 First series, Chapter 1 of Little Susie's Little Servants. As Little Susie had a kind mama to take care of her, you will perhaps wonder why God gave her also a great many servants of her own. He gave her so many that you might spend your whole life in reading about them, but I shall tell you of only a very few, and then you can ask your mama to talk to you about the others. For the little servants Susie had, you have, too. At first she did not know what they were for, or where they were. They did not know either, and so they were useless. Two of them were black, and so much alike that you could not tell one from the other. Susie kept them shut up most of the time, so that nobody could see them. When her aunts and cousins came to see Susie, they would say, I should think she might let us see them, and would go away quite disappointed. These black servants were bright little things, and they soon learned to amuse Susie a great deal. One of the first things they did for her was to let her see the fire, and that she thought very beautiful. Susie had another pair of twins for her servants, who knew so little what they were for that they used to slap and scratch her face. Her mama said she should have to tie them up if they did so. Indeed, many a little baby has had them all covered up with white rags to keep them from doing mischief before they were old enough to know better. But though they did not know how to behave, they were very pretty, tiny little things. And when Susie's papa knelt down and took one of them on his hand, and kissed it, and wondered at it, and said what a funny we morsel it was, why it looked, to be sure, like a pretty rose leaf, or anything else soft and pink you can think of. Susie had another pair of twins that she took no notice of for some months. They did not learn how to wait upon her so soon as some of the others did. They were restless little fat things, seldom still a moment, and about all they knew was how to kick holes in blue and white socks. Susie had still another pair of twins, not very pretty, but very useful, for without them she could never have heard her mama sing, or her papa whistle, or the shovel and tongs fall down and make such a charming noise, nor the pussycat say, meow, nor the doggie say, bow, wow. She had one more little servant that she kept out of sight all the time. All it was good for at first was to help her get a great many breakfasts and dinners and suppers every day, but it became good for a great deal more after a while. But if I go on in this way I'm afraid you will get puzzled, you are such a little creature. So if you will guess the names of these servants of Susie I will give you three guesses, and if you do not guess right the third time you will have to peep into the glass when you will see most of your own, I mean those I have been talking about. The first series, chapter 1, recording by Hannah Mary. First series, chapter 2 of Little Susie's Little Servants, by Elizabeth Prentice. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 2 Well, did you look at yourself in the glass? If you did you saw in the middle of your face two black or blue or gray servants, your two eyes. No matter what color they are, one kind is as good as another kind. As soon as Susie found out what hers could do she kept them very busy indeed. If she wanted to see her mama her eyes would not wait for her to bid them let her look at her, for they knew her thoughts as well as she knew them herself. They amused her while she lay on her mama's lap by showing her the bright sunshine that came in at the windows, the white curtains, and the ball of gay worsted in the work basket. When she was turned over, her face downwards to have her frock tied, they showed her the carpet so as to keep her from crying. When they were tired Susie had a soft cover lid with a beautiful fringe that she could draw down over them and then they could rest all night. That made this cover lid on purpose. The finest cambered cankerchief is coarser. God only can make a cover soft enough for the eye. After Susie was washed and dressed in the morning and had had her breakfast, her mama would lay her down upon the bed and spread a small blanket over her. Then the busy bright eyes would look up to the wall and look and look at a small spot of sunshine there till at last they grew tired and the soft cover lid would begin to come drooping drooping down and Susie would be fast asleep. Or in the midst of the dark night if she woke up and did not know what else to do, she could look at the night lamp that sat on the floor in the corner and wonder what it was and how far off. Everything in the world was new to Susie and as she grew older and her eyes grew stronger they kept showing her all sorts of pretty things and made the time pass away very quickly indeed. How pleased Susie was the first time they showed her the sweet smile of love with which her mama looked at her. She would have jumped for joy if she had been big enough. But while her two eyes were so busy in doing all they could to amuse her, her two ears were not idle and one day when she was yet a very little baby, she heard a pleasant sound of bells ringing for church. That was as sweet as music. She looked surprised and listened and listened and threw up her arms and smiled. After that if she cried when she was washed somebody would rattle the tongues and shovel or make some such queer noise and she would stop crying to hear it. So then I suppose her ears were very glad and now they could help her pass her time much more pleasantly than before for they could help her hear her mama sing and what sort of a sound keys make when they jingle together and all that. Susie was astonished at everything she heard for she never had been where there were such wonderful noises before and when Sarah put coals on the fire Susie would start and perhaps think it was an earthquake unless her mama smiled as much as to say don't be frightened darling. So what with her eyes and her ears and her soft red tongue to get dinner with Susie was a very happy baby growing fatter and stronger and wiser every day. End of first series chapter two recording by Hannah Mary series one chapter three of Little Susie's Little Servants by Elizabeth Prentice. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter three. But one morning when she was 10 weeks old Susie began to play with a play thing. What do you think it was? Why her own little hand? She felt of it lifted it up and looked at it tasted of it and admired it very much. A grave judge sitting on his bench and looking as wise as Solomon could hardly look graver or wiser than Susie did when she first found out that she had two little hands. How she turned them over and tangled up the tiny fingers and twisted and doubled them. Now she thought she had found out what those little things were for that had been doing nothing but slap and scratch and grow fat. Why they were to play with to be sure. And she never would have to cry for them or get up to look for them for there they were always close by and so nice and soft. So Susie played with her hands and cued to them and told them stories in Greek or Latin or Dutch nobody knows and was quite cheery and happy. Her mama was very much pleased to see Susie playing with her hands and after a time she offered her a little piece of paper. Susie looked at it and wanted to take it. But her hands did not know how. All they were good for was to play with each other. But they wanted to learn to hold things for Susie and tried very hard every day until at last they did learn to hold her rattle for her and then an orange and then a bunch of keys. Nice little servants. Don't you think so? And by this time Susie made a great discovery. She found out that she had two feet of her own and thought it would be a good plan to get one of them into her mouth. She worked very hard before she succeeded and was such a busy little baby that she could hardly spare time to eat her breakfast. I suppose she thought all those fat little feet were made for was just for her to play with just as she had thought about her hands. Perhaps you would like to see a letter that Susie wrote to her little cousin about these times. I rather think she must have got her mama or somebody to write it for her. My dear cousin, since I last wrote to you, I have grown a good deal for I am now six months old. I cannot sit alone yet for when I try I fall over sideways. But with a pillow behind me, I can sit up very well and play with my toys. I have an old basket half full of play things about which I will tell you. First, I have an ivory ring with a blue string in it. But I don't think much of that. Then I have a large glass stopper that came out of a vinegar crew it. Thirdly, I have two spools tied together and fasten to them somehow is a whole piece of tape that I snatched out of my mama's basket and sucked till she said it was good for nothing. And I might as well keep it. Fourthly, I have a cork that used to be in a bottle of something sweet for it tastes very good. I'm fond of this cork and lie on the floor and play with it just as a cat plays with a mouse. I have also a half dollar with a hole in it that my grandmother gave me. But I always cry when I play with it for it is so hard it hurts my mouth. I have a great many rags that my mama has given me. When she cuts out my little frocks, she gives me the pieces that are left and some are white, some pink and some blue. You see, I am going to wear short frocks