Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-04-23
al1onth' s Column ,
How Eme Helped.

and kitchen occupied by cousins ant
friends, all very busy and very live
lv, for they were making prepare
ton for wedding. One of Effie's
sisters were soon to be married anC
of course there was a great deal tc
be done.
Effie thought how nice it would be
if she could help make the cakes and
spread on the icing; for it was q
country wedding, and much of the
"refreshment" part would have to
be done at home. 1t seemed such
easy work mixing things together,
beating eggs, etc.
SO Effie went first to one and then
to another, begging that she might
be allowed to help.
"No, child, no; what do you know
about such things?' rather impa-
tient old lady said to her.
Another said
sob my! now schools out, we
shall have no more peace. Children
are always in the way p
After she had been rebuffed in all
her attempts at being useful in the
pleasant way she wanted to be, she
happened to cast her eyes upon a
large wOrk-basket in corner of
the sitting-room, and she saw that
it was filled with stockings and socks
waiting to be looked over and repair
ed.
"Now, if l really want to be use
full" thought the little girl, 81 might
get these stockings out of the way
for this busy week. They have been
forgotten, L suppose-but 1 would
rather make cakes"
Efie was but eleven years old,
but she knew how to darn very nice
ly, for her mother had taught her,
and she had been willing to learn.
Down she sat, therefore, close to
the table in the corner, so as to be
out of the way, and began her self
denying work.
The merry laughter among the
young cousins, as they went in and
out to the oven with their delicate
cakes and other things, sounded
pleasantly to Effie, and she longed
to be among them but she reflected
"Mother will be so tired by this
evening that she will not want to
do her darning, and it will be a sur
prise to her when she finds all these
socks and stockings have been put
in their proper drawers all ready for
USE"
So she persevered with her quiet
task, glancing once in while to-
wards the busy group, and admiring
their skillful performances.
One of the cousins who had been
'scross" to Effie noticed how indus
trious and steady she seemed at her
work in the corner, and after awhile
brought over beautiful iced queen
cake and gave it to her.
But that, nice as it was, gave her
not half the pleasure she felt when,
towards the close of the afternoon,
her mother, tired of her baking and
other work, sat down by her work
table, saying
~ would like to lie down and rest
a little, but l must get the weeks
mending out of the way. But who
has been here before me, wonder?''
she added with surprise.
"Your little daughter" said one
of the other girls. 81 could not but
notice her, after she had been refus-
ed when she wanted to help with the
cakes and sweet things. Not many
little girls would have been so
thoughtful about doing work that
was not attractive.
And when Effie was kissed and
thanked by her mother, and had
seen her comfortably resting after
her labors, she certainly felt much
happier than if she had been allowed
to help with the icing and other Or
II caoroa6
tempting to her among her young
cousins. She felt sure now that she
would only ''have made mess" as
they SAID, for she knew nothing about
such doings.
Little girls are sometimes trouble
some when they undertake to do
things of which they have no knowl-
edge, and are called "officious.
This days experience was useful
to Effie. She had borne patiently
the disappointment of not being al
lowed to help in the way she would
have preferred, but in the perform
ance of nearer duty she had proved
herself really valuable assistant;
and in after years she learned to
know and value, under all circum-
stances the wise and practical sug-
gestion, "Perform the duty that lies
| nearest thee !''-EG.
Grace's Cure.