aheartforhome's Xanga

I love my chickens and don't want the government messing with them

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:11:46 GMT

(Dear readers, I had heard about this bill a while back but had almost forgotten. . .a dangerous thing to do when it comes to threats to liberty!)

Do you want a law passed that would give special interest groups and bigwigs detached from the average American the ability to dictate to you what pets you could have? H.R. 669 , the "Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act" would really do just that. By labelling common household pets such as ferrets, hampsters, reptiles, some fish, and many pet birds + even farmyard animals like chickens "Nonnative" (which they ARE) and then, under the provisions of this bill, "Invasive" (Which they AREN'T!). . .bam! There go your pets, courtesy of the U.S. government! (Or, of course you could be fined for non-compliance, thus covering the huge cost of implementing such a freedom-stomper bill.)

This is up for a vote before a House Subcommittee Thursday (4/23) at 10 a.m. Let's stop it dead here before this invasion of freedom bill gets any farther!!!

You can find more information and email your representative using the link below. They have a pre-filled email or you can write your own.

http://www.rallycongress.com/no-hr-669/1733/

As with many government bills--this one would go highly astray from its purported purpose. Granted, there are some Nonnative animals that threaten our ecological system (I'm thinking of that snake-like fish that has caused serious problems after being released into waterways)--and they can definitely ban Japanese beetles if they'd like-- but a wide-open bill like this is NOT the way to fix that problem.

I will give the bill's sponsor & co-sponsors the benefit of the doubt and say that they probably didn't understand the problems the bill would create or the freedoms it would endanger. . .but that's not exactly the most confidence-inspiring thought to have about members of our government.

For Love's Sake

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:21:19 GMT

1. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor.

2. Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

3. Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Spring is here!!!!

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:46:00 GMT

I don't. . .but HE does

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:19:44 GMT

There are complexities of life that I don't understand,
Misunderstandings, confusion, that I can't untangle,
Hurts, anger, bitterness that I cannot rectify.
(What about you?)

The future is a shadowed road,
shot through with beams of light I know--
but the mist is over everything else.
(Are you unsure of your future, too?)

What is the right way to turn?
What direction does the road curve?
I don't have the map.

So, I will have to rely on the One who does. . .and Who has mapped it all with infinite wisdom and loving care. . . .and He will guide me, and His Word will be my light;
His eye pierces the swirl of confusion and reads all hearts, and He will make things clear in His time.
------------------------------------------
". . .God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Spring swinging

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:46:36 GMT

Yesterday evening I heard spring calling insistently to me. So I slipped out into the moonlit and stardusted night, and skipped about a bit before I perched on the old board swing* in the back yard.

Somehow, I felt too staid and suppressed to jive with the spring rhapsody that was swelling around me. So I loosened my hair from its ponytail, removed my socks and shoes, and, with a burst of song, began rapidly to soar up and down, my head thrown back, my eyes on the moon, and my hands firmly gripping the chains. The swing is a bit too close to the ground for me to swing back and forth without tucking my legs up a bit, but I didn't let that put a crimp in my joy. Bend back, bend forward, sail up, sail down, again and again. The air was warm, the breeze teased my hair, and in the distance I could hear the tree frogs beginning a spring chorus. I let my voice and heart soar along with my body, and I think the fresh breeze quite aired out some cobwebs that had been gathering in my mind. I don't know about y'all, but I need moments like this, when nature is just bursting with testimony about its Creator-- moments of sheer beauty, glorious promise, and tender grace.
-------------------------------------------------------

* (The swings have delighted many swinging children, and recently they needed reinforcement by Granddaddy. As long as one sits in the center of the seat, all is well; but if one edges over too close to the chain, your posterior discovers the reinforcements--a metal plate secured with bolts. )

Welcome, 2009!

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:57:59 GMT

As the first day of this new year draws to a close, I don't know what is coming--
what this year holds for me, let alone what it holds for you and the rest of the world.
Not surprising, eh? I'm a mortal just like you, with limited knowledge.
(And more than my share of cluelessness, sometimes!)

If we did know exactly what is going to occur in our lives in 2009--
what temptations, sorrows, joys, changes, etc. it will bring us--
I doubt the information would really be of much help to us.
I know you might be saying, "Whoa! Just let me know what really dumb things
I'm going to be tempted to do, and I'll be absolutely certain to avoid them!"
--but hear me out.
We succumb to temptations not just because we didn't know they were coming
(hey, more often than not we knowingly walk up to them!)--
we fall because we have not built up resistance, by God's grace, against those sins.
We've got the whole Bible to tell us about what temptations we're going to run into
and how to avoid them, and what the consequences will be of caving in, folks!

