Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-31

! ing her conscience void of ohense and
her heart pure and loving. But the
! dreadful sentences had sunk deep into
! Bessic's sensitive soul; and she found it
hard even to ask God to help her to be
calm and gentle.
Glow dare she speak so of mymother?
| How dare she?" muttered Bessie Just
then the kitchen door opened and Aunt
Ierusha entered, all out of breath, Aunt
Jerusha was an aged Quaker lady, who
lived in a small cottage about quarter
of mile from the home of the Muir
docks. She had evidently walked very
fast, and was laboring under considera-
bic excitement.
elias thee seen anything of my cat,
Bessie?" was her first question.
"No, Auntie,n said Bessie, smiling
through her tears, 81 hope you haven't
lost him"
Aunt Jerusha's cat was her only com
panion, and was a big Maltese animal
that one Of her sons had brought her
from over the ses. Some of the boys in
the neighborhood, knowing how fond the
old lady was of this pet, took every OPP
pOrtunity to annoy her by stealing it and
carrying it great distance out Of town.
and then leaving it to die or get back
Just as the poor creature was best able.
Tom had nturned safe from innumera-
BILE excursions of this kind, and might
perm, Ds from this, AuntJerus ha thought,
but the poor old woman had good deal
of doubt about it. The circumstances
were unusually aggravating. One Of the
neighbors had seen Tom in the hands of
Hal Murdoch, Mrs. Murdock's eldest son !;
and as he was terror to the whole vii
lage, the case looked dubious. Aunt
Jerusha told Bessie all about it; and
Bessie promised if she saw the cat or
heard anything of him to let Aunt
Jerusha know Immediately.
"Thee has been crying, little girl
said the loving old lady. as it because
thee has so much to do, dear?"
"No, Aunt Jerusha," answered Bessie.
{" | want to 90 to school | don't care so
much about the work, but can't bear to
think that | must grow up poor, good
for-nothing, ignorant girl" And now
Bessie was driving back the tears again.
"Thee is both right and wrong this
morning, little girl" said Aunt Jerusha
Right because thee should desire TO
improve myself and should be deter
mined to use all the means in thy power to
accomplish it; but when thee sees that
all this don't amount to anything then
thee should try and remember that our
time isn't Gods time. Anything that is
right and noble we have perfect right
to strive after If we can't get it just
when we want it that don't signify that
we are never to get it, only that God
knows best. He hasn't forgotten thee,
dear. Scour thy knives and wash thy
dishes, and be sure that everything thee
undertakes to do thee does thrOughly,
never mind what it is. Be faithful over
a few things, Bessie, and all that is great
and good and true in thee will one day,
when thy Heavenly Father sees it is
time, be brought into the perfect light.
Bear and torbear, Eessie, but be
true to myself and thy honest con
victions. | was about to say even
if thee has to fight for it, although
fighting is not part Of our creed"
con! Aunt Jerusha, you have done me
so much good" exclaimed Bessie. q
never will be impatient and cross again,
never mind what happens"
ooh! yes, thee will. Don't make any
such promises" said Auntie, smiling.
The devil is a very willy old rascal, and
he creeps into very small places some
times. Remember, Bessie, if thee sees
anything of my eat thee is to let me
know right away"
Bessie reiterated her promise, and
Aunt Jerusha started for home, All the
rest of that day Bessie scrubbed, and
sang, and wheeled the baby, and washed
dishes; and Mrs Murdoch, who had not
recovered from the rumpus of the morn
ing looked on and wondered She
couldn't tell how girl with any spirit
land she knew Bessie did not lack SPIRIT
could so soon he good natured again.
Christmas had passed, and Bessie had
been quite overlooked. The Christmas
tree in the parlor had been loaded down
with presents for the young MuTdOCks,
but poor Bessie had had no part nor
share in these festivities. True, Mrs
Murdoch gave her an old alpaca dress
to cut and make over for herself; but
this was all And for this Bessie was
not in the least grateful. The next day
was New Years, and about as cold as
cold could be- Bcssie's poor little fin
gers were SO numb as She made the fire
in the kitchen stove that it was as much
as she could DO TO lay the sticks togeth-
or, but the child kept bgavcly on, say ing
over 70 herself Aunt JerushaS words
Of cheer which had done her so much
good the day before, and after
a litle was rewarded with bright fire
and comfortable room. What was that
queer sound Bessie heard every once in
awhile like something scratching and
clawing in the cellar below she listened
and finally opened half Of the huge out
side door and peered down into the
darkness beneath Just then came a
decided and pitiful mear, and Bessie
knew that Aunt Jerushas cat was down
there. Just then she heard the boys
coming downstairs and had only time to
get hack 10 the Kitchen before they