Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-10
Chilaren's department.
HOW GOD SPOKE TO JESS.


school.room, that warm, bright summer day
Charlie and Jess-"Jess, the children called
her for short. The name suited her =; she was
short herself; plump and rosy, and as bright
looking as one of the wild flowers which looked
up at her every day, as she passed through
the meadow, with her little bare feet.
1t had been so close and warm in the school
house and the Tiny breeze which began to
stir. among the trees was very pleasant to
the children.
"Jess," said Charlie, pulling some black
berries from the bushes by the roadside, there's
lots of 'em down in the Hollow!"
Lets go get em!" answered Jess, clapping
her two brown little hands together, Mother
likes em and we'll have some for her tea to
s'prise her"
"Jolly!" said Charlie, expressing his agree
ment in boy fashion.
swell, you stay here, and I'll slip in and
get pail, and III be so sly mother won't
guess any thing about it"
Charlie put him self astride the rail fence,
and sat whistliug contentedly, while Jess pat
tered in and secured the pail.
Mother was sewing, and just kissed her,
and told how hot it was, and said guessed
we'd stay out"
"Whats them ?" asked Charlie, as some
thing ratified in the pail, on Jesss arm.
"Cakes; mother said, Are you hungry
there's cakes in the pantry !! so | got some
for you and me-"
They ate the cakes as they went down to-
ward the Hollow.
And the wind in the trees blew more fresh,
and the shining blackberries nodded their
heads, as if to say, Come and pick u.s."
and Charlie and Jess began their work with
great zeal.
"It's pretty big pail" said Charlie, after
while.
"Yes but maybe if we get it full we'll have
blackberry pudding tomorrow" answered
Jess. Blackberry pudding's good, amt it,
Charle?"
81 bet youw Charles mouth watered,
and he picked faster than ever.
1t grew cooler, and a great cloud came up
and shut out the sun.
"That's good !" said Charlie, pushing back
his straw hat and letting the cool air fan his
face jess had long before let her sun bon
net fall back, and the sun and breeze had
both kissed her rosy cheeks.
Far of, over the mountain, the great cloud
grew blacker and blacker and the forked
lightning flashed out every few minutes but
the children did not see it with their heads
hidden among the blackberry bushes.
The wind rose higher and sounded like
great voices signing and moaning among the
trees.
"Why, I b'licve it's going to rain, Jess!!"
"It's more'n half full, said jess, looking
into the pail. "We can stay little longer; !;
'twont rain yet"
"It'll be so jolly to have the blackberry
pudding !" quoth Charlie, picking away a.
gain.
The wind made such noise in the trees
and bushes, that the children did not know
when the first sprinkle of rain came. Pres
emily the first sprinkle came, and presently
the sprinkle changed to sudden dash, which
caused them to look up in despair. Looking
up, they saw the lightning, too, and it was
coming nearer and nearer.
ooh, Charlie, whatll we do?'
"We'll get it worse if we try to 60 home; ;
let's stay under the trees"
"But the lightning, you know,-oh oh p
It flashed into their faces and heavy clap of
thunder made Jess almost cry.
ave might get killed !" suggested Charlie,
with very grave face. "How mad the
clouds look Just ;; as if they ''a"ted to hurt
Jess's lip quivered, but she did not say
anything.
Charlie set the pail of berries carefully un-
der bush, and then stood close by his sister
trying to talk very bravely, like boy who
wasn't bit afraid.
81 wish we had gone home, though! It's
so mean to be all wet. You'll be sopping,
Jess, and catch your death of cold, likely"
Jess did not pay much attention to this
cheerful remark, but uttered her little "oh p
at every clap of thunder, and clung to Char
| lies arm.
1t was fierce storm, but nothing did them
any harm except the rain, and by and by
they had courage enough to 60 and sit on
broad stone just at the edge of the field. The
clouds began to break after while, and the
rain softened to gentle patter, and Charlie
chatted away quite merrily. But Jess did
not speak much, until suddenly, right among
the clouds and just in midst Of the dying storm,
beautiful rainbow appeard.
"Oh, see,. Jess there's rainbow! amt it
bright"
Jess's cheeks, that had grown pale, flushed
gladly, and she looked steadily at the beauti-
full rainbow for a minute, without speaking.
Then, she turned to her brother with large
eyes full of earnest meaning
"There amt 'sham'd to be so afraid when
God is up there, putting His rainbow in the
clouds"
"Raiubows don't keep off the hurt" said
Charlie, laughing loudly, while a gentleman
walked by and stopped to look curiously at the
two wet children.
Jessie did not notice either one, but stood
looking up at the rainbow, with a thoughtful
face.
"It's just like hearing God speak" she said,
"'cause He said He'd put it there. Seems
as if he was speaking to me just now, and say
ing: Little girl, what made you so afraid of
my storm didn't I promise you p"
"Pshaw !! that was about the flood" answered
Charley, looking very wise. "You didn't
s'pose there was going to be another one; did
you ?"
Jess looked little puzzled. And then the
strange gentleman spoke:
"No; but she knows that the same God
who put the rainbow Of promise there, out of
love to His people, sees her among them and
loves and cares for her. Isn't that it ?"
Jess turned and looked glad at what the
stranger said.
II knew He'd take care of me" she said
Il forgot till saw the rainbow"
"That is just the way they all do my little
girl ; we forget, and get frightened, and,