If we knew what sorrows were coming into our lives,
I'm afraid we would be likely to flinch,
to dread the prospect of what may very well be a painful--
but incredibly amazing--crucible of refinement in the hands of our Lord.
I can't say I like pain or sorrow--in fact, quite the opposite!--
and I'm sure that, in my weakness,
I would have gladly avoided some pretty sharp thorns that have come into my life
in the last few years--not seeing at the time the lovely rose that God was growing among them.

We might gloat over coming joys and successes and forget to live our days humbly,
following God and loving our fellow men.
If it's such a temptation to get puffed up over the great things
that we just think will happen to us
(whether we're accurately surmising or just wishing away),
then think how much harder the struggle would be
if we knew for certain we were going to ace that exam, get that raise, win that special one's attention, etc.
It is much better to remember "humble yourself in the presence of the Lord,
and He will exalt you." and "He who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (James 4:10 & Matthew 23:12)

Even with the knowledge of the future that has been given us, we often don't live as though we're very aware.
I don't mean knowledge of 2009 in specifics,
but knowledge about the whole "final chapter" of this earth
and the events leading up to it [think Daniel and Revelation]--
as well as the always applicable "choices and consequences" that the Bible profiles for us
(everything from telling us of the troubles we will encounter
to warning us that our sins will find us out).
On one hand we talk about the fragility of human life or the impending return of the Lord Jesus Christ,--
on the other hand, we pour so much time, energy, and focus into vaporous things
and neglect to nourish our own hearts with Spiritual food, or to share about Christ's saving power.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise;
redeeming the time / making the most of the time, for the days are evil.

Now, we're not supposed to be afraid of 2009, either. For all those things that we do not know--the bad things and the good--are known to our Heavenly Father, God. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that God does not know. But the comfort goes deeper than that. God isn't just a fellow sitting on the sidelines who happens to know exactly how the game is going to be played. No! God is the Ruler and the Sovereign;
nothing is going to happen but that He in His wisdom allows.
That doesn't make Him responsible for our sins,
or imply that He takes delight in the awful repercussions of sin, like death,--not a chance, God is perfectly holy and infinitely loving!--but it does mean that He's working out His plan, and it's good.
To quote from a song I love,
" God and God alone
Reveals the truth of all we call unknown;
All the best and worst of man
Won't change the Master's Plan,
It's God's and God's alone!"

-------------------------
Tuesday (Dec. 30), I stumbled across 1 Chronicles 29.
Verses 10-20 are my verses for 2009. I'll quote them here:

So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly;
and David said, "Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory
and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth;
Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all.
Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all,
and in Thy hand is power and might;
and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone.
Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.
But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this?
For all things come from Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee.
For we are sojourners before Thee, and tenants, as all our fathers were;
our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.
O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided
to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine.
Since I know, O my God, that Thou triest the heart and delightest in uprightness,
I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things;
so now with joy I have seen Thy people, who are present here,
make their offerings willingly to Thee.
O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers,
preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Thy people,
and direct their heart to Thee;
and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Thy commandments,
Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do them all,
and to build the temple, for which I have made provision."
Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the Lord your God."
And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers,
and bowed low and did homage to the Lord and to the king.
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read and encourage me this past year! Thank you all also for all your entries which have impacted me.
Praying for God's guidance and blessings in your lives in 2009,
JoAnna

From Heaven to the Hay. . .

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:56:45 GMT

(For music, click on highlighted text.)

First, a more well-known Christmas hymn:

Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship, Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star:
Come and worship, Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship, Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you, breaks your chains:
Come and worship, Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

(by James Montgomery)

-------------------------------------------------------
Now, one that might or might not be familiar:
-----------------------------
Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free:
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
(Charles Wesley)
-------------------------------------
These next two I'd never heard or seen before
until I found them in an old hymnal today.

---------------------------------------------
Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

He comes, the prisoner to release,
In Satan's bondage held;
The gates of brass before Him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

He comes, from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,
And on the eyes oppressed with night
To pour celestial day.

He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The wounded soul to cure,
And, with the treasures of His grace,
To enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And Heaven's eternal arches ring
With Thy beloved name.

