments, every word. The first is,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." I thought this was for the
Burmans and Chinese, and all those who worship idols where the
missionaries go.'

'The poor heathen are not the only idolaters in the world, my child; we
have many of them in our own Christian land.'

'What! _here_, mother? Do people worship idols in this country?'

'Yes, my dear, I fear we do.'