Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-06-03
New Series-Vol. 26. No. %

all our pictures except Jessie's, and we
don't know when she will have hers ia
ken now
But the boy wanted his so badly said
poor little Jessie in an appealing tone,
quite overcome at being found so much
fault with.
Aunt Annie asked few questions,
and then drew Jessie very tenderly
to her side. L am sure she said. that
when do get Jessies picture, it will be
the face of dear, unselfsh little girl,
who has the true Christ-like spirit of
pleasing others before herself.
And Jessie was fully cOmforted.
Winter. spring. summer, nearly year
bad passed when our four little girls
found themselves at a picnic. at which
nearly all the members of a large church
and Sunday school were gathered. bet
sides few strangers.
L wonder who that boy is. said Madge,
I'm sure have seen him before, but l
can't remember where
SO have L. said Ollie, and he's been
looking over this way as if he knew u.s.
Look, said Jessie, he's coming this
way. ALL know who he isp
The boy came near with very sweet
faced lady, who took Jessie's hand and
looked into her face.
Edward tells me that this is the little
girl who gave up her turn at the photo
grapher's last summer in order to let
him have likeness taken first. l have
a message for you
For me? Jessie looked up with a
wondering smile.
The boy. as If feeling that some sort
of an introduction was expected of him,
managed to say, This is my aunt-Mrs.
Vernon
Let US sit down on the grass, said
Mrs. Vernon, while tell you why Ed
ward was in such hurry that day. His
father is missionary on a South Sea
Island. many, many thousand miles
away. Edward had just arrived in this
country. having been sent here to be ed
ucated. He left his mother in poor
health, and one of her latest requests to
him was that he should send her his
likeness as soon as possible.
On the day be met you he was on his
way to us,-under appointment to meet
US at a country railroad station long
way from here. 1t was his only chance
to secure picture, and he knew that if
it was not sent by vessel which was to
sail soon, there might be no other oppor-
tunity for months. for no regular line
touches at their island. But, thanks to
you. the pictures were finished and sent
10 US from the artist in time, and reach
ed that far-off shore to be an unspeaka-
BILE comfort to his mother before she
died.
A lump came into Jessie's throat, as
she thought of that poor mothers long
ing for a sight of the face her boy.
L sent letter with the pictures,' con-
tinued Mrs. Vernon, telling how it had
been obtained through the kindness of
little girl whose name,eveD, we did not
know. And she sent message of love
and thanks to yOn, and this little thing
which she wished you to keep as re-
minder of the great happiness you Sc
cured to others by an act of self-denial."
But it was such a little thing said
Jessie.
ALMOST all the kindness in the world
comes in little things, dear. Very few
of US have opportunity of doing great
things, but little kindnesses are the
blessings of every hour
She was unwrapping a small boz, from
which she took little euriOusly carved
and polished bracelet, which she elasped
on Jessie's arm, saying: 1T is the work
of the natives of the Island, and is Gu
riosity in this country. Edward has al
ways felt sure he would see you again,
and has watched for you ever since we
came here on visit
'Oh, dear, I'm 80 glad 1 did itP said
Jessie, with tears in her eyes. And so
glad l know wish we could always
know how it comes out when we try to
do right
we cannot always know, dear child,
The great Master who orders the small
est thing in our lives in highest wisdom
and tenderest love, in many cases does
not permit us here to know the blessing
we may have worked. But we can al
ways be sure that no act of loving kind
ness fails to do its full share in making
the world sWeeter and brighter and bet
ter
More like heaven whishered little
Jessie to herself.