The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-03-17
LESSON FOR PARENTS AND OTHER

was sitting in my room one morning, feel
ing all out of sorts about something or other
when an orphan child, whom l had taken to
! raise, came in with tumbler in her hand and
said, while her young face was pale and her lips
quivered:
"See. ma am, I went to take this tumbler from
the dresser to get Anna drink of wafer, and
let it fall
Twas in frctful humor when the child came
in, and her appearance with the broken tum-
bier in her hand didn't tend to help me to bet
ter state OF mind. She was suffering a good
deal of pain in consequence Of the accident,
and needed kind word to quiet the disturbed
beatngs of her heart. But she had come to me
in an unfortunate moment.
You are a careless little girl! - said / Sc
| verely, taking the fragments of glass from her
trembling hands-"A very careless little girl
and am displeased with you.''
| l said no more, but my countenance express
ed even stronger rebuke than my words. The
| child fingered near me for a minute or two and
then shrunk away from the room. / was sorry
in a moment that had permitted myself to
speak unkndly to the little girl; for there was
no need of my doing SO, and, moreover, she had
! taken my words as could plainly see deeply
to heart made her unhappy without cause.
The breaking of tumbler was an accident
likely to happen any one, and the child evident
| ly felt bad enough without having my displeas-
ure added thereto.
! If was unhappy before Jane entered nv
room was still NOSE unhappy after she retir-
! ed. blamed myself and pited the poor child:
! but this could not in the least mend the mat
! ter.
| In about half an hour Jane came up very Gui-
city with Willy, my dear little curly haired
and angel faced boy in her arms. He had fall
en- asleep. and she had with her utmost strength
carried him up stairs. She did not lift her eyes
/ to mine as she entered, but went with her bur-
den to the low bed that was in the room, where
she laid him tenderly, and there sat down with
her face turned partly from me; and, with a
fan, kept off the flies and cooled his moist
skin.
Enough of James countenance was visible to
enable me to perceive that its expression was
very sad. And it was an unkind word from
my lips that had brought this cloud over her
young face.
so much for permitting myself to fall into
a fretful mood, said mentally: "In future
must be more watchful over my state of mind
| have no right to make others suffer from my
own unhappy temper
Jane continued to sit by Willy, and fan him
and every now then l could hear very low
sigh came up, as if involuntarily, from her DO
som. Faint as the sound was, it sinOte upor
of mind.
4 friend called, and | went into the parlor
and sat conversing there an hour But all the
while there was weight upon my feelings
/ tried, but in vain. to be chherful. l Was toe
distinctly aware of the fact that an individual
and that motherless little girl-was unhap
DIV through my unkindness; and the conscious
ness was like heavy hand resting upon my
bosom. :.-. . a..
'.This is all weakness said to myself, after
my friend had left, making an effort to throw
off the uncomfortable feelings. But it was o
no avail. Even if the new train of thou ght
awakened by conversation with my friend, hat
not raised me above the state of mind in which
l was when she came, the sight of JAMES sober
face as she passed me On the stairs, would have
depressed my feelings again.
I Towards evening sent her down stairs for
pitcher of cold water. She went quickly, ant
soon returned with the pitcher of water and
tumbler on waiter. She was coming toward
me, when her foot tripped against something
and she stumbled forward. 1t was in vain sht
tried to save the pitcher. Its balance was lost
and itfell oyer and Nas broken to pieces atmy