The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-29
IN ADVANCE
N U M B Z R 7

in her thin hand. That was generosity.
| The boy who had the bun was hungry
aud poor yet he remained hungry rather
than suffer one poorer and more hungry
than himself to starvc. Now, it is not
enough for YOU TO say, well done, fine
fellow" but | want you to go and do like
wise 1t is not enough for the heart to
beat and the eyes to swim in tears, when
generous action is recorded; if il makes u
proper impression, you will not be happy
until YOU have done 'likewisc'"
Geraldine looked streigh. on. She bar
| dened her heart sometimes, and when she
did, You saw it in the expression Of eyes
| turnei almost TO stone-eyes hard and
fearless. She had a long time believed
that she was very generous in giving her
money: her aunt'S observations had nearly
convinced her that generosity was some
thing more than giving what she did not
care for or want, and it made her very un-
comiortbe: but she was stubborn to confess
she was wrong. God had not yet softened
her heart. She knew but little of PRAYER.
and had very seldom proved how prayer
is answered. when it is laid before the
tootstool OF the Almighty in pure and
humble spirit. "Aant Jane" loved her
dearl y, and the more dearly she loved her
the more anxious she became that Geral-
dine should conquer the evil and cultivate
the good of her disposition; but that is
thing the young arc slow to understand
They think-silly things-that those who
love them most will indulge them most.
al will tell you," continueda aunt Jane
after q pause-ior she was so wise, that
she paused to let one thing sink into &c.
radines mind, before she spoke Of another
~ will tell you of boy, who had
very aggravating temper--it was not so
very violent, but IL wac wilful, obstinate,
unyelding; if he was told to read at one
o'clock, write at two, and, do his Latin
exercise at three, he would argue that it
would be better to do his Latin at one, and
real at thIce Half his time was spent in
contradiction He was absurd enough to
suppose that he knew better than his teach
ers hewould not, of course, say he did, but
ne NO TSSnI ac. as if he did Hs knew nothing
will OF others-he had not lerned the duty
OF obedience, and did not see its advan-
tageS."
Its advantages ~, questioned Geral-
dine.
"les, its advantages. Is it not an ad-
vantage to have every thing provided,
every thing thought of, every thing pre-
pared everything that the experience and
knowledge of age can suggest, done for
youth--the thorns removed from their
path, the whole business Of life arranged,
so as to prepare them for the future with
the least possible outlay of troble to them
selves--and all required in return being at
tentIon and obedicnnce?"
Geraldine's eyes were growing less
stony, and she half muttereI, in a low
tone, that is true"
"Ihis boy, like many girls, wanted to
learn only what he liked; and it would
have been difficult to teach him even Oh
these terms for what he lked this week
he did not like next; and such was his
spirit Of opposition, that if it were wihed
he should like this, he would be sure to
rush at the belief that he liked that.
IF yon are so contradictory said his "a
ther, no one will love YOU
81 don't care for being loved" said the
boy.
"Oh, very we'll" said his father.
The next morning, when he! came
down stairs, he looked round, and then
offered his mother his maning kiss. She
turned from him, and he saw she had been
weeping.
"'4ou do not care for being loved
said his farther, 'aHd so, as you do not
care about being loved, you must try to
live without love. Love has hitherto toiled
for you; love has clothed you, love has fed
you, love has educated you, love has had
patience with you, love has rewarded you,
has watched over YOU, love has cerishcd
you, love has found fault with you, love
has wept for you, love has prayed for you
from your cradle you have been ministercd
to by love; but you do not care for being
loved--so, now live wtout love,
the boys heart was hard, and so no
thought he could live without his farthcr's
work and his mothers blessing; ne thought
he could live without love. He had 10
GENEROSITY in lis naturc-if he had he
would have curbed his temper; he would
have yielded all he had to yield-his
wil-to the will of those who 10 ed him.
He had nothing but that to give for the
years Of love, Of labor of thought Of prayer
he had cost bis parents. 1t never entered
into his head totbink, or in his heart TO
feel, that his obedience, his docility, his
curbing himself, would have been generous
"Amt Jsne!" exclaimed Geraldine,
bursting intn food of honest tears,
though not a boy, l am that boy. Oh,
pray with me--pray for me---this New
Years day; pray that may feel, and
believe, that giving up what VIC most
herish, is the only ue generosity"
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