Lucy and Ann. A DIALOGUE. _Ann._ Tell me, dear Lucy, Tell me true―― What is that thing Above, so blue? _Lucy._ My little Ann, We call it sky―― And there, you know, God lives, on high. And it is heaven Far up above, Where angels dwell, In peace and love. And there, when dead, Good people go, To dwell with God, And angels too. _Ann._ ’Tis beautiful! But, sister dear, Is it in heaven As ’tis here? Are there sweet flowers, And blossoms fair, And silver streams, And fragrant air? And pretty birds, And butterflies,―― Are there such things Beyond the skies? _Lucy._ We cannot tell; We only know, ’Tis happier there Than here below. The sweetest thing On earth is _Love_; That fills each heart In Heaven above. These things amid, The birds and flowers, The butterflies In blooming bowers,―― All these are fair,―― And yet more blest Art thou, dear Ann, On mother’s breast. ’Tis Love, dear child, That makes thee so, And Heaven is Love,―― That’s all we know. [Illustration] The Little Flower Girl. How beautiful is Spring! See this little girl――she has gone forth into the fields alone, and she has gathered a handful of blossoms――dandelions, buttercups, and pansies. Why should the little girl gather flowers? Because they are beautiful, you will tell me. And who told you they were beautiful? You cannot tell me that, perhaps; then I will tell you. It is God, who made us, that has told us flowers are beautiful. He made us with eyes to see, and hearts to feel their beauty. He made these things, and He formed us so that we might love them, and take pleasure in them. How good and kind is it of our Heavenly Father, to spread pleasant things around us, and give us faculties to enjoy them! Surely, when we see so many lovely blossoms, and so many pleasant things, scattered around us, we should think with gratitude of Him who has arranged all these things; and our hearts being filled with love to Him, we should all try to please Him, by doing as He wishes us to do. God has done other kind things for us――He has not only made flowers, but He has made truth, charity, kindness, goodness, and other things, which are called virtues. God looks on these things, as we do upon flowers, as very lovely things; and what he wishes of us, is, that our hearts shall be full of these virtues. He likes to look on a virtuous mind, as we do on a flowery garden.