The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-02

allegation against her; and there was none
in my mind. My words simply expressed
the general truth that we all have weak
nesses, and included her in their applica-
ton. But she imagined that / referred
to some particular defect or fault, and
mail proof as sho was against words, they
had wounded her.
For a day or two, aunt Rachel remain
cd more sober than was her wont. L
knew the cause, but did not attempt to
remove from her mind any impression my
words had made. One day, about week
after, / said to her
"Aunt Rachel, saw Mary Lanes
mother, this morningp
"Ahg" The old lady looked up at me
inquiringly.
"I don't wonder your words hurt the
poor GIRL" l added.
"Why? What did I sayp quickly
asked Aunt Rachel. '~
"You said she was jilt."
"But | was only in jest, and she knew
it. 1t did not really mean anything
I'm surprised that Mary should be so fool
ish."
"You will not be surprised when you
know all" was my answer.
"AnG What all! I'm sure / wasn't ii
earnest. didn't mean to hurt the poor
girls feelings"
Nv aunt looked very much troubled.
"No one blames you aunt Rachel" sale
IL. Mary knows you didn't Intend
wounding her."
"But why should she take little wore
so much TO heart? 1t must have hao
more truth in it than | supposed"
"Did you know that Mary refused al
offer of marriage from Walter Green las
week y
"Why now! 1t can't be possible! Re
fused Walter Green?"
"Yes."
"They have been intimate for lonI
time"
"I know"
aShe certainly encouraged him."
al think it more than probable"
"Is it possible, then, that she did rea
; ly jilt the young man!" exclaimed aun
Rachel.
aThis has been said of her." / replied
"But, rs far as / can learn, she was rea
ly attached 10 him, and suffered grea
, pain in rejecting his offer. Wisely sh
; regarded marriage as the most importar
event of her life, aud refused to make {
> solemn contract with one in whose pril
ciples she had the fullest confidence"
But she ought not TO have encourat
ed Walter, if she did not intend MARI.
g inc him." said aunt Rachel with son
. warmth.
= "She encouraged him so long as 81
thought well of him. A close view J
S yealed points of character hidden by di
J tance. When she saw these her feeling
!, were already deeply involved. But, III
!. y a true woman, she turned from the pre-
!, ferred hand, even though, while in doll
q q so, her heart palpitated with pain
} There is nothing false about Mary Lar
10 10 She could no more trihe with lover tn
o' she could commit crime. Think, the
J, how almost impossible it would be
10 her to hear herself called, under existi
o. circumstances, even in sport, llt wit
out being hurt. Words sometimes ha
~ power TO hurt more than blows. DO y
~ not soc this now, aunt RachelT
y ooh yes, yes. see it; and l saw
before" said the old lady. "And in
g ture, will be moro careful of my wor
~, ~. 1t is pretty late in life to learn this less
W but we are never too old to learn
ur l Poor Mary 1t grieves me 10 think d
III | should have hurt her SO much"
oi Yes, words often have in them smf
~ ~ ing force, and we cannot bo too guart
We how we use them. "Think twice BET
III YOU speak once" is trite, but wise
ing. We teach it to our children v
w VI carefully but are too apt to forget tha
% - has not lost its application to oursel'