Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-07-17
Mistellanfons.
THE SPOT ON THE SOUL.
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.


"Where can my geography bcr said a
little girl, anxiously, to her mother. al
have looked all around, and cannot find it :;
and now it is school-time. Oh, dear! Dick
has had it, l know"
$50 he has, said cherry-cbeeked little
one of about four years old, "and did find
it under the apple-tree."
"Oh, mother! what bad boy our Rich
ard is |" said Celia, quite severely. "I do
wish he would behave better. l cannot
take any care of my things, he is so med
dlesome."
To her mothers reply, that she must not
get out of patience with Dicky, she gave lit
tie heed, but hurried off to school, fretting
by the way, as she glanced at the marks Of
her brothers fingers on the pages of her
book. School had not commenced when
she arrived; and she showed her book to
her school-mates, and gave them history
Of her troublesome brother, and finished by
saying she never could have anything
decent.
Then she began to rub her book violently
with 1ndia-rubber; and in the process she
spent so much time, that she had poor les
sons and lost her merit. This made her
still moro unhappy, and so disturbed was
her mind that her lessons we're imperfect
all day; and when she went home, she told
her mother about her troubles, crying pitc.
ously, and asking her mother to forbid Rich
ard even to touch any of her books.
"But yesterday you were very glad tc
have Richard go to Miss Pratt's for youl
new Dress" said her mother.
Celia thought she would not want him
to do anything moro for her; she had rath-
er wait upon herself than have him spoil.
ing everything.
Her mother saw that she was in dark
and angry state of mind; and she took her
by the hand and said, "Dear Celia, it is un
pleasant to have your books and playthings
soiled; but it is much worse to have impu
rity on your mind. When your book j:
soiled, the marks may be erased, or new
book procured; but anger is blot upor
your immortal soul. If you suffer it to re-
main, it becomes hatred, which spreads ant
poisons the whole being. You have haG
unkind and angry feelings toward you broth
er all day; you have been thinking of Rich
ards careless treatment of your book, anG
have been yourself careless of what is of SC
much confidence, the purity of your owl
soul. That has been defiled with anger al
day."
Poor Celia began to look at the subjec
in different light "Yes, know 1 hav
been angry, mother" said she; shut hov
could l help it, TO see my new geograph,
so9 You do not think it is right for Dick
TO do so, do youl"
"No, indeed; it is not right" said Mrs
Morse; shut Dicky is little boy, anc
means no harm. 1t is not so wrong as 70
you to get out of temper; that is not tn
way to cure him."
"And is it true, mother, said Celia, "tha
l have had blot upon my soul all day tc
: day9 Oh, yes! know it is; and it
there now. wish could get it off. Use
now how much worse it is than those finge
marks that thought so bad in my book
Poor little Richard how rough ! was I
him at recess, and would not give him a
apple }! | feel very sorry now; but if Dick
should break my dolls head, or tear any
my books, I should feel just so cross agar
How can / help III"
Her mother told her always to be as kim
as possible to her needless little brother, an
not talk about his faults to the schoolgirl,
and to pray the Lord to give her so muc
love for her brother, that she might a
ways be patient and kind with him, an
then he would love her so much that h
would try very hard not to injure anythin
that belonged to her.
Celia Morse had a great love of the nes
and beautiful, which her mother did nc
seek to repress, but to cultivate in its proI
er place. And, as she grew older, she cam
to feel that nothing was so beautiful rs
pure and affectionate soul, and that all GU
ward order and beauty which is attained 9
the expense of inward beauty, is too dearl
: bought; but that beautiful soul seeks an
loves corresponding beauty without an
quietly, gently, lovingly tends to produc
it, Chad's Friend. e
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