The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-06


both in flesh and feelings.
"Wouldnt kiss your hands!"' exclaimed
her listeners wondeyingly. "What do you
mean, Amy2 What queer ideal" :
Twas as much interested as either of
the children. and, peeping through the
vines clustering about the window, quite
safe from childish observation, ! listened
for Amys explanation.
"Mamma always kisses my hands
when they haven't been naughty, and it
is naughty to strike. That little girls
mamma won't kiss her hands tonight,
will she2" Amy's blue eyes looked up in
to the faces around her, and, full of won
derment at her words, tho sympathetic
children kissed and pitied her to her
hearts content. '-.~' 't.'.'''
Then went out and talked to the lit
one, with new respect for the pure mo-
Their whom more than ever desired to
know. evil you take me to your house
dear2' asked, offering my hand with
emile, and STOPPING to kiss the small
grieved face.
10! Mrs., cried the children in
chorus, what do you think! That Sal
lie Jones struck Amy real hard on her
arm and hand just because Amy didn't
want to walk with her! Wasn't it the
naeanest thingS"
agreed rather Indignantly that it qcas
the meanest thing, and then we walked
along the road to where Amy's. mother
lived. At my, suggestion the children
remained outside while made my long
intended call upon Mrs. Horton. After
awhile l repeated Amy's remark, and
asking pardon for curiosity, begged to
know more about the sweet idea. Mrs.
Horton laughed, but saw the glistcn Of
tears in her eyes as she replied:
MAY be 1 am foolish, Mrs.
but ever since my little one was given me
I have loved to kiss the little baby hands
as we'll as the baby lips. used
to lay the soft little pink palms uCon my
mouth and kiss them till my baby
laughed.
.sAs she grew older still kept up the
custom, and when night came and un-
dressing her I failed to kiss the little
hands, Amy knew that 1t was because they
were not quito clean from naughtiEess.
If they had been lifted in anger during
the day, if they had struck at nursie or q
little playmate, mamma could not kiss
them because they were not clean. And to
miss the kiss was very hard for my baby,
I assure you. 1t was tbs same with the
little lips. II a naughty word had escaped
them mean aciltullu naughty Words.
or if my little girl had not spoken quite
the truth during the day, 1 would not
kiss the lips; although l aIvays kissed
H. H.
ing her to 60 unAissed to bed. But she
cared more for kisses on hands and lips
than for anything else IN the world, I
believe; my loving little Amy! And
gradually the naughty ways were done
away with, and each MI ht my baby
would say, '1'ean hannics tonight,
mamma! Team hannics for oo to tiss!''
"And even ncw-though she is five
years ODD keep up a custom which she
has known from her birth, because
think it helps her t,y to be good, You
will laugh, maybe, Mrs. -, but l do
want my little girl to grow up pure and
can keep, by Gods help, the little hands,
lips and heart, clean, I think shall con-
tinue the custom until Army is old
enough to understand fully things too
hard for her has yet"
My own eyes were fearful when Mrs
Horizons sweet voice ceased, and envied
little Amy her beautiful young mothers
companionship. Did think It a foolish
idea? All, no indeed! But the truest,
swee' est custom in the world--kceping
her small hands clean for mammals good
night kiss; and that is why Sallie Jones
was not "paid in her own conn., as the
saying is. That is why the sweet lips
made no angry reply. Mammals kiss
was to precious thing to he given up for
the qualification Of one moment OF evil
speaking. Dear little ANY, -Na,y d
Brine, IN Vide-Aae0ke.