pretty soon. But my best play things are two red sticks that were a part of an old fan your mama left here. The other day I was lying on the floor. And I thought I would see how far I could get one of them down my throat. When I had pushed it a good way I began to cry. My mama caught me up and pulled it out. But my throat bled and was sore. So I guess I won't push it in so far next time. Sometimes I go and pay a visit to our old cat and her three kittens. I talk to them as loud as I can. But they do not seem to understand what I say. And they don't like it when I try to put them in my mouth. I'm sorry to say that as I increase in wisdom, I grow in naughtiness. I always cry all the time mama is washing and dressing me. And I'm very angry with her, for I don't like to be washed. And the moment I see her take out my basket at night so as to undress me and put me to bed, I scream with all my might and never stop till I feel something soft in my mouth. Last night as I lay on the floor playing with my beloved cork, mama came behind me and unfastened all my clothes. So that time I did not cry. I have two feet that I find very handy to kick with when I am angry and two hands that pick up my toys when I want to play and two eyes that show me pictures and other pretty things and that never get any rest except when I am asleep. And if you ever answer this letter, I have two ears with which I hear it read. I'm a very good baby when I wake in the morning. I lie in bed a good while playing with my feet or anything else I can get hold of. Sometimes I untie mama's capstrings and sometimes I scratch and pull her cheeks and chin. Very often I almost pull papa's nose off his face for I don't know what he wants of it when he is fast asleep. Doesn't this remind you of old times three or four years ago when you were a baby? If you ever come here I shall not know what to do to amuse you for I cannot talk. I should scratch your face and pull your hair and put my fingers in your eyes. I don't know any better. I'm such a little baby. I am very tired now and must bid you goodbye. But one of these days I will write you another letter. You're a little cousin. Susie and a first series chapter three recording by Hannah Mary series one chapter four of Little Susie's Little Servants by Elizabeth Prentice. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter four. Not long after Susie sent her a letter her mama bought some tiny little shoes and stockings for her. Susie was very much pleased indeed and at first she would keep untying her shoes and taking them off. But one day when she awoke from her nap she took hold of the two sides of her cradle and stood up straight in it. Now she had found out that feet were not made just for play things but to stand on. She was so glad. She kept taking hold of the chairs and her mama's dress or the legs of the table so as to pull herself up onto her feet. And pretty soon she would stand at a chair with her toys and play by the hour. And if the chair moved a little from her leaning against it her feet would move to first one then the other learning how to walk. How delighted everybody was when one day Susie got up in the middle of the floor and ran across the room. It would be hard to tell which laughed most. Susie or her papa or her mama. Now Susie had learned how to use all her little servants except her tongue. And you must know that her mama had been giving her lessons on that subject every day. That is she kept coaxing and begging her to say papa. And I don't know how many hundred times a day she cried out to Susie say papa. But Susie did not say papa and all the private lessons were in vain. But one evening when she had the toothache and could not sleep she stretched forth her hand and said book to her mama's great delight who thought there was no doubt her baby was going to be very fond of books indeed. Now Susie had found out that her tongue was very useful for her mama gave her the book she had asked for. So she soon learned to say a great many other words. Did you ever think before how long it takes a baby to learn how to use the little eyes and hands and feet God has been so good as to give it. If you watch your baby brother or sister you will see how awkward it is at first about using its hands. And do you not remember how eager you were to hear it speak its first word and to see it trot about on its own little feet. But all this time I have only spoken of Susie's hands and feet and ears and eyes and tongue as being useful to herself and have not said a word about their doing things for other people. Now it is not likely that God meant any little child should live in this world where there is so much to do and do nothing for its papa and mama and nothing for him who has done so much for its happiness and comfort. And he is so kind and loves so to please those who love him that long before Susie was old enough to know it he taught her small baby hands to begin some of the sweetest work he made them to do. When in the midst of a sleepless night in which Susie's mama watched over her and sang to and cared for her she had such a reward such precious payment for all her fatigue and labour that a queen might have envied her. What do you think it was? Why it was feeling Susie's little hand pat and caress her face in the dark night or life folded lovingly in her own or clinging fast to her neck with all the strength a baby can use. Then a thrill of joy would rush through her mama's heart and she would forget everything the world has in it of trouble and thank God for giving her a baby to live and to work for and a baby to love and comfort her in return. And a first series chapter four recording by Hannah Mary first series chapter five of little Susie's little servants by Elizabeth Prentice this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter five. So day after day passed and one or another of Susie's little servants was always busy in doing something for her pleasure either her hands played with pretty toys or her eyes looked at beautiful pictures and kind loving faces of dear friends or her ears listened to sweet music or amusing stories or her feet carried her up and down here and there and everywhere if she had had no eyes she could have used her hands but she could not have seen the toys they held if she had had no ears she could never have heard her mama's voice nor ever learned to talk or to sing if she had had no hands she could have walked about and looked at pretty things but she could have touched no toy held no dear dolly caressed and padded no little kitty and if she had been without feet she might have used her eyes and her ears and her hands and her tongue but when other children jumped and ran and played Susie must have sat still in her little chair and felt what a long long day that is when one cannot move I dare say you know some little boy who cannot hear or talk or some pale little girl who cannot run and play and if God has been so very good to you as to give you what he has not seen best to give them how you ought to thank him and how happy you should be if you ever can lend a book or give a flower or do any kind act for the deaf and dumb boy who has never heard his mama call him darling no matter how many times she may have said it and if you can ever be with the bible calls feet to the lame if you run to pick up that little pale girl's ball if she drops it if you can go upstairs to get her doll when she wants it would not that be making your own little servants useful and very happy and if you ever happen to be where there's a blind child would you not like to lend it your eyes now and then and as you cannot do that you would surely love to take it by the hand and lead it about and when you are old enough to read you would read pretty stories to it there was once a dear little boy not much more than two years old who became very ill his head ached so that he did not love to play or run about he liked to have his papa and mama carry him around the room and then when his poor head did not ache too hard they would talk to him and tell him stories one day his papa said to his mama i do not believe our little charlie will ever get well i think that jesus will soon take him up to heaven and i mean to talk to him a great deal about jesus so that the moment he gets to heaven he will be happy to be near such a dear kind friend so charlie's papa often took his poor little boy in his arms and let him lay his head on his shoulder while he walked gently up and down talking about christ he told him all those sweet stories from the bible how jesus pitied sick people and how he cured them and how many lame men he made to walk and how many blind to see so one day after he had been talking so he had to give charlie to his nurse while he went out for a time and charlie lay with his head on her shoulder just as he had done on his papa's till all at once he lifted it up and said mary did you know that jesus hadn't any eyes oh yes jesus had eyes said mary he had some once but he gave them to a poor blind man said charlie you see charlie was such a little boy that he thought when his papa told him that jesus gave eyes to a blind man that he had to give him his own little charlie is in heaven now and has been there a great many years and he is long known more about the goodness of god than anybody who still lives in this world and if he could speak to you he would tell you that it is better to be without eyes and hands and feet than not to love him who is willing