The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-07-21

And what makes you SO happy? Can
you tell me the secret p
Mother says that we must be bright
and happy, because we have SO much to
be thankful for
Minnie looked at her in amazemeut.
SO much to be thankful for = thought
she, 'aud in their position How does
your mother support herself, child p
She takes in common sewing, miss.
Sometimes she sews half the night
Then what in the world has she to be
so very thankful for p she exclaimed /;
and silent self-reproach came stealing
up from her heart, that she had so often
murmured over some evil in her own lot,
which certainly seemed bright one in
comparison.
Nellie SMILED again swee:ly, as she
answered: Some people, as good as we
are, have no home, and have nothing
to eat. But mother aud I 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
potatoes every day, and on Sundays we
have meat Don't you think, miss, that
is something to be thankful for p she
asked simply.
A deeper tint glowed upon Minnie's
cheek: Yes, child she answered ner-
vously; and then foil, wed pause, dur
ing which she stored away in her heart,
like hidden treasure, the lesson which
Nellie had taught. her, and which was
re-persued often in after years, when
discomfort caused her to murmur at
some little cloud, real or imaginary,
that hung over her destiny. And she
thought within herself, 1T is your own
sunny heart, poor child, that robes the
world far in its own love lighted and
rose tinted atmosphere. You are hap
pier far than L may God forgive me =
Minnie Hamilton, beautiful girl OF
eighteen, was an only daughter, petted
and idolized by her parents. Indul
gence had injured, though it had not
spoiled her. So fully had each wish of
her heart gratifed from her birth, that
she regarded it as kid of privilege
peculiar to her condition, to murmur if
the slightest shadow came between her
aud the fulfilment of her most extrava-
CANT desires Poor Minnie - poor,
though abounding in riches. 'One
thing thou lackest, one thing which
wealth cannot purchase-the Joy of
sunny and couteuted heart.
Yet Minnie had noble qualities-gen-
etosity, aud active benevolence, with
strong moral and religious principles
One shadow, the shadow of discomfort,
clouded them all.
Nellie had put her little purse into
the pocket Of her apron; and now size
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 small
rent in her purse, and sitting down, she
emptied the money into her apron 10
examine it. AS she did SO, she discov-
cred among the '.fives" and tens gold
dollar, which had evidently been given
her by the first purchaser.
4 will go right back with it, thought
Nellie.
She waited, however, to re-arrange
her baskets, and while doing so, the
,empter came with evil thoughts, to test
her strength of principle.
why go back with it p said the wick
ID voice: perhaps the lady meant to
give it,
But do not KNOW that said the
,ender conscience of Nellie
well, you can do good with it, said
me voice, appealing artfully to her filial
owe, you can purchase something for
your mother; she works hard enough |
or all che has, and this will buy her
,eat dress to wear to church.
For a moment-only moment-Nel-
lie listened to the sinful suggestion, and
he thought how pleasant it would be
% carry a nice calico to dear mother,
md how pretty she would look in it
Perhaps, too, she could earn enough to-
lay to buy bonnet to match, and how
lappy that would make her =
But suddenly the smile died away on
Sellic's lip. Her step grew less light.
There was a weight at her heart. 1t
Fas the burden of a guilty thought
She had parleyed with Evil, and its
hadow was on her path it had dimmed
he happiness which innocence had hith.
rto bestowed.
And now, happily for little Nellie,
conscience, shat voice of God in the
oul.' came powerfully to her aid. It
ecalled wildly the pregious Sabbath
vening, when her mother sat with her
It the window, just as the sun was sink
ng, and after their scanty supper had
,een disposed of.
Nellie my darling, she said, as she
aid her head upon her knee, and smooth
ug back her dark bair, you could not
70 to Sunday school to-day because you
lad no shoes to wear. Perhaps we can