Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-10-04
ELSIE AND HER MuR "a on,

LITTLE ELSIE AND HER MIRROR,
BY F. B. aat
CoME hither, little Edith, and have your
~ merry play,
And listen lsts, for moments space to all that
To story. not of fairy lfe with its marvels ever
But common, simple tale ofa little girl like
She was the daughter of a king-a little royal
With heart as gay as summer birds that sing
With scarce . passing thought to bring its tiny
need of care, Il, ef.l
And scarce neeting cloud to spread its gloom
DER aught SO fair. 't .z'
many teaching year, (
There were lessons, hard and easy, to reach her
infant ear; 1850 5.e41 eI
And days Of training and of care had yet awhile
Before the little royal child was ready for her
home. .'-.-., ss
Still was her heart happy one, with those who
Who taught her infant tongue to iisp.and infant
And the words they taught her first to read were
letters from the king. .......r
That she might learn her Fathers will in every
little thing. efs'#-.l Isa-Hs l-'rifi
They called, her little Elsie here, but cannot
What name she would be known by in the home
where she will dwell;
They call her little Elsie here-t was her Chris
To remind her of her Fathers love, and its never
= dying claim. 4 iia t rtt"t
Yet Elsie was not always good: she was just like
Who is passionate and hasty.-not gentle, loving
smi0 i. - -
And Elsie fanced, so she said, that she could moi
The difference between herself and what she
ought to be-.
Sometime, when she was naughty, she would fol
Forget His letters and His words, and scorn up
on them bring; we 81" z
And then her little heart would :ache when the
naughtiness was past,
And half-despalring thought would come OF
getting home at last.
But the good King, her Father, sent her moi
words alone,
He sent her these, with many line, to warn her
That She might come to Him at last in His royal
home one day. -i.f
But He gave her also for her own mirror bright
and clear,
Which showed her in reflection plain just how
That whatsoever She might do, whatever think
She might have little glass within which should
the truth display. 5la .s+af4 -s-f ..'- (
So, when Elsie heard word of praise, and her
heart beat warm and high,
And some needless look of fattery had not es-
The mirror told her just the worth of what she
SO much priced,
ity despised.
When Elsie's cheek with anger flushed, and
| words of temper came,
Provoked by some companions look, or by some
The mirror that she glanced at reminded of the
King. II
ant thing
When Elsie's little tongue refused the words OF
truth to tell, -,
And faiteringly She uttered it. although she
The mirror darkened over, as if her Fathers
Had dropped tear upon the glass to mark His
misery.
And ever at the night time, when Elsie went to
She looked upon her faithful glass, and every
And asked her Fathers tender love 10 cleanse
And make the G mirror Sr' He had given perfect
glass again.
Yet Elsie knew that even now, to be roya.
BY daily spots less frequently that glass must be
And that the marks, if suffered long upon the
Would tai tarnish ri G all the briliancy that made its
tTutHlui tc>ts
So every night the little girl drew water from
The only one, her Father said, whose streams
could cleansing bring;
Dyeing the many tinted spots in one full stream
ofblood.
And when the little girl Clay down to happy.
She knew her s Fathers watchful eye would faith
full ylglls keep;
in its crimson tide.
unfolded all her daily faults, yet showed a
Friend beside. i'
When morning dawned and sunshine kissed her
And daylight with its golden glow, came richly
DER the skies,
The little gin awoke at once, with all the birds
To sun herself in summer time through day
lights Joyful hours.
But first, before the thought of aught, of play
The mirror other Father must her first attention
And she asks Him in a childish voice, and with
To keep it true and clean and bright, with His
holy, watchful care.
And-'tis no fairy tale tell, or full of marvels
'Tis the story-just simple onc-of little girl
But whatever she had asked to have the mirror
There was less to Stain its briliisney when she
laid her down at night.
And OFT through the busy day, just when the
spot was seen,
1t faded, and the glass become clear as IL had
been:
And Elsie felt that every day was bringing her
more
To that Fathers love and tenderness-io the
childish heart so dear.
And If no fairies helped her through when things
We're going wrong,
1t VAS an outstretcheti hand more sure. a low
ing One more StrOngs
1t was her Fathers guiding eye, wherever She
may roam,
Conducting her, through many a path, straight
onward to her home.
And nos to Elsie's daily life tits time to say
For promised to tell You of a little girl like
ger past,
east.
But, little Edith. YOU and are children of the
King,
Not dwelling with Him yeton high, hut learn
ing everything
Learning His will that He has given in letters
| of His own,
That we may one day stand around His holy,
heavenly throne.
And, little Edith, you and Inave got a sense
Which whispers to us plainly OF every though,
| ofsin.
And tell US how we daily grieye tina, holy God
Our Father, who would have us all a gathered
| fold above.
So you and !. dear Edith, our conscience tain.
| will take,
And many null petition to Ged our Father
| make,
And every sin-spot wiped away, and every raul