CHAPTER I
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
CHAPTER I.
PerHaps you think you are going to hear that Little Susy went to school.
But you are not.
All the teachers she had lived in the house with her.
And all the lessons they taught her were lessons without books. I shall not tell you even the names of half of them, lest you should get tired.
I shall tell you of only six.
It is a common saying that, "Babies bring love into the world with them."
If you ask your mamma whether you did, I know what she will say.
She will smile kindly upon you, and say:
"Yes, indeed, you little dear."
So Susy brought her first teacher with her, and her name was Mrs. Love.
She was just such a teacher as a baby likes.
She had a gentle, sweet face, and a soft, kind voice; her cheeks
LITTLE. SUSY'S SIX FREACHERS.
were of a beautiful rose-color, and her forehead was smooth and white.
Most of the other teachers consulted her before they taught Susy any lessons; and Mr. Pain, who was one of them, often staid away weeks at a time because
'Mrs. Love took such good care of Susy herself.
Mr. Pain was not so pleasant to look at as Mrs.
Love.
He looked rather pale and tired.
He was grave and serious, and his forehead was wrinkled.
But for all that, he taught Susy some very good lessons, and even Mrs. Love sometimes sent for him.
Did you ever see a little lamb bounding over the soft grass?
Did you ever hear a bird sing to another bird away out in the woods?
If you ever did, you know how Miss Joy looked when she came dancing in to see Susy, and how her voice sounded when she taught her such pleasant lessons as she knew how to teach.
She was a little bit of a creature, with waving, sunny hair, and bright eyes, sparkling with health and happiness.
I believe she and Mrs. Love are sisters.
At any rate they look more or less alike.
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
Susy's third teacher had several names.
His easiest name was Mr. Ought.
He did not look much like Miss Joy.
Susy did not like him at first.
He was so tall, and taught her such hard lessons, and when she would not listen so often called Mr. Pain to come and punish her that she wished he would go away and never come back.
But the more she looked at him the more kind and dear his face appeared, and by and by she learned to love him with all her heart.
The fifth teacher was Aunt Patience.
She looked as if she had seen a good deal of trouble.
But you must not fancy she looked sad, or sour, or bitter, or anything bad or disagreeable.
There was a serene smile on her face that made you love her at once.
Another beautiful and holy teacher lived with Susy.
His name was Faith.
He was not older than Susy herself, and the only reason he knew any more than she did was this. He was an Angel.
He knew a good deal about h>aven and about Jesus.
He could tell her sweet stories from the Bible.
His eyes shone just as
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
stars shine in the sky, and his face looked peaceful, like the face of Aunt Patience, but more radiant and cheerful.
Susy liked him, and he liked her.
Have you so many teachers in your house ?
Perhaps you say, No.
But I am sure you have, and if you read on perhaps you will see.
To be sure your Mrs. Love may not be exactly like Susy's Mrs. Love.
But in most things she is.