St. Landry democrat., 1890-11-08
Littla'Girls ard Little Duties.

Little Girls and Little Duties.
Il wish the Bible said something abou
little girls" small Mabel remarked, tap
ping window pane with impatient fin
gers, one rainy afternoon, and glancine
out disconsolately on wet lawn. 81
seems to me that little girls are never con
sidered much account, any way. Goo
never used them IN Bible times, and ther,
is very little for them to do"
Mamma was busily at work at a small
sewing table across the room, AS she
folded hem in the soft cloth in hand she
replied:
81 am surprised to hear little cir
who has lived IN this world through nine
summers make such an unwise remark.
Mabel continued tapping the window
pane nervously 81 Go not think | have
said anything but the truth, mamma, she
replied.
"Quite distance from the truth your
remarks seem to me, dear. Think what
you said. First, you conclude .liat little
girls are not considered OF much account
You say that God never used them in
Bible times, and that there is very little
for them to do at any time. | fear you
have quite forgotten those three small
words that, few days since, papa told
you were as appropriate for you as the
president OF the United States, and as ap-
propriate for the president as for YOU"
"No, | haven't. mamma. Papa wrote
them in his plain hand for me and have
them fastened over the dressing table in
my own room. DO your duty. | canno,
forget those simple words, of course"
Mabel's lips curled trihe. There is
as much for you to do, then, as for oul
president"
why, mammal"
Il acknow ledge that your duties and
President Harrlson's differ considerably, y
mamma said, smiling; 'but all have duties
allotted them, and by the way they dc
them each will prove to God, if not the
world, which is more faithful than the
other"
How funny Mabel exclaimed, turn
ing toward her mother an interested face
and forgetting to tap the window-pane as
she turned.
Then as to finding nothing in the Bible
about the little girls" mamma continued,
that is very erroneous statement that
am surprised to hear you make. Have you
on Naamans wife? We read about her
L
gotten. We'll, get your Bible and let us
see what that little maid found to do, and
what came of her doipgs."
Mabel brought her bible, and with bit
of mammals help found the place and read
aloud the fifth chapter of Kings.
That little girl was carried away a
captive from the land Of Israel and waited
on Naaman's wife was used of dod in &C
complishiug a great work. Mabel, mamma
said. land she simply did what | trust
that you and the president of the United
States are doing-hel duty"
by reading over that Bible story we
learn several things about that little
Syrian girl. She had warm, pitjful
heart, | know, because she was sorry for
that sick ruler. She must have been a
truthful child or that great man and his
subjects would have paid no attention to
her remark. She had done small duties
in her humble sphere Faithfully and we'll,
| think. aud SO was used of God in the &C
complishment of great things There is
another little maid that the Bible tells US
about, named R1oda. You remember
Rhoda p
ooh, yes' But had forgotten her"
81 think Rhoda must have been very
happy when she ran to tell anxious wait
ing people that Peter knocked at the gate.
Happy because she was doing her duty,
Mabel; and Just then there was very
pleasant one appointed her. When little
girls and large ones do the duties that fall
to them cheerfully and well, have noticed
that very pleasant ones are appointed them
in course of time. II is time for you to
prepare for school, Mabel. After school
would like to send a bowl of cruel by you
to old Aunt Chloe, and some books and
paners to poor lame Joe little farther on.
God has a vast amount of sunshine for
little girls to carry to dreary places and
saidened hearts, if only these little girls
were on the watch for. them. Small duties,
faithfully done, pave the way to better
and brighter pla es, Mabel" - Cousin
Alice, in s. S. AdrocOte.