The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
For Sisters.

Some years ago, as I sat on the piaz-
"a of a Summer hotel, I noticed among
the crowd a party of young people,
two or three pretty girls and as many
bright young men, all waiting for the
mail"
80 dear! !" said the prettiest of the
girls impatiently. "Why don't they
hurry? Are you expecting a letter
Mr.. Allison?" and she turned to a
tall youth standing near.
He smiled.
"In get one surely" he said. 'Its
my day. Just this particular letter
always comes. Nell is awful good /;
she's my sister, you know and no
fellow ever had a better one."
The pretty girl laughed saying, as he
received the letter: Harry would
think he was blessed if I wrote once a
year."
Gradually the others drifted away /:
but Frank Allison kept his place scan
ming eagerly the closely written sheets,
now and again laughing quietly. FL
nally he slipped the letter into his pock-
ct, and rising, saw me. "Good morn
ing, Miss Williams" he said cordially ;
for he always had pleasant word for
us older people. Good news? Iques-
toned, smiling. "My sisters letters
always bring good news" he answer
ed. "She writes such jolly letters"
And unfolding this one he read me
scraps of it-bright nothings, with
here and there sentence full of sister.
ly love and earnestness. There N'as
a steady light in his eyes as, half apol-
ogizing for "boring" me, he looked up
and said quietly: miss Williams, if I
ever make anything of man it will
be sister Nell's doing"
And as I looked at him, I felt stroug-
ly what mighty power "Sister Nell"
held in her hands-just womal's
hand, like yours, dear girls and peI-
haps no stronger or better; but it made
me wonder how many girls stop 70
consider how they are using their in
f1uence over these boys, growing so
fast toward manhood, unworthy or no
BILE, as the sisters chose.
so dear girls, may 1 not ask: "what
are the brothersw Perhaps they are
only little brothers yet but they will
be larger all too soon, and you cannot
at once change from careless, indiffer-
ent sisters to loving, helpful ones.
Would you willingly be like one Of
whom her brother said
"I'd do less for her than for any girl
know?"
You expect your brothers to be cour-
teous and gentlemanly to you, to show
you the little attentions woman loves
to receive and yet are you ready to do
your share toward making home pleas
ant for them? Not always, perhaps,
and 30 you lose these brothers whom
you so honestly love.
This was not done at once; it has
grown year by year. You were impa-
tient with the baby boy, and hasty
with the awkward lad whose clumsi-
ness annoyed you, and 50 it has gone
on, and now your brother is yours on
ly in name. You know none of his
plans, and share none of his honors
he keeps these to himself.
There is but one way dear girls; be.
gin at once while they are still the lit
tie boys of the home circle, ready to
come to "sister" with everything.
Let them feel that you love them.
These great honest boy hearts are both
tender and loyal ; and if you stand by
these lads now, while they are still
neither boys nor men, while they are
awkward and needless, they will re-
member it when they become the
courteous, polished gentlemen you de-
sire to see them. Do not snub them
nothing hurts loving boys soul more
than snub, and nothing more efec-
tually closes the boy heart than
thoughtless ridicule. Have patience
girls-that gentle patience whose per-
feet work will surely win the smile OF
the Master, who grants to all who do
the Fathers will that we should be
His "sister;;" and for the sake of the
Elder Brother, who dignified with His
Divine touch these earthly relation
ships, shall we not be more tender,
more patient, more loving with these
sensitive, great-hearted lads who call
US "sister," and remember the wise
man who said: "Shall the woman
who guards not brother be lightly
trusted with husband or sons"