GERTRUDE MASON.
Gertrude Mason was a sweet little girl of about ten summers, with rosy cheeks, and bright, sunny hair.
She did not live in the city, like a great many children, but she lived at a quiet little cottage in the country, which she called “Rose Neath.”
Gertrude was a good child.
She loved everybody, and everybody seemed to love her.
She was meek and gentle, and was always willing to do any thing she could to minister to the wants of the poor and needy.
Gertrude had a beautiful Newfoundland dog, named Rescue, and wherever she went, her friend Rescue was always at her side. She loved him very much, and used to give him part of her meals every day. One lovely Sabbath morning, when the sun was shining brightly, and the little birds singing sweetly from the boughs of the trees, Gertrude, dressed neatly and tidily, hymn-book and catechism in hand, started off for the Sabbath-school.
She had not gone very far, when she came to a creek.
Thrown across this creek was a log, on which persons were in the habit of crossing.
It had rained the night before, and the log was very slippery. Gertrude did not think of this, and was about crossing over, when her foot slipped, and she was thrown headlong into the swollen current.
She would have been drowned, had it not been for her faithful friend Rescue, who swam in and brought her safely to the shore.
Thus was the life of this lovely girl saved by her affectionate dog.
This little story should teach us two lessons.
First, if we wish persons to love us, we must be kind and attentive to them.
Secondly, the pathway of life is very slippery, and many of our companions fall into very great sins, and it is our duty, like Rescue, to save them from destruction.