cat over a muddy road for a third of a mile. But Fred anticipated, with delight, the pleasure he should give, and the thanks he would receive. Once kitty, not liking to be held so tightly, escaped from his arms, and led him a chase over the wall into a marshy field; but he caught her again at last, and laughed alone by himself, imagining how Ned and Clara would run to meet him as soon as they saw what he was carrying.

Hatty had finished washing the dishes, and had swept the dining-room and kitchen, when, happening to look from the window, she saw Fred coming back.

He scraped the mud from his boots and came into the kitchen, his face expressive of the greatest disgust.

“What’s the matter now?” inquired his sister, laughing at his comical expression; “didn’t you get the kitty safe home?”

“Yes.”

“Well, weren’t they glad to find her?”

“I didn’t see anybody but Mrs. Perry, and she was just as cross as she could be. She never thanked me one mite. She only looked at my boots as if she was afraid I was going to walk in, and then she said,—

“‘Well, put her down; cats are a great bother, any way.’”

“Why didn’t you tell Mrs. Perry you would take her back again? I should think she might have thanked you, anyhow.”

“I hate not to be thanked,” exclaimed Fred.

“Especially when you took pains to go so far through all this mud.”

“Next time kitty comes here, crying and trying to come in, I’ll keep her myself. I’m as tired as I can be, I had to chase her so.”

Fred took off his boots, and went up stairs, where his mother sat sewing, to relate his grievances to her.

CHAPTER II.

NO THANKS.

MRS. CARLETON was at work on a new suit of clothes. They were of a soft gray cloth, and made in a fashion which greatly pleased the little boy. First, there was a pair of pantaloons, or pants, as Fred called them; then a vest, he had never worn a vest before; and last, a nice jacket with a pocket in the left side, just like the ones worn by the big boys. The jacket and vest were bound with black braid.

Mrs. Carleton had taken great pains with the new suit. First, she had to give more for the cloth than she could well afford; but she admired its soft, firm texture, and willingly gave up a new black silk apron which she expected to purchase: the money thus saved met the extra expense of the cloth.

Next, came the fitting of the suit. There was no children’s tailor in the town; and, if there had been, Mrs. Carleton could not afford to pay him for the cutting. So she sent to her sister in the city, who kindly furnished a paper pattern, which she had used for her own son.

There was a good deal of trouble in all this; but the mother took it cheerfully, rising earlier than usual, and sitting up late, in order to finish the clothes before the examination of the school.

When Fred came up the stairs she was at work on the vest. She listened with interest to all he had to say, especially when he expressed his displeasure that Mrs. Perry did not even thank him for carrying her kitty home.

Finding her too busy to talk much, he was going downstairs, when she said,—

“Wait a minute, Fred; I want to try on this vest; and then I have something to say to you.”

“Need I take off my jacket, mother? I’ve tried it on so many times.”

“Yes, dear, I’ve had to alter it a little. Stand still; I can’t pin it while you are jerking your head so continually.”

“It hurts, ma. I can’t bear to try on clothes,” he said, impatiently. “I had rather wear my old ones than to have to keep changing so many times.”

While Fred was buttoning his jacket again, Mrs. Carleton asked, earnestly,—

“Did you say your prayer this morning?”

“No, ma’am, I forgot it.”

“Do you often forget?”

“A good many times I do in the morning, because I hear the chickens calling for their dough.”

“But you don’t forget to eat your breakfast.”

“Oh, no, ma, of course not!”

“Nor to drink when you are thirsty, nor to warm yourself when it is cold, nor to lie down to rest when you are weary.”

“Of course, ma, I do that. Everybody does.”

“But, Fred, who gives you your breakfast? Who provides a pleasant home for you; a fire and clothes to warm you; a bed for you to rest upon? Who gives you health and strength; a good appetite for your food? Who made your form erect and vigorous, instead of lame and deformed, like poor Israel Wasson? Do you ever think who has done all these things for you?”

“God made me,” said the boy; “and gave me all the blessings which I enjoy. That’s the answer in my catechism.”

“My little son,” said the lady, seriously; “you were much displeased because Mrs. Perry expressed no gratitude for the small favor you did her; but you confess that many mornings you forget to thank your heavenly Father for all his kindness to you. You said,—

“‘Catch me carrying her kitty home through all the mud again.’

“What if God should say, ‘I have given Frederick Carleton a good home, food to eat, clothes to wear, a house to live in, and friends to love him. I have done this for eight years; but he seldom thanks me. He jumps out of bed, runs to his breakfast, satisfies all his wants, but does not even think of me, the Giver of all his blessings. I will do nothing more for him. After this he shall be a poor, homeless wanderer, suffering from hunger and thirst, from cold and nakedness. I do hate people who don’t thank me for the favors which I bestow.’”

CHAPTER III.

THE SABBATH SCHOOL.

WHILE his mother was speaking, Fred had dropped his cap to the floor, and sat looking at her, his eyes staring wide open.

“Why, ma,” he said, eagerly; “I didn’t know that God would care.”

“There is nothing, my child, that our heavenly Father loves more than a grateful heart. How often did David express his gratitude to the Most High. He says, ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High! to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.’ Again he says, ‘I will bless thee while I live. Seven times a day do I praise thee.’ The Bible is full of thanks to God for his continued mercies to his undeserving creatures. Moses, the great lawgiver, commands, ‘When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God.’ Joel says, ‘Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord thy God.’ Even Jesus, who as God, was the Creator of all things, when he took the seven loaves, gave God thanks for the