Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-05-19

Mary and were both quite positiv,
IN our views. In her case that trai
was commended, because, as they said
II showed hrmness Of character; Will,
with me II was condemned, because &
denoted a hateful stubbornness. w,
both liked reading, n fact which, rs fai
as she was concerned, was noted will
pleasure, since II showed a love OF
learning; but which on my part denoted
laziness. And so IL was through the
whole category. She was always right
was always wrong. That which was
commended In her was condemned In
me.
Our hair was alike In color. length
and texture, yet she had auburn locks,
while / had simply red wisps"-shc
was Authenticated" was red
headed" In every particular where
there was likeness between us IL was
spoken Of in her case as a charm, while
with me IL became n hideous defect.
These things, Of course, were mere
trifes, but they were enough TO make a
sensitive child very miserable, notwith.
standing.
In spite Of the vast difference made
between MS, and the feeling Of jealousy
that sometimes ranklcd in my breast
because Of II, loved my sister dearly,
and did everything that had the power
20 do 10 make her love me in return,
For time she seemed to be very fond
OF me, and often when wept In loneli-
ness and sorrow she came TO me, and,
putting her arms about me, kissed me
and took away that feeling OF desola-
ton that was sometimes so heavy on
my heart. But that was when she was
very young and bcfoiN her mother had
lnstilled into her mind the principles of
her own.
My stepmother made II q point TO inn
press her daughter with the idea that
though we were sisters wide gulf lay
between us, and that her life and mine
lay In widely separated grooves. This
teaching, persistently pursued, had its
effect In time, and gradually my sister
and drifted farther and farther apart,
chasm across which we could never
clasp hands, opening wider and deeper,
day by day, at our feet.
Mary grew to look upon me as a be-
ing inferior to herself and as one not
worthy OF her consideration. The little
love she had held for me died out of her
heart, and she had neither sympathy
nor care for my suffcrings and heart
aches. The change In her yos not co
gradual rs 10 escape my notice, and
many were the tears I shed and many
the hours Of agony | experienced as
watched her love slipping from me and
knew there was none other TO lean ON |
for sympathy.
OH what would not bnve o,;vcp
for the power of retaining NV sistcr's
affections and of drawing her closer 10 |
me and making bcr fool Tor mo nc foi, |
for hcrl What sacrifice would | have |
not made to retain the little love, scant |
though IL was, which she had given me?
What sacrifice, in short, did not make
TO that end? willingly gave up TO her
the best Of everything-wlllingly con
scented To her having all the new
dresses, the Jewels, the musical instru-
ments, and in fact all the beautiful and
desirable things that came 10 the house.
OF course In such self.sacrifices made
n virtue OF necessity, since she would
have had all these things, anyhow; but
II was u virtue, nevertheless, for loving
such Injuries rs did 1t required great
effort of will-powcr not to covet them
not to feel that they should be in part
mine.
Furthermore, | made myself n servant
for my sister and was ever ready to adj
minister TO her wants. would do any
service, no matter how mental, II there
by she could be favored. | would deny
myself any pleasure or comfort, IL by
So doing her pleasure was augmented.
abased myself nj her feet. in short
and all in the hone OF rctninin,, bcr
love.
Vet NV socri8cos ovoi,od mo ro,,,i,,,
No matter how I denied ,nvsoIt Sor rs
snl,e, Mary tbonght ,yas on,r Ioina
ny duty NJ ,,,nt,.. ~ .,'ai Us
scif foy hor ,,,,,rn d,,a,,o,, - 10y
fclt that I ,vos simnly rondnr,nn q, a. No.
The homogc that ,yos hor as ST.
shaved NO onnrcoia,in, 90 ,,s,, ~
fees nnd fnilcd 90 go ,,,ah as 80,
me thanks for nv sory,cos IT, No s IL
Mi INV cfforts nv sister's hoa,t III
ngoinst mo t,S oLas,, i,ot,,'. o.o'vu
"S"eu "ay ny uay anu we drlited
i''V' ""u i"r'"or "Parr
nv i"s. ! WIS forced 10 reailzation