The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-06
Ghilarrn's Column.
For the Central Presbyterian.
Jessie's Besetting Sin
COwardice.

entered in mammals book IN sorry
l ever began to try, everybody knows l
am coward, as | am afraid of whip
ping and scolding too. There's no
chance of my winning the prize, yet it
matter If | do fail
Yes, Jessie was coward, and being in
her thirteenth year, it was time she had
In some measure overcome such defect
in her character. Timid and shrinking
by nature, she was afraid OF being alone,
afraid of darkness, and when forced to 90
alone in any part of the house where
there was no light, she would always run
up stairs singing.
Saucy Tom would then say, lust list
en- to Jess how she is singing tor COM
pany. | know she is in mortal terror. ="
But this was not the worst OF it. Jessie
was also a moral coward. Do you know
what that means children? If you do
any thing wrong, either accidentally or
purposely, and are afraid to confess it.
you are moral coward But these two
defects do not always 90 hind in hand
for | have heard of soldiers who were
brave in battle and could bear any
amount of pain, yet afraid to confess
themselves in the wrong.
Jessies besetting sin was source OF
much grief to Mrs. Leslie, who had en-
deavored for years to check its growth
All children, If you could only feel and
know how much sorrow your bad habits
and unframed wills cause your parents
and friends, you would, am sure, try to
do better. But day after day it is the
same thing, line upon line, precept upon
precept,' until the weary mother, il it
were not for her trust in God, would
utterly faint beneath the trials and dis
couragements of motherhood. Remem.
Der little ones, in all this world you can
have but one mother; then love, obey
and cherish her accordingly.
But to return to our Jessie She found
the school girls in high state of excite
ment. Miss Roberts had discovered that
some one had upset bottle of ink on
her desk and the black substance had
ruined more than one book of the teach
er's.
There comes Jessie Leslie, perhaps
she knows something about it" said one
of the girls
You know Jess you are always get
ting into scrapes and afraid to tell, come,
own upr'
All this was said in laughing, teas
ing manner.
For shame, Marian Taylor" ex-
claimed chorus of voices, you did it
yourself no doubt
Jessie began most indignant denial,
but as she quietly took her seat the
,cl Il l. Il L
had been accidentally guilty of the deed.
For in her hurry to snatch up her gold
pencil, which Miss Roberts had borrowed
she may have upset the inkstand, as she
now remembered that something caught
In her shawl, on the desk, but being in a
great hurry the evening before, she had
not stopped to look. Should she tell ?
No one knew, no one suspected her, and
was she sure she had done the deed her
self. Yes she was sure, for now she
thought Of the spots of ink on her shawl
and dress, which she had discovered on
reaching home. A mighty struggle was
going on in that little girls heart, which
would gain the victory the right or the
wrong, Conscience whispered, tell the
truth, it was only an accident and Miss
ISooeICS Will excuse you. NOW Is Jne
time to overcome your besetting sin, u
and remember your mother put every
one on their honor
But on the other hand, the tempter
said, don't tell, what good will it do
all the girls will laugh at you, and Ma
rian Taylor will be sure to say, told
you Sc. There is no sense in making
such a commotion over such silly thing. u
Jessie had been so lost in thought she
did not hear any of Miss Roberts short
speech until her own name reached her
bewildered ears. Jessie Leslie" her
teacher was asking in clear voice, do
you known anything of this upset p
Jessie looked up frightened, and as she
met the steady gaze of the eyes bent on
her, she would have given worlds to have
had the moral courage to answer, Y es
ma am;" but the adversary triumphed
and q low mo" was the answer.
A look Of sorrow aud vexation passed
over Miss Roberts face, as she added
l regret this should have happened
My handsome copy of Natural History is
completely ruined, but that is small
matter in comparison to the deceit which
is being practised on me, and the wick
edness also in the sight of God The
child who did it has my full forgiveness
if she will only confess. 1t is not toe
late, my dear girls, to tell the truth, q