Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-08-23
CHILDREN'S COLUMN
A Beautiful Secret.
BY C. j. C.

A Beautiful Secret. q
a,oaI aIo BY C. j. C. .- ...=t~ L
49, a. a.asa.s'
sHN96 ANNA said Jenny, as she
A8 she crept slowly into bed, one
,JS5w night in the long simmer va
ytS$ cation, .I'm so tired of doing
things over and over. just the same
oh $50 tired" snI s.''''''i'-s. sii
s.What can my little Jenny mean?H
asked her mother, in great surprise; and
she stopped half way in bending to give
that goodnight Kiss which always
seemed TO Jenny to bring her happy
dreams. - - i.G5is 80. .u..,...H44 ID
-lt'sWhy, it's nothing but play. play,
mamma, and the same thing always,
oyer and Over--first dolls, then playing
with kitty, then jumping rope, and then
dolls over again. / keep thinking all
day, What can; do that's .nice?' and
I've done everything there is. I'd
rather go to school--so there!'' ''-
r"And when you went to school, little
Jenny, you were always longing for va
cation, so that you could have more time
to play o,.i.... , .t,ue Der.
thing to pieces"
ssYou put me in mind of great con-
queror, DEAR said her mother. 81
want to tell you about him. He lived
in this world many years ago, in a
country long distance from here. He
was a rich and powerful king and had a
great many subjects under him. He
was young too, and brave, and greatly
loved, and had everything that he
longed for. But, though his own coun-
try was very beautiful and his own peo-
pie were very .wiso, this young king
spent his life in fighting battles and con-
guering all other nations about him. He
wassso great and strong that everything
yielded before him, and he swept down
great nations az. you would sweep down
the men on fathers chess-board. But,
after awhile, when they all were con-
quered, and his games, like yours, little
Jenny, we're played in pieces, this King
Alexander SIT down and cried because
there We're not some other worlds for
him to conquer" .t-el l.4aa pss-
Jenny listened with wide-opcn eyes.
'.Ohi how silly of him p' she cried.
.''fhis king aud yourself both made
the same mistake, little daughter; he
was trying to win glory and you ware
trying to win pleasures-aU Cor your-
selues. Now, it is an old saying, that
Pleasure runs away when you chase
her."
-"WelI. what can one do, mamma ?''
asked Jenny, wistfully. .i-.',3-s' -sflsll
81 will tell you secret for being hap
py, Jenny. \ Yon may try it tomorrow
and see Whether am right .oalils.r=. q.
''Oh. yes, mamma, will surely like
it," cried Jenny. .l,tl...e.. a..
.sYou know, dear, the Saviour says,
1T is more blessed to give than to re-
ceiye.' So, if persons should really try,
all the, while, to see how happy they
could make those aronnd them, they
would almost forget, in time, whether
they were happy themselves or not.
And if they do this--not only to please
other people, but, first of alb, to please
| the Lord--their hearts would feel like
Jenny's eyes grew large and wistful
| in the tirelight; she put up her two lit
| tie arms and wound them about her
| mothers neck. 81 am going to try, to-
| morrow she said. 81 want to be a
/ good girl and to love Jesus and do his
| will, but there's so much naughtiness
| away down in my heart" .,,.--e, 5..,..-
/ "He viii take it away if you ask him,
| dear, and show you every day how to
! serve him. s4sa-4a.l- ~, --y..l >-lll
| SAN my lite,'" said Jenny, softly, fall
ing, back in, the pillows. One little
prayer she said in ner heart. asking this
| thing of the Lord, and in two min
/ utes more all Jenny's busy thoughts
were wrapped in a dream. The stars
| came out one by one and looked down
quietly upon her, and tney are pleasant
watchers; but dearer watchers yet, are
Gods angels, who rejoice together when
one stsinner repentso and resolves to
enter the service of their King.
| The. sun was shining in the room
when Jenny awoke the next morning,
and the first thought that came to her
was of her new resolution and the new
service on which she had entered. She
was a little uncertain, at first, what she
should DO, until the thought came into
Eher mind---"Why, how happy mamma
would be If should get right up and
dress myself, instead OF being called six
times over and going down late TO break.
fast.'' .....t.. ..... -... .--
The moment this thought came to, her
l,Jenny~ was on her feet; and this hrs
effnrt brought its own re
ward. The morning air was SO fresl
l-and healthful that it seemed to put new
life into her for all the day, and tn,
birds were so happy that Jenny almos
Thought they. were holding jnbile'
concert over her own good resolutions
She dressed more quickly than she hat
Idone at any time since the morning o
her birthday party; then, before goins
i down stairs, she knelt and prayed, ad
ding prayer of her own to the one hel
mother had taught her: Dear Jesus
/ don't want to try to please myself al
the time, but other people, and The,
first. Please make me all Thy servan
to-day and all my life, and don't let m
\ get tired of it-for Jesus sake.' Sh
meant IL, too-every word of it. Whel
she went down stairs, breakfast wa
!; nearly ready, but the bell had not bcei
rung, and she went ont on the bacl
. stoop for Il breath of fresh air and t
see if the moss rosebud had opened.
''Oh! sister," cried little Willie, hail
ing her at the door, "give me just. on
, swing before prayers"
/ Yesterday morning, Jenny woul
! have said: "Oh! so swing yourself; il
: just as nice, ami must water my rose
bush''-which was very true; not onl
that, but she spied some ugly gree
hugs on one OF the stalks, which 81,
: would tar rather have destroyed at once
J But she answered cheerfully; "Oh yes
Willie dear, come along, and i'll swinj
: you away mp to touch the bfanches.'' -
u Willie ciapped his hands at that am
fairly danced for ioy-not SO much 9
: the promised pleasure Tor he oftc
touched the branches u dozen times
, day, as at the cheerful, ready Willing
5 ness in Jenny's voice. II made hin
feel as though his little sister loved hin
and took pleasure In making him happy
Don't yon know, if you ask any one yo
love to do Il thing ior you, and, and h
says, why, yes, dear, certainly.
e shall he real glad to tlo Il for you,"-
/ how much more comfort yoa take in Il,
l granting of your wish than Il ne ha
: answered Grossly, 'Dh. yes. ! suppos
mnst do it for you, hut don't ask vi
e asain:' The thing. that was done f