Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-28
Another thing helped to coz; Mr..

conscience accused her of MANY sinh:
lar offenses Did she never say any
t.ning Of hef dear friend not strictly
complimentary Hadn't she that very
morning told her husband that MRS,
Birdseye might be brilliant but It was
mere surface hrilliahcy there was
very little depth TO her mind or char
acteA And, though so good-hear ted.
she was such a rattlehead that she was
always saying things that she ought
not to, and made herself enemies often.
times when there wasn't the least need
of it," and so on,
Then Mrs. Ward fell TO thinking
about her other friends. Much rs she
loved them, there WAS not one that
she did not occasionally laugh about
Not with any malicious intent bf
course, but they all had fanlts and PEE
culiarities which We're rather matter
OF entertainment when one chose to
look at them from q ridiculous point
OF view, 1t had never occurred TO hef
that said friends Were in the habit of
serving her up In the same way, but
she understood it perfectly we'll now.
They all saw more or less in her open
to blame or ridicule, and of course
they made the most of It, Why notp
Mrs. Ward was some little time
undergoing these and similar reflec-
tions, She scarcely noticed when
Mr. Birdseye's step sounded in the
hall and down the stairs, or even
when the front door shut so heavily
behind him. CT was a common say
ing in the house that every body knew
when Mr. Birdssye came in or went
out, because he always shut the door
with SO much force). But presently
there came light, quick tap at her
door, and then somebody, without
waiting to be hidden, entered. Mrs.
Birdseye's bright face glanced in like
sunbeam.
"You naughty child! Didn't tell
you ut tie breakfast table that had
something to show you? l thought
you would be in the moment Robert
went out, and here have been wait
ing this half-hour! He brought me
the loveliest little picture last night;
come and see it. But, bless me! there
are tears in your eycs Is any thing
the matterP" Mrs. Birdseye's voice
softcned, and her expression changed
to one of tender sympathy. "What
has happened? Do tell me-"
Mrs. Ward smiled through her tears,
and, taking Mrs. Birdseye' hand, drew
her down to her side
"Do you really went me to tell you
what is the matter with me? Perhaps
| ought not but believe | will. The
fact is, l was in my closet awhile ago,
and heard what yon and your husband
happened to be saying about me.
Here Mrs. Birdseye colored, and
looked embarrassed and confused
enough. "But | am all over it now,
dear. l don't mind it in the least.
1t was true enough what you said.
have said the same thing about myself
n hundred times.
Mrs. Birdseyc was affected by her
friends candor and good nature, and
embraced her warmly. "You are the
best creature alive, she said, with re-
covered animation, "You know |
think so. And l declare, you look per-
fectly beautiful this minute-the beauty
of goodness and good sense, which |
have not a mite of. l talk so much /
must say some things / am very sorry
for afterwards. You are never so fool
ish."
II am not a great talker, but my
conscience is not quite clear. | have
often said things about my best friends
which would not have wanted them
to hear.
"About me, perhapsp'
81 am afraid have"
"What l wonderP" Mrs. Birdseye
was visibly composed. She knew she
had her failings, to be sure, but it had
never entered her Imagination that
her friends perceived them or COM
mented upon them to others. 1t was
new and very disagreeable idea.
Mrs. Ward smiled, and patted her
friends hand.
81 have learnt something this morn
ing, Nellie. have been thinking the
matter all over, and have been per-
fectly surprised and ashamed to find
what practice we have of making
little disparaging speeches about even
our very best friends. All true enough,
very likely, but that does not make il
right. If we do not like to think OF
our own faults or deficiencies being
talked over and laughed about, then
we ought not to talk of other peoples 5.
Just think how we amused ourselves
with Mrs. Bradbury's airs and flour
ishes, and MIR. Bradbury's slow way Of
speaking, and Mrs. Martins fiat pro-
nunciation, and Captain Singleton
pomposity, and Mrs. Stanley's way Of
managing her childrenl There is moi
one of these persons whose friendship
we do not count upon with pleasure,
vet how we did mimic and go on about
them! Supposing they had been where
they overheard us?'
"As. for instance, hidden away in
that dreadful closetr' said Mrs. Birds.
eye. with an arch glance that way.
They would none of them have beer
so forgiving as you have been to me,
am afraid"
But l never listened there before
my dear, and | promise you l never
will again."
You won't hear any thing but good
of yourself if you do; you are the bes
and dearest creature in the world.
do believe. But all these other peo
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