Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-07

Lucy's heart was aching and her eyes
were full of tears when she entered the
school-roOm, where an unusual sadness
seemed to prevail. School had been
in progress several minutes; but Lucy
did not mind that now. There was 8
vacant seat beside her own before Susie
Greyson's desk. A friendly hand had
laid thereon some rosebuds, pure and
white, and a black ribbon was tied,
where blue had been, around Susie's
case of books. As Lucy took her seat
and waited for the Scripture that she
would soon be called to read, she won
dered if Bennie disliked hervery much,
and if she had caused him as much un-
happiness as she endured to-day. 1t
was her turn to read now, and these
were the words that came to her, "But
whose shall offend one of these little
ones, which believe in Me, it were bet
ter for him that q milestone were
hanged about his neck and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea-"
Lucy did not comprehend that "of-
fend," in this instance, means to cause
to sin, nor that by ''little ones" the
Master refers, doubtless, to those weak
in faith; but she knew that Bennie was
a little one, and that she had offended
him, and felt sure that those Bible
truths were written purposely for her.
The day proved long and wearisome to
Lucy She had brought her dinner
with her; so there was no excuse for
returning home st noon, as she wished
to do. The words of the verse she had
read in the morning were so constantly
in her mind that there seemed little
room for ANYTHING else, and Lucy car
ried imperfectly-learned lessons to the
recitation bench several times that day.
As soon as school was dismissed, the
unhappy girl hurried home. As she
came in sight of the house, DIR. Pier
sons carriage was driving from the
gate, and Lucy believed that her worst
fears were soon to be confirmed.
"Bennie was sick-dead, perhaps"
she said to herself, as she fairly flew up
the path that led to the kitchen door.
Her mother was in tie sitting room,
sewing busily, when Lucy enteredi and
Beunie lay on lounge in the same
room, asleep.
"Oh! mother, Benuie is not dead, is
hep Is he very sickP'
Mrs. Reynolds looked up from her
sewing in surprise.
"Why, saw the doctor, mother"
Lucy explained, sitting down on the
floor at her parents feet and bursting
into tears, "and thought-'Oh! 1 am
so sorry for my cross words this morn
ing, mother"
%My poor ehildp' said Mrs. Rey-
nolds, compassionately, smoothing
tenderly her daughters brown hair.
"The doctor called toleave some drops
for Johns cold. Bennie is quite well.
If my little girl is truly sorry for her
petulance this morning, l am very
thankful"
"Oh! 1 am sorry," Lucy sobbed.
land 1 was So afraid that Bennie
would die without knowing that. Do
you know, mother" Lucy wiped her
eyes and spoke softly, as she looked up
in her mothers face, "Susie GTeyson's
little brother Will is deadP"
eyes, l know; and think that Susie
has always been so kind to her little
brother that she need not shed many
regretful tears"
"Do you suppose that I'll ever learn
to be good, like Susie, motherp Ilove
John and Bennie dearly; but when Pm
cross and angry 1 say so many hateful
things. Oh! mother!"
Lucy again burst into tears. Bennie
awoke now, and looked at his sister in
astonishment. Lucy sprang to her
fees, ran to the lounge, and, throwing
L - II
she was livery, very sorry," that she
had been so cross.
Woa't Bennie forgive Lucy" she
IF sister will try and never be
in9''
ank into q sBfsof stups eyes and raised
7hich lasted some mini. y loSys, With
broke silence with IA IS re-
er tnoS,sieags Nss-sl we, as
n side for the sugar cam