The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04
Ghildrrn's Column.
For the Central Presbyterian.
Eva's Subject.
BY CELIA NJ. WINSTON.

40. mamma, give me a subject for my
composition, motto or a striking pro-
verb" and Eva Jay rushed into her
mothers chamber in very noisy man
ner for a girl, throwing her school sach-
ell on the bed and her hat on the nearest
chair. miss Bryan says we must each
choose an old saw or phrase, which we
must explain and illustrate"
By this time the fretful, teething baby
whom Mrs Jay had just quoted after
hours of patient nursing, woke up and
began to cry.
Eva was Immediately penitent, and
came over to her mothers side, dropping
her gloves from her lap as she did So.
40, mamma, 1 am so sorry 1 did not
think about its being baby sleepy time,
for school closed so much earlier than
usual, and you know he has always fin
ished his nap when come home. Let
me take him..
Her mother shook her head, so she was
very quiet till Willy again fell into a
doze, when she explained about her com
position.
miss Bryan told us that we must all
try to write what we have seen, or expe-
rienced ourselves, and should like some
thing grand or pretty, something about
the blessedness of helping others, 1 do so
love to help other people. have thought
of Bear ye one another's burdens, but
you can tell me better one one that is
a proverb, cant you?
GA very suitable one, at least, one that
you can certainly illustrate from your
own daily experience would be line my
teacher often repeated to her careless
scholars; but it is not exactly what you
wish, fear"
"Tell me all about it, mamma. [ do
love to hear about your school days,
said Eva eagerly.
well, my dear, this teacher exempli-
fed your verse perfectly; we girls went
to her in all our troubles, from a snarl in
our fancy work or wish for her to take
US out shopping, to puzzling questions In
the dead languages or higher mathemat-
les; and the snarls vanished, the ques-
tions were answered, and all made bright
for us.
She never seemed to forget our most
trihing requests and wishes, even when
we forgot them afterwards ourselves, and
that was the puzzle to me. But one day,
after [ had forgotten one of her com
mands and caused her some trouble, upon
my excusing myself with the plea did
not think, she laid her hand on my
shoulder and said: 'Ah, my child, you
will find all through your life that evil
is wrought by want of thought as well as
want of heart words that strike me
more forcibly every day, and that taught
me her secret"
Eva looked disappointed when she
heard the motto; but her mother seeing
the look, answered it.
"That does not sound very lofty, does
it, daughter? Yet you could probably
write a composition upon it just from
one weeks observation, that would be
original and true, and long enough to
brighten Miss Bryan"
" Now you are giving me gentle lee
ture on carelessness, and making fun Of
me, mamma, instead of helping me about
my essay"
"No, I am in earnest, I believe that a
really good and original subject for an
essay"
They were interrupted Just then and
it was late in the evening before Eva re-
turned to her mothers room with very
red cheeks and an exhausted air, both
being explained by the fact that she had
helped Sallie to iron because she felt
sorry for her standing over the ironing
table all day. She had hardly finished
telling Mrs Jay, when her eye fell upon
several objects, her hat mashed cut of all
shape, pair of tattered and torn gloves,
and a great stain on the snowy counter
pane.
"Who did do this mischief? My hat
and gloves are ruined, and what is this
on the coupterpane p
Your hat was lying on the chair,
Tommy came in and in the darkness did
not see it, so he sat down on it the pup
py coming after him found your gloves
on the floor and evidently regarded them
as lawful prey; while your half-eaten
lunch rolled from your sachels mouth,
for you had it carelessly wrapped up and
the Jelly and butter made that stain.
Eva burst into tears-it was Just that
morning she had resolved to be so eco
nomical, not to purchase a new hat or
new gloves in the spring, and now -
Then the washing and ironing Of that
newly done up Counterpart would be
much more work for Sallie than what
she had saved her from by her little help,
besides the dreadful fact that the stain
might never come out.
At the supper table her father turned
- l. 49,. Oe cor~-o Tee