The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-09
Ghildrrn's Column.
Amy's Lesson.
BY NJ. L. b. LAvELY.

rushed In from school, "p ease give me
some money to buy some worsted. Bes-
sic Brown is making lovely sofa cushion
and want to make one like it for Aunt
Julia"
Gently, gently, my daughter" said
Mrs Gordon. Don't be so excited. Let
MS understand the matter. Why don't
you finish the cushion you began as a
birthday present for your aunt?'
am tired of that, and this is a newer
and prettier pattern. Bessie will show
me how to start it, and l can give this to
auntie for Christmas gift"
What did you give her last year?"
Why, you know, | began a set of mats
for her, but l did not get them done in
time; and when Christmas came l was so
mortified because had not anything of
my own work to give her. So am more
anxious on that account to give her some
thing nice this year. Can't l begin the
cushion at once?"
Mrs. Gordon took her little girl by the
hand, and leading her upstairs opened
drawer in which was a perfect medley of
unfinished articles. There were the mats,
almost done; pair of slippers for Mrs.
Gordon; a scarf for brother Frank;
toilet cushion for mamma; a needlebook
for grandma, and the despised sofa cush-
ion for aunt.
Now, said Mrs. Gordon, while Amy
looked aghast at the display, "wnen you
commenced these things, you were as en-
thuslastic as you now are about this new
sofa cushion; and yet YOU see not single
article is finished There has been a
great waste here of money, for the ma
terial cost several dollars; of time, for
there are good many hours among those
stitches; of patience, for that was needed
of skill, for the work is well done. And
what has 1t all amounted to? Not one
gift ready to be presented And on last
Christmas, If remember right, you were
very much ashamed that you had nothing
to give your friends who were so kind to
you. | would rather see you persevere
and accomplish some simple things, than
have you attempt elaborate work and
leave it unfinished. 1t is an error many
young girls make when they begin to do
fancy work. They are pleased with some
pretty pattern, and after they begin it
find it more difficult than they supposed,
grow weary of it and throw it aside for
the next notion But it is not only in
fancy work that have noticed your want
OF perseverance. 1t runs all through
your life; and if not conquered will ruin
your character. Your friends cannot de-
pend upon you. You remember the
blind woman, in whom you took such an
interest. You told her you would go and
read to her every day after school. You
did it for few days and then neglected
1T; and if others had not been more faith
full, poor Betty would have had lonely
time. But this is a long sermon, darling,
and L would not pain you so, did l not
want you to try and overcome this fault
now, while you are young. You cannot
accomplish anything in life without per-
severance. God has no reward for those
who grow weary in well doing"
Amy was sobbing as if her heart would
break. Mamma wisely let her alone.
Presently she raised her head from her
mother lap, and tossing back her curls,
exclaimed: 81 will try and persevere.
will finish the very next thing l begin"
"Well," said Mrs Gordon, q if you are
really in earnest about trying to cure
yourself of this fault, suppose you begin
right here. These things are all clean
and pretty. Some of them are nearly
done, too. What is the matter with these
slippers?"
"Oh, I got SO tired of that pattern
Those leaves look so stiff
think it very neat" replied her
mother, " and the colors are we'll selected.
If were you, would finish them first.
Do so and | will have them made up for
your papa. If you persevere, you can
finish every one Of these articles before
Christmas
Amy did persevere, and when the
Christmas tree yielded its fruit, every
member of the family was delighted by a
gift from her hands 1t was weary work
sometimes, for she was so tired of the
old things" She has made it rule ever
since to finish one thing before she com
mences another. The reform did not
cease here. She stopped to count the
cost before she promised to do anything,
and when she had promised she rarely
failed to perform. She is fast becoming
her mothers right hand in her works
Of charity, and the comfort of all her
friends who have found that she can now
be depended on.-PreS6yt71an Banner.
Drowning the Baby.