Sunday Chaplet of Stories by A.L.O.E. (ePub)

This book is a collection of 32 short stories and poems published by A.L.O.E. in The Children’s Paper in 1867. These stories can be used as family devotions that provide inspiring examples that engage young readers. They have a Biblical moral basis that teaches about temptation, sin, caring for the lost, God’s grace, and the importance of the Bible. On the Raft teaches trusting God in difficulty, The Fight teaches fighting sin with God, and The Four Wishes teaches that worldly desires lead to misery. A.L.O.E.’s prayer: “May the Almighty lift our thoughts and hopes towards Himself; and bless the feeblest attempt made to render His holy day more pleasant and profitable to His children!” ePub version, approx. 150 book pages. Sample stories: The Hymn My Mother Taught Me by A.L.O.E. Topic: Temptation Edith and Her Ayah (nurse) by A.L.O.E. Topic: Salvation CHARLOTTE MARIA TUCKER (1821–1883) was born in Barnet, England. Her father, Henry St. George Tucker, was chairman of the East India Company. Charlotte had many talents in music, drawing, writing and acting, but she was educated at home. Her earliest story is “The Claremont Tales,” which illustrates the Beatitudes and teaches the character of true Christianity. Her pen name became A.L.O.E. (A Lady of England). Her brothers moved to India, but she lived at No. 3 Upper Portland Place, her childhood home, for 49 years. She assisted her mother until her mother died in 1869. Financially successful and not having a parent to care for, she went to live with a brother and took up the study of Hindustani. In 1875, she traveled to India and stayed for 18 years and carried on missionary work until her death. She wrote many children’s books and stories. Here is the moral lesson summary from each chapter: 1. The Hymn My Mother Taught Me One act of yielding to temptation opens the door to further sin. An orphan boy steals a cake when hungry, and begins sliding toward a life of crime — until a hymn his mother taught him brings him to repentance. Confession and honesty, even when costly, restore the soul and open the way for God's providence. 2. Are All Saved? The rescue of a drowning sailor parallels the work of evangelism. Christians are called to active effort in saving souls, not merely passive sympathy. Everyone has something to contribute — time, money, or prayer. 3. The Fountain and the Cloud Self-effort alone cannot overcome a sinful nature. A boy who repeatedly breaks his resolutions learns that only God's grace, sought in prayer, can lift a person above their natural failures. 4. The Soldier's Child The Bible, faithfully read and prayed over, has power to convert even the most hardened heart. A French soldier steals his daughter's Bible but is ultimately led to faith through her prayers and the Scripture he took. 5. Is This History Mine? Using Pilgrim's Progress as a mirror, a mother gently shows her daughter that good intentions and early religious feeling are not enough — a person must actually pass through the gate of salvation and walk the narrow path, not merely intend to. 6. Burning Bank-Notes Time is a gift from God that, like money, can be invested or wasted. Those who use their time in honest labor, self-improvement, helping others, and giving their hearts to Christ exchange perishable time for eternal reward. 7. Edith and Her Ayah (Nurse) A child's simple, persistent prayer for her Hindu nurse — "Lord Jesus, teach poor Motee Ayah to love thee!" — is answered when the nurse comes to faith after a crisis in the jungle. A child's prayers and example can reach where adult teaching cannot. 8. On the Raft In the darkest suffering, trust in God preserves the soul from despair. A shipwrecked sailor clings to faith through hunger, thirst, and the threat of death, and is rescued. God hears the prayer of those who trust him even when circumstances are hopeless. 9. Stepping-Stones The three stepping-stones over the river of life's troubles are prudence, patience, and prayer. These are the means God provides for crossing difficulty safely. 10. What Do We Know of Heaven? Drawing entirely from Scripture, children describe the joys of heaven: the presence of God and Christ, reunion with the redeemed, freedom from pain and death, and eternal joy. The way to reach heaven is believing, loving, and obeying the Lord. 11. The Maelstrom Sin is like a whirlpool — it draws a person in gradually and destroys them if not resisted and forsaken. Peer pressure is a particular danger. The only defense is prayer for God's Holy Spirit, without which no one has strength to resist. 12. I Have a Home, a Happy Home! A poem of gratitude for God's blessings — health, family, food, clothing, and above all, the Bible and the hope of heaven. The proper response to God's goodness is love shown through obedience, watching, praising, and prayer. 13. Diamonds and Scorpions Every careless, unkind, or false word is a sin that will be accounted for at judgment. Rose tracks her own speech for a single day and is convicted. The remedy is not self-reliance but confession, faith in Christ's forgiveness, and persistent prayer to guard the tongue. 14. The Four Wishes The worldly wishes for wealth, fame, beauty, and greatness all lead to misery, as illustrated through Cardinal Wolsey, Voltaire, Anne Boleyn, and Napoleon. True riches, wisdom, beauty, and glory are found only through faith in Christ. 