Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-09-22
NOT STOPPING TO THINK.
II Caused One Boy Many Heartaches all
Through Life.

IL Caused One Boy Many Heartaches all
Through Life.
Joe was not bad boy at heart; he
was only thoughtlcss This fault in
his character had caused his parents
considerable trouble. and frequently
had he been reproyed for his failing
but without bencficient results. Joe's
sister, Jessie, was his opposite in this
respect. A fall in childhood had in
jured her spine and the helplessness
consequent upon the affection rendered
the child's gentle temper still more mild
Joe loved his quiet, sweet little sis
ter. In his happy, boyish heart there
lurled a fecliag which would have made
him do anything to obtain whatever
Jessie might ask him for But, as
have said, Joe was thoughtless Many
a hasty word which he had used in an
swering his sister had caused her large,
brown eyes to fill with tears Then
loe's heart would be filed with re.
morse; he would kiss Jessie, be for.
given and forget all about his offcnse.
The home of the brother and sister
was in one of New York's pretty sub.
urbs Country life had made Joe a
rugged, freckled-faced, sturdy boy Of
leven years. while the smell Of the
fields and gentle sunshine had prolonged
the life OF his sister. which skillful
physicians had. for four wears. said
would last a few months at the most.
To thirteen years. So much had their
quiet existence far from the rush. noise
and hustle of the city. done for the
child that she was now able to walk
about the garden in front of the cot
tage, and tend the roses and other
flowers which her father had planted
there for her.
One afternoon Joe having learned
his lessons for the following day. was
standing on the veranda watching his
sister taking up a ripped seem in his
coat, the result of a rough frolic during
luncheon hour at school, when some Of
his companions hailed him from across
the road
Come on, Joe, they cried, 'let's
play football"
Hurry up, Jessie, said Toe to his
sister
Yes dear, one moment, she replied,
gently
oh! you are 80 slow" retorted the
boy.
Then icing called again by his friends
he seized the coat and, pulling il out Of
his sister : hands ran out into the road
to play. The jerk startled Jessie, and
she almost fell off her chair but saved
herself by grasping the veranda rail
In So doing, however, She wrenchcd her
back and had TO be carried into the
house and laid in her bed. Joe knew
nothing Of this, and continued his game
The following day Jessie died. The
life which the perfume Of the fields and
flowers had kept in her frau little body
went out SO easily aud quietly that the
watchers fnncied that She had only
sunk into refreshing sleep. Twice
before her eyes closed upon the scenes
Of this earth she whispered .Joc dear
Joe
They laid her in a little white coffin
in the front parlor, aud on the easlet
lid they placed a wreath of flowers,
plucl<ed from the bushes she had loved
to care for. In her hands, which were
crossed on her breast She held bunch
Of yiolctS. Then Joe was led in to
see his sister He was quiet and very
pale. His lips tremhled and hot tears
filled his eyes and soon rolled down his
checks So after sob shook his frame
As he looked ON all that was mortal OF
her he had loved 50 well When he
was taken from the room by his mother
he sank into her arms and moancd
"oh. if had only stopped to thiukr'
joe is man now. lie IS respected
citizen Of the village and has children
of his own Net often and often, as he
looks at thc two little curly heads as
they lie in peaceful slumher upon their
cots in the nursery. does his memory
So hacl, along the years which have
I ,sed and he secs another Z ~, ssh
0rarto him. and he signs 0a had
on1y stopped % think A. Lae',-
hau@>ee in Christian Emo g