The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-07-12
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~ KIND TO YOUR SISTERS.

o,e morning there was h'''e s'i' st''"S VI"
steps of pleasant cottage near the com
#"' She was thin and pale. Her head was
V.a m her slender hand. There was touch
& ''' rotession in her sweet face, which the dull,
',u s,pression about her jet black eyes, did not
n., r,me was Helen For several weeks she
nod seemed TO be dropping without any particular
;o,ss. inconstant in her attendance at school and
F roo.inp gradually her interest in her former en-
81 ,.nments Helen had one sister, Clara, little
81 aIdsr than herself, and several brothers.
,Th;s day she seemed better; but something her
..,,. had said to her a few moments before, gave
n ,., srnresson of sadness to her face, she sat
:, ,bs door of the cottage. Clara soon came to
Il her again.
aHeIen, mother says you must go to school; so
4 got up, come along, ana get reaoy' ana ho' 'e
\ mopng any longer
4 Hoen. add mother say SOL"
N Clora. ayes, she did. You well enouga,l
y know for you always say you are sick just at
q. school,ime Get your bonnet, for shan't wait.
n Helen got up slowly, and wiping away with
her apron, the tear that had started in her eye, she
made her Preparations to obey her mothers com
mand.
Now Clara had a very irritable disposition. She
could not bear to have Helen receive any more at
lenon or sympathy than herself; and unless she
was really so sick TO excite her fears she never
would allow that she was sick at all Sho had de
termined not TO 60 to school alone this morning,
and therefore had persuaded her mother TO make
hersisIer go with her In few moments they
we're BIO III ready. Their dinner had been packed
in large basket which stood in the entry.
"Helen," said Clara, 81 We carried the basket
every day for a week; it's your turn now"
"But us twice as heavy now," said Helen, Il
cant bu, Just lift it,
aWel, I don't scare,'' said Clara, 81 have%got
my Geography and Atlas to carry;so take it up,and
hi come s\oug--I shan't touch it,
III Helen took mp the basket without saying another
wor though it required all her little strength and
N walked slowly behind her sister. She tried hard
K 10 keep from CRYING, but the tears would come as
y fast as she could wipe them off. They walked on
4 thus, in silence, for about quarter of an hour.
\ Clara elt too much i'll humored to take any notice
of her sister. She knew she had done wrong, but
was too proud to give it up, and was deter mined
to hold ou:;" excusng herself by thinking,-wel
Helen is always saying she is sick, and making a
great fuss. It's just good enough for her. When
she had reached the halfway stone, she had half a
mind not to let her rest there, as usual; but the
habit was too strong to be easily broken, and she
sat down sulenly, to wait for Helen to come up,
The broad fiat stone shaded by beautiful
weeping willow, and around the trunk OF this tree
ran a little brook 1t would seem as if the beauty
.of this 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. She sat sullenly till Helen came up
and then began to scold her for being SO slow
"Why don't you come along faster, Helen' You
will be late to school, and don't care if you are,
you deserve a good scolding for acting So"
"Why, Clara, am very tired, my head does
ache, and this basket is very heavy; do think you
ought to carry it the rest Of the way"
"Do give it to me, them" said Clara; and she
Snached it from her with such violence, that the
cover came ofthe apples rolled out, and fell into
Abe water; the gingerbread followed. and the pie
'A0"ed into the dirt. 1t has been truly said, fan
ger sa short Madness for how little reason
nave those who indulge in it. Helen was not TO
o'ane Tor the accident; but Clara did not stop to
WINK oil this. Vexed at having lost her dinnersh
'o'"ed and gave her sister push, and then walk
Gu on as rapidly possible. Oh, could she have
'ofeseen the consequences of this rash act, could
cue nave known the bitter anguish which it would
a"erwards cause her, worlds would not have temp
'u 'er 10 do it; but she angry. Helen was
'a'ea Just on the edge Of the water, and she fell
~ IL was not deep. She had waded there many
Oay' with her shoes and stockings off, and she
.1'"y got out, but it frightened ervery much and
0Vh away all her strength. Sho could not even
call to her sister, or cry.
strange feeling came over her, such she
=. nNu never known before. She laid her head on
,n n' S'ohe' and closed'her eyes, and thought she
~ gong to die, and she wish ed her mother was
ihen she seemed TO sleep for few mo-
n0 a's' out by and by she felt better, and getting
a. e., aus TOOK her empty basket, and walked on as
aS she could towards school.
D.. was nearly half dane when she got there; and
ma "o entered the room, all noticed her pale face
snI: "'' dress. She took her seat, leaned her
bn, lug mead upon her hand and attempted to study
.Th. 'ain' She could not FIX her attention at all.
Lo~. Iaf.