15. The Vase, the Book, and the Pearl A decorative vase, a learned book, and a fine pearl each boast of their superiority — but a voice reminds them of their humble origins. No one should be proud of beauty, talent, or rank, for all are mortal sinners who have received everything from God and hold nothing apart from Christ. 16. St. Paul's Church Clock A poor street-sweeping boy uses the striking of the church clock as a signal to pray at each hour: for honest labor, for forgiveness of enemies, for daily needs, for patience, for those he loves, and for readiness to die. Prayer woven through daily life is available to anyone, however poor or young. 17. The Little Light A poor, overlooked girl named Sarah wonders how she can serve God. Through patient work, care for younger children, endurance of suffering, and a peaceful death, she lets her light shine before others. God uses the feeblest instruments to glorify himself. 18. The Butterfly Boys who kill a butterfly for sport are shown the complexity and beauty of God's creation, and are led from there to the doctrines of death, resurrection, and judgment. Those whose sins are covered by Christ's blood will rise to glory; those who love sin will rise to misery. 19. The Penitent A boy who gambles away money entrusted to him is tempted to lie but chooses confession. His brother intercedes and pays the debt from his own savings, mirroring Christ's intercession for sinners. True repentance includes confession and forsaking the sin. 20. The Reproof A child on a train asks a man a simple question — "Do you love God?" — which silences his companions who had been swearing. God always hears, and no one can remove themselves from his presence. Even a child's sincere witness can convict. 21. The Vase and the Dart Life offers opportunities for prayer, knowledge, good deeds, and the Word of God. Each opportunity rejected is a dart that will wound the conscience. Those who neglect their opportunities until it is too late face judgment without remedy. Seize each day. 22. The Jewel A poor girl caught stealing a jewel case is shown by a kind woman that her soul is more precious than any jewel — it is immortal, was bought by Christ's blood, and is more important than the body. She is directed to a ragged school and given a prayer. 23. The Storm Christ stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee teaches that he has authority over all outward circumstances and inward temptations. Christians in trouble should cry out to him, trusting that he is present even when unseen. 24. The Sabbath-Tree In an allegory, the Sabbath is a tree whose fruit — church attendance, prayer, Scripture reading, and praise — nourishes all who gather it in faith. Those who break the Sabbath for profit or pleasure damage themselves spiritually. True Sabbath observance prepares the soul for eternal rest. 25. The White Robe A vain girl who weeps over a muddy dress is shown that worldly finery is a snare. The only garment that matters is the white robe of Christ's righteousness, which no death can take away. Outward vanity is a first step toward deeper spiritual danger. 26. The Fight Using the story of David and Goliath, each Christian is called to fight sin as David fought the giant — not in personal strength but trusting in God, armed with prayer, and sustained by Scripture. The reward for faithfulness is a crown of life. 27. Crosses Every Christian is given a cross to bear. Four children carry different crosses — poverty, physical illness, a difficult temper, and guilt — but each cross carries an inscription from Scripture that gives hope and points to Christ. The cross prepares for the crown. 28. The Two Countries Every person belongs spiritually to one of two countries: the country of truth and holiness, or the country of lies. Truthfulness is the language of heaven; falsehood is the language of the enemy. Illustrated by a servant girl, Margaret, who tells the truth at personal cost, and others who lie for gain. 29. Do You Love God? A dying child's spontaneous question to a stranger on a train — "Do you love God?" — haunts him until he is converted. Even the feeblest witness, spoken at the right moment, can change a life. 30. The Imperfect Copy A boy drawing without his model nearby produces a poor copy. Christians who do not study Christ's example in Scripture and regularly compare their lives against it will make no true progress. The copy begun in this life will only be perfected in heaven. 31. The Indian Convert A Hindu man, Roostum, loses his family and home to follow Christ — a pearl of great price worth all he gave up. He encounters a British soldier, Walter, who is shamed by the convert's devotion and strengthened to resist temptation. Faith must show itself in sacrifice and holy living. 32. A Story of the Crimea A British surgeon, Dr. Thomson, stays behind after the Battle of Alma to tend over 700 wounded Russian enemies at the cost of his own life. His sacrifice is presented as a dim reflection of Christ's sacrifice for sinners who were his enemies. All people are wounded by sin and unable to help themselves; Christ alone can heal. The moral lessons summary was generated by Claude AI, 2026.