Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-12

side in a high fever. "Tired out at
school," said the old doctor, who
never favored hard study for growing
ing girls. But the immediate cause
must have been something else," he
added, as he listened to her incoherent
talk, '.some sudden shock; a strong,
healthy girl like Kate is not inclined to
brain trouble"
John heard, and blushed for shame.
His father said nothing, but he gave
the boy a look which he never forgot.
Rates good constitution soon came to
the aid of the nurse and doctor, and
before many weeks she was almost her
self again. On the first day when she
was able to come down to dinner,
Johns father called the boy aside for a
little talk.
"You have had a good lesson, my
son." he said, when he had spoken Il
few serious words on the habit of teas
ing. 81 hope it may be sufficient.
And now Iwant to tell you q true story
of some a~cquaintances Of mine in India.
Mr.. Chester was a vigorous man, who
had lived a rough life from his boy
hood. His wife was a poor, nervous
girl, who had been petted and shielded
all her life. Mr.. Chester loved her and
meant to be kind, but he honestly
thought it was his duty not to yield to
her little whims, but to try and make
her as self-reliant and fearless as him.
self. Like many other people, he
thought fears were all imagin-
airy, and that her foolish foibles ought
to give way to his superior strength
and judgment.
"One day one of the servants brought
in q cobra which had been killed in the
compound. Mrs. Chester had a horror
of snakes of all kinds, and the venom
Gus cobrahad been q terror to her ever
since she had set foot in India. Her
husband brought the dead snake into
the room to show it to her, and, al
though she had known all the circum-
stances of its being killed, she shrank
away from the sight of it with a scream
of terror. Her husband thought this
very silly and childish, as it certainly
was. but poor Mrs. Chester only begged
him to take the snake away. He was
naturally a very arbitrary man, and,
veXed by her foolishness, told her
plainly that she must control herself,
and that if she would sit down calmly
close by the dead snake she would soon
overcome her fears. At last, he ended
his argument by locking the door and
leaving her in the DON alone with it.
He went to a distant part of the house,,
assured that he was really very kind to
take so much pains to cure his wife of
her nervousness. How little he inn
agined the result! Cobras usually go
in pairs, and the mate of the one which
had been killed was in the compound
near the house. The light lace curtain
had blown from the window and rested
on the ground just outside, forming an
easy entrance for the horrible snake.
When Mr.. Chester returned to the
room his wife lay ~life]ess on the floor,
while the dead and the living cobra
were coiled together beside her"
When Johns father had finished his
story he went to the bookcase, and,
taking down an old-fashioned. leather
covered book, he turned over the leaves
for some time without speaking. When
he had found what he was looking for
he brought the book to John and said:
"Here are six lines of poetry which 1
wish you to learn by heart before you
leave the room. Hannah More wrote
them moro than fifty years ago, and I
think they will help you to look at your
habit of teasing in its true light"
John took the book and read
"Since triiles make the sum of human things
And half our misery from our foibies
springs;
Since life's best gifts consist Of peace and
ease.
And few may save Or serve, but all may
please.
Oh. let the ungentle spirit learn from
hence,
small unkindness is a great o~frense."
Susan Anna BroVu, IN Congrega-
tionalist.