Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-03-04
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT
THE FACES WE MAKE.
nv RosELLA Rlor.

I
care OF them but their old grandmother.
! feel 80 sorry for such desolated housc.
holds thst Ike to visit them and say
something TO comfort and help the moth
erless ones
II is twenty eight years since my own
mother died, and we, five little CRYING
children, were left, oh so lonely, that even
now | never think of Il without shedding
tears.
remember how In those still summer
nights we would cuddlo together out on
the grass In the farthest corner OF the
dooryartl, oil closely together as brood
or ChivKons, and the poor urtiu ncads
! would tic In my lap, aud we would lookup
at the stars and talk Of our mother, and
creep closer together; and then the dear
baby would reach his chubby hands
heavenward and cry, Oh, mamma, mann
mat" so piteously that our hearts could
not contain their grief, and we would all
cry aloud, calling ON that beloved nance
This must be the reason why so lovo.
and sympathizo with motherless children.
! said to those little ones whom visit,
ed lately, Have you picture of your
mothers Iwould like to sec it. If you
have" trs
Tho Oldest girl said they had not--that
they always meant to have one taken some
|
neglected IL, and it never was DONE
"Why, yes, ais, we have mas picture"
said the child next older than the baby /;
and he jumped of my knee and ran TO
closet, and tumbled about among some old
papers and brought out ragged old geog.
raphy whirled the leaves with great
alacrity, and holding II up as high as his
head, came to me in triumph, saying,
There's our mas picture-that looks
'zactly like our ma nowl"
"Oh now, Teddy, IL don't look q bit like
her." said the oldest sister, blushing and
looking ashamed and grieved. gave her
glance sideways ms much as TO say, "Of
course 1t dop't but then let the little fell
low have 1t his own way-itsa a tritling
matter"
Now simple sweet little child Is not to
! be deceived in anything of this kind. |
knew there must be some resemblance TO
his mother in that picture, or he would not
have seen II so plainly.
Oh, the picture was such an ugly one /
| tho mouth was drawn down at the corners !;
and you know what true tale that tells
of dissatisfied, fretful, fault finding dis
position. lnever saw that kind of a mouth
belonging to healthy, happy, hearty,
contented person.
A handkerchief was bound about the
jaws as If for toothache, and the shoulders
were stopped, and the whole attitude was
everything but pleasant and agreeable
The dark brows were drawn down and
were scowling and repulsive.
This little incident made mo very sad
indeed. talked TO the children and told
them how to be good, and that they must
love and help and care for one another,
and not tempt each other TO anger THAT
if one was angry they must speak only the
soft answer that "turneth away wrath," !"
and by so doing they could help each other
TO be good. They listened at.entiyely, and
said, "We will" and the three smaller
ones held each others hands, and looked
up into my face as though theyswere treas
uring up every word that fell from my
lips.
My heart yearned over those lone little
denrs.
On inquiry, Learned that their mother
had been fretful scoldlng woman, i'm
patiently and easily excited 70 anger, and
that the picture in the old geography was
not at all unlike her, the eill.natured face be-
ing the true index TO her character Oh
what legacy to leave ones children was
the memory Of a scolding, whining, cross
llnother Our faces are TO our sopls what
the. Index page is to the book,
Don't let us make them ugly We
should not allow ourselves to be angry,
and our faces TO scowl and our brows to
draw down, because if we indulge in evil
passions, no matter how sweetIy We may
smile, and what honeyed words fall from
our lips, the truth is too plainly written in
our faces TO deceive any one very long at
a time. Ii is carved therein every feature
by a chisel that is welded by Hand that
never eTrs or makes mistakes SID
One time / went with lady to have
her little boys picture taken. He was a
handsome child, had soft blue eyes, fine
fresh complexion, long curly hair, and he
was dressed in new velvet suit with
dainty ruffles about his neck, and bosom,
and wrists, and we thought his picture
would be one of the finest ever taken.
His little dog went with us, and Eddie
said Princes picture should be taken sit
ting on his lap.
His mother said, "We'll see about it,
dcarie;" and all the time she meant that
no dogs picture should go with her boys,
but she had not the decision of character
to tell him 80. After Eddie was all fixed
nicely, with one little tat leg doubled up
in very natural childish posture, and his
hands fixed and little ringlets made TO fall
prettily at one side of his face and on his
forehead, the artist said, Now he is all
ready. think this will make fine pic.
ture."
az want my dog" called out Eddie.
"Oh no, dear the picture is TO send 10
Chicago 10 papa, and wen not have yours
and Princes taken together Lot Princy
be taken by himself" said the silly
mother, kissing him.
"No, win have my dog now see If
don't;" and he Strengthened both legs out
as stiiily as sticks, and tangled his curls,
and crumpled his rufiles, and changed into
one of the ugliest-looking little boys
ever did see.
"You shall not have your dog" said
his mother, angrily, shaking him all over
"Iwill, you ugly old thing, you" said
he, stamping furiously. Then came dis
graceful fight, and Eddie's fists were made
very round and solid, and he pounded his
mother and pulled the ties Of her new hat
and kicked, and behaved badly.
lam sorry TO say II, but the weak woman
yielded, and said, "Well, rather than moi
have the picture at all, guess il may be
taken With the dog on his hp."
I swell, there now, ha ha ~ said the
spoiled boy, as he drew = long, restful
breath of triumph, and looked at the art
} ist, and then at myself and at his mother,
who sat painting and smoothing her ruf,
neu plumAge,
Really, I did feel as though the little
termagant deserved TO be thrown from the
window, which was three stories high.
So the dog was curled down in his dap,
and his leg was tucked up again, and the
ringlets fixed, and he was coaxed 70 smile,
and the farce was gone through with but
10 me ali his beauty and sweetness and
innocence were gone forever. He was no
more pretty child or a COED little boy,
and was rather glad, too, when looked
ON the picture, that that grand old artist,
! the Sun, could not be wheedled or flatter-
ed, or made TO paint lie. The right roy
al old king told the truth, for under the
shallow smile lurked frown, Ia the ten
der blue eye that looked out 50 mildly
seemed hidden spirit Of evil, and the
sweet lips that parted slightly looked cold
and hard, and as bitter as when they
framed the cruel words. You old thlngl'
After the mar pad sken picture for
| the mother I uaQ I'm, ttaka a oopV of