R. Macduff

LITTLE Emma was one Sabbath evening alone in the room with her grandmamma. Good old Mrs Allan (for that was her grandmother’s name) was seated in her arm-chair, beside a blazing winter fire. A small table was before her, with a Bible and a pair of spectacles lying upon it.
Emma came jumping up upon her grandmamma’s knee, and kissed her, and said—
“Dear grandmamma, there is much in that large Bible I do not understand; I should like so much to know all it tells about. When I was at church this forenoon, I heard Mr R., our clergyman, speak to the people about what 4he called ‘doctrines;’ and when he was telling about them, there were many things the people liked to hear which were too difficult for me. Do you think you could tell me about them in very simple words, and make them plain to me? I will promise to be very attentive to all that you say.”
“I shall be truly happy,” said the other, looking with a kindly smile on her little grandchild, “to do what you ask me. And if you will come to me for a few minutes every Sabbath night, I will try to explain these Bible doctrines to you as simply as I can.”
So saying, she put aside her spectacles, and drawing her chair closer by the fire, with her arm round little Emma’s neck, began...