The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-03-19
NAMES RAIN DAY.
a LITTLE GIRL's LESSON N TRYING TO
Do AND BE Coop.

Name Clare was having n terrible strug-
gle with herself rather she had hardly
decided whether 1t was worth while TO
conquer her heart and her face, or to give
up to them and act just exactly as Size felt
What was the matter Why, that was
the very worst of it, Mamie didn't know +;
only it rained. A dull, drizz'y, dreary
rain, tkccping her at home from schoo',
and from sliding down hill on her new
sled, keeping her from every single thing
she wanted to do, or could do,-so she
thought.
Presently she heard her father moving
around i'll the stu 'y, and she hoppcd out
OF the great arm-chair where she had been
curled mp with her feet under her for the
last half hour, and ran down to him.
Papa she said, the minute she was
within speaking di>tahcc, " wish you
would tell me what to do, or help me
somchow feel dreadlully."
You do, said papa, kindly. 'Why
what's the matter, are you sick 7"
Not bit Of it, Mamie hadn't an ache
or a pain about her, and was obliged to
confess 1t.
'What then ? asked her father.
'Why, don't know, havn't thing TO
do, and | can't 90 ont OF the house. /
was going to do so mrny things to-day {;
| was going to try how very good could
be at school, AMI how much | could do
for other people, and now it's all spoiled.
Suppose you try how much you can
d. for other people, and how good you
C N he nj home I
Why. papa, there's nothing to do ,anl
nothing TO be good about
Don't YOU believe that.' said her
father. Heres this rain to be good
abou, in the first place, then here "..
'eauy 10 nave any amount OF things done
for me.
'What things, papa ?
% pleasant things. should like a
bright happy face to look at now and
then, and want to hear glad merry
voice around the house, instead of one
which is a little bl; sharp and cross
But, papa, these are such little bits Of
things, they aren't big enough to do, and
they don't make me feel as thongh l had
done anything, after all
Mr. Clare pushed the last book which
hid Ian in his way into its niche in the
library, then sat down to his work.
Mamie he said, speaking more gravcly
than he had done, what ought We to
want TO do right for-to please whomr
God said Mamie softly
Iiell, 80 you think God would be bet
ter pleased with me if | should leave this
sermon that I'm writing, and try 10 make
a butterfly ?
'Why, no, sir said Mamie with n
wondering laugh, 'of course not
'But. Mamie, it would be n great deal
more wonderful thing to make Luttsr-
fly than it would TO write sermon why
wouldn't it please God =
why because--' said Name. 'bc-
cause--why, papa, you couldn't do it,
no. said her father, Il couldn't. But
God has given me paper and pens AMI
ink, and he helps me TO study and think.
and write sermons, so that's my work
Well, now, Manic, Col has made it rain,
so you can't 60 to school and do your
great things, indeed lie hasn't given you
great things to do. You can't build n
house, but you can help to keep one very
bright; You cent make door, but you
can shut it softly, so it won't jar auniie's
aching head, an Col thinks more of the
softly than lie does of the door. Try it.
little daughter, for this one day; keep
on the watch every minute, ask God to
show you the bits of things TO say AMI do,
and see how many of them you can
gather for me by this evening.
Mamie went away in Thoughtful mood.
went M to her room, knet down by her
bed and said, please God, help me to
find very little things TO do, and TO like
to do them Then she went down stairs
prepared for the day, away down TO the
kitchen, stopping on her way to pick up
biz pin that shonc on the stairs Jane
in the kitchen was rolling up II bundle
for Widow Stores.
Il wish | had big pin,' she said,
looking up and down her waist, where no
pin was.
Here's one. Jane And Nanie's pin
went to lasten the roll that was to be
made into a new dress for little Susie
Storrs, Mamie wondering meantime,
whether that were one of the little bits of
things. Then she went to the window
and looked out, the rain was still pouring
down, and Lame John from over the way
was pl lshins along through the mud to
bring them a basket of potatoes. Manic
sprang to open the door and received in
turn bright smile and a Thank you,
little lady, from the lame old man. Jane
brought pan of apples from the cellar
and SAT down to peel them. Mamie
watched her
Jane she said at last, shall wipe
those apples ?
Jane locked up surprised. why,
Miss Mamie, | thought you didn't like TO
wipe apples because they stuck up your
fingers
Nanies checks grew rather pink at
this she had been asked to wiPc apples