The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-20

she sngrily exclaimed. 81 wish you'd
keep your dogs away. And you've
broken my racket
II broken your racket !" Jack gszed
at her in establishment.
Yes; you cracked it, know, when
you played with it, or it wouldn't have
broken so. Now l can't play any more.
I almost believe you did it on purpose, so
l couldn't practice"
Mabel, how can you say so p ex-
claimed Paul.
Jack stood as if petrlfed, looking at
her angry face; then he slowly undid a
paper parcel which he carried in his
hand. Here's racket" he said. "Mr.
Lee has given me work for every dav,
and go mother lent me what l needed to
make up the price of it. It's good one
You take it, and I'll mend the broken
one for myself"
Mabel was quick in her impulses, and
Just and generous when her temper did
not get the upper hand. Jack, you
sha mt, she cried, the flush on her face
growing deeper with sudden shame at
what she had said.
But Jack made spring toward her,
laid the new racket at her feet, seized
the broken one and was off like the wind.
Il wish I had no tongue; wish was
dumb, cried Mabel in transport of re-
pentance as she few through the hall to
her own room.
Aunt Emily followed, easily guessing
the sad frame of mind into which Mabel
had worked herself.
you needn't look so at me, said Ma
bel as the kindly eyes looked sorrowfully
at her. at is dreadful thing to say,
l know, but if couldn't talk l couldn't
say dreadful things"
"Poor child !" said Aunt Emily, strok-
ing her head as she flung it upon her
pillow. "Our tongues are given us that
we may say sweet and pleasant things
to bless those we love, not bitter things
to sting and wound and lash"
THAT seems to be what mine is for, :"
said Mabel. ooh, Aunt Emily, what
shall do with it? I cannot keep in the
angry words"
1.-The tongue can no man tame; it is
an unruly evil, said Aunt Emily sober
ly.
"Then what good is it for me to try p
THE Master of all things in heaven
and earth can do it, dear. Have you
sought help of him?'
Pm going to throw the game into
Jacks hands to-day" said Mabel in con-
fdence to her aunt on the morning of the
tennis contest.
But Jack was not there. Mabel at first
looked anxiously for him, then forgot
everything else in playing her very best,
aud won the prize. Jack was one of the
first to congratulate her.
Jack, why didn't you play p she
"Oh, I had something else to do he
declared in on off-hand manner. You
needn't mind Mabel, for really 1 didn't
want the prize half so badly as you did. e"
"Oh, Jack. don't wonder you say SO,
said Mabel in real humility of spirit.
"You think 1 wanted it badly enough
to say all sorts of ugly words to you
about it.
mot bit" said Jack heartily.
Jack, want you to take the set, "
said Mabel earnestly. II had it in my
mind all the time was playing"
Nonsense |" said Jack. "You don't
think I'd do such thing as that, do
you? But cay, Mabel, I'll take back the
new racket 1 brought that day if you
want me to-"
Mabel still tried to persuade him to
take the prize set, but he held to his re-
fusal
1t has been observed that something
seems to remind Mabel to guard her tenn
per and tongue while playing tinnis; and,
as those who know her best in her home
notice the same thing of her, we may con-
clude that she has been wise enough to
seek the help advised by Aunt Emily.
s. s. ViSitOr.