Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-15
Ghilaren's department.
UNCLE RICHARDS STORY.

1t all up Tor 1un.
Uncle Richard shook his head with sad
smile, and putting his hands on the curly lit.
tie heads that nestled up to him, he said:
81 assure you, my darlings, | was very
selfish and self:indulgent boy; but I had a
terrible lesson once, and from that time l tried
hard to be mindful Of other peoples happi'
ness rather than my own"
won't you tell US about it, please p said
Bertie and Amy, eagerly; 1--WE do so love a
story"
lit is sad story, my children" replied
uncle Richard; "still, if you wish to hear it
you shall"
Bertie and Amy settled themselves com.
fortably on footstools, and uncle Richard
with an arm around each, began the follow,
ing short tale, which we tell in his own words
Did you ever hear me speak of my dear
sister Alice, who would have been your aunt
my pets, had she lived? Well she was seve'
raj years younger than I, and we were very
fond of each other. She could NOT bear to
be separated from me, and used to cry bitterly
when I went away to boarding school. But
when the holidays came, she was wild with
delight; she tried to accompany me in all my
long rambles, however weary she might be-
and when we were at home she never was SO
happy as when she could get me to sit beside
her, hold her hand, and talk to her. or tell
her story.
I am ashamed to confess, that as l grew
older this devotion and love rather provoked
me- My friends teased me and called me
Molly, and baby, because / was so much
with my sister and I was not man enough to
90 my own way without needing them. l was
foolishly afraid of being laughed at, and be-
gan to resent the love which exposed me to
ridicule, and deprived me- as thought, Of
the panionship of my own friends.
I grew selfish and unkind in behavior to
my poor little Alice, and she dropped and
pined and fretted until she became really
weak and i'll.
One cold winter afternoon came into the
room where she was sitting, and smile light.
ed her face as she held out her hand to me.
took it and sat down beside her, looking
into her pale face as did so.
"Dick," said she gently, won't you stay at
home with me this afternoon? [ don't feel
we'll, and I should so love to have YOU
had been very little with her of late, and
she seemed so anxious I should remain, that
felt could hardly refuse her so kept my
seat and began to tell her story, much to
her delight and amusement.
Just as I had got to the most interesting
part of my tale, the door opened, and in came
friend of mine Ned Westham.
"Ha, Dick !' said he, roughly, cat the same
old tricks again, see; I've come to get you
to 20 with lot of US to skate on Mr.. Grice's
pond. You needn't say you can't come, if
this is all you have to do" and he glanced
contemptuously at Alice, who was leaning
back on her pillow, and looking frightened
and anxious.
Alice did not speak, but her eyes we're fixed
pleadingly on my face she seemed so i'll and
weak that I had half mind to remain with
her but Ned spoke again, and 1 could not
bear the tone of ridicule in which he talked.
Then, too, thought of the smooth, broad
sheet of ice came to my mind, and the delight
Of skimning over it on my bright skates.
Chow much better than sitting here in this
pokey room,'' said to myself; "besides |
have been with Alice some time; she can't
say neglected her."
Then I turned to Ned. "Wait for me a
moment, and I'll 60 with you" Another
minute or two and I had started with my
companion for the pond, and had forgotten
all about my little sister.
On returning, as / reached our door, was
startled to see the doctors carriage standing
there.
"Who is i'll ?" asked l, of the servant who
let me in.
"Miss Alice" replied the girl. "She was
taken bad soon after you went out, and mis-
tress is very anxious about her."
I flung off my coat and cap and rushed into
the room where had left Alice. Only my
father was there; but he told me in a few
words of my sisters sudden Illness and spoke
so sadly and with such evident fear Of the
future that I felt quite crushed "Oh how
cruel and heartless I have been," l said to
myself bitterly enough, chow could I leave
her to-day for my own pleasure, when she
begged and prayed for me to stay with her.
How selfish have been, thinking only of my
own amusement and caring nothing for her.
Oh Alice Alice what have done what
shall 1 do if you die?"
Here uncle Richard paused for moment
and wiped his eyes. BERTHE and Amy were
both crying. "Don't cry, my children" said
he, "Alice did not die at least, not then, she
lived for some years after that illness, and
had ample opportunity to prove my repent.
ance, to conquer my selfish spirit, and, by
Gods help, to give my sweet little sister the
devotion she deserved. But suffered enough
while Alice lay, as it were, at the very gates
of death, to make me hope that neither of
you, my darlings, may ever need so severe a
lesson to cure your faults
So saying, uncle Richard kissed each little
upturned face and went away, leaving Bertie
and Amy sitting thoughtfully together. We
can't, of course, tell just what they were think
ing about, but one look at them would tell
plainly enough, that uncle Richards story
had not been in vain.-ChiLd's Companion.
He DID Ir!-Little Winnie was the life
of the household. From morning until night
she was as busy as bee, at her work or hel
play. Her bright eyes were always seeing
wonderful things, which brought her swift
feet to mamma, to unravel the mysteries
which her small experience in life did not
enable her to comprehend. She had not only
loving mother, but a wise one, who tried to
teach her little daughter to regard God as a
Father, and to remember that his eyes were
always upon her that it grieved him when
she did what was wrong, and that right beha-
vior was pleasing in his sight.
She had pleasant home; and in the large
garden were many fine fruit trees, which in
their season were laden with delicious fruits
One day when Winnie was about six years Of
age, a violent storm arose, which left the
ground strewn with unripe fruit. After the
storm had spent its fury she went out on the
verandah to look about She had been taught
that God rules the winds, and she listened in