St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-20

ice, 7" she is a firebrand !" That is,
added her mother, "they think she has
a quick, fiery temper, which blows ur
on the smallest occasions, and spoils
everything pleasant. And IS not this
my little daughters besetting sin
has it not often grieved her mother
kindled quarrels among her brothers
and sisters, and displeased her Sa
vior, in whose sight a meek and qui
ct spirit is Of great price o."
Alice had been told all this before
but now she felt it, and she suddenly
saw herself as in glass, unloved anG
unlovely, in consequence of a violent
temper which she had been at little
pains to restrain or subdue. 1t was a
sad hour for poor Alice, and her moth
er improved the opportunity of max.
ing deep, and, as she hoped, last.
ing impression upon her child for, il
our faults shut us out of the society of
our friends here, how much more will
they shut us out from the society of
holy beings in Heaven? "Oh, moth
err" said Alice, II must, / acal i'm
prove; you will help me, Jesus will
help me, and l will help myself, moth
er-I will try and try, and never give
up trying mother, am so sorry."
Children often say they are sorry,
but it is more apt to be for the comse-
quences of their faults than for the faults
themselves, which unfit them to be the
children of God. If any one is really
sorry for their sins they will ask God to
forgive them, and pray that all disposi-
tion to sin may be taken away from
their heart, and they will be on the
lookout to bar their heart against any
temptation getting in and leading
them astray again.
Poor little Alice was in earnest, as
we shall see. In a few weeks Thanks
giving Day came, the great family
holiday when score of cousins and
their fathers and mothers, and uncles
and aunts met at grandfather's, not
only to eat turkey and mince pie and
crack nuts, but to recount the good
ness of God, and to thank him for the
mercies which crown the year. l can
not tell you about the plentiful Thanks
giving dinner at grandfather Tracey's,
or how many turkeys he sent around
to the poor for their Thanksgiving, or
how many pies his wife baked to go
with them, or all the pleasant words
that were spoken. But in the after
noon it was the fashion for the grand
children to recite little poems, and this
year Alice was old enough to say one,
and she had spent much time to COM
NIT to memory one which her mother
had selected for her. Four or five of
the cousins had said theirs, when AL
ices turn came. She was abashed,
but began well, and finished the first
verse, when she blundered and stam-
mered some of her companions
laughed and Uttered, which confused
her more. This was unkind and vex-
ing, but Alice kept her temper !; she
turned to grandfather, who was mas
ter of ceremonies, and said, please,
sir, excuse me the others can do a
great deal better than l, grandpa >"
and she stepped humbly aside and hid
herself in grandfather's arms, which
were stretched out to receive her
And she was content to have the
speaking go on without her. After it
was over, Ned asked her to excuse his
laughing, for it was very rude. "Yes,
indeed" she answered sweetly, +" am
sure you did not mean to trouble me-"
"Oh, mother" she whispered, after
they got home that evening, 81 have
had real Thanksgiving Day in my
heart" II suppose grandmother's
pies tasted better than ever" said her
father smiling. "Not that, not that,"
cried Alice /; and putting her rosy lips
almost to her mothers ear, "Ae fire
brand is most oHt," she whispered +; for
the little one had begun to learn that
God has in store choicer blessings for
the soul for which to be thankful, than
anything which he bestows upon the
body: and that day she felt the Joy Of
her first victory over besetting sin.
No wonder it was a Thanksgiving
Day to her. How many children who
read this, will enjoy Thanksgiving
Day in the heart, as Alice did !?
AT first she resolved to play with
her cousins and companions no more !;
but on second thought she saw it was
better to get rid Of her faults than to
get rid of her friends.