Charles Linn took the pitcher and brought some fresh water from the spring, and Mary put the little mug which was in the wash-room, on the table, for a drinking cup. When the table was arranged, Mary allowed Ellen Raby to ring the bell. She rang the bell very loud, and she ran about, saying to every one, “Please to come to dinner.” Before they began to eat, they sat in silence[A] for a little while; and then Mary asked her scholars, if they knew why we sit in silence before we partake of our meals? Charles Linn said, “We do it that we may think of our Heavenly Father, before we eat our food, because He gives it to us.” “Yes,” said Mary, “He gives us every good thing that we have, and we should try, when we receive his gifts, to ask Him to give us grateful hearts for them. We cannot give ourselves kind parents and pleasant homes and health, nor abilities to provide food and raiment. God must give them to us or we must go without them. “Shall I repeat to my little scholars some verses which my mother taught me to say when I was about as old as Lily Forester?” They all said, “Yes, oh do, before we eat our dinner.” And Mary repeated: When my little daughter comes To the board with plenty spread, She should try to think of Him, By whose bounty she is fed. From our Heavenly Father’s hand Come our blessings, health and food, Parents, homes, and all we have, All we know and think of good. Then, my darling, try to say To thyself a little prayer; Ask God for a grateful heart At thy meals, and everywhere. Mary talked with her scholars while they ate their dinner; and after dinner was over, each scholar put the plates and other things that belonged to her into her own basket. There was not much left, for they were all very hungry. Then they went into the wash-room, one at a time, and washed their hands and faces. Mary required her scholars to eat slowly and chew their food well; and eating their dinner and washing and putting their baskets away, had occupied so much time, that now it was almost two o’clock, and school in the afternoon commenced at two o’clock. Mary had no recess during the afternoon on rainy days, and she closed her school at four o’clock. She said it was not healthful to remain longer than that time in a close room. It had rained so fast all day that the scholars could not go out to take the air. * * * * * When Mary said it was school-time, Charles Linn called out, “Now for school.” “Now for school.” “May I ring the bell?” Mary told him he might. And he rang the bell.