The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-07-15

Nellie smiled again sweetly, as she
answered.: "Some people, as good as
we are, have no home, and nothing to
eat. But mother and have little
room to live in. She sings at her work
all day long, because she says, God is
good to us. We have bread and pota-
toes every day, and on Sunday we
have meat. Don't you think, miss,
that is something to be thankful for ?"
she asked simply.
A deeper tint glowed upon Minnie's
cheek. ayes, yes, child" she an
swered, nervously; and then followed
pause, during which she stored away
in her heart, like hidden treasure, the
lesson which Nellie had taught her,
and which was to be re-perused often
in after years, when discomfort caused
her to murmur at some little cloud, real
or imaginary, that hung over her des-
tiny. And she thought within herself
=" it is your own sunny heart, poor
child, that robes the world for you in
! its own love-lighted and rose-tinted
atmosphere. You are happier far than
1: may God forgive mel"
Minnie Hamilton, beautiful girl of
eighteen, was an only daughter, petted
and ido.ized by her parents. Indulg-
ence had injured, though it had not
spoiled her. So fully had every wish
of her heart been gratiied from her
birth, that she regarded it as kind of
privilege peculiar to her condition, to
murmur if the slightest shadow came
between her and the fulfllment of her
most extravagant desires. Poor Min
nie!-poor, though abounding in riches,
"One thing thou lackest," ,"-one thing
which wealth cannot purchase-the
JOY of a sunny and contented heart.
/ Yet Minnie had noble qualities: gen.
erosity and active benevolence, with
strong moral and religious principle.
One shadow, the shadow of discomfort,
clouded them all.
Nellie had put her little purse into
the pocket of her apron; and now, she
issued into the street again and recon-
menced her strawberry song, until she
was summoned by another customer
who purchased largely. As she was
about adding the payment she received
to her little store, she discovered a
small rent in her purse, and sitting
down, she emptied the money into her
apron to examine it. As she did so,
she discovered among the " fives" and
tens gold dollar, which had evidently
been given her by mistake by the first
purchaser.
81 will 90 right back with it,
thought Nellie.
She wanted, however to re-arrange
her baskets; and while doing so, a
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 1 do not knoac that" said the
tender conscience of Nellie.
"Well, you cdHR DO good with it"
said the voice, appealing tally to her
filial love: "you can purchase s0fnea~
thing for your mother. She works
hard enough for all she has, and this
will buy her a neat dress to wear to
church."
For moment-only moment
Nellie listened to the sinful suggestion,
and she thought "How pleasant it
would be to carry a 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 herr' But suddenly the smile
died away on Nellie's lip: her steps
grew less light. There was weight
at her heart. 1t was the burden of a
guilty thought. She had parleyed with
Evil, and its shadow was on her path.
1t had dimmed the happiness which
innocence had hitherto bestowed.
And now, happily for little Nellie,
conscience, 4" that voice of God in the
soul" came powerfully to her aid. 1t
recalled vividly the previous 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
smoothing back her dark hair, "you
could not go to the Sunday school to-
day, because you had no shoes to wear.
Perhaps we can earn pair before an
other Sabbath; but / will teach you
the commandments" Then Nellie re-
peated them after her. All were vivid
now to her memory; but especially,
and as if written in letters of fire, stood
forth the eighth
90 Thou shalt not stealp'
Nellie's heart sank within her. Had
she listened, and obeyed that evil voice,
whatmightshe have become-a breaker
Of Gods Holy Commandment! The
sin would have lain heavy upon her
soul; dimming the sunlight and weigh
ing down her buoyant, happy spirit.
And then her home would have been
changed to her. She would have de-
stroyed its peace, and her mothers
cheerful songs would have been hushed.
Nellie waited not moment; but terri
fed at her own thoughts, she rushed
back with speed of light, lest that evil
voice should speak again, and rested
not until she reached the home of Min
ME Hamilton.
" You made mistake, Miss. You
gave me this"-holding up the gold
dollar for a silver piece"