If it were to fall into the fire, it would be burned up. If hot water were thrown upon it, it would be scalded. If it were to fall into deep water, and not be taken out very soon, it would be drowned. If a great knife were run through your body, the blood would come out. If a great box were to fall on your head, your head would be crushed. If you were to fall out of the window, your neck would be broken. If you were not to eat some food for a few days, your little body would be very sick, your breath would stop, and you would grow cold, and you would soon be dead. You see that you have a very weak little body. Can you keep your own body from being sick, and from getting hurt? You should try not to hurt yourself, but God only can keep your body from all harm, from fire and water, from wounds and bruises, and all kinds of sickness. Kneel down and say to God, “Pray keep my poor little body from getting hurt.” God will hear you, and go on taking care of you. My little body’s made by God Of soft warm flesh and crimson blood: The slender bones are placed within, And over all is laid the skin. My little body’s very weak; A fall or blow my bones might break: The water soon might stop my breath; The fire might close my eyes in death. But God can keep me by his care; To him I’ll say this little pray’r: “O God! from harm my body keep, Both when I wake and when I sleep.” LESSON II. OF A MOTHER’S CARE. I HAVE told you about your little body. Was your body always as big as it is now?—No. Once it was very small indeed. What were you called when your body was very small?—A baby. Now you can take a little care of yourself, but then you could take no care at all. Can babies walk, or talk, or feed themselves, or dress themselves?—No. But God sent you a person who took great care of you when you were a baby. Who was it?—Your dear mother; she took care of you then. She nursed you in her arms, and fed you, and took you out in the air, and washed you, and dressed you. Do you love your mother?—Yes. I know you do. But who gave you a mother? It was God who sent you to a kind mother. A little while ago there was no such little creature as you. Then God made your little body, and he sent you to your mother, who loved you as soon as she saw you. It was God who made your mother love you so much, and made her so kind to you. Your kind mother dressed your poor little body in neat clothes, and laid you in a cradle. When you cried she gave you food, and hushed you to sleep in her arms. She showed you pretty things to make you smile. She held you up, and showed you how to move your feet. She taught you to speak, and she often kissed you, and called you sweet names. Is your mother kind to you still?—Yes, she is, though she is sometimes angry. But she wishes to make you good: that is why she is sometimes angry.