(Phillip Doddridge, 1735)

------------------------------------------------

O who like Thee, so mild, so bright,
Thou Son of man, thou Light of Light?
O who like Thee did ever go
So patient, through a world of woe?

O who like Thee so humbly bore
The scorn, the scoffs of men, before?
So meek, so lowly, yet so high,
So glorious in humility?

And death, that sets the prisoner free,
Was pang, and scoff, and scorn to Thee;
Yet love through all Thy torture glowed,
And mercy with Thy lifeblood flowed.

O wondrous Lord, my soul would be
Still more and more conformed to Thee,
And learn of Thee, the lowly One,
And like Thee, all my journey run.

(A. Cleveland Coxe)
----------------

Catching up. . .

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:36:56 GMT

I want to wish belated !Happy Birthday! to my Grandpa B (91!) and my dear sis Jody .

And, congratulations to the Duggar family!!!!! I am so thankful that the Lord has raised this family up and blessed them with the opportunity to testify for Him, and about the value of children, in such public ways. Their website is just brimming over with the love of Jesus Christ.

Pictures taken on today's date in past years

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:05:38 GMT

I had a neat idea today. . .find pictures I took on today's date years ago. (E.g. December 16, 2007, December 16, 2006, etc. So I went looking. . . If I couldn't find them on the actual date I chose the next closest one. Then I did some fun "fiddles" with the images. (Dad bought me Adobe Elements, but would you know I haven't used it yet? I'm still just using Faststone Picture Viewer!) Mind, I haven't always had the good Canon G3 I have today. I think the earliest picture was taken with an Argus (?).
-------------------------------------------

December 16, 2003

"Fiddle"--

(I did 2 fiddles on this one!)

(November 30, 2004)

Fiddle

December 16, 2005
(I think I was planning to paint the pan or somehow make it beautiful--
and this was to be the "before"picture!)

Fiddle

December 16, 2006
(My bedroom ceiling & the light streaming in from the window)

(I love this fiddle!)

December 16, 2007

Quite a difference, aye?!

And yes, I know, I didn't have any pictures from today! Sorry, folks!

Introducing. . .Ester Reid--Chapter 1

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:52:05 GMT

Some would say 'twas only chance that I stumbled across this book tonight. But I know better. Just a matter of looking at the "seller's other items" on Ebay and running across some reprinted book that was apparently a Christian work by a lady named Isabella Alden. A little research, and I discovered that Mrs. Alden was the aunt of a dear Christian author whose works I am familiar with--Grace Livingston Hill. (I should have realized the name was familiar!) Then of course, off I went to Gutenberg.org to see if there were any of Mrs. Alden's books on there. There were, and despite the fact that none of them were in HTML ( plain text is rather wearying to read), I thought I would read a bit of one just to get a feel for what her books were like. . . .

I read it all. I've read books that were more "interesting", but few that were so convicting, truthful, full of Light, and encouraging. I cried all the way through, I'm not quite done yet. . .I can't yet express all that I have seen, or that God has said to my heart, but oh how convicting it was as I realized how little I live for Christ compared to what I could! how little I think to serve Him in every moment! how rarely I am so in tune with the Lord's heartbeat, so full of the Holy Spirit that I cannot help but speak of Him. . .to anyone and everyone, not just those Christian brothers and sisters I know will respond approvingly!

So I want to share this book with you. There are 28 chapters; if I post 3 a week, then it should wrap up by mid-February. Please, find the time to listen to these words from a lady long since with the Lord--but no less needed or relevant because of that. You can find the full text at this link--and more information about the author, Isabella Macdonald Alden, at this one.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ester Reid

--Asleep and Awake--

by Isabella Alden
written in 1870, I believe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER I.

ESTER'S HOME.

She did not look very much as if she were asleep, nor acted as though
she expected to get a chance to be very soon. There was no end to the
things which she had to do, for the kitchen was long and wide, and
took many steps to set it in order, and it was drawing toward tea-time
of a Tuesday evening, and there were fifteen boarders who were, most
of them, punctual to a minute.

Sadie, the next oldest sister, was still at the academy, as also
were Alfred and Julia, while little Minnie, the pet and darling, most
certainly was _not_. She was around in the way, putting little fingers
into every possible place where little fingers ought not to be. It
was well for her that, no matter how warm, and vexed, and out of order
Ester might be, she never reached the point in which her voice could
take other than a loving tone in speaking to Minnie; for Minnie,
besides being a precious little blessing in herself, was the child of
Ester's oldest sister, whose home was far away in a Western graveyard,
and the little girl had been with them since her early babyhood, three
years before.

