Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-22
Mary Herbert's Cross.

Let us never mind the SCOTS nor the frowns o
| the world,
1t will only make the crown the brighter t.
shine,
When we have the crown to wear.
So sang Mary Herbert, as she tied or
her warm hood, and took her school
books from the table. Her good-morn.
ing kiss had been given, but she linger-
ed to to say another parting word to her
mother.
"You know, mother, Kittie Cum
mings and [ are to stay all night at Til
lie Scott's. won't be homs.till to. NOR
row afternoon"
"Yes, dear-what is your text to-day
You want to carry it with you to Tillie
Scott's, for talisman."
ut is the verse which was our PASTORS
text last Sabbath morning. If any man
will come after me, let him deny him
self and take up his cross and follow
me- But, mother, have not had a
cross to bear yet. never felt so truly
happy in my life, as since have been a
Christian"
"You have received nothing but en-
couragement so tar, my child. Trials of
faith must come, however. Few Chris
tians go through life without bearing q
OAooo' tooiACtiLlCS IL 10 liSul, SOIuStlucS
heavy, but our Master bent beneath the
weight of his cross, and we too must
bear it. The cross before the crown,
Mary"
Mary went thoughtfully to school
She was a young Christian, and had
been but a little time member of the
church. In the ardor of her first love
how should she look upon anything
that her Saviour sent as cross
After school she and Kittie accompa-
MED Tillie Scott to her beautiful home.
They spent happy afternoon and even
ing together, and after preparing their
lessons for the next day, at Mrs. Scott's
request they played in turn upon the
piano, and sang some of their school
melodies. When the clock struck ten.
Tillie took ker friendsto their room. and
school girl like, they sat down and had
another long talk together. At last.
Kitty proposed that they should retire.
and she and Tillie, standing before the
long mirror, began to unbraid their hair,
and brush it. Mary, in the meantime
sat still, trying to decide conflict which
was going on within. At home she al
ways read a chapter In the Bible before
she went to bed. But heryoung friends
evidently did not do this. Perhaps, they
would laugh at herI-how hard it ia to
be laughed at!
"Never mind it for one night " whis-
pered the tempter.
"Take up thy oross,n said cons cience
in louder tones.
Mary decided rightly. "Tillie,n sal
she will you lend me your Bible?n
Tillie stared moment in surprise.
and Kittie laughed and said:
"Now, Mary wants to show us sinners
how good she is! wonder if you read
your Bible at home"
Mary's cheek flushed, but she said
quietly, "Yes, Kittie, I read it and love
it,"
Tillie took from her drawer a beauti-
fully bound Bible, which she kept
wrapped up in tissue paper. She had
not learned how sweet it is to say, "Thy
word have 1 hid in my heart"
Mary read and prayed, and her soul
was full of joy, for she had won moral
victory.
One year after that, the girls again met
at Titles hoE1e. But this time they
read and prayed together. Tillie said,
with fearful eyes, "Mary, we both, un
der God, owe our conversion to your
faithfulness."
Dear readers, this trial of Mary Her
bert's may seem little to you, but it was
her first cross and she bore it by the
grace of God. Who among you will do
likewise?