Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-21

deal with, and in reality just as bad as
| the coarser variety.
| remember once meeting two little
! sisters at a place of summer resort. For
convenience will call them Harriet and
Lucy. Everyone said: "What charm
ing, gentle girl Lucy isr' but hardly
person could be found to speak well of
poor Harriet. Lucy was always correct
/ and proper; she could play the piano and
| read some dramatic pieces with very
| good effect. Harriet was rather quick
tempered, laundering and impulsive. She
had no accomplishments, and was an IN
fortunate child, always meeting with &C
cidents. People did not svmpathize with
her troubles; but if Lucy so much as
scratched her finger she was petted and
condoled with.
My room happened to be next to the
one occupied by these two girls, and rs
the wall was thin without trying or wish
ing to listen, could not help finding out
that the sweet, correct, e.egant Lucy
made poor Harriet'S life burden to her.
She tormented her sister in her soft,
heartless voice, so that the other never
had her way in anything, but gave up to
Lucy when she ought to have resisted
and claimed her rights. Here there was
no virtue in giving up; and Harriet,
made miserable by Lucy's nagging and
sly willfulness, grew reckless, and hid
herself from those around her, while
Lucy got the credit of unusual sweetness
and amiability
| tell you this little story to show you
that one child ought not to yield to the
tyranny of another; that soft and gentle
manners do not always accompany
the best dispositions; and how much
cruel injustice can be done in families
by selfshness and obstinacy.
1t seems to me | hear some little girl
complaining that children are often
forced to give up when they do not
know the reason why-when, in fact
there can be no reason but the caprice
of their elders.
1t is very true that reason ought, if
possible, to be rendered when the de-
mand is made. But this cannot always
be done. In every family great deal
must be sacrificed to peace. The peace
of home is such a beautiful thing that
as soon as girl comes to reflect and
sees how much depends on giving up in
little things, if she is right-minded and
true hearted, she will be glad to do her
small part toward so lovely an end by
cheerful submission.
The big sister yields sometimes to the
little one; not because there is any right
or justice in it, but because the little
sister cannot understand these things,
and must be humored in order to be
kept quiet. The big sister is rewarded
by the compliment paid to her sense.
There are many ways of giving up or
appearing to do so; and / am sorry to
say that | have only seen few girl
who knew how to give up beautifully, so
that one admired them more in this act
than any other of their lives. Some sulk
and pout and make everyone about
them uncomfortable by their bad mode
of submission. / have seen girls who
yielded, but did it like an angry servant
who goes out of the house and slams the
door behind her.
We may submit in act but not i'll fact
The spirit has no lot or part IN such q
mode of giving up. The heart may be
very hard and stubborn while the body
yields to what is demanded. All the
good influences of giving up are thus
lost upon the life. Learn, dear girls, to
yield gracefully, for a submissive spirit
is alone acceptable unto God.-FTOna
AQgasta L0rnedS Talk With Girls.