rather to die than that you should not know and love him and a first series chapter five recording by hannah mary first series chapter six of little susie's little servants by elizabeth prentice this leper fox recording is in the public domain chapter six i have spoken of some of the good things susie's little servants could do and i am sorry to have to say that she sometimes let them do naughty ones the first thing was while she was still a baby when she raised her hand to slap her dear kind mama because she was going to wash her little babies often do so before they have been taught better the moment susie's hand had given the slap she saw that her mama's face became grave and displeased then susie was sorry and she made haste to kiss the place she had hurt and the tears rolled down her cheeks but pretty soon when something else fixed her she lifted her little hand and was going to strike with it her mama caught it in hers and looked at it gravely and said naughty little hand then susie began to cry again and she cried so much that her mama had to lend her her handkerchief to wipe away her tears almost every day the little hand was naughty in this way but at last susie's mama cured it by always tying a red mitten on it whenever it slapped it did not like to wear a mitten at all because then it could not pick up its toys so well after susie had learned not to strike her little hands began to grow meddlesome that is to touch and take things they should not have touched one day they tore the newspaper all to pieces once they cut off all her hair as far as they could reach it one of them got into the sugar bowl and took three lumps of sugar and once when they were in the country and there was a wash stand in the room susie tried to open the drawer and pulled the wash stand over broke the pitcher spilled the water and frightened everybody very much indeed all these things made a deal of trouble susie's mama had to keep all the time teaching her that she must not do so it took her a great while to teach susie that there were some things she must not touch and when the busy little hands began to learn what they were taught then the little feet began to get into trouble one day before susie was old enough to go up and downstairs by herself her mama had visitors and susie kept talking and talking at such a rate that at last nobody else could be heard so her mama took her into the hall and seated her on the lowest stair where susie was fond of sitting and said to her my little susie must sit here a while because she does not mind mama and stop talking pretty soon she heard a little voice cry out mama aren't you afraid your little girl will fall down stairs and on running to see what that meant there was susie sitting on the top stair smiling and looking very happy to think she had played such a trick and not long after the two torrent feet carried susie out into the street among the carts and horses and if god had not taken care of her she would certainly have been killed and another time susie climbed up and was just going to put one foot out of the window when her mama caught her by her dress and pulled her back i suppose you did just such things when you were a baby and your mama might amuse you by telling you about it susie was not so mischievous as some children are and when she was three years old and had learned what she might do and what she must not her mama could leave her all alone in the parlor with a few toys and be quite sure that she would touch nothing she had been forbidden to touch nor climb up into dangerous places nor take any dangerous thing the scissors might lie on the table and the sharp knife opened by her side the good little hands would not touch them nor would the obedient little feet now take susie near the fire where she could so easily have been burned if susie promised to do a thing she always did it and so her mama often let her play by herself in the parlor when up in the nursery robbie had not yet learned not to get away all her toys end of first series chapter six recording by hannah mary first series chapter seven of little susie's little servants by elizabeth prentice this libra vox recording is in the public domain chapter seven when susie first learned to walk she was so pleased to find that she could run about that she liked very much to run to get things for her papa or mama she felt herself almost a young lady when she found she could lift one of papa's boots and carry it to him and how pleased she was when her mama sent her to get her work basket when robbie was dressed she liked to stand by and hold the pins and she even thought she could brush his hair and tie his frocks if they would let her try but as she grew older and stronger and wiser and so better able to run for mama or to wait upon her papa susie grew selfish if her mama said susie bring me my work susie would say in a minute mama and go on playing or she would ask must i bring it or may i wait till i have finished my house and if her papa said doesn't my little susie want to rub papa's head she would be likely to give it one or two little rubs and then run off to play again a great many ways were tried to cure susie of these faults one of the best was never to allow her to do a little favor after she had objected to do it when her mama asked her to run and get a book for her if susie looked fretful or went slowly or said oh dear then her papa would say stop susie you cannot go nobody shall wait on dear mama who looks and speaks so and then he would go for the book himself and susie would feel so ashamed and as soon as robbie was able to use his feet and hands susie learned from his behavior to try to obey quickly and cheerfully for no matter how busy robbie was he always smiled when papa called him to get things for him and if susie did not jump the very moment she was spoken to robbie would get it first and then he would have a sweet kiss and a loving smile as his reward but you must not think susie did not try to grow good or that she never was good her papa and mama often had a great deal of comfort and seeing how hard she tried to do kind loving things for them if she saw her papa look tired she would often go to him and say dear papa when i'm a big girl i mean to work and let you sit still and may i rub your head may i get your slippers and when her mama saw her feeling and behaving so sweetly she did not forget to tell her when she went to bed how much pleasure it had given her my little hands have been good today susie said one night and i wish mama would kiss them when they've been good her mama smiled and kissed them and then susie folded them together and knelt down and prayed and after she had got into bed she said my hands will never be naughty anymore never strike guabi never take away his toys never touch anybody's things and then her mama told her a story about a little girl who stood by her brother's coffin and taking up the small cold hand kissed it and said this little hand never struck me susie lay still and thought and thought a good while after hearing this story mama said she at last i will try to be good and then perhaps when i'm dead you will remember me and you can take hold of my little hand and say this little hand wasn't always a good little hand but it tried to be good and sometimes it padded and loved me then susie put up her hand and caressed her mama's cheek and kept saying dear mama kind mama till she fell asleep end of first series chapter seven recording by hannah mary first series chapter eight of little susie's little servants by elizabeth printus this sleeper box recording is in the public domain mama said susie one day as they were walking home from church there is a little girl in my class at sunday school who loves me dearly she always hugs my hands and hugs them her mama smiled and said then i hope you hugged hers too i was afraid to said susie then that little girl was disappointed i dare say you should have let her see that you were grateful to her for loving you i turned my head away round so said susie instead of that you should have smiled and looked kindly at her as much as to say i like to have you love me and i love you too susie looked down and smiled i was afraid to she said again they walked along together in silence for some time at last susie quite forgot what they had been talking about and began to think what a pleasant day it was and how sweet and fresh the air felt and how nice it was to walk with her dear papa and mama and while she thought this she clasped the hand she held more firmly and lovingly her mama however took no notice of this and turned her head away susie felt hurt mama does not love me a bit thought she and she was going to draw away her hand her mama looked down and smiled and said playfully oh i felt your little loving squeeze but i was afraid to take any notice of it susie smiled too she never forgot this little lesson and it was useful to her as long as she lived children should not only learn to observe little tokens of love but to be grateful for them mama was i a good girl in church said susie when they reached home yes pretty good but i must tell you something about a dear little boy whose life you shall read as soon as you are old enough when asked if there were many children at sunday school he said i don't know for when i am there i never dared to look round now your little hands were very good in church and so were your little feet but i thought your eyes and ears were not so good my eyes looked round a