Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-01-03
YOUTHS C0LuHN.


The true Story of a Dol.-A year
ago, q young girl one OF the teachers 10
q school in a great city, 6ade good, Dye
to the children and went home. Ihe
children laughed a great deal, and the
story went about how that Miss Nelly
was going to be married soon. and was
going home to learn to keep house.
Nelly was one of the merriest girls
in the world. In school or az home,
everybody tried to sit next to her, to
hear her laugh. Nobody was ever so
friendly or SO full of life, they said.
But she was not strong; and when she
went home instead of learning to keep
house, she grew thinner and weaker
day by day, while the doctors stood
helplessly looking on. The marriage
was put off again aud again. At last
she could not leave her room. Yet still
people tried to come close to her; the
laugh was always ready on her lips,
and the big blue eyes grew more friend
ly with each fading day.
1t began to be noticed, however. that
she was anxious to sew or knit all the
time, to make something for little chill
dren-sOft, white little shirts, or baby 8
socks. In the city where she lived
there is hospital for sick children, in
which there are many memorial beds"
given as legacies by dying women, or
in remembrance of them by their
friends. Nelly had no money to eudow
q memorial bed, but her thoughta were
busy with the sick babies.
81 will dress q box of dolls" she said,
$50 that each can have one on Christ
mas morning"
They gave her the dolls, and scraps of
silk and lace. and she worked faithful
ly at it with her trembling fingers.
81 will have them ready" she would
say.
But it seemed as if she would not
have even one ready, she was forced so
often to lay it down. One September
night she was awake all night. and
made them wash and dress her and
give her her wOrk-bOx and scissors,
By noon the doll was dressed, and
she laid it down. smiling.
An hour or two latter, they told her
that the end was near. She kissed
them all good bye. Her face was that
of one who goes upon a pleasant jour
ney and holding her mothers hand,
she closed her eyes and went away.
There is the little doll, alone in its
box. / thought If each little girl who
reads this story would dress a doll and
send it to a poor child in some asylum
or hospital on Christmas morning, that
Nelly would surely know of it, and be
glad that she and her loving fancy had
not been fOrgOtteD.-St. Nicholas.
A touch of Pride.-It was a cold
night in the winter. The wind blew
and the snow was whirled furiOusly
about, seeking to hide itself beneath
clOaks and hoods, and in every hair of
those that were out. A distinguished
lecturer was to speak, and nOtwith-
standing the storm the villagers ven
tured forth to hear him. William An
nesly, buttOned up to his chin in his
thick overcOat, accompanied his moth
er. 1t was difficult to walk through
the new-fallen snow, against the pierre
ing wind, and William said to his
Couldn't you walk more easily if
you took my armf"
perhaps | could" his mother re-
piled, as she put her arm through his
and drew up as close as possible 10 him.
Together they breasted the storm, the
and the boy who had once been
cdTIlcu III hcT dIius, Dut "uo uao ho"
grown up SO tall that she could lean on
had not walked far before
he said to her:
IL am very proud tonight" !
Proud that you can take care of
mefn
"This is the first time you have lean
ed on me- said the happy boy.
There will be few hours in that
child's life of more exalted pleasure
than he enjoyed that evening even if
be should live to an old age, and
should in his manhood lovingly pro-
vide for her who watched over him in
helpless infancy. 1t was noble pride
hat made his mother love him, if pos
,ible, more than ever, and made her
pray for him with more earnestness,
thankful for his devoted love, and
hopeful for his future. There is no
more beautiful sight than affectionate,
devoted, obedient children. / am sure
hat He who commanded children to
heir father and their mother must |
ook upon such with pleasure. May !
lie bless every boy whose heart is filled |
With ambition to be a blessing and a
staff to his mother.