The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-06-18
Pleasing Not Himself.

L uOn Inlhk you OuBlJ 10 GalN
as if l were doing wrong, Helen
You know father has consented"
Ned Litton spoke in an injured
tone, looking down upon his sister
from his perch on the style.
The sunlight fiickered through
the leaves and the cool, salt breezes
from the sea played with Helen's
long, golden hair, but her sweet
face wore very sober and thought
full look.
81 didn't say just that, Ned"
mo; but you might just as well
have said it. What you did say
means the same thing. Now, just
look at 1t. Here l have longed to
60 TO sea ever since / can remem-
Der. And l hate SCHOOL, couldn' t
tell anybody how much. And now,
when there is such a chance for me
"a chance in thousand, Helen
with this Captain Letcher, who
is an old friend of fathers, and ia
ther has at last given me leave, you
must all the time be trying to make
me feel that | ought not to go.
thing it unkind of you, Helen-I re-
ally do. One would almost think
you begrudged me the pleasure.
"Ohs NedI'' said Helen, and her
blue eyes filed with tears.
Don't Nell dearp' said Ned, pa
tiently. 81 did not mean that.
But 1 don't believe you ever
guess what this thing is to
me. Why, 1 can't even look at that
schooner out yonder without feel
ing as if 1 could fly. It's the free
dom of it,. Nell, and the seeing
strange countries and people. Oh,
it must be gloriousP'
Dear Ned" said Helen gently,
''do not think it hard of me. But
1 can't help thinking of father. He
has given his consent, but l am
sure yeG can't know how much it has
cost him. You remember he has
had such plans for youths only
son. Ned! And can't help feel
ing, either, that he needs you more
than ever before. Father don't
complain of anything, but he isn't
so strong as usual. Haven't you
noticed how pale and tired he comes
home every night. Oh, Ned! if
anything should happen to father?
/ don't think it would be a small
thing for you to give up going,
but" her voice sank very low
seven Christ pleased net himself"
She turned away, walking slowly
up the path. Ned did not follow
her. Her last words ranked like
an arrow in his unwilling heart
He felt that a battle was before him
which he could fight out alone.
How hard was the struggle
only God and his heart knew, but
when it was ended such peace de-
scended upon the boy as he had
never before known.
Father" he said very quietly
next morning, II have written to
Capt. Letcher that 1 have changed
my mind about going away. Please
take me into the Office, and let nae
help you this winter, and, next
year, l will sc to school or do any
thing else you wish"
"My own boyr said Mr.. Litten,
when he could speak.
That was all, but when Ned saw
the look upon his fathers face he
felt half repaid already for his bit
ter self sacrifice.
The winter proved that Helen
had judged rightly in her anxiety
for her fathers health, for he was
attacked by lingering sickness, in
which, more than once, his life was
of.
Ned seemed all at once to have
become man under the new cares
and responsibilities which fell upon
him. One couldIhardly think the Of
ten headstrong and inpetuous boy
could shave grown SO industrious
and paInstaking. His young vigor
and hOpefulness were like a tower
of strength to the watching mother
and sister in those dark days when
death seemed waiting at the very
door. Over and over they asked
each ether,-
ooh, what could we do if Ned
were away?"
And when at last the father, still
very pale and weak, but steadily
and surely recovering, called him to
his side enc day, saying! "My
dear boy, if you had not relieved
me of SO much care and anxiety, 1
am sure l could not have lived"
Ned could only answer with a burst
of thankful tears.
Only a few mornings later, as
Ned entered the breakfast room, he
saw Helen with the newspaper in
her hand. She looked up, but he
missed her smiling good morn
ing"
"What is the matter, Nell?' he
asked, frightened at her grave face.
For answer she reached to him
the newspaper, with her finger on a
paragraph in the column of "ship-
ping news"
The color faded from his cheeks
as he read, Capt. Letcher's ship
gone down, and all on beard had
persisted.
The sister and brother looked
into each others eyes.
"Helen," said Ned, in low and
solemn voice, sit was God who gave
you the words to speak to me that
day at the style. He has net only
saved my life, but He has taught
me that a selfish life is not worth
saving."-Sunday School Paper.
Bill Nye Talks About the Bronze
Goddess,