So Ester hurried to and from the pantry, with quick, nervous
movements, as the sun went toward the west, saying to Maggie who was
ironing with all possible speed:

"Maggie, do _hurry_, and get ready to help me, or I shall never have
tea ready:" Saying it in a sharp fretful tone. Then: "No, no, Birdie,
don't touch!" in quite a different tone to Minnie, who laid loving
hands on a box of raisins.

"I _am_ hurrying as fast as I _can_!" Maggie made answer. "But such an
ironing as I have every week can't be finished in a minute."

"Well, well! Don't talk; that won't hurry matters any."

Sadie Ried opened the door that led from the dining-room to the
kitchen, and peeped in a thoughtless young head, covered with bright
brown curls:

"How are you, Ester?"

And she emerged fully into the great warm kitchen, looking like a
bright flower picked from the garden, and put out of place. Her pink
gingham dress, and white, ruffled apron--yes, and the very school
books which she swung by their strap, waking a smothered sigh in
Ester's heart.

"O, my patience!" was her greeting.

"Are _you_ home? Then school is out".

"I guess it _is_," said Sadie. "We've been down to the river since
school."

"Sadie, won't you come and cut the beef and cake, and make the tea? I
did not know it was so late, and I'm nearly tired to death."

Sadie looked sober. "I would in a minute, Ester, only I've brought
Florence Vane home with me, and I should not know what to do with her
in the meantime. Besides, Mr. Hammond said he would show me about my
algebra if I'd go out on the piazza this minute."

"Well, _go_ then, and tell Mr. Hammond to wait for his tea until he
gets it!" Ester answered, crossly.

"Here, Julia"--to the ten-year old newcomer--"Go away from that
raisin-box, this minute. Go up stairs out of my way, and Alfred too.
Sadie, take Minnie with you; I can't have her here another instant.
You can afford to do that much, perhaps."

"O, Ester, you're cross!" said Sadie, in a good-humored tone, coming
forward after the little girl.

"Come, Birdie, Auntie Essie's cross, isn't she? Come with Aunt Sadie.
We'll go to the piazza and make Mr. Hammond tell us a story."

And Minnie--Ester's darling, who never received other than loving
words from her--went gleefully off, leaving another heartburn to the
weary girl. They _stung_ her, those words: "Auntie Essie's cross,
isn't she?"

Back and forth, from dining-room to pantry, from pantry to
dining-room, went the quick feet At last she spoke:

"Maggie, leave the ironing and help me; it is time tea was ready."

"I'm just ironing Mr. Holland's shirt," objected Maggie.

"Well, I don't care if Mr. Holland _never_ has another shirt ironed.
I want you to go to the spring for water and fill the table-pitchers,
and do a dozen other things."

The tall clock in the dining-room struck five, and the dining-bell
pealed out its prompt summons through the house. The family gathered
promptly and noisily--school-girls, half a dozen or more, Mr. Hammond,
the principal of the academy, Miss Molten, the preceptress, Mrs.
Brookley, the music-teacher, Dr. Van Anden, the new physician, Mr.
and Mrs. Holland, and Mr. Arnett, Mr. Holland's clerk. There was a
moment's hush while Mr. Hammond asked a blessing on the food; then the
merry talk went on. For them all Maggie poured cups of tea, and
Ester passed bread and butter, and beef and cheese, and Sadie gave
overflowing dishes of blackberries, and chattered like a magpie, which
last she did everywhere and always.

"This has been one of the scorching days," Mr. Holland said. "It was
as much as I could do to keep cool in the store, and we generally ARE
well off for a breeze there."

"It has been more than _I_ could do to keep cool anywhere," Mrs.
Holland answered. "I gave it up long ago in despair."

Ester's lip curled a little. Mrs. Holland had nothing in the world to
do, from morning until night, but to keep herself cool. She wondered
what the lady would have said to the glowing kitchen, where _she_ had
passed most of the day.

"Miss Ester looks as though the heat had been too much for her
cheeks," Mrs. Brookley said, laughing. "What _have_ you been doing?"

"Something besides keeping cool," Ester answered soberly.

"Which is a difficult thing to do, however," Dr. Van Anden said,
speaking soberly too.