good deal said susie but my ears couldn't do anything naughty yes they could dear susie by not listening to what was said did they hear anything at all no mama i was busy thinking i think about my dollies but we do not go to church to think about dollies we go to praise god and to hear about him big people don't have any dollies said susie but they have other things that they like as well and when they first go into church they ask god to help them not to think about anything but himself and to hear what is said for in the bible it speaks of those who having ears hear not and i do not want my little susie to be one of those susie then went upstairs to the nursery where she found robbie asleep in his cradle she went up to him and putting her mouth close to his ear shouted robbie robbie robbie opened his eyes turned over and smiled you naughty naughty girl said his nurse to wake your brother up i'll tell your mama and she'll punish you well i didn't mean to wake him up said susie i only wanted to see if he was one of those who having ears hear not and i guess he isn't he wakes up so easy i'll tell your mama the very first thing he will be just as cross as two sticks just as i had got him to sleep it is too bad susie looked quite puzzled to know what she had done she ran down to her mama and told her all about it was i naughty mama she asked yes i think you were for you know how often i have told you there must be no noise when robbie was asleep and then it was wrong to use god's holy words to play with susie sighed oh dear said she first my ears are naughty and then my tongue but they are sorry mama her mama kissed her and told her to go upstairs and amuse robbie as she had made him lose his nap so susie went and said in a pleasant voice to nurse i've come to moose robbie because i will came up and nurse smiled and said well you are a good child when you aren't naughty end of first series chapter eight recording by hannah mary first series chapter nine of little susie's little servants by elizabeth printus this leper vox recording is in the public domain one day susie and her mama and robbie were sitting alone together in the nursery susie was in the corner with her toys and robbie sat on his mama's lap every now and then he put up his little hand to pat her cheek or to play with her hair his bare white foot was nestled in her hand and more than once she leaned over and kissed it after a time susie got up and came and stood by them you love robbie dearly don't you mama she asked yes darling dearly and i love my little susie just as well you wouldn't like to kiss my little foot said susie i used to kiss it when it was a little baby foot and wasn't covered up with a shoe but it would be rather funny for me to take off its shoe and stocking so as to kiss it when there is this nice round cheek all handy susie laughed and kneeling down she took robbie's foot in her hand kissed it laid it on her neck and cheek and talked to it as if it were a doll somebody said robbie's hands are whiter than mine said she that is nothing said her mama the question is not whether susie's hands are white but whether they do all they can for god they are too little to do anything for god said susie in a mournful voice why no indeed jesus said that whoever gave a cup of cold water in his name that is for his sake should not lose his reward and you can do as much as that i am sure besides that every time you pick up robbie's toys for him you do something for god susie looked puzzled if you can't understand how this can be just believe it because your mama tells you so and by and by when you are older you will understand it god sees everything you do and when you leave your own play and run to do a little favor for robbie or papa or any of us then he is pleased when i was kissing robbie's feet and hands just now i was praying to god to keep them always pure and to teach them very early to work for him and so i often did for yours when you were a baby and do now every day susie was pleased to hear this and she tried to think of something she could do her papa came in just then feeling very tired and hoping to find mama at leisure to rub and comb his head isn't robbie well he asked not very well said his mama and i am trying to keep him quiet hoping he may fall asleep but i have one hand to rub your head with if that will do oh let me rub papa's head said susie in a joyful voice lie on the sofa papa and i'll rub it so papa threw himself down and susie pushed a chair up to the bureau and climbed up for the brush and comb and though she tangled his hair and pulled it dreadfully papa let her work at his poor head till robbie fell asleep and mama could come to the rescue susie felt very happy and she whispered to her mama i love you dear mama and i like god too she felt very sweet and happy and looking about to see if there were anything else she could do she saw a fly on robbie's face she ran quickly and drove it away little fly do you think you are going to have robbie's face for your dinner said she no indeed i shall sit here and drive you away and you can go home and tell your mother there is a great big giant named susie sitting by the cradle and you are afraid to try to eat robbie's face the fly on hearing this flew away and susie sat so still that all at once she fell over fast asleep then her mama came softly and tucked a pillow under her head through a cradle quilt over her and left her to enjoy a sweet sleep end of first series chapter nine recording by hannah mary first series chapter ten of little susie's little servants by elizabeth printus the sleeper box recording is in the public domain but satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do susie dear don't you feel well asked her mama seeing susie sitting idly on the carpet yes mama i feel well but i don't know what to do i wish you would tell me what to do well you may go down and show peas said her mama i don't want to show peas said susie i shelled a bushel yesterday oh no not a bushel not more than a cup full said nurse then you may hold a skein of silk for me to wind i don't want to work i want to play said susie her mama was called down to see visitors and susie remained sitting on the floor in not very good humor oh dear i wish i had something to do said she i wonder how robbie would do for a doll i guess i'll try and see so she crept over softly to the corner where robbie sat playing with his blocks and where she was out of nurse's sight and began to unbutton his frock by and by judging by the silence that something wrong was going on nurse got up and went to look there lay robbie with his clothes all off while susie was trying to squeeze one of his arms into her doll's nightgown the patient little fellow held a block fast in one hand as his comforter under his sorrows for he really thought he had done something naughty and had to be put to bed pretty works i do think said nurse just let me call your mama to see you that's all susie jumped up and caught nurse by her dress you shan't call mama said she robbie is my doll and i'm putting him to bed aren't you robbie nurse only answered by snatching him up and kissing him i do believe he would let you cut his head off if you wanted to said she susie is a naughty girl and her mama will whip her naughty girl mama's zap repeated robbie showing with his little hands how mama would do if you had gone down like a good girl and shelled peas said nurse you wouldn't have got into mischief where is the other stocking on your doll's arm bring it to me this minute and what have you done with robbie's shirt he will catch his death sitting here with nothing on well we'll see what his mama will say by this time susie was convinced she had done something really dreadful so she went softly downstairs and began to shell peas as fast as she could her little thoughts were very busy i guess mama won't care i was only playing and i will shell a lot of peas i wish i knowed where i put robbie's shirt i guess i put it under the bed but if he doesn't have it on he'll catch cold the busy fingers stopped she slipped down from her chair and away went the peas rolling this way and that about the kitchen floor i wish you'd stay upstairs where you belong said zara see how you've wasted the peas if i were your mama i would not give you any for your dinner i'll pick them up said susie and mama said i might shell them she seemed so sorry that sara said it was no matter she guessed six peas wouldn't be much loss so susie went back to the nursery to see about the missing shirt if there isn't robbie's shirt hanging out of your pocket said nurse i declare i never saw such a child well you wait till your mama hears of this as she spoke in an angry voice susie saw a faint smile on the corner of her mouth that quite cheered her disconsolate little heart i didn't mean to be naughty said she i did not know what else to do and i never will do so anymore for a thousand years won't you forgive me oh yes i'll forgive you and i'll teach you a hymn besides about idle hands how doth the little busy bee improve each shining hour and gather honey all the day from every opening flower how skillfully she builds her cell how neat she spreads the wax and labor's hard to store it well with the sweet food she makes in works of labor or of skill i would be busy too for satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do in books or work or helpful play let my first years be passed that i may give for every day some good account at last end of