Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-22
'.Just Going To-

| 4toW, nCtner, ISn f1al TOO provoking lie
promised to take me strawberrying with him,
and now he's gone and left me- cried Jessie,
winking back her tears
| Our Hal broken his promisei'' Her moth
er looked as If she could hardly believe it,
by no, mother, L suppose not exactly. =
You see, nc said | might go, if | would be
| ready at two clock, and | was just going to
put on my things when he started off as hard
as he could run. There he is now, a long way
down the other side of the common she add
ed, with a little sob.
And 1t IS quartz. past two. Why didn't
you get ready In timer
going as soon as | finished Dolly's apron. But
Hal said the rest were waiting, and he could
not stop another minute"
And you can't blame him Jessie He had
no right to keep the other children waiting. any
more than you had to keep him. | am sorry
you have lost your afternoons pleasure Just be-
cause you were behind the time, but you can
DO nothing now but make the best of it, and
learn while you are just going to, your chance
may be just gone"
Jessie drew a deep sigh, and sat down to
console herself with book.
By-and-by, her mother put down her work,
and went out OF the room, saying, Jessie, dear,
look after the baby, and don let him go out
of your sight.
Baby took the china doll she gave to him,
tasted OF his head, pounded the floor with it,
as a cat would mouse. and then crept off on
an exploring expedition. Presently, Jessie
heard crash, and cry that made her heart
beat fast She rushed into the next room, and
there sat baby Dick on the floor, covered with
bits OF broken glass, and little stream of blood
running down his white forehead He had
pulled over and broken vase on his own head.
HIS screams soon brought their mother, and
while she was bathing the wound, Jessie stood
by, saying, Il had missed him, and was lust
going after him, when heard him cry. Poor
little Dick"
"lf you had only gone instead of mean
ing to, was the sober answer, she would have
been saved this sad wound"
When Jessie mother went up to bed with
her that night: she asked, Has this been
pleasant day to my little girl?'
No. mother, 1t has been the worst kind of
day. In the first place, | was late to school
this morning, and that put me out of humor
the whole forenoon; then | couldn't 90 with
Hal and worst Of all poor baby got hurt. Hasn't
it been day of misfortunes p
Aud every one of them has happened, be-
cause you We're just going to-, instead of doing
it.
Jessie unlaced her boots in silence At last.
she said; but never mean to be late
"Of course, you don't. But the mischief is,
my dear child, that you feel as if it was all we'll
enough as long as you are just going to- do
your duty. That is great mistake; Just
going to- amounts to nothing. Do it, don't
stop to mean to do it, and Mrs. Richmond
spoke so earnestly that Jessie looked up in her
face, and said ...
why, mother, what makes you care so
much about it? Do you think am so very
bad?
Her mother took her in her arms and an
swei ed
II am sick at heart, Jessie, because / am
afraid just going to will spoil your whole life.
1t chea.s you Of your pleasures, and hinders
your from your duties; and sometimes, Jessie,
| am dreadfully afraid when my darling comes
to Heavens gate at last, and her father asks,
My child, did you give your heart to me down
on the earth 2 my poor child, will have to say,
% Lord, | always meant; was gust going to
when the angel OF death took me away Then,
He would have to say, 'Inasmuch as We did it
not depart -
The last words sank to whisper, and Jessie
felt hot tears dropping on her head. She sank
on her knees and prayed earnestly, 80, Lord
Jesus, please cure me of my naughty faults
Make me do right the first minute, without
waiting to be just going to- Dear Heavenly
Father, take my heart now for Christs sake.
Amen 5eet