Grandma and Her Grandchildren, by the Author of 'Three Street Orphans'.

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER VI. ANDERSON PLOTS RONALD'S RUIN. HEN tea was past, and grandma had taken her customary seat, she said I fear, children, you would not like any questions to-night ? Yes, grandma, we would, the most of them said. Well, will any of you undertake to live without air for an hour ? A general laugh followed the question. Then air must be a very precious thing. If it became scarce, how much would you give for it rather than want it? I would give my mewing cat and barking dog for it, said the impulsive Ella. I would give everything I have, said Euphy. Certainly, said John, if you could not get it for less. That is, John, you would strike as hard a bargain as you could. Well, grandma, wouldn't that be right ? There's no use in flinging away things. I remember reading somewhere in the Bible, said Henry, ' All that a man hath will he give for his life.' I think it is in one of the psalms. No, said Henry, it is in Job, but I don't mind in what chapter. I'll find it out, grandma, and tell you. You will find, Henry, it was Satan who said that, and he spoke the truth for once, and he always does so when it serves his purpose; and wicked men do the same thing. So, you are all agreed that you would not like to want the air; but where does the air come from ? The wind brings it, said the venturesome Ella. And where does the wind get it, Ella? Don't know, grandma. But the wind, my dear, is just the air in motion; and you are Ella, aren't you, when you are running as well as when you are sitting ? God has made the air for us, and He could take it away in a moment if He chose; and if He took it away, we would all die. Don't you think, then, we should thank God for giving us a...