The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-21
MARION'S WEAK SIDE.

High school, and the large hall was filled
with babel Of sounds. Merry girls
strolled arm-in- arm through the hall and
loitered in the corners or by the windows
of the spacious apartment. A group had
gathered with Marion in the alcove libra
ry, and were discussing in animated tones
the shortcomings of a class-mate.
"What revelation that would be-"
laughed Belle Smith. 81 wonder if it
would be at all improving to a person
who shall be nameiess?"
'She is, without exception, the most
dissgreeable. ill-tempered person ever
knew" declared Ruth Homes. "They
say the whole family is high-tempered
and Quarrelsome. It reminds me of the
Spanish proverb, Live with wolves and
you will learn to howl for if Kate doen't
actually 'nowl,' she has the real wolf
snap"
"Well, she's snapped at me just once
too often," said Belle; Il intend in fu-
ture to let her severely alone. Perhaps
by tbs time she is utterly friendless, she IL
come to her senses"
Poor grill can't help being a little
Sorry for her." said Marion. you know
she's sn orphan, and suspect she has a
hard time in her uncle's family"
"Ie's no excuse" said Ruth, 'for allow
her lll-temper to run away with her. Her
uglmese amounts to vice"
'Yss, know" said Marion sadly; "but
then We hsvn't been very patient with
her. It's Keats, is it not, who saye, The re
lives not the man who may not be cut up,
aye, dashed to pieces, on his weakest side.'
We have each weak side although Ill
allow we are all sweeter-tempered and
better mannered than poor Kate"
81 should hope SO, indeed" cried Bella
scornfully, and pardon me If l inquire
where your weakest side is?'
Il don'l know" said Marion doubt
fully, ''but I'll ask mother"
Mari IL = words had given an unexpect-
ed turn to the conversation, and the girls,
who were her ardent admirers, separated,
each with secret misgiving as 20 what
smother" would say in her own individ-
ual case.
Marion Upton was a singularly sweet
and high-minded girl. church member
too, In good and regular standing" She
had made some progress in the spiritual
life, and calm and even-poised by a
ture, her girl-friends we're wont to con-
slider her almost faultless. 1t takes
wise mother to detect the weak spot in
child'5 armor.
"MotheT," said Marion that evening
~which is NY weakest side, or, as the BIZ
BILE puts II, what is the sin which doth 80
easily beset me?"
Mrs. Upton looked into her daughters
honest, rquiring eyes and answered sim
ply III one word, "Sslfishness."
MsIion'e face flushed, and with an ex
pre-. sion of utter incredulity she ex'
claimed.
"YJu cal'6 be serious, motherl Why
tina = the one thing that L hate above al
others; aud I've been told so many times
that / Was kind and generous that
have TT ally begun to believe it," and Ma
rion Ia SLed in spite of suspicious
tremble III her voice.
My dear child," said the mother, ten
deII!. IA person may be kind and gener
Gus anu ct To selfish. Does that seen
paradoAicAlF"
"Y-s morntr r, it does, said Marion.
''ohail 1 speak plainly and prove the
truth of ny words?" asked Mrs. Upton
gently.
Sd. moshe r, Marion replied; sits higI
time 1 made the acquaintance OF my
weakest side.
"Y "a enjoy doing kind act, said Mrs
UIto.. You respond gladly to cal
for he'll, .nd give cheerfully cup OF cold
wat 81, s, long as you can do SO without
any great physical inconvenience. But il
there was only one cup OF cold water
and you were very thirsty, fear you
would drink the water yourself in pref
erence TO bestowing it upon any one
else"
"Ah, IL, ulotherl" cried Marion, ~ that
a poor ","uIon you have of me. Now
bring f.iSsrd your proofs. What has
led you "a. tn,ok so badly of me?'
ii huIi ,-, that evening after evening
you app,"ynste the most comfortable
char III the room as it it were yours by
right; '"s' '"u arrange yourself at the
most c,'u' able possible angle to re
ceivs he n4ut with little thought for the
COW -ui-n,-- Of the other members OF ouI
circle. 'niice that your own tastes and
wbias va. s gratitied, and that you
rarely, ~ >.'Ic own accord, deny your
self for u,' AXE OF mnisteTing to the
comtor5 n , .n-her. Strsws show which
way Tia. Il blows, and straws lib {
these rLd co., to me the high value
which you ice upon your own person,
al ennt"i,
~ "a IRE -gh', mother" said Marion
tearfulls; 'd Is u good thing for me tC
see ml'- - my mother sees me.
never tuun-tt Of these things before"
"Mary . our faults come from want Of