Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-18
now MABEL LEARyEp A LESSON.


q can't help feeling vexed at myself,
mother. almost knew auntie wouldn't
like it She's rich and has everything
pretty, and it was very silly of me to stitch
and stitch, just to send her present. I've
learned a lesson, anyway" and Mabel
dashed away some angry tears.
Hush, my child; that lesson Of i'll
temper is not the one for you to learn.
Just because auntie wrote TO me and did
not mention your gift, you have no right
to think her unkind. She has always been
good to you"
Yes | know it; always sending me
clothes and things, just as, suppose, she
sends them to beggars or children in a
mission school"
We'll, Mabel, am not surprised that
you are disappointed, for you did deny
yourself in order to send that gift y
I" Yes, | scrimped and saved and wore
my old gloves" interrupted Mabel.
And you did work very hard to en-
broider the table-eover"
Yes; and now she don't think its
worth Z civil thank YOU"
But YOU did not do it for thanks.
thought you did it to show You loved her
and appreciated all her kindness to US all.
Remember, brother never could have gone
to college but for his aunt"
Z" Yes, mother, did do it for love-" said
Mabel, slightly soltened "and often when
| worked ut it | was very happy; and it
was 80 pretty, those lovely apple blossoms
on the green. But don't eare-I don't
care at all. She has taught me a lesson"
." am sure YOU are all wrong, my
md a.
can't understand why she has taken no
notice Of your gift: but | think we shall
have to leave all that We haven't any
thing to do with the way she receives il,
only with the spirit in which you gave it.
That was \ spirit of love. Don't spoil it
all now by bringing in a spirit of anger
and pride"
Mabel dropped her eyes, already little
ashamed Of her outbreak, and turned back
10 the Lesson she had been studying when
her mother came in with the letter from
her auntie. The day was fine, and her
brother Alfred was home for short vaca-
ton, and hardly had she fixed her atten-
ton again upon her book when his whistle
under the window called her
Halo, sister; we are off to the skating
pond, Bob and Tom and myself. Don't
you want to go"
No, Fred, don't care to GO"
Oh, yes, do come. 1t will be fun: the
first skating Of the season"
Now, if there was any sport in the world
that Mabel loved ii was skating, and, Above
all things, 10 skate with brother Fred but
her old skates were too small, and she re-
membered with bitterness that the money
that would have bought new ones had been
put into the present for her rich and I'M
grateful aunt. But she drove back the
angry tears; she would not have Fred see
her cry, and only shook her head at HIM
Better come. No? Well, if YOU won't,
Just get my gloves out of the pocket of my
overcoat and toss them ont Of the win
dow"
Mabel ran across the hall to Alfreds
room, felt in the pocket for the gloves, and
drew forth with them letter in her aunt's
handwriting and addressed to Fred She
took it along.
Fred, Fred; here's letter from auntie.
Youi didn't tell me You had one
No, didn't, and don't want you to
read it. It's only for me-"
Quick as flash she threw ont the gloves
and the letter too, and shut the window
with a bang.
"Whewp' said Alfred. Whats the
matter with the girl21 And after whistle
or two, to which she did not respond, away
he Went to the pond
Poor Mabel Here was another blow |!
Aunt Kate could write to mother and
Fred, but not a word for her She felt
like martyr, and for some time, am
ashamed to say, she frowned and sulked :;
but by and by better thoughts began to