The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-06
Ghildrem's Column.
A Sweet-Brier Rose.

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girl whose name was Fatima. The home
folks called her by her pet name, Fay.
This young girl was fair of face, graceful
in manner and carriage, and, which is
better than either, was possessed of good
temper. 1t was not strange that her
parents dotted on her, her companions
enjoyed her society, and her social infe-
riors admired her. Being an only daugh-
ter, Fay was queen of the family circle
of six brothers who could see no fault or
blemish in their darling sister, excepting
Phil, the brother to whom she was dear
est of all. He could perceive, and per-
ceive it with pang defect that marred
the beauty and com leteness of an other
wise lovely character. He noticed it
first when his sister was but child in
years, and was asked by their father to
leave pretty toy with which she was
amusing herself for few moments, and
render him some trivial service which
would have occupied buS small portion
of her time, had she chosen to render the
service. But Fay had answered, smiling
ly to be sure, yet selfshly:
40 papa, this is too cunning to leave.
Please call Donald or Phil. They are
just in the next room"
And again, few days later, when her
mother called upon Fay to post letter
for her, the little maiden answered:
Please, mamma, the postman will be
around presently. Can't you give it to
him as well?"
Phil was studying his geometry lesson,
and was busily employed in drawing lines
and angles, and in computing distances,
but he laid down his dividers, and took
the letter without a word.
What good boy you are, Phil, 4"
laughed Fay as her brother returned to
his work "You don't mind being both
cred; but I can't endure to be disturbed
when I'm occupied with an interesting
story"
Aren't you afraid of becoming Just a
little bit selfish, Pet?" asked Phil, as he
stopped and kissed the sunny -tressed
brow of his beloved sister.
Fay smiled.
Are you afraid p she asked in reply.
&" l don't know, said Phil. al couldn t
bear to think that my precious little sis
ter was growing up to be a selfish girl,
own ease and pleasure beyond that of
any Others 1t would have pleased
mother if you had taken her letter just
now. 1t pleased you rather to go on
with your story, so you went on.
ooh, but Phil" cried Fay you took
the letter. Mamma didn't care who
took it, just so it got off in time"
Perhaps" said Phil "But I can
not help thinking that mother is better
pleased when the child she requests to
serve her does so willingly, than when
she hesitates or shows a distaste for the
service. 1t seems to me that we ought
cheerfully to serve one who is so tireless
in her labor for us"
That is true enough, Phil, return
ed Fay. with pretty blush, and l
ought-only somehow, [ don't think "
And as months passed into years
Fay's habit of not thinking only took
frmer hold. She didn't think" when
Aunt Bascom, who was quite lame and
feeble, begged her to take "a message to
her son at the other end of the village
and because of her thoughtlessness Fay
failed to carry the message and in con
sequence Aunt Bascom's son, a busy man
tied to his shop all day, did not learn
that his mother was in need of man to
split her wood and fill her shed with
fuel; and poor aunty was forced to hob
bic about the yard on her crutch and
gather up chips for her baking, until,
finding more thoughtful passer-by, she
sent the message that for two days she
had supposed was carried by Fatima
Neither had Fay any better excuse for
leaving poor Florence Merrill waiting in
the Library Hall all one Saturday morn
ing for her to bring back the book that
she had had out for two weeks, and that
she had promised to return on this par
ticular Saturday morning to the library,
so that Florence, who greatly desired the
volume, might take it at once, as soon as
it should be rechecked.
"Oh, how sorry am, she exclaimed,
as the dinner-bell aroused her from the
reverie into which she had fallen, after
closing the volume over which she had
been dawdling at odd moments for the
past fortnight. II promised to take
this book back this morning, so that
Florence could have it before she left
town. I didn't think that she had to
take the noon accommodation train on Sa-
turdays. Now, some one else will get it,
and poor Floy will be SO vexed"
1t was the same excuse that she had