"O good!" exclaimed Alice, laughingly; "you _are_ getting to be
religious, and I shall tell Fanny: so look out, little Miss Courtesy."

"You are very kind," said Emma, as she took the bright dipper of milk
from Mary. "I ate but little breakfast, and am very fond of milk. This
looks so nice too, so pure and white, in this clean, shining dipper:"
and Emma sat looking at the milk, as though it were a pity to drink it
up; and Mary stood looking at her, until she thought that perhaps it
was not polite to do so, and turned away.

"Don't go," said Emma, "unless you choose to be by yourself. Sit down
here just a minute. I have queer thoughts about this milk; and since we
are all alone, I will tell you what they are. You read the Bible,
Ma--,--I mean Miss Palmer?"

"Yes; but call me Mary, if you please. I am not used to being called
Miss."

"Well then, Mary dear," said Emma, drawing closer to her, as they sat
upon the log, "you remember where the Bible speaks of the _sincere
milk_ of the _word_" Mary smiled; for she was much pleased, and a
little surprised. Mrs. Lindsay and her family, with their Sabbath rides
and evening dancing parties, were not of course considered religious
people. "What do you suppose," continued Emma, "is meant by the sincere
milk of the word?"

"When a very little girl," replied Mary, "father bought me a small book
called 'Milk for Babes,' and said it was for children who wanted to
learn the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. That little book