Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-23

and then followed a pause, during which sh
stored away in her heart, like hidden treas
ure, the lesson which Nellie had taught he
and which was to be re-perused often in afte
years, when discomfort caused her to mur
mur at some little cloud, real or imaginary
that hung over her destiny And she though
within herself 1t is your own sunny heart
poor child, that robes the world for YOU in it
own love-lighted and rose-tinted atmosphere
You are happier far than l; may God for
give NE ~
Minnie Hamilton, beautiful girl of eight
cen, was IN only daughter, petted and idoli
zed by her parents. Indulgence had injured
though it had not spoiled her So fully hat
every wish of her heart been gratfied from
her birth, that she regarded it us kind O.
privilege peculiar TO her condition, to mur
mur if the slightest shadow came between
her and the fulilment of her most extrava-
giant desires. Poor Minnie poor, though
abounding in riches. cone thing thou
lackest, one thing, which wealth cannot
purchase-the joy of II sunny and contented
heart
Yet Minnie had noble qualities generosity
and active benevolence, with strong moral and
religious principles. One shadow, the shad-
ow of discomfort, clouded them all
@'S'''S h"o puo hci iiteic puloc lutO tHt
| pocket of her apron and now she issued into
| the street again, and commenced her straw
berry song, until she was summoned by an
! other customer, who purchased largely. As
she was about adding the payment she re-
ceived to her little store, she discovered a
small rent in her purse, and, sitting down,
she emptied the money into her apron to ex-
anime it. AS she did SO, she discovered
among the fives and tens, a gold dollar, which
had, evidently, been given her by mistake, by
the first purchaser.
% will go right back with it,, thought
Nellie.
she waited, however, to re-arrange her
baskets and, while doing 50, the tempter
came with evil thoughts, to test her strength
Of principle
"Why go back with it ?" said the wicked
voice; "perhaps the lady meant to give it,"
"But do not knor that said the tender
conscience of Nellie.
"Well, you can do good with it," said the
voice, appealing artfully to her final love
''you can purchase something for your
mother. She works hard enough for all
she has, and this will buy her neat dress
to wear to church."
For moment-only moment-Nellie
listened to the sinful suggestion, and she
thought show pleasant it would be to carry
nice calico to dear mother, and how pretty
she would look in it. Perhaps, too, she
could earn enough to-day to buy bonnet to
match and how happy that would MAKE
her ~
But suddenly the smile died way on Nell
lies lip; her step grew less light. There
den OF guilty thought. She had parleyed
with evil and ife CHI do,p nm bor
1t had dimmed the happiness which innocence
had hitherto bestowed
And now, happily for Nellle, conscience,
that t." voice of God in her soul" came pow
erfully to her aid. 1t recalled vividily the
precious Sabbath evening, when her mother
sat with her at the window, just as the sun
was sinking, and after their scanty supper
had been disposed of.
"Nellie, my darling" she said, as she laid
her head upon her knee, and smoothed back
her dark hair, " you could not 60 to Sunday
school to-day, because you had no shoes to
wear. Perhaps we can earn pair before
next Sabbath but I will teach you the COM
mandments.'
Then Nellie repeated them after her. All
were vivid now to her memory but especial
ly, as if written in letters of fire, stood
forth the eighth" Thou shalt not steal"
Nellie's heart sank within her Had she
listened, and obeyed that evil voice, what
might she have become-a breaker Of Gods
holy commandment The sin would have
laid heavy and darh upon her soul dimning
its sunlight, and weighing down her buoy
ant, happy spirit. And then her home
would have been changed to her. She would
have destroyed its peace, and her mothers
cheerful song would have been hushed. Nell
bod 1,k %or Enl, h,,
thoughts, she rushed back with the speed cf
light, lest that evil voice should speak again,
and rested not until she reached the home of
Minnie Hamilton.
''You made mistake, miss. You gave
me this''-holding up the gold dollar, for
a silver piece
"Did1? Well, it ,cas a mistake. am
very near sighted; but you are an honest lit
tie girl, and you shall have it as a reward"
"No, miss, thank you; would rather
have the silver piece"
You would?
Z" Yes, miss"
"You are singular child. Pray tell me
why you would rather"
"Because-because-i would remind me-
Nellie burst into tears, and covered her
face with her hands.
" Ofwhat tell me child"
:" llow was tempted to break Gods COM
mand."
And to keep the dollar, do you mean"
" Yes, miss"
- But you resisted the temptation as God
gave you strength. That was beautiful in
you. Now tell me your name must re-
member it,
"Nellie Townsend.
"There is no sin, Nellie, in being tempted
The sin consists in yielding to temptation.
Now that you have resisted, you will find
yourself strengthened in might, to overcome
evil. Henceforth shall not fear for you.
Only resist the first promptings to do wrong
resist them and all will be well. Nellie,
you were not aware of it, to-day you taught
me a lesson OF contentment, which | shall not
easily forget; and you shall have the happi-
ness of knowing that you, though little
child, have been minister of good to me.
And you must let me reward you. You must
what has occurred to-day, and you have no
was the temptation ?-What did you most
desire to do with it?" ..' .......
Nellie hesitated, and then said Last
Sunday, mother had no neat dress TO 60 to
church. That would just buy calico.
only thought Of it for a moment" ......
Minnie Hamilton turned aside without
Speaking. When she looked again, there
was a moisture on the eyelids which had not
been there before. ......
Does your mother require any thing else?
Does she not want a bonnet too p
"Yes, miss but | shall soon earn that,
by my berries. Mothers sewing has nearly
paid the rent this month"
Nellie, you and | must be friends. Go
now, and sell the remainder of your strawber-
ries, and call here on your way home"
That evening, Nellie was tripping home
with her empty little baskets strung around