Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-05-05
From AbbO,s' Religious Magazine.
BE KIND TO YOUR SISTER,

One morning, there was little girl sitting
on the door-steps of a pleasant cottage ncSs
the common. She was thin and pale Her
head was resting upon her slender hand.
There was a touching sadness in her sweet
face, which the dull, heavy, expressions, a.
bout her Jet black eyes, did not DESTROY
What was she thinking thus alone2 Per
haps Of that pretty hower-garden, which
she had cultivated with so much taste and
care those blue morning-glories, and bright
yellow nasturtions, which she had taught to
climb TO her window; or those four o'clocks,
which she had planted in so straight line,
under the little fence which encircIed the
hower-bed She might have been ihink -
OF these,-perhaps wondering whether
should see these flowers which she had
cultivating with so much care, openN.
pretty leaves to another summers SUM- Il \
Her name was Helen For several weeks
she had seemed to be dropping, without any
particular disease; inconstant in her attend
ance at school, and loosing gradually her
interest in all her former employmenls.--
Helen had one sister Clara, little older
than herself and several brothers. While
she was most indisposed, they had express
ed great deal OF sympathy, and tried to
amuse her, and had willingly given up their
own eDjoyments, to promote hers But
children will TO often be selfish and when
Helen, for some days, appeared better and
able to run about and amuse herself they
would forget how peculiarly sensitive she
had become, and the cross words which they
occasionally spoke, and The neglect with
which they sometimes treated her. wounded
her feelings, and caused her to shed many
bitter tears, as she lay awake on her little
cot at night
This day she seemed better, and it was
something her sister had said to her Just be-
fore, which gave that expression of sadness
to her face, as she sat at the door of the cot
tage Clara soon came to her again.
"Helen, mother says you must 60 to school
to-day; so get up come along and get ready,
not be mooping there any longer"
Helen. Did Ma say so?
Clara. Yes, she did. You are well
enough know, for you always say you are
sick, at schooltime. "Get your bonnet, for
shan't wait
Helen got up slowly and wiping with her
apron the tear which had started in her eve
she made her preparations to obey her mo-
theirs command. Now Clara had very
irritable disposition. She could not bear 10
have fieieh receive any fnOre attention OF
sympathy than herself; and unless she were
really so sick as to excite her fears, she new
err would allow her to be sick at ALL She
was determined not to go to school alone
this morning, and had persuaded her mother
TO make her sister go with her
In few moments, they were both ready;
but now difficulty presented itself The
distance to school was so great, that they
seldom returned at noon Their dinner had
been packed for them in large basket,
which stood in the entry Upon whom,
should the task of carrying this devolveq
"Helen," said Clara, "Ive carried the
basket every day for week: it's your turn
now"
Helen But it is twice as heavy now. l
can but just lif it.
Clara. Well, l don't care. l have got
my geography and atlas to carry; so take it
up, and come along, Miss Fudge. shan't
touch it.
Helen took up the basket, without saying
another word though it required all her lit
tie strength, and walked slowly behind her
sister. She tried hard to keep from crying,
but the tears would come as fast as she WHIP
ed them of, They walked on thus in ST.
lence for about a quarter of an hour
Clara felt too much ill-humor to take the
least notice of her sister She knew she
had done wrong and felt uneasy, bnt was
yet to proud to give up and was determined
to "hold out" excusing herself by thinking,
well, Helen is always saying she is sick,
and making great fuss. It's Just enough
for her." When she had reached the half
way stone, she had half mind to let her
rest there as usual but the habit was too
strong to be easily broken, and she sat down
sullenly to wait for Helen to come up.
This was spot which few could have.
passed unnoticed The broad fiat stone was
shaded BY beautiful weeping willow,
whose branches hung so low, that even little
Maria could reach them by standing on tip
toe;-and around the trunk of this tree ran
a little brook, which came up Just to this
rustic seat and then turned off into the next
meadow. 1t would seem as if the beauty
of the place must have charmed away the
evil spirit which was raging in Clara's
breast but no the cool shade brought no
refreshment to those evil passions and the
little ripples which sparkled in the sun
beam did not, for one moment, divert her at
tcntion from her own feelings. AS said
before, she sat sullenly till Helen came up,
and then began to scod her for being SO
slow
why don't you come along faster, Hell
en2 you will be late tc school, and don't
care if you are; you deserve a good seold-
ing for acting So"
why Clara, am rery tired, and my
head does ache and this basket is very
heavy. l do think you ought to carry it the
rest of the way"
do give it to me. then" said Clara; and
snatched it from her with such violence that
the cover came Off The apples rolled out
and fell into the water, gingerbread follow
ed, and the pie rolled into the dirt. Il has