first series chapter 10 recording by hannah mary second series chapter one of little susie's little servants by elizabeth prentice the sleeper fox recording is in the public domain i wish i knew how to sew susie one day said to her nurse i wish so too said nurse for then you could be always making aprons and things for your babies and in time you could make a shirt for your papa susie smiled at this pleasant prospect i'll go and ask mama to teach me said she jumping up and i'll make my dolly some frogs and some aprons and some cloaks and bonnets and i'll make you an apron too robbie robbie looked as if he admired susie very much and began to think as he always did when pleased what he could give her in the meantime their nurse had cut out a little white petticoat and was basting it very nicely together is that for me cried susie joyfully oh nursey and susie sat down took the needle in her eager little fingers and began to sew oh you mustn't put the needle back and forth that way said nurse see here the point of the needle should come towards you yes i know said susie and went on sewing all sorts of ways that isn't right said nurse when you learn to sew you ought to learn the best way this is the best way said susie very well if you know so much there's no use in my teaching you said nurse feeling rather vexed oh dear here's an old ugly old knot said susie she pulled the thread angrily and it broke fix it for me will you nurse nurse joined the thread in silence susie took one more stitch and her needle unthreaded i can't string my needle said she you must learn said nurse see this way and you needn't talk about stringing it as if it were a bead ah well i may as well thread it this time but my what stitches why dolly will fall through between them i guess i won't learn to sew said susie it's hard here's the needle i'll put it back in your cush pinion for you my pin cushion you mean but i should be ashamed if i were you not to know how to sew there was little mary jones where i used to live she sewed like a woman such stitches but then there are few children like mary jones i thought you said she was the trial of your life said susie well the child's memory said nurse lifting up her hands you should not notice everything i say my dear now i'll tell you something you learned to sew and you shall make a little bag to give to your mama just such a bag as mary jones made for her mama only yours shall be blue and hers was pink come that's a good girl your mama will be so pleased so susie sat down again and took a few more stitches the needle hurts me said she that's because you've no thimble i'll lend you my silver thimble the one your aunt gave me so nurse wound a large piece of paper round and round susie's finger and crowded the thimble over the hole it looked like a helmet on a dwarf susie took one more stitch and sighed i'm tired said she and the thimble is so heavy well put your work away then said nurse and when we go out i'll buy you a dear little brass thimble but not unless you'll promise to be patient and try to learn susie promised but her promise cost her many tears for her needle unthreaded her thread broke or got into knots her hands were awkward and did not know how to behave and then when she cried on her work it made it hard to sew but every day her hands grew more skillful finding they really must learn to sew they would not dispute about such a trifle and you cannot think how delighted susie was to be able one day to carry her mama the nice bag she had made for her thank you darling said her mama i'm very glad your little hands have made this for me and i will keep it a great while why when your aunt laura was your age she had made a whole quilt of bits of calico not much larger than the palm of your hand the next thing i know i suppose you will be writing me a little letter oh i could never learn to write said susie why not are not your hands just like mine and they learned to write susie smiled and looked at her mama's hands and then at her own but did not have time to talk anymore just then end of second series chapter one recording by hannah mary second series chapter two of little susie's little servants by elizabeth printus this leber vox recording is in the public domain for just at this moment a carriage drove up to the door and susie ran to the window to see who had come she saw two gentlemen alight and presently her mama was called down you may come with me susie said she so they went down together and susie saw that one of the gentlemen had soft white hair flowing down to his shoulders she looked at his mild kind face with great interest and when he placed his hand on her head and blessed her she felt very happy mama is that the apostle john she whispered her mama smiled and shook her head and susie sat still and listened to what was said without speaking for her little tongue had learned that it must keep still when older persons were talking after the visitors went away she made up for lost time by asking several questions all in one long row who was that man what makes his hair so white did you see him put his hand on my head i liked him dearly that was a very good man said her mama and i hope god will hear the prayer he made for you when he put his hand on your head that's the way jesus put his hands on the heads of little children said susie i wish i had been there that reminds me of a sweet little hymn that i copied from a book mrs raylandt me i must read it to you till you learn it come we'll go right upstairs and you shall hear it so they went upstairs and susie heard for the first time that beautiful hymn beginning i think when i hear that sweet story of old tears came into her eyes as she listened but they were tears of pleasure she soon had learned the first verse and they sat singing it together when nurse came in with robbie who had a small box in his hand mrs ray has sent susie a box of beads said she and says she must string them when she does not know what else to do susie was delighted to hear this and she flew off to find a needle and thread so as to begin it wants to string her beads it was however time for their supper and she had to wait she was too happy to eat much and as soon as she could she hastened to the window and seated herself to begin her pleasant work she had hardly strung a dozen beads when looking down she saw that they had all fallen from the string oh dear that's because i didn't make a knot oh how i wish i knew how to make knots nursey won't you make a knot it's too dark to string beads said nurse you'll hurt your eyes susie come put away your beads and go to bed it doesn't hurt my eyes said susie i can see just as easy all of a sudden she felt two hands over her eyes oh papa is that you please don't i want to string my beads see papa all these beads mrs ray sent them mrs ray was very kind said her papa but my little susie is not kind at all she has been abusing two of those servants that god gave her don't you know it is wrong to treat your eyes so i guess they didn't care said susie i guess they did said her papa and you must remember that eyes are very precious things and be careful of them if i should give you a little white handled pen knife oh papa i wish you would if i gave you one would it be right for you to cut off one of your little fingers with it why no papa and is it right to injure the eyes god has been so very kind to give you no papa and i won't again but what are they looking so hard at my pocket for asked her papa smiling why i thought perhaps there was a little knife there said susie rather doubtfully and so there is it was given me today and i will give it to you only you must promise not to open it for you are such a little girl that i do not dare to let you use it yet susie promised and her papa took her on one shoulder and robbie on the other and ride at them as robbie called it three times across the room and then they kissed each other good night and susie and her box of beads and her little knife all went to bed together end of second series chapter two recording by hannah mary second series chapter three of little susie's little servants by elizabeth printus this leber vox recording is in the public domain about this time a lady came to visit susie's mama bringing with her a little boy his name was thomas he was several years older than susie but as there was no one else for him to play with he had to amuse himself with her as well as he could susie followed him about wherever he went and thought everything he did very amusing and that everything he said must be right one afternoon as they were playing together in his mama's room thomas asked susie if she liked candy yes i like it said susie but mama does not let me eat it very often my mother lets me eat as much as i please said thomas there's a great bundle of it in her trunk and she lets me go and get them as often as i want i'll give you some if you will hold open the trunk for me susie did not know that thomas had been forbidden to open this trunk so she stood holding the cover open while he searched for the candy but it was heavy and her little hands were not strong enough to hold it make haste thomas said she or i shall let it fall i am making haste said thomas and don't you go and let it fall you'll break my head in two if you do susie tried with all her strength to hold up the heavy lid but thomas kept her waiting too long and all at once down it came thomas tried to draw back his head but the trunk cover was too quick for him and gave