The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-30
CLEAN HANDS, PURE LIPS.

why DIDN'T you strike back, you
goosieP"
I paused in my sewing and looked
out unobserved upon a group of little
folks playing near my window. One
child was running away rapidly, the
others stood beside little Amy Horton,
who gazed ruefully at her own fat hand
and tried hard not to cry. Such a lit
Tie girl was Amy! The only child of a
young widow but lately moved into our
village.
Of Mrs. Horton, we, the people Of
R., knew, al yet, nothing, AVE that,
since by we usually Judge, she
was a lady in every respect, gentle,
quiet and refined. I had not yet given
myself the pleasure of calling upon the
new neighbor. Little Amy, however,
child-fashion, had soon grown familiar
with the children of the neighborhood,
and they had made q pet very quickly
of the sweet f~ive-year-old stranger.
What could be the trouble now, l
wondered, seeing Amy's flushed face
and catching the scowl on the brow Of
the questioner, who asked, "Why
didn't you strike back againpn
l listened for the answer with in
terest.
"CauSe-'cause-my mamma would
-wouldn't kiss my hands-if I-struck
anybodyr' sobbed the injured little
one, rubbing the red hand with the
other plump white one, evidently quite
hurt both in flesh and feelings.
Wouldn't kiss your hands!' ex-
claimed her listeners wonderingly.
What do you mean, AmyP What a
queer ideal"
l was as much interested as either of
the children, and, peeping through the
vines clustering about the window,
quite safe from childish observation, |
listened for Amy's 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 to-
night, will she" Amy's blue eyes
looked up into the faces around her,
and, full of wonderment at her words,
the sympathetic children kissed and
pitied her to her hearts content.
Then l went out and talked to the
little one, with a new respect for the
pure mother whom more than ever l
desired to know. "Will you take me
to your house, dearP' Iasked, offer
ing my hand with a smile, and stoop-
ing to kiss the small grieved face.
go! 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
meanest thingr'
I agreed rather Indignantly that it
was the meanest thing, and then we
walked along the pleasant road to
where Amy's mother lived. At my
suggestion the children remained out
side while l 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. Hor-
ton laughed, but I saw the glisten Of
tears in her eyes as she replied:
MAYBE l am foolish, Mrs. -;
but ever since my little one was given
me l have loved to kiss the little baby
hands as well as well as the baby lips.
l used to lay the soft little pink palms
upon my mouth and kiss them till my
baby laughed.
"As she grew older / still kept up
the custom. and when night came and
undressing her l failed to kiss the little
hands. Amy knew that it vas because
they were not quite clean from naugh-