"And, mother," asked Bessie, somewhat doubtfully, "may I go to-morrow
and get the things to work a book-mark for Miss Preston? I'd like to
do it for a new Bible the teachers are going to give her."

"I don't care," said Mrs. Ford, "if you'll only not neglect everything
else while you're doing it. I don't believe in girls fiddling away
their time with such things, and not knowing how to make good cheese
and butter. But I wouldn't hinder you from making a present to Miss
Preston, for she has been a good teacher to you."

Bessie looked delighted, but the expression quickly changed when her
mother said, as they rose from table, "Bessie, I guess I'll not go to
church to-night. I've had so much to do that I feel tired out; and if
I did go, I'm sure I'd just go to sleep. Besides, I don't like the way
the dun cow is looking; so you'd better get ready and go with father
and the boys."

Now Bessie had expected to remain at home that evening, as she usually
did. She had planned to teach the children for a while, according to
her new resolution, and then, when they had gone to bed, to sit down
to read her Sunday-school book, which seemed unusually inviting.
Bessie's Sunday reading was generally confined to her Sunday-school
book, for she had not yet learned to love to read the Bible, and
regarded it rather as a lesson-book than as the spiritual food which
those who know it truly find "sweeter than honey" to their taste. So
it was not a very pleasant prospect to have to hurry off to church
again, and she felt very much inclined to make the most of the slight
fatigue she felt, and say she was too tired to go, in which case her
mother would have willingly assented to her remaining. But conscience