him a blow right across his face and eyes as soon as he knew enough to speak he called susie all sorts of bad names and struck her several times susie was so frightened and astonished that at first she was quite silent but after a moment she began to cry so loudly that everybody came running in to see what was the matter by this time thomas's forehead and face looked quite bruised and swollen and the moment his mama saw she flew to kiss him and then turned to susie and said in an angry tone what did you strike him for you naughty child i didn't strike him said susie i didn't mean to hurt him i could not hold up the cover it was so heavy what cover asked her mama the trunk cover said susie oh so you were at my trunk were you said the lady and who said you might do that thomas told me to hold it open while he got the candy oh what a story said thomas she went and opened the trunk and was going to look for candy and i went to make her come away and she struck me with a great big stick is that true susie asked her mama in a grave sad voice for the mere thought that susie could do such a thing made her heart ache before susie had time to answer the lady cried out of course it is true don't you see the dreadful marks on his face answer susie is it true repeated her mama susie tried to tell the whole story just as it happened but seeing her mama looked so sad and everybody else believing thomas she could only cry still harder then her mama took her away to her own room and wiped away her tears and said now tell me my dear susie all about it i cannot think my precious child has done this sinful thing but don't be afraid to tell me the whole truth remember god hears every word you say remember my darling think before you speak mama i told the truth said susie i told the truth thomas said he would get some candy for me if i would hold the cover and i tried to hold it and i couldn't and won't you believe me oh mama won't you believe me then susie's mama said in her heart to god oh god teach me what to believe do not let me make a mistake and oh do not let my little susie ever speak a word that is not true and after she had said that there came into her mind away by which she could find out whether thomas had spoken the truth she went right back to the lady's room whom she found holding thomas in her lap and feeding with candy thomas where is the stick you said susie struck you with asked she thomas blushed and looked about as if in search of the stick i suppose she hid it somewhere said he she could not do that for she has been with me ever since she left the room i dare say we shall find it said the lady and i hope you mean to give susie a good whipping she needs it i am sure such a blow why what a naughty child she must be susie says thomas opened the trunk and told her to hold it open while he looked for candy and it was heavy and she let it fall on his head i think she has spoken the truth i never knew her to speak anything else the marks on thomas's face look to me just like those the heavy lid of a trunk would make they look to me like the marks of a stick said the lady but people see things differently come thomas eat this nice candy and i'll buy you something to pay for this susie's mama said no more she felt sorry to have her dear little daughter in such trouble but there seemed no help for it she went back to her room and taking susie again in her lap talked gently to her about the dreadful sin of which thomas had been guilty i will never tell a naughty story said susie don't say you never will you may be tempted some time more than you ever have been but ask god who is the god of truth to keep you from doing it how thankful you ought to be that you have been taught to pray for the bible says that no man can tame the tongue that is no one can of himself keep from saying what he ought not to say and his only way is to keep praying to god to bridle his tongue for him my tongue isn't a good little servant then said susie god can make it good and teach it to bless and praise him then susie's mama took down her bible and read several verses from it keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile the tongue of the just is as choice silver who's keepeth his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight as soon as you learn to write my dear susie i will make a little book in which you can write all that the bible says about this you will be astonished to find how much there is about speaking the truth speaking kindly and speaking wisely and of our dear savior it says that when his enemies reviled him as a lamb before her shears is dumb so he opened not his mouth now the next time you see thomas i think it likely he will say a good many things to vex you and i want you to remember when he does so how jesus did and what you should do main ty tell him he is a naughty boy asked susie main ty tell him he has told a lie would jesus love you when you were doing so my dear susie no be careful not to say one word that you would not like jesus to hear and pray for that poor boy that god would pity him for being so naughty and forgive him and help him to grow good end of second series chapter three recording by hannah mary second series chapter four of little susie's little servants by elizabeth prentice the sleeper box recording is in the public domain early the next morning thomas's mama began to pack her trunks in order to go away for she felt quite vexed with susie and with her mama while she was busy in this way thomas was quite as busy in eating some dainties that she had placed on the floor while she made room for them in the trunk thomas knew they were to be carried to his aunt who was sick by and by his mother turned round and seeing him eating she said to him thomas what are you about i hope you have not touched any of those things i got for your aunt let me see one two three there ought to be four boxes of jelly come here and let me look at your hands come this minute you naughty boy you i didn't eat a bit said thomas i only just made a little hole in one side and ate what came out on a pin where is the box i don't know there were only three boxes yes there were four boxes and you've eaten one of them i never saw such a boy well i shall not buy you the present i promised you yesterday to think of you eating your aunt's jelly i didn't eat it said thomas in a sulky voice your face is all covered with it so don't let me hear another word i begin now to think you told me a story yesterday come here what are you going to do cried thomas trying to get away i'm going to see if the lid of my trunk fits to that mark on your face said his mother and if it does i shall believe susie spoke the truth after all i said she let the lid fall on me said thomas you said no such thing you said she struck you with a stick i didn't said thomas what a wicked wicked boy you are cried his mother i see just what you are if there is such a thing as a rod in this house i'll whip you with it till you are ashamed of yourself what do you suppose susie's mother thought of me yesterday when i took your part i only wish your father was here but i'll whip you see if i don't on hearing this thomas ran to get away his mother ran after him and seeing a door half open thomas hoped to escape by that means for this door led to a dark low closet under the stairs in which a grown person could not stand upright the moment thomas crept in his mother shut and locked the door there now i've got you she cried and there you shall stay on bread and water the whole day thomas kicked against the door and cried and begged to come out but in vain his mother was as severe on one day as she was fond on another she kept him shut up till nearly night when she took him out all covered with cobwebs gave him a good shaking and told him to ask susie's pardon for telling a story about her that night when susie was going to bed she said to her mama thomas and his mother fight it together today and she couldn't whip him when he ran away so how came you to know that susie the door was open and i was going by and i heard a noise and so i stopped that was not right my darling you must teach your little eyes not to look at things they ought not to see didn't you feel all the time that it was not quite proper for you to stop and watch in that way always make it a rule never to look at anything no matter what if you have even a little bit of a feeling that you ought not your eyes are your own and you must teach them i will mama said susie and i'm glad i've got you for a mama i'm glad thomas's mama isn't mine she didn't pray to god to make him good she fight it with him end of second series chapter four recording by hannah mary second series chapter five of little susie's little servants by elizabeth prentice this leber vox recording is in the public domain about this time susie began to learn to read at first though she wanted to be able to read she did not like the trouble and would make all sorts of excuses when her mama called her to come to her lesson sometimes she said she was too tired sometimes she said robbie couldn't spare her once she said her eyes ached and when her mama still would have her read she wanted somebody to come and hold her book for her because it was so heavy but she was learning to read very fast and also to make letters on her slate like those in the book she was very happy indeed when one day after working quite hard she was able to send her papa a little letter that she had printed with a pin all the letter had