The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-02-18
gaaths' 9spartn
WRITING on SANE.
BY MRS. NJ. o. JOHNSON.

/
Carrie and. Frank were spendinr a
happy day by the seaside. me s,,u
shone on the crested waves, and there
was just breeze enough to temper its
heat. They rambled along the smooth,
glistening beach, gathering pretty peb-
bles and shells till they had filed their
little Indian baskets we, en- of bright
colored porcupine equills-scarlet, green.
yellow and blue. Then after dinner
they played in the clean, sparkling
sand, building forts and castles, and
writing with their fingers. They were
busy thus when their mother called to
them:
Children" she said, |" the tide is
coming in, and auntie and are Qoiug
farther up to sit and watch it You
may come now or play longer where
| you are, but keep near u.s.
Frank and Carrie by this time were
really tired, and it was very pleasant
to sit still while, listening to the
sound OF the waves As they rolled q
little farther up the shore every time,
TIL they had quite washed away the
children's letters.
YES" said their mother, when they
called her attention to it, "and there
are other things like that. Good reso-
lutions, generous impulses are too
otter written on sand, swept away by
the next wave of selfish pleasure or
care. Those that are fixed in right
deeds and gentle words are wrought
into the souls life, and remain for ever
like characters craven in the solid
rock. But some things we had far
better write in sand if we write them
at all. Can either of you tell me what
they are? ?r
81 guess you mean troubles" Frank
said.
YES, i'm part. Our troubles come
10 make us better and stronger, and
We can so Use them if We will. And
the little vexations and disappoint-
ments that crrlss our way we can meet
cheerfully and soon put aside if we are
living with an earnest purpose, real
desire to make Others happy But
what were you telling me day or two
ago, Carrie, about some of your school
mates ~
"Oh, / remember. L said / should
love Kitty Clyde dearly if she did not
have such teasing ways; and Anna
Clark is always kind and generous, too.
but she gets provoked so easily.p
" That's just like Fred Person.
chimed IN Frank. al should like him
first rate if it wasn't for that.n
Their mother smiled. "Do you see
what | mean now" she said. You
admit that, aside from these faults.
they are pleasant, lovable companions.
These are the things to write on sand.
to be overswept by waves of forgetful-
ness. Don't let them excite unkind
feelings in your hearts, but help your
friends by kindness and love to grow
better every day; never forget that
you have faults, and give to others the
same forbearance you would like to re-
ceive."
At tea-time the children were eager
to tell their father about their pleasant
time on the beach, and they did not
forget their mothers words. He lis
tened with pleased attention, and re-
marked to his wife,
hat reminds me of Mrs. Norton's
poem, Writing on Sand Dc YOU re-
collect it ~
Yes, very WELL" she replied; "I
thought of it today
What il it, father ?'' asked Carrie.
. Won't you read it to us, please?n
Her father went to the bookcase and
took out volume. The poem he read
is so beautiful you may like to read it
too. 1t would be we'll for us all to
take into heart and live the lesson it
contains