The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-30
Eyes Open.


if Aunt Amy could be right.
II will keep my eyes open," she
said to herself.
She stopped moment 10 watch old
Mrs. Bert, who sat inside her door
binding shoes. She was just now try
ing to thread q needle, but it was hard
work for her dim eyes.
"Why, if here isn't work for me W
exclaimed Rachie. II never should
have thought of it if it hadn't been for
Aunt Amy. Stop, Mrs. Bert, let me
do that for YOU"
"Thank you, my little lassie. My
poor old eyes are worn out, you see. l
can get along with the coarse work
yet, but sometimes it takes me five
minutes to thread my needle. And
the day will come when can't work,
and then what will become Of a poor
old woman ?" :..
"Mamma would say tho Lord would
take care of you," said Rachie, very
softly, for she felt she was too little to
be saying such things.
"And you can say it, too, dearie. Go
on to school now. You've given me
your bit of help and your comfort too. "
But Rachie had got hold of the nee
dle-book, and was bending over it
with busy fingers.
"See,n she presently said, "Tve
threaded six needles for you to so on
with, and when come back I'll thread
some more"
"May the sunlight be bright to your
eyes, little one," said the old woman,
as Rachie skipped away.
"Come and play, Rachie," cried
many voices, as she drew near the
playground. (which side will you
be on?"
But there was little girl with a
very downcast face sitting on the porch.
What is the matter, Jennie?" said
RachIe, going to her.
II can't make these add up" said
Jennie, in a discouraged tone, pointing
to q few smeary figures on her slate.
"Let me see; I did that example at
home last night. Oh, you forgot to
carry ten; see?"
$50 did," The example was fin
ished, and Jennie was soon at play
with the Others.
Rachie kept her eyes open all day,
and was surprised to find how many
ways there were or doing kindnesses,
which went far toward making the
day happier. Try it, little girls and
boys, and you will see for yourselves.
"Will you look here, Miss Rachie ?'
Bridget was sitting in the back
porch, looked dolefully at a bit of pa
per on the kitchen table she had car
ried out there.
"It's letther I'm afther writin' to
me mother, an it's fearin' I am she'll
niver be able to rade it, because I can't
rade it myself. Can you rade it all,
Miss Rachie? It's all the afternoon
I've been at it,"
Rachie tried with all her might to
read poor Bridget's queer scrawl, but
was obliged to give 1T up.
"I'll write one for you some day,
Bridget" she said; "I'm going over
to Jennie's to play Il spy now"
The fresh air and the bird songs and
the soft wind made it very pleasant to
be out of doors after being in school all
day, and her. limbs fairly ached for a
good run. But she turned at the gate
for another look at Bridget's woebe-
gone face.
"I'll do it for you now, Bridget" she
said, going back.
1t was not an easy task, for writing
was slow work with her; but she
formed each letter with painstaking
little fingers, and, when she had fin
ished. felt we'll repaid by Bridget's
warm thanks and a satisfied feeling of
duty well done.
"Our Master has taken His Journey
TO country that's far away"
Aunt Amy heard the CHEEKY notes
floating up the stairs, telling of the ap-
proach of the little worker.
"I've been keeping my eyes open,
Aunt Amy, and there's plenty and
plenty to do"