Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-27
OF USE In THE WORLD.
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH,
Crash ! bang! jingle /! Jingle !

Inc noise alarmed the whole household, the
members thereof rushing excitedly into the
; room 10 ma Sadie, pale and frightened, stand
ing In the midst of demolished chair. frag-
ments OF earthen flower pots and broken glass.
nervously smoothing out her dress
swell, do declared" calculated Aunt Matil-
ia, a spinster sister of Mr.. Benson's, as She
surveyed the destruction through her spec
tacles. 'p00
"l'm real sorry, Aunty. I'm sure I did not
mean to break them" apologized Sadie, hum
bly,. A'--'
'Oh. no" answered Aunt Matilda. curt,v
holding crushed fuchsa tenderly in her hand:
chlldren never mean to do anything wrong
after the mlschef's been complished. You
ought to have been hurt as a punishment for
your inquisitiveness," she continued with EN-.
phasis. "The flower was blooming so beauti-
1uliy SO rapidly; and then consider the care
ana pride took i'll decorating the pot. the an
proprlate designs, the exquisite harmony of
color-all my labor gone to naught. Oh, dear
ING, me she Intercepted petulently, ''of what
use are children i'll the world anyway ?'
Remember, Matilda" quietly interposed
Mr.. Benson, "you were child"
yes. but unlike your children, John Benson,
was taught never to NEEDLE with things which
dla not belong to me, and you know it," she
reJolned sarcastically as she swept with an air
OF indignant disdain from the room.
1t was Sunday before Christmas, one of those
gloomy, monotonous days. with leaden clouds
noatins overhead, the biting wind bowling and
moaning through the streets, and driZZline
rain Scending steadily upon the earth, max.
ing everybody morose and cross and fretful.
In fact it was what children call ''keep in" day.
when they roam aimlessy from room to room
or are iulled to sleep by the pattering rain,
drops against the window-panes. And this
particular Sunday was .'keep in" day
with Sadie Benson, and it was W bile attempt
ing to move the flower stand that the misfor-
tune narrated overlook her.
ooh, my!" she YEARLY soiloquized, as she
stood gazing out of the window, after the ex-
element had subsidized, 81 wish the sun would
shine"
AS she turned away. an open Bible on the ia
BILE caught her notice. Picking it up she be-
gan to read, and coming presently to pas
sage which she did not clearly comprehend,
she hastened with the book to her mother. 1t
was this:
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down and shaken together,
and running over, shall en give into your bo-
SONS. For with the same measure that We
mete witha, it shall be measured to you again"
st. Luke iv, 3S.
"Well, Sadie" answered her mother, ..per-
haps I'm not competent to give you really in
teligent Interpretation, but maybe l can give
you an idea OF its meaning; that we should be
generous; that those who have an abundance
of everything should give to those who are
poor and needy; that what we give must be
given in free, unselish spirit; God repays
doubly, or in measure pressed down and run
ming over, in some unseen manner. 1t is not
benevolence to boast and tell the world what
you give and do for the poor. That is vanity
and Accommodation inspired by selfish mo-
tives, and God does not recognize such gifts as
true charity. What we give from the hand
must be prompted by clean, generous and
sympathetic heart"
sThank you, mamma" said Sadie, respect
fully, as her mother ceased speaking; 81 think
I understand now"
Mr.. Benson entered the room, lit cigar,
PICKED up the paper and, settling himself COM
fortably in his chair, gave himself over to
perusal OF the events OF the day.
Presently Sadie looked up from the Bible.
"Papa," she asked. fare you rich ?"
Mr. Benson looked up from his paper as he
answered:
"God has been good to me, daughter; He
has blessed us all with excellent health and
prospered me in all my undertakings"
"Yes, Sir, but papa" she continued, looking
him directly in the face, ''do you ever give
anything to the poor?'
An expression of sudden confusion crossed
his features. He seemed to sit uncomfortably,
and he shifted his position several times ere he
answered in somewhat abstract way:
swell, ycs-that is-sometimes.- But what
prompted that question ?" he inquired, gazing
at her curiously.
She read the verse over for him.
He made no reply at its conclusion, but
pulled away vigorously at his cigar and tried
to get interested in his reading. But some
how or other his mind wandered he could
concentrate his thoughts upon no one partcu-
lar object in the journal. His countenance
had relaxed into grave and sober expression.
He picked up his hat and went out into the
nipping air.
"Do ever give anything to the poor? IT'S
true I'm rich, but since I've acquired my
wealth there's something LETT undone. What is
it?' he mentally queried
Conscience whispered Give and it shall be
given unto YOU"
Christmas came at last, bright and crisp,
and the whole world seemed Joyous and glad.