Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-31
ONE MORE DAY.


and kind to each other" said Aunt
Emily. ''At least we may hope so
when we see bright, beautiful day
opening before u.s."
"Only one, Aunt Emily! Why do
you say that?'
II do not say only one, dears. l
trust that we may all have many days
and many more in which to make each
other happy. But we are not sure of
day or even an hour, you know, SO I
think we all have need to remember to
show our loving kindness while we
have time"
Molly and Ruth and Nan looked a
little conscious, wondering if Aunt
Emily could have observed how ready
they were to quarrel over tr1fies, and
how little inclined to give up to each
other
Il was led to think of this" said
Aunt Emily, '.by remembering some
thing which took place on this day
number of years ago, in my little girl
hood"
.Do tell US about it, Aunt Emily
said the three, gathering about her to
to listen.
81 do not know" she began, ''that
my little sisters and quarreled more
than other little sisters do, but it was
sad and unnecessary that we should
have quarreled at all. Looking at it
as I do now, can not understand how
we could have taken pleasure in dis
obliging each other, in speaking angry
words, in caring nothing for each 9th
er's comfort, keeping up an almost
constant state of irritation, when we
might have lived in the sunshine of
loving words and deeds.
my mother used to talk very seri-
ously to us about it. You think little
of it as the days go by she would say,
but if God should see fit to take one of
you away you would al your lives feel
the bitterness of the sting left by the
memory of past unkindness~'
LIT is said that most people have to
learn by experiences great pity,
surely, if it is true. For how much
better off we should all be if we would
learn lessons from those who have SUI
fcred, instead Of waiting until the same
hard lesson has come to u.s. think,
however, there are some children who,
happily for them, are wise enough to
profit by good advice, but my sisters
and l were not of that number, for
as far as | can remember, we kept
on much the same in spite of all
mothers talk. And when, at last, the
experience did come, it was bitter
enough.
"a picnic was in progress to which
we had all been looking forward for
some time. But as the day, this day
years ago, drew near some little all
ment seized me which led my mother
to think it best for me to stay at home.
1t was great disappointment, and
am sorry to say that bore it very bad
ly. 1 have sometimes thought since
that God sends these small trials upon
us to give us opportunity to show a
spirit Of patience and submission, but /
could not have thought so then, for l
made myself a trial to every one who
was so unfortunate as to be obliged to
come near me by my complaints and
my in-temper.
Mother gave up her share in the
days pleasure to remain with me, and
was sure of having everything to help
me through the day at home, but l chose
to consider myself sadly ill-used and
was probably little crosser even than
usual The company were going in
open carriages, and at the last moment
nv little sister Marian came running to
me.
"'Oh, Emily, I can't find my sun UNI
brella. Won't you lend me yoursp I'm
sorry enough you can't go to use it
yourself, you poor dear!'
"'No, I won't, snarled. You're
the most careless girl in the world-al
ways losing your things. You'd be
sure to lose mine
".Oh no, wouldn't. Please, Emily!
The sun is going to be so hot.
81 can't help that. You'd better
learn to be more careful of your things
"sCome, Marian they called from
outside, and she ran away. AS /
watched them until they were out of
sight the last thing I could see through
the branches of the trees was Marian's
little hand waving a goodbye to me,
and could not help feeling. too late, a
touch of self-reproach for my unkind-
ness.
'1But forgot all about it until late
in the day there came a message in
haste, and mothers face grew white as
she heard it.
"sAn accident! Some are hurt and
I must go at once Before had time
to think she was gone, and had to
wait for . dreadful hour before the
members of the pleasure party came
but not ALTO tell me.
1.-The horses attached to one of the
carriages had taken fright and run
away, finally overtnrning the carriage
and throwing all who were in it out
upon the hard, graveled road. Our
little Marian was one of them, and no
one as yet knew whether she would
life or die.
.4Oh, if I could tell you what suf-
fered. How wandered about by day
and lay awake at night, remembering
all my unkindnesses to my little sister,
and thinking almost wildly, if l could
have, if it were only one day, in which
to tell her how loved her and to show
her my love in every possible way.
Every unsisterly word or act I had
ever been guilty of towards her seemed
to rise before me in all their hatefulness
and ugliness until felt sure that God
was going to punish me by never Civ
ing me an opportunity to atone for
them. And my misery was increased
by the haunting idea that she might
now be the worse for my refusing her
the sun umbrella.
'.But He was more merciful than ]
deserved-as He always is. After a
few wretched days of doubt, word
came that Marian would get well.
II fretted and pinned SO to see her
that at length my mother allowed me