THE STRAY LAMB. For three girls. Lillie, (holding a miniature lamb). "This is a little lamb, and there are little lambs that skip about the fields; but I am the most precious little lamb of them all." Mary (an older child).. "Why, sister, you are not a little lamb at all. Lillie. Yes, I am, the Bible says so. L. "Feed my lambs." And then it tells somewhere besides, about the Lord's gathering little children in his bosom. M. But, that is not saying they are lambs. L. Well, any how, that is the way the shepherds do with their little lambs, when any of them are cold, or can't walk. M. But you are not cold, and you can walk. L. Well, now, I don't care, I am the Saviour's little lamb. Sarah (a larger girl.) Yes, darling sister, you are the Saviour's precious lamb. Do you not remember the beautiful Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in the green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." Come sit on my knee, and let me tell you a dear little story about a lamb. He had the nicest pasture; he ran about among the grass, and nipped the tender blades, and was so glad and happy. But one day, as he was walking along the hedge that fenced in his lovely pasture, he saw a little hole in it. He thought I can creep through that. So first he put his nose through, then he pushed his body in. Oh, how the briars scratched him and tore his fleece off. But after a while he got through. Do you think he was happy then? L. No, not a bit. Sarah. No, he was not; he got lost and went bleating about, and looked so sorry and forlorn. L. Poor little lamb ! S. Does Lillie know she is like that poor little lamb? L. Why, sister Sarah! How? S. Lillie has wandered away from the gentle Shepherd. Doesn't she remember she did wrong to-day, and felt so unhappy? (Lillie begins to cry.) M. Then Lillie isn't the Saviour's lamb, is she? S. Did not that stray lamb belong to the Shepherd, and was not its true home in the pleasant pasture, just as much after it had strayed, as when it was there? M. Why, yes-but- Oh, yes! but did the Shepherd go to look for it and bring it back? S. He had a kind of a call that all his sheep and lambs had learned to know; so he went to the edge of the hedge and called several times in the day. Has not the Saviour a voice with which he calls his little lambs? Did not my little Lillie hear a gentle voice to-day, telling her, "Come back, little Lillie; do what is right?" L. Yes, sister Sarah, but I was naughty, and would not listen. S. So was that little lamb naughty. He heard the Shepherd call, but would not listen. On he went, gamboling over the uneven ground, and the Shepherd had to send a man after him to bring him back. He found him in a very dangerous place, too. L. (looking downcast.) And I would not do right until you came to me and talked with me. Oh, wasn't I naughty! S. I hope the good Shepherd has forgiven my little sister. L. (brightening.) Oh, yes, I asked him to, and I think he has. S. Well, be careful not to stray away from the fold, for some stray away so far they never get back. (Sarah kisses her two little sisters, and they leave.) S. S. CELEBRATION BOOK. HOW TO LEAD A CHILD TO GOD. 。 A dialogue for two girls and one little boy. This scene is supposed to occur in the nursery. The young lady representing the mother is seated beside a small workstand, sewing. Enter, at one side of the platform, the sister and brother, while the mother is singing. The sister puts her little brother's shoes on his feet, then brushes his hair and arranges his apron. He manifests impatience. Sister. There, now you begin to look like yourself. Little boy. I want my breakfast. Sister. Well, be patient; we'll soon be ready. Little Boy. I'm ready now. Sister. No, I guess not. You forget one thing. Little Boy. What is it? Sister. Your prayers, brother. Little Boy. I don't want to say my prayers. Sister. Why, brother, that's naughty! You must say your prayers, like a good boy. Little Boy. I won't say my prayers-I want my breakfast. Sister. What will mother say? How can you give her your morning kiss? Little Boy. (Louder.) I won't say my prayers! I won't say my prayers! Sister. Those are very bad words, brother. But go to your mother. (The little boy moves towards his mother, followed by his sister. He pauses a moment.) Little Boy. Mother! (She looks up, with a smile.) Mother. Good-morning, my son! Little Boy. I'm going to my breakfast. Mother. Stop a moment. I want you to come here and kiss me, first. (The mother places her work on the stand; the boy runs to her, throws his arms around her neck, and kisses her.) Mother. Are you pretty well, this morning? |