in it was this i love you dear papa but it gave him a great deal of pleasure and i dare say he has put it away among his treasures and will keep it as long as he lives if you want to please your papa you might print such a letter for him it might tire your little hands but you would not mind that if papa should kiss you and say you had sent him a sweet little letter you would only be thankful you had two hands with which to do something to gratify him susie's mama was sick in bed soon after this and i could not begin to tell you how useful this dear child now found every one of her little servants before this when she went to bed she used to leave her clothes on the floor for somebody to pick up but now she folded them neatly and put them by the side of her bed so as to dress herself in the morning she tried to be still as a mouse when in her mama's room and no matter in how low and feeble a voice she was asked to get something that was wanted she always heard and always went quickly and without noise sometimes with her little soft hands she patted her mama's cheek till she fell asleep sometimes she's saying hymns sometimes she would try to comfort her mama by saying i guess you will get better by and by or if you do not get well dear mama i promise you i will take care of poor papa and never will let him go anywhere alone she learned to give the medicine and to shake up the pillows and to do a great many other kind and loving things even though she was yet so small that she had to climb into a chair to reach everything from the shelf or the bureau and don't you suppose her mama lying now so helpless on her bed felt paid for all she had done for little susie for all the time she had kept her awake all the fatigue all the trouble yes indeed and have you ever paid your mama for all she did for you when you lay a weak helpless baby with hands that couldn't hold anything and feet that couldn't walk and a tongue that couldn't speak if not why begin now pat your mama's face with the little hand she has taught so much tell her you love her with that tongue whose first word it learned from her lips run for her on those little feet she has so long kept out of danger if she has the baby in her arms and is going to carry it about the room looking for what she wants ask her to sit down and let you find it for her let your little servants know that you shan't think much of them if they do not wait upon or in some way be useful to your mama your papa your brother your sister and they shall not lose their reward end of second series chapter five recording by Hannah Mary second series chapter six of little Susie's little servants by Elizabeth Prentice this LibriVox recording is in the public domain how many miles a day do you walk nurse asked Robbie do you know Robbie smiled and stood still for a minute to think but soon ran away again how many miles do you suppose he walks nursey asked Susie I don't know I wish I knew and I wish I knew how many miles my hand travels in a week your hand why just as many as your feet said Susie no such thing see here now look at me while I sew don't you see how my hand goes back and forth with every stitch and when I make beds and sweep and dust and wash you children and dress you and brush your hair and pick up your toys dear me it's a wonder they're not used up long ago Susie laughed and felt quite interested who told you anything about that she asked nobody said nurse don't you suppose I ever have any thoughts of my own however I did see something in the paper about how far a printer's hand could travel in one day and that set me to thinking about mine when Susie went to her mama she told her what she and nurse had been talking about I suspect your eyes are the greatest travelers you know much about said her mama think how far they can go and how many times they move from one end of the page to the other when you read I wish I knew how far said Susie if Charlie ever comes here I mean to ask him to measure one of my books he has got such a nice little carpenters rule to measure with perhaps the children who read this book would like to know how far the hand that printed had to travel to do it to be sure it was not all done by a single hand but one of the printers has been kind enough to find out how many miles the hand moved when they set up the types and behold it was nearly 230 add to this the journeys my hand has had to make back and forth to and fro over the paper off to the ink stand and back again and you will see that even our little book costs a good deal of labor and keeps a good many hands from being idle and so getting into mischief while Susie and her mama were talking together they heard a little knock at the door and on opening it they saw Robbie standing outside with a long piece of twine in his hand what does Robbie want asked his mama I want you to measure how many miles long my foots are said Robbie Susie and mama laughed and Robbie climbed up on the bed where his mama still lay though she was now getting well instead of that I will teach you a verse to say to papa at breakfast thou hast delivered my eyes from tears my feet from falling and my soul from death Robbie learned his verse very quickly and Susie wanted now to learn hers her mama gave her an easy one thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and Susie learned it so easily that she asked for another I did not know there was anything in the bible about feet said she is there anything about hands yes indeed don't you remember the story of the man with the withered hand that he could not use Jesus must have pitied him because he had but one well hand or he would not have healed him in a few days I hope I shall be strong enough to have you come and read to me and I will make a list of verses for you for I want you to see that though your hands and feet and eyes and ears and tongue now seem small things such as God would be likely to overlook he has made them to do great things and useful and kind ones end a second series chapter six recording by Hannah Mary second series chapter seven of little Susie's little servants by Elizabeth Prentice the sleeper box recording is in the public domain Susie and Robbie were standing at the window a few days after this watching some boys who were playing in the snow I wish we could go out and throw snow at each other said Susie can we nurse see no not today said nurse for your hands would freeze for want of mittens I am hurrying as fast as I can to get some done but I don't know time flies in this house where does it fly to asked Robbie before nurse had time to answer the children were sent for by their mama they jumped down from the window and ran to see what was wanted grand mama has sent a basket full of things and I thought you would like to take them out for me said their mama oh yes said Susie we'll take turns Robbie shall take out the first thing and I'll take out the next so Robbie put in his hand and pulled out with great labour a jar of current jelly that's for mama said Susie grandma always sends jelly to her she put in her hand and took out a small bundle that had Robbie printed on it in large letters unopening it out rolled a pair of nice warm mittens which were marked for the little hands that so often and so cheerfully picked up grandma's ball Susie blushed and the tears came into her eyes she knew the reason there were no mittens for her she had often looked displeased when grandma's ball had rolled under the table when she was busy reading or playing Robbie ran and threw his arms around her neck naughty grandma said he oh no kind grand mama to try to make my little Susie good said their mama Susie shall have one mitten and I'll tip one said Robbie no Susie must wait till nurse gets hers done but I am sure dear grand mama has sent something for her try again my darling and this time there came out six pairs of warm white stockings three for Susie and three for Robbie and on the bundle was written grand mama has not forgotten how many times those little feet went up and downstairs for her when she made her last visit and so she has knit these warm stockings for them there's something else in the basket said Susie why it's a cart and it's horses and it's barrels oh Robbie help me get them out laughing and pulling and trembling over they at last got the cart and horses out of the basket and a very nice toy it was I suppose it's for Robbie said Susie Aunt Maria sent it to him said her mama don't you remember she promised she would oh she promised me a work basket cried Susie let me see yes here it is oh mama there's a thimble and scissors and needle now I can sell with my own things look Robbie but Robbie was too busy one of his barrels had broken open and a host of sugar plums had rolled out all over the floor oh Robbie give me some sugar plums will you cried Susie it is torn said Robbie big man don't load up with sugar plums it isn't corn said Susie yes it is torn and little girls don't eat torn little chickens eat it at any rate and I'm a little chicken and I'm hungry too said Susie well said Robbie if you are a little kitten I'll feed you so he scattered the sugar plums on the floor and Susie ate them as fast as she could leave him some said their mama don't eat them all Susie Susie jumped up and began to take the rest of the things from the basket there were stockings for papa and an apron for nurse and for mama a little roasted chicken which grandma had been so kind as to have cooked for her I do believe I could eat a piece of