The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-22
"On the Other Side"

"What was your Sunday-school les
son abont?" said Mrs. Ward to hel
daughter Fanny one Sunday evening
as they sat together in their pretty
parlor.
" 1t was about the good Samaritan
who went to the aid of the man who
had been robbed and almost killed by
highway robbers" replied Fanny.
"And are you surprised that the Sa
maritan was so kind to a stranger"
IT think it was very good in him
mamma; but 1 am more surprised
that the priest and Levite passed by
without offering to help him. 1 don'1
see how any one could be so unkind.'
"I am afraid there are more people
like the priest and Levite than like
the good Samaritan. There are toe
many, even in our day, who pass by
'on the other side when a fellow-be.
ing is in trouble or disgrace, and
greatly in need of human help and
comfort. You look surprised at my
words: but think minute, Fanny
is it not true? Let me help you to an
wer by asking one more question
Do you think that you and all your
friends always run quickly to help
the girl who is unpopular, and per-
haps rather disagreeable to her COM
panious, if she meets with some mis-.
fortune or accidentw
II don't know, mamma; perhaps
not. Of course we can't enjoy being
with these we dislike as much as with
our favorites, and we?"
"Does the Bible say, be kind to your
'favorites,' or to those whom you like
very much ?"
II suppose not, mamma"
mo; it says, Love one another.
There is no if after it; no such thing
as if you find it easy if they seem to
love you,' or anything of the sort; but
we are simply told, Love thy neigh
Dor as thyself;' and Christ said, in his
Sermon OH the Mount, Love your en-
emies.' will explain what I think
passing by 'on the other side means,
by relating a little incident which I
witnessed a few days ago.
II was watching several children on
their way to school, and T noticed that
they were walking two by two. Most
of them were we'll dressed and their
manner and bearing showed that they
were no strangers to the comforts, or
even the luxuries Of life. Presently,
from little house at distance from
the street, came little girl, with
school-books and slate under her arm
and seeing the girls I have mentioned,
she quickened her steps, and hurried
along, evidently with the purpose of
overtaking them. But, just as if they
did not see her Though I am sure they
did, they crossed over to the other
side of the street and, as they came
near me, I heard one of them say,
There comes that gawky Susan; she
doesn't seem to know that we don't
enjoy her company. I wonder if she
will have brass enough to cross over
and join usw OF course she will p
said another. Such cheek, I do de-
clare p echoed third.
"Just then Tommy Clark spied her,
and set his dog on her,-Just for fun,
as he afterwards said. She had muff
in her hand and as the dog sprang
for it, she raised it high in the air, and
at the same time let her books and
slate fall. The slate was broken, and
the books soaked in snow-water. I
did not think the dog would bite her ;
but I feared greatly he would tear her
dress, and so Ae did. The child was
greatly distressed and frightened; but
the girl who crossed over to avoid her
appeared to enjoy her sad plight, and
laughed quite heartily. One of them
called out, You are too bad. Tommy :
and another said, Let us help her :
but all older girl replied. Don't stop
to help that thing; you know we
ought to be in school this minute!'
1.-THE boy called his dog away, and
seemed sorry for the trouble he had
caused and I thought her told so as he
went to pick up he books, and give
her some pins to pin up her ruffies.
The poor child cried dreadfully; and
I called her to me, washed her face,
and gave her q handkerchief (for she
had none), and, when I promised to
tell her teacher she was eXcusable for
being late, she thanked me and said :
oh, / am so much obliged to you
haven't been late this term. My
grandma is too old to write an excuse
for me-
II ask her a few questions (there
was not time for many, and I found
her parents were dead, and that she is
sent to school by few friends. She
says most all the scholars call her
Charity Sue She thinks they say it
softly, so she will not thear: but could
have told her that those girls who
would say it are afraid their teacher
will hear them, rather than careful of
hurting her feelings"