Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-15
UNGRATEFuL CHILDREN.
A Beautiful and Pointed story.

Jacob Abbott, In his Hoaryhead, a vol
ume published a quarter Of q century ago
tells for one Of his illustrations, the story
Of poor widow and her son Gilbert, 1
boy about ten years old, who lived in 4
solitary log cabin among the hills. Gil
bert is not a very bad boy, bat needless
aud somewhat neglectful Of his mother
. On q certain day in winter he lOiters on
his way home till dark. His mother has
I done work for him. He eats his supper,
I lies down hy the fire and sleeps. She
( puts bear skin and a pillow under him,
/ and ere he awakes, she almost finishes a
I pair Of mittens which she is knitting for
/ him in secret. Her strong desire to
awaken his gratitude leads her to show
] him her work, and he only seeks for
[ faults in it. Just after he climbs the lad
/ der to bed, belated traveller enters to
I inquire the way. He does not delay for
the night but accepts her offer Of a rich
bowl of bread and milk, for which she
viii accept no pay.
He then inquiries:
Is there no way that I can render
you any service? You seem detected and
sad. / have had some experience in
the world, and have seen q great many
troubles"
Encouraged by this, she told him what
troubled her mind when he came in, and
then, led on by his expressions Of kind
ness and sympathy, she unburthened
her heart to him. She told him how long
she had tried 20 win Gilbert's love, but
all ia vain. And she described to him
her efforts in detail, and their utter want
0fsuccess. " Iwould give all the world to
have him love me-but ne cares nothing
for me at all. Now what can l do ~
Is he idle and disobedient? ?" asked
the guest.
"Why, no, don't think he is, gene
rally. He does his work most days as
well as you could expect Of such a boy.
He helps me a good deal-but I don't
care much about that. He doesn't seem
to do it out Of regard to me. If he
should bring me home even a flower out
Of the woods, because he thought it
would please me, I should like it better
than all the work he does now from
morning till night.n
6 see said the traveller, "you want
his heart, not his cold, outward obedi-
ence"
Yes, sir" said she, that IS it ex-
actly."
The traveller paused a moment, look
ing into the fire, apparently lost in
thought He then said:
"When you make him presents, and
do him little kindnesses, how does he
receive them? Does he seem grateful
then ,"
No, sir, don't think he does. He
likes the present welI enough
and Is glad TO get it and use it, but then
don't see that he thinks anything about
its coming from me-
u fol o., 1-sr Il. "a
ure, but has no grateful feelings towards
the giver?"
81 Yes sir; and sometimes he murmurs
and complains when I have done the
best I could for him"
The traveller sat in silence again seve
raj minutes, lost in thought. He pres
emily turned round towards his hostess
and said
" Nou ask me what you shall do, and I |
cannot we'll tell you, unless ! ask you one /
or two questions about yourself, which /
perhaps it would not be proper for me to /
ask under other circumstances. If YOU /
had rather not answer them, do not hesi- |
tate 10 say so. Are YOU in the habit Of |
and evening prayero"
The mothers eye dropped. She looked 4
embarrassed, shook her head and finally |
answered
" No, sir"
do you read the Bible much ~
- No, sir, said she family; " we used /
to have Cne but it is almost worn out"
" And do you never read the Bible, and
pray secretly to God ~
" 1 used TO some, when 1 was young, 1
but not Of late years"
"Then there is nowno communication 1
Whatever between your soul and GOd9'
m a#a heH Il "a l.
" No Thanksgiving for his fav0rS-uO
love or affection returned for his good
leSs-nO desire 10 do anything TO please
him ~
The speaker paused at each inquiry.
but his hostess made no reply, and Vet
The expression Of hercoUntenance showed
That her feelings were not displeasure
that the questions were asked, but self
awakened by the answer that
her conscience gave.
" Perhaps" said the traveller, "I do
wrong TO press YOU with these inqdiries. |
am sure, after the kindness YOU have
shown me, / ought not to be uncivil or
rude. But the truth is, that your child
IS to you what you yourself are to your
parent above. All that you have done
10 win his love, God has done 10 win
yours; and your child's repulses of your
ii-etilon are exactly analogous 10 your
-epulses TO the love of God. We are as
Industrious and regular ia the perform
inCe OF duties as other persons are, but
ye da nothing for the sake Of pleasing
sod. We turn cold looks and language
% him. We take his gifts with a kind Of
'eltish qualification, bat with no feelings
II grateful affection for tbe giver-and
ike Gilbert, openly murmur
ana complain when God has done the
lest that He could have done for US.
Now, have not you been such 9 If 50,
'cU reap as you have soWed. Gilbert is
Al ungrateiul and an undutiful child.
ust like his mogher!i'