Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-21
PREFERRlNe ONE ANOTHER.


PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER.
Mabel's victory Over Self. and the q GOD
Her Loving Words Accomplished
81 choose the hammock
M. / want it. ;"
But Tn the oldest, so + m going to
have it.
'rm the youngest and you ought
to give up to me.''
well. I'm not going to this time.
any how" and Mabel seated herself
in the hammock with a determined
air and commenced to swing back and
forth.
I'm going to tell mamma" said
Bessie. in a fearful voice. turning to-
ward the house; but as she did so she
raised her eyes to her mothers win
dow where the blinds were closed and
the curtains drawn. Then she re-
membered that in that darkened room
lay mamma with one of her dreadful
sick-headaches, and she knew that at
such time she must not be disturbed
in any way, for it always made her
worse. Bessie couldn't see why
mothers always had sick-he adaches
Her mamma had them so often and
Cora Lanes mamma did. too. 1t
seemed very inconvenient and uncom-
Portable to her. particularly now when
she had grievance to tell. If she had
known of the heavy throbs Of pain
that beat in the POOR aching head. as
the angry words were borne in
through the closed blinds. she might
have felt conscience-s nitten, but she
did not know. and she only paused
and commenced boring her heel into
the smooth turf of the lawn while
dark frown disfigured her usually
bright little face.
She wished that she was bigger than
Mabel then she would show her what
it meant to have an older sister who
never gave up 10 her-that's what
she would do. Bessie forgot then how
often and how kindly Mabel yielded
to her; it is SO easy to forget kindness
in the face of an injury.
Mabel lay in the hammock swinging
gently to and fro. apparently per-
fectly contented. so Bessie knew there
was no chance for her; and she saw
her little white kitten walking about
in the garden, springing now and then
to catch some unwary fly or grass
hopper. Sac cast one resentful glance
at Mabel. then running toward
the kitten she took it in her arms and
commenced to pour her troubles into
kitty's patient ears.
Mabel did not feel as contented as
she looked. for she was really very
unselfish little girl, and gave Bessie
the preference far more than was for
her younger sisters good. But some
thing was wrong that day; mamma
had head ache, her door was closed
and her curtains drawn. and there was
no one to set things right. It was not
really desire to thwart each other
that had caused the conflict between
the two little girls. but it was that
feeling of ruffled spirits that is known
to us all, which grown-up people call
nervousness in themselves, but in the
little ones is too often designated as
ill-temper.
' Mabel too. looked up at her mothers,
window. Poor mamma! How she did
suffer when she had a headache! She
thought Of time when she slipped
into her mothers room and saw the.
pale face lying on the white pillow.
She wished then that she could do
something to ease the pain. and she
wished it now with all her heart, but
she was such little girl and knew
nothing about sickness. As she looked
down into the garden, and saw Bes-
sic wandering about with the kitten in
her arms. she wondered what she was
thinking about. Was she angry with
her for not giving her the hammock
She almost wished she had given it up.
for she really did not care for it very
much But why should she always
give up every thing to Bessiep She
had some rights. even if she was the
elder7 Bessie never thought of Civ
ing up to her. And then like flash
it all came to her mind; how could she
have forgotten!
For when they were both sick with
scarlet fever. and Cora Lane. Bessie's
dearest friend, sent her beautiful
red rose, she would not keep it by her
bcdside-only one little minute-but
made mamma carry it to Mabel and
insisted that she should keep it until
it withered; and Bessie loved flowers
so much, particularly red roses. She
could never do any thing for Bessie.
she was sure. that would be so sweet
and self-sacrificing as that, aud she
felt very sorry now that she had not
let her have the hammock. What was
q hammock on a lovely summer day.
when there were so many nice things
all about her. compared with a beauti-
full. fragrant rose when she lay burn
ing with fever In darkened roomp
Bessie" she called, as she saw her
sister moving aimlessly about with the
little white kitten still held fast in her
arms Bessie turned at the sound Of
her voice. How small she looked
among the tall dahiias and holly hooks,
and how forlofn!
Come here. please" called Mabel.
in winning voice.
Bessie shook her head rather resent-
fully. but kitty was pusring so othing-
ly in her ear. and. after moments
hesitation. she came slowly toward
the big elm tree where Mabel sat in
the hammock.
bessie. - she said rising from her
seat you may have the hammock IT
you want it.
q don't want 1t now" said Bessie,
decidedly, in q tone which meant that
she did want Il very much. but she
wished Mabel TO understand that she