The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-16
A LITTLE GIRLS SECRET.

TT1HE first day of the New Year, and
i the children were quarreling A
bad beginning
Alice, and Harriet, take your knit
tlngwork. John and Henry, you may
each bring nine armfuls of wood into
the wood she'd Mabel you may take
your slate and write, and / guess If, they
are let alone, the two babies will take
care of themselves. Now for half an
hour, let us have silence. If any body
speaks let 1t be in a whisper"
SO there was silence in the kitchen,
except the noise the mother made
with her pie-making and the occasional
prattle of the two babies. There was
generally good deal of noise at Num-
ber Thirteen and sometimes-pretty
often-it wasn't pleasant noise. The
children were all young, and all wanted
their own way. But they had learned
to mind their mother.
Little Mabel sat with her slate on her
knee, looking thoughtful. She wrote
and erased, and wrote again with much
pains. taking labor. AT last she seemed
satisfied, and going to her mother said,
In whisper:
s. May have little piece of white
paper and pencil ont of your draw er
l want to copy something"
What is it 2 let me see," said her
mother.
Mabel hesitated and blushed, but held 1t
up 10 her, saying, You wont tell, will
you, mother 7"
Her mother read It twice over: tears
gathered in her eyes.
You won't tell anybody, will you ?
entreated little Mabel.
"No, no, certainly not 1t shall be
little secret between you and me-"
She got q nice piece of paper, and
sharpened the pencil anew for the child,
although she was pie-making.
Mabel copied it very carefully, and
laid it away in the bottom of her hand
kerchief box, saying:
I" shall see 1t often there, and nobody
goes there but mother and 10
But 1t happened one day that Harriet
was sent to distribute the pile of clean
handkerchiefs from the ironing into the
different boxes, and as Mabels was
empty, she saw the writing. 1t was so
short that she took it in at glance
Resolved to Alwas spek pleasant when
Enybody speks eros.
MABEL FORD.
Somehow It fixed itself In Harriet's
mind ,and that evening she was busy with
pen and ink. The result was q writing
in Harriet's handkerchief-box, with q
resolution written more neatly, but the
same effect;
Resolved that I will try this year
to return pleasant words for cross ones.
HARRIET FORD.
1t made difference that was easy to
see, when two of the children began to
practice this resolution. There was less
of quarreling.
''That's mine You better mind
your own business !" said John to Har-
riet one day, when she took up his top
and was putting it in his drawer.
"But, John, mother wants me to clear
up the room,' said Harriet.
"Well want the top to stay there !"
said John, obstinately.
"Well, perhaps it's no matter. A
toy isn't much litter" said Harriet,
pleasantly.
John was fully prepared for a contest.
Pm afraid he would rather have one.
He stared. Then he looked ashamed.
Then he spoke.
"What made you say that, Harriet ?"
Harriet laughed and colored little.
"Tell me what made you ?" John
insisted.
:" Come here, and I'll show you,"
said she.
She took him to the clothes press,
where was row of pretty handker-
chief-boxes, each labelled.
She opened little Mabel's and took
out the clean, soft pile of handkerchiefs.
" Look there !" said she. John read.
"The good little thing She never
does quarrel, anyhow" +" said John.
$50 1 thought better put one in
mine, too" said Harriet, and showed
hers Youths Companions.