"I don't know, sir; if I had nothing to do but that, I think I could
manage it."

"I have found trouble sometimes in keeping myself at the right
temperature even in January."

Ester's cheeks glowed yet more. She understood Dr. Van Anden, and she
knew her face did not look very self-controlled. No one knows what
prompted Minnie to speak just then.

"Aunt Sadie said Auntie Essie was cross. Were you, Auntie Essie?"

The household laughed, and Sadie came to the rescue.

"Why, Minnie! you must not tell what Aunt Sadie says. It is just as
sure to be nonsense as it is that you are a chatter-box."

Ester thought that they would _never_ all finish their supper and
depart; but the latest comer strolled away at last, and she hurried to
toast a slice of bread, make a fresh cup of tea, and send Julia after
Mrs. Ried.

Sadie hovered around the pale, sad-faced woman while she ate.

"Are you _truly_ better, mother? I've been worried half to pieces
about you all day."

"O, yes; I'm better. Ester, you look dreadfully tired. Have you much
more to do?"

"Only to trim the lamps, and make three beds that I had not time for
this morning, and get things ready for breakfast, and finish Sadie's
dress."

"Can't Maggie do any of these things?"

"Maggie is ironing."

Mrs. Ried sighed. "It is a good thing that I don't have the sick
headache very often," she said sadly; "or you would soon wear yourself
out. Sadie, are you going to the lyceum tonight?"

"Yes, ma'am. Your worthy daughter has the honor of being editress, you
know, to-night. Ester, can't you go down? Never mind that dress; let
it go to Guinea."

"You wouldn't think so by to-morrow evening," Ester said, shortly.
"No, I can't go."

The work was all done at last, and Ester betook herself to her room.
How tired she was! Every nerve seemed to quiver with weariness.

It was a pleasant little room, this one which she entered, with its
low windows looking out toward the river, and its cosy furniture all
neatly arranged by Sadie's tasteful fingers.

Ester seated herself by the open window, and looked down on the group
who lingered on the piazza below--looked _down_ on them with her eyes
and with her heart; yet envied while she looked, envied their free
and easy life, without a care to harass them, so _she_ thought; envied
Sadie her daily attendance at the academy, a matter which she _so_
early in life had been obliged to have done with; envied Mrs. Holland
the very ribbons and laces which fluttered in the evening air. It had
grown cooler now, a strong breeze blew up from the river and freshened
the air; and, as they sat below there enjoying it, the sound of their
gay voices came up to her.

"What do they know about heat, or care, or trouble?" she said
scornfully, thinking over all the weight of _her_ eighteen years of
life; she hated it, this life of hers, _just_ hated it--the sweeping,
dusting, making beds, trimming lamps, _working_ from morning till
night; no time for reading, or study, or pleasure. Sadie had said she
was cross, and Sadie had told the truth; she _was_ cross most of the
time, fretted with her every-day petty cares and fatigues.

"O!" she said, over and over, "if something would _only_ happen; if I
could have one day, just _one_ day, different from the others; but
no, it's the same old thing--sweep and dust, and clear up, and eat and
sleep. I _hate_ it all."

Yet, had Ester nothing for which to be thankful that the group on the
piazza had not?

If she had but thought, she had a robe, and a crown, and a harp, and
a place waiting for her, up before the throne of God; and all they had
_not_.

Ester did not think of this; so much asleep was she, that she did not
even know that none of those gay hearts down there below her had been
given up to Christ. Not one of them; for the academy teachers and Dr.
Van Anden were not among them. O, Ester was asleep! She went to church
on the Sabbath, and to preparatory lecture on a week day; she read a
few verses in her Bible, _frequently_, not every day; she knelt at her
bedside every night, and said a few words of prayer--and this was all!

She lay at night side by side with a young sister, who had no claim
to a home in heaven, and never spoke to her of Jesus. She worked
daily side by side with a mother who, through many trials and
discouragements, was living a Christian life, and never talked with
her of their future rest. She met daily, sometimes almost hourly, a
large household, and never so much as thought of asking them if they,
too, were going, some day, home to God. She helped her young brother
and sister with their geography lessons, and never mentioned to them
the heavenly country whither they themselves might journey. She took
the darling of the family often in her arms, and told her stories of
"Bo Peep," and the "Babes in the Wood," and "Robin Redbreast," and
never one of Jesus and his call for the tender lambs!

This was Ester, and this was Ester's home.