Smyrna times., 1884-12-24
Of Use in the World.
A CHRISTMAS SKETCH.
bang jingle jingle

Crash bang jingle jingle!
The noise alarmed the whole house
hold, the members thereof rushing ex-
citedly into the room to find Sadie,
pale and frightened, standing in the
midst of a demolished chair, fragments
Of earthern hower-pots and broken
glass, nervously smoothing out her
dress.
"Wen, do dcclare.' calculated
Aunt Matilda, a spinster SISTER of Mr..
Benson's, as she surveyed the destruc-
tion through her spectacles.
I'm real sorry, Aunty. I'm sure l
did not mean to break them" apollo
gized Sadie, humbly.
"Oh, no." answered Aunt Matilda,
curtly, holding a crushed fuchsia ten
derly in her hand, " children never
mean to do anything wrong after the
mischef's been accomplished You
ought to have been hurt as punish
ment for your inqulsitiveness," she
continued with emphasis. THE flow
er was blooming so rapidly; and then
consider the care and pride took in
decorating the pot, the appropriate de-
signs, the exquisite harmony of color
all my labor gone to naught. Oh,
dear me !" she interrogated petulently
"of what use are children i'm the world
anyway ?"
Remember, Matilda" quietly in
terposed Mr. Benson, you were a
child"
eyes, but unlike your children,
John Benson; I was taught never to
meddle with things which did not be
long to me, and you know it," she re-
joined 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 floating overhead
the biting wind bowling and moaning
through the streets, and a drizzling
rain descending steadily upon the
earth, making everybody morose anC
cross and fretful. In fact it was wha
children call "keep in" day, wher
they roam aimlessly from room tC
room, or are lulled to sleep by the pat
tering rain drops against the window
panes. And this was particular " keel
in " day with Sadie Benson, and it wa
while attempting to move the hOwe
stand that the misfortune narrated
overlook her.
"Oh, my" she wearily solilOquized
as she stood gazing out of the window
after the excitement had subsided, "
wish the sun would shine"
As she turned away, an open Bibl
on the table caught her notice. Pick
ing it up she began to read, and coming
presently to a passage which she di
not clearly comprehend, she hastene
with the book TO her mother. 1t wa
this:
t "Give and it shall be given unit
2 you; good measure, pressed down an
. shaken together, and running owe
e shall men give into your bOsOms. FC
with the same measure that ye met
withal, it shall be measured to yO
s again. st. Luke iv, 38.
e "Well, Sadie, answered her mothe
. perhaps Pm not competent to giN
you a really intelligent Interpretation
I but maybe can give you an idea of i
! meaning; that we should be generOu
n that those who have an abundance
n everything should give to those WI
: are poor and needy; that what v
y give must be given in free, unselfi'
rs spirit; God repays dOubly, or in inca
ure pressed down and running owe
in some unseen manner. 1t is not b
- nevOlence to boast and tell the wOr
what you give and do for the poo
That is vanity and self-commendati
:, inspired by selfish motives, and G.
does not recognize such gifts as tr
charity. What we give from the hal
i must be prompted by clean, gem
GUS and sympathetic heart"
"Thank you, mamma" said Sad
respectfully, as her mother ceas
speaking; 81 think understand nov
Mr.. Benson entered the room, Ii
cigar, picked up the paper and, settli
ry. himself comfortably in his chair, ga
'S2 .S2 himself over to perusal of the evel
"a of the day.
a Presently Sadie looked up from
ay Bible
. Papa" she asked, "are you rich
ce. Mr.. Benson looked up from his pal
as he answered:
:. "God has been good to me, daul
= ter; He has blessed us all with exc
lent health and prospered me in
s. my undertakings.
eyes, sir, but papa" she cOntinu
looking him directly in the face, 4"
you ever give anything to the poor
An expression of sudden confusi