The Princeton union., 1880-03-03
"CROSS PATCH"

aA gave Aoi, anu III sorry 10 say 1t was
appropriate. Helen was an interesting
girl in many ways; but cross from morn
ing till night, and though not in her
teens, crows feet already disfg ured her
brow. A voice originally sweet was fast
beccming shrill and discordant, and the
rosy lips, from habit Of poutlng, pro-
truded far too much for beauty.
She wondered why other girls were
greater favorites than herself; why her
mothers most intimate friends soon be-
came weary of and Indifferent toward her.
Some of these, ugly facts stared her in
the face every day. Still she never stopped
to reflect on the cause of such disagree
able effects, but fretteu, fumed and scold-
ed because everybody was having nicer
times than herself. ~
She had darling, blue-eyed sister,
golden-haired, sunny faced, with nature
so genial, and disposition so lovable,
her friends, young and old, called her
Sunbeam. A regular duty Of these two
sisters was to wash up the breakfast and
a-things each day, to relieve their moth
er, who was buraened with many cares,
but deprived herself of their assistance
at other times so that they might attend
school. One March morning, heavy
sleet covered the ground. After break
fast, as Eva was feeding the poultry,
Helen looked out Of the window and no.
ticed her sisters happy countenance as
she stood with her flock of white Leg
horns and Chillagongs around her, the
tamest eating crumbs from her hands.
Although a pretty sight, it reused
Helen's envy, and her cross spirit vented
itself in scolding: "You lazy girl! Out
there playing with those chickens! Come
right in to your work." Eva made no re-
ply; only continued to smile and scrape
the dish she held in her hand. This was
too much for "Cross Patch;' SO she crept
up behind Eva, and, jerking her by the
arm, exclaimed, "You naughty girl!
Why don't you come in when l call you?
The plate was shivered to atoms-a small
matter, however, compared with the &C.
cident that befell poor Eva; for she
slipped on the ice in such manner as to
dislocate her hip, and was carried into
the house shrieking with pain. A sur
geon was summoned, and all that love
and skill coulo devise was done for her
relief, but tor hours her suffering was in
tense. The deplorable accident finally
resulted in disease Of hip, by which
poor Eva was rendered a cripple for life.
You may ,est assured that Helen was
cured of scolding;a terrible cure, certain
ly, but a sure one. No one ever heard a
cross word escape her lips again, but
often tears filled her eyes, aud her perfect
; devotion to her injured sister was attested
by many delicate and loving attentions.
/ kol %ho
meadows for the earliest wild flowers
gathered baskets Of tiny rocks; shells,
lovely moses, ferns and lichens read and
sang to Eva; caressed her tenderly as if
trying (ah! so valnlyD to make amends
for past unkindness. Helen could never
be happy again. She wore sad face
> and her heart was sadder still, aching
' with bitter remorse and unavailing re-
!, grets. The neighbors and school chill.
!, dren dubbed together, and purchased a
comfortable invalid's chair for their lit
tie favorite, Eva, and during the pleasant
spring days Helen took a mournful pleas.
ure in wheeling her sister around the
yard under the lilacs, the rose bushes
the cherry and apple trees. Grateful
:, smiles were her sweet reward: for Eva's
was torgiving heart; and though daily
9 sufferer during the few years she lived
the little invalid was ever patient anc
= accomplishing: M
Persons often remarked, "What pity
, her bright young life should have beer
! thus overshadowed! They could not set
, that darker, invisible cloud which brood
ed over Helen's spirits, Helen's home
Helen's life; and all the sad result of {
needless display of ill-temper.
= Dear children, never scold! Never i'll
: treat brother or sister. You know moi
! the sorrow 1t may cause. "Be sunbeams,
! like Eva, it you would be loved, lovely
and happy. "Little children, love one
another. r."-OhristiG1a Observer.
! A Sharp Shine 'Em.Up.
| Thon S,1 ox,;+b puc,o11 thu oo%nr