Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-09-29
EYES MISSIONARY. EXPERIENCE
BY MRS. ELIZABETH H. BALDWIN.

BY MRS. ELIZABETH II. BALDWIN.
Eve Mcdowell was very much like the
girls you and 4 know. She had her good
dsys and her bad days; when. If she~as
sewing, her thread was sure to snarl.
and, if she was playing. there would he
snarl in the play, too. 81 wouldn't be
such cross patelL" said her brother
Fred, to her one afternoon, when, after
getting beaten at croquet, she stumbled
over wicket. struck the nlallet against
her toes, and fell headforenlost OH one
of the balls Now. .itsno fun to have a
croquet-ball strike you on the head. So
Eve thought, and wound up her griev-
ances with what Fred called "a regular
howl" "I'm glad" said the provoking
boy, 81 amt girl. They haven't bit
of pluck, anyhow" And he looked
down at her, with his hands in his pock-
cts and his nose in the air, in snch a
contemptuous fashion that Eve felt she
was badly treated. She sat bolt upright.
! . .
and said, See here, Fredl" in such de-
termined manner that Fred looked, In
spite of himself. THAT isn't fair, and
you know it. Who made the biggest
fuss when we had onr teeth pulled, I'd
like to know? 1 wouldn't talk so much
about pluck; any way, not till had an
other pulled out, and showed it." And
the triumph shining in Ewes blue eyes
dried up the tears, for there wasn't a
ghost of one to be seen. rL5
Master Fred had the worst Of 1t, and
he knew it but, instead of "owning up
fair and square" he got very angry; lost
his temper, and his wits went with is.
"l wouldn't brag so much, Eve. if
were you. If there's anything l hate,
it's bringing up old scores against fell
low, just because you're caught your
seff.s q .sssl
"I'd like to know who's bringing up
old scores, and whc's mad Bow?" said
Eve, vindictively.
This amiable discussion might have
continued indefinitely. if Bridget had
not appeared upon the scene. Now,
Bridget was a character in her way, and
a person not to be trified with. Her
cookies and ginger-snaps were miracles,
of art, and her pies and puddings as
nearly perfect as pies and puddings can,
be. She had the balance of power, for,
when Bridget retired behind a cloud
there was famine of sweets most try
ing to the youthful stomach, and day
without cookies was day to be remem-
bered. They were very careful of Bridg-
cts feelings, for they found, to their
sorrow, goodies" were out of the ques-
tion with Bridget on the rampage. So,
when she stood in front of them. tbt y
listened with great respect to what she
had to say.
whats this yes quarrslin' about,
snappin' like wild tortles or lot O.
green dragons?" Bridget's knowledge
of natural history. though limited, was
no barrier to her eloquence. ais it a
Christian by ys are. a tain O. yer sis
ter; an'ishe answerin' back agin as sas-
Sy as a Inn run off her mist. It's meself
tlrat's ashamed o. Sc, showin' no more
manners than red lnjun or haythen
Chinee." And Bridget settled herself.
with her elbows on the fence, conscious
pf her dignity in acting judge and peace
maker at the sametimp. iaai'N Ziii'aff2
Now. to make it quite plain why Eve
was so hurt 1t, Bridget's calling her a
'haythen." must 60 back little. and
keep Bridget on the fence till We are
ready to listen again. Eve had Joined a
missionary society. She had put her
name down for five cents a nCnth, with
the privilege Of giving five more. if she
chose to deduct it from her weekly al
lowance, which was her main depend
ence for sweets at the corner st,:re. She
had felt wonderfully good On the strength
of it, and had givel i,tr elf such airs. in
consequences, that Fred had laughed a
necessary. Ewes missionary society
was sometimes a burden to her soul, for
she soon found that practice and profess
sion must be consistent to influence
those around US. At the second meet
ing she was elected treasurer, Whirh by
no means diminished the good opinion
she. entertained OF her virtues and 7eapa-
bilities. Holding Office did not .free her
from Fred's tormenting ways, who. SO
far from treating her with the respect
due her official capacity. made it the
stumbling-block over which she fell into
deep waters. 1t WAS such lovely thing
to be elected, and she felt SO cOmforta-
ble at the compliment paid her that her.
zeal for missions rose to fever heat, and
she, unfortunately, misto0k gratified
vanity for increase ofgrace. She would
show Fred what a remarkable sister he
had, to be chosen for this position. sspe-
cially since the said society had under
taken the education Of a heathen boy at
their own expense. Alaslfor good res
with vanity as the cornerstone. |
She fell, and great was the fall thereof. |
When Fred insisted the boy wasa 'frand,'
her zeal vanished, her temper got the |
best of her. and she fled to her room, a |
humiliated little girl, who WAS finding
out the truth. Goodness must begin |
inside of us, and he who governs his
temper is greater than he who rules a /
society. Eve went to her mother for
comfort and, while Mrs. M'Dowell pitt
ed her little girl, that she must learn
wisdom through being taught her own
weakness. she was glad the lesson came
thus early bitter though il was. But"
as she said to Eve, lyon are, in q meas
ure, responsible for the reputation of
that society with your brother, Remem-
Der, do not say it makes Fred the less
to blame; 1t doesn't lessen his sin; but it |
adds to yours, for you have placed your
self in a position where you cannot act
for yourself alone, even il you wanted
to. Your society will be to Fred Just
what you make it hateful as you are
hateful, lovely as you are loveable."
1T isn't fairP cried Eve. II cant
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