that chicken said she when Susie held it up on its little white dish grandma's things always taste so good oh then you'll get well cried Susie joyfully end of second series chapter seven recording by Hannah Mary second series chapter eight of Little Susie's Little Servants by Elizabeth Prentice this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the little chicken or something did Susie's mama so much good that the next day she was able to sit up an hour and she felt able to look over her bible for the verses that she had promised to find for Susie Susie enjoyed reading them very much why mama there are enough to fill a book said she we would put in the story of the man who had the withered hand and then all about blind Bartimaeus and the man who is blind and dumb that jesus made to see and speak and then there's a story of a man who was laid at the beautiful gate of the temple who could not walk a step and he was cured so that he walked and leaped and praised god said her mama don't leave that out because that is the best part of the story i suppose he would not have been likely to praise god for the use of his feet if he had never felt the want of them i sometimes think that one reason why god has made so many lame and deaf and blind people is to teach them to praise him for what mercies he has given and to teach us who have feet and eyes and ears and hands to praise him with our hearts and our lives for his goodness to us how can we praise him with our lives asked Susie why by obeying him and trying to please him if you had been blind all your life and i at last gave you my eyes what do you think would be the first use you would make of them oh mama i should want to look at you the first thing to see how you looked and at papa and robbie too and i should want to do something for you for giving me eyes but at first i shouldn't know how but when you had learned you surely would not use the eyes i had given you to look at anything i did not want you to see if out of love and gratitude to me you should always refuse to look at things you knew were improper that would be praising me with your life or thanking me which means nearly the same thing i should think those lame men that jesus healed would have followed him everywhere he went said Susie and do everything for him i should i am sure but you have more to be grateful for than those poor men had for some of them had been blind or lame ever since they were born and had suffered many years before jesus came to heal them and do you follow jesus wherever he goes thanking him and doing all you can for him look at those little hands have they done for jesus all they could and those strong busy feet that carry you everywhere you want to go have they never carried you where you knew jesus would not go and have you never spoken any unkind words you would not have liked to speak if you saw him standing near and listening i have done a good many naughty things said Susie i never think how good god was and i've said a good many things i shouldn't think he liked to hear i am sorry mama i am sorry really and Susie was sorry after she left her mama she went away by herself and knelt down and prayed to god she thanked him that she was not a little lame girl sitting pale and sad and unable to run and play she thanked him that she had eyes to see this beautiful world with she thanked him that she had ears with which to hear about jesus and the holy angels and the happy heaven above and last of all she thanked him that she had a tongue with which to thank him and asked him to keep it from speaking unkind and untruthful words and he who loves little children heard her prayer and wrote it in his book end of second series chapter eight recording by Hannah Mary second series chapter nine of little Susie's little servants by Elizabeth Prentice the sleepervox recording is in the public domain the next day was sunday and Susie and Robbie went to church and sat in the pew with her papa Susie observed that a plate was handed to everyone and that when it came to her papa he put in some money so when they were walking home together she said papa who was that money for that you put into the plate at church it was for god said her papa how would they get it up to him asked Robbie in great surprise and looking up to the sky his papa smiled and even Susie knew better than that when Jesus was here on this earth said their papa he sent good men two and two at a time to go about teaching people about God and about heaven and such good men keep going even to this day and that money was to help feed and clothe them while they are preaching and so I said it was money given to God I wish I had some money to give to God said Susie but I haven't a bit God does not expect you to give him what you have not said her papa but you have other things besides money I've got some dolls said Susie no I don't mean dolls when we get home I will read something to you which will make you see plainly what you can give to God so after dinner they went to the library and Susie's papa took down a large book and began to turn over the leaves as if in search of something before long he came to the place he was looking for and he lifted Susie into his lap and showed her where to read read it aloud said he and Susie read I have this day been before God and have given myself all that I am and have to God so that I am in no respect my own I have no right to this body or any of its members no right to this tongue these hands these feet these eyes these ears I have given myself clean away those are the words of a great and good man who is now in heaven now you see what you have to give to God my darling little Susie Susie looked at her hands and at her feet and was silent at last she said in a low voice half to herself I don't believe God wants them her papa hurt her he does want them and he is looking at you now to see whether you will give them to him or keep them for yourself if you give them to him you will be careful never to let them do anything naughty and will teach them to do everything good they can and if you keep them for yourself they will be likely to do wrong and to get into mischief have you given yours to him papa yes indeed long ago are you glad yes very glad Susie sat still silent she did not quite understand what it all meant if you give your tongue to God said her papa you will never let it speak angry unkind words or tell tales or speak in untruth I guess I'll give him my tongue said Susie and if you give God your hands you will watch them and keep them from touching things that do not belong to them you will not let them be idle but will keep them busy about something either work or play oh will God let them play cried Susie in a joyful voice well then I'll give him my hands and if you give him your feet you never will let them carry you where you ought not to go but teach them to run quickly when mama calls and when you are old enough they will carry you to visit and comfort poor and sick people yes that will be nice said Susie God shall have my feet if you give him your eyes you will never never let them look at anything you know he would not like to look at if he were here by your side not to read a book you would not read if he were looking over the page with you and to use them wisely and with great care could I cry with them why certainly mama says I cried too much I did not say you might cry too much with them well I'll give God my eyes some of the time and some of the time I'll keep them oh no God will not like that at all well I might want to let me see I might want to look at something and I couldn't and I should want to be naughty sometimes a little girl who loves God want to be naughty I love him I do love him said Susie and he may have my eyes I guess I shan't want to look at anything naughty I dare say you will Susie but if you give your eyes to God you know he will help them not to do wrong then I will give them to him and welcome said Susie and as to your ears after you have given them to God you will not let them listen to a word that you think he would not like them to hear and you will take care to make them listen to people who try to teach you they have behaved very well today and I'm sure you will give them to God yes Papa I will then they knelt down together and Susie's Papa prayed to God to hear all they had been saying and to be so good as to accept all Susie had now promised to give him and to keep her from ever forgetting her promise but to make it her rule in all she said and all she did all she saw and all she heard to remember I am not my own and then he taught her the lines you will find at the end of this book they were written nearly 200 years ago but are just as good now as they were then and may God help every child who reads about little Susie to live according to this prayer oh that my eyes might closed be to what concerns me not to see that deafness might possess my ear to what concerns me not to hear that truth my tongue might ever tie from ever speaking foolishly that no vain thought might ever rest or be conceived in my breast that by each word and deed and thought glory may to my God be brought but what are wishes Lord mine eye on thee is fixed to thee I cry wash Lord and purify my heart and make it clean in every part and when tis done Lord keep it so for that is more than I can do end of second series chapter nine end of little Susie's little servants by Elizabeth Prentice recording by Hannah Mary come be still dot blogspot.com