A layer of snow was spread over the icy streets, and the people walked carefully, shod with India-rubber, toward the churches, on a cold Sabbath morning. Walking somewhat hastily churchward, for I was late, I noticed a bright-looking little lad, standing upon the pavement, with his cap in his hand, and his eyes fixed upon one spot on the sidewalk. As I approached him he looked up to me, and pointing to the place, said, "Please don't step there, sir; I slipped there and fell down." I thanked the little fellow, and passed round the dangerous spot. "Don't step there," was the theme of my thoughts during the remainder of my walk.

There are many places, as we journey along the pathway of life, where we slip and fall. How carefully should we ourselves, tread past such places in all our journeying! Yet how often is it lamentably true, that on the same spot we repeat our stumblings. Wherever, under the temptations of the adversary, or through the wrong impulses of my perverse affections and passions, I have once slipped, let me ever after place a watch, which, to remind me of my former sad experience, shall cry out to me as I approach, "Don't step there." The friend who truly loves me, who is solicitous for my spiritual good, when he sees me carelessly treading toward a spot where he himself has fallen, will refer to his own misfortune and kindly say to me, "Don't step there." And if I cherish benevolent sentiments towards my fellowmen, and desire for their own good that they should walk uprightly, when I see the feet of any of them near the spot where I have myself fallen, or where I have seen others slip, I will kindly say to them, "Don't step there."