River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-05-06
AUNT ENIILY'S STORY.

90 not say only one, uears.
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 ]
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 now ready
they were to quarrel over trifles, 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 girlhood. :
DO tell US about it. Aunt Emily"
said the three, gathering about her to
listen.
II do not know she began. that
my little sisters and l quarrelled more
than other little sisters do. but it was
very sad and unnecessary that we
should have quarrelled at all. Looking
at it as do now. | cannot understand
how we could have taken pleasure in
disobliging each other, in speaking
angry words, in caring nothing for
each others 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
seriously 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 all your
lives feel the bitterness of the sting left
by the memory of past unkindness.
'Itis said that most people have 20
learn by experience great pity,
surely. if it is true. For how much
better oil we should all be if we would
learn lessons from those who have
suffered, instead of waiting until the
same hard lesson has come to us. |
think, however, there are some chill
dren who. happily for them, are wise
enough TO profit by good advice, but my
sisters and | were not of the number.
for as far as | can remember we kept
on much the same In spite of mother S
talk. Aud when, at last, the eXpe-
rience did come, it was bitter enough.
"A picnic was in prospect 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
tn think it best for me to stay at home.
1t was great disappointment, and l
am sorry to say that | bore it very
badly. | have sometimes thought since
that God sends these small trials upon
us to give US opportunity to show
spirit of patience and submission, but
| could not have thought so then, for
made myself a trial to every one who
was so unfortunate as to be obliged to
come near me, by my complaints and
my ill-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
| chose to consider myself sadly i'll
used and was probably little crosser
even than usual. The company We're
going in open carriages, and at the
last moment my little sister Marian
came running to me.
"Oh, Emily. | can't find my sun UNI
brella. Wont you lend me yours?
I'm sorry enough you can't go to use
it yourself, you poor dearr
".No, won't | snarled. You re
the most careless girl in the world
always losing your things. You'd be
sure to lose mine
"'Oh, wouldn't. Please, Emily
The sun is going to be so hot.
81 can't help that. You'd better
learn 20 be more careful of your
things
"'Come, Marian, they called from
outside, and she ran away. As
watched them until they were out of
sight the last thing / could see through
the branches of the trees was Marian 5
little hand waving a goodbye to me,
and could not help feeling, too late.
touch of self-reproaeh for my unkind-
ness.
But forgot all about it until late /
in the day there came a message in /
haste, and mother face grew white as
she heard it.
An accident Some are hurt and /
must go at once Before | had time i
to think she was gone, and | had to
wait for a dreadful hour before the /
members of the pleasure party came
but not ALTO tell me.
'The horses attached to one of the /
carriages had taken fright and run
away. finally Overturning and throw /
ing ali who were in it out upon the /
hard, graveled road. Our little Ma
vet knew whether she would live or /
die.
''Oh, if | could tell you what | suf- +
fered. How / wandered about by day /
and lay awake at night. remembering +
all nv unkindnesses to my little sister, /
and thinking almost wildly, if could I
have, if it we're only one day, in which I
to tell her how / loved her and to show /
her my love in every possible way. /
Every unsisterly word or act had ever /
been guilty of towards her seemed TO /.
rise before me iD all their hatefulncss {
and ugliness until felt sure that God I
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
few wretched DAYS of doubt, word came
that Marian would get vel.
Il fretted and pinned so to see her.
that at length my mother allowed me
TO 90 10 the house where she had been
taking care of her all the weary time.
| was carefully cautioned TO be very
quiet and TO do nothing to excite her,
but nobody seemed to have remen1-
bered to prepare me for the great
change in her appearance. l went In
to her half-darkened room with
beating heart, and, forgetting all