The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-05
Two QuarreIs.

Two QuarreIs.
II say it's mine, Cora Jessup, and
you just give it to me J"
"1'isn't yours either, Charlie Jessup,
I saw it first, and I will have 1t p'
Now, Cora, please let me have
| it; if you don't, I won't play thing
you want me to this whole after
noon."
"Then you needn't, Charlie. I guess
I amt goin' to mind you just cause
you're the biggest"
"But I want it dreadful ~
$50 do l."
"Let me take it moment"
mo; you wouldn't give it back"
"I'll tell mamma, and she'll make
you let me have it,"
"No she won't, cause it wouldn't be
fair mammals always fair"
"Then I'll take it myself W
There was q snatch on Charles
part, and clutch on Cora's, and what
Cora held would have been pulled
away only for something queer that
happened at that moment.
What do you think the naughty
quarrel was all about? Only stone.
Nothing but a stone! True, it was
rather pretty one that had lain in
the road as the children were walking
along chatting pleasantly. Then be-
cause Cora was the first one to seize 1t,
and then was determined to keep 1t,
up came the wicked little squabble.
But what happened Why, just as
Charlie was trying to get the stone
into his hands, down right at the chill
drens feet came q chattering scolding,
picking, fighting company of English
sparrows. What they were fighting
over it was impossible to see. But
they filled the air with their angry
little notes. Charlie and Cora stopped
to look on in astonishment.
First one little brown object would
Law himself fiat as seedcake with his,
wings laid out on the ground oh both
sides, q very picture of complete rage.
Then another would scold until it
fairly had to pause for breath. Charlie
and Cora began to giggle.
Other sparrows came to look on, and
after q while there was such q noise
you would have thought bird war
was going on in good earnest. All at
once one sparrow flew at another,
caught it by the back Of the neck In
its bill and shook it until the little
head dropped down, the tiny claws
hung limp, and the little creature In
the others bill made no show Of life I;
then he drodped it. At that off flew
the whole noisy crew, leaving one OF
theirinumber on the ground.
ooh, T do believe that poor little bird
is dead =" said Cora compassionately;
"They've killed it, the cruel wicked
sparrows p'
But as she went toward it, up hop
peh the sparrow with an angry chirp,
and off it flew, perhaps to find Its
faithless mates.
On the ground, under where the
little bird had lain, was a kernel OF
corn nearly picked to pieces.
"Do you suppose that was what they
were fighting about! asked Charlie. .
ayes. I think it was" answered
Cora IL saw something yellow bob
bing about from bill to bill"
"What silly little things!" said
Charlie, disguised.
"Perfect little ninniesp said Cora,
turning up her small nose.
"They amt big enough to be asham-
ed or they'd want to hang their mean
little heads" said Charlie.
"All about bit Of corn"
"Yes, only think bit OF yellow
corn" -.
"Of course it's wicked for any one
to fight. Don't you remember what
Miss Wolcott said in Sunday-school
one day, that there were very. few
things in the world worth fighting
over"
All at once the children stopped
short in the road and looked at each
other. Then Cora looked at the stone
that. without thinking about, she was
still squeezing tightly in her hand.
"Now do you want it, Charlie 2"
she said.
mo, you can keep it,"
"But I don't want 1t nothing but a
stone"
Pretty soon the little girlspoke again,
but her voice was quite low and very
gentle.
"Charlie, do you suppose God no.
ticed? ?"
eyes, I'm afraid He must have.
He sees everything, you know"
"And all the angels "
"I don't know. Perhaps So"
"I'm awful sorry"
$50 am l."
oft looked so foolish for the birds to
pick and quarrel over piece of
corn"
WGreat deal worse for brother and
sister to pick and quarrel over a silly
little stone."
II do, too."
Lets go and tell mamma every
thing about it,"
OF course mamma was glad to hear
their story, but she told them they
had much to be sorry for and to be
ashamed of-two children that knew
what was right as we'll as they did.
At bed time-always mothers best
time for strong, useful lessons-she
read q lovely story abo ut how thing
look to any one who merely stands by
and sees what is going on without
taking part:
And Charlie and Cora made up
their minds that if their useless little
spat looked half as foolish to God and
the holy angels as the sparrows' quar-
rel looked to them, all they could say
was, that they should take great care
that they never should see such o
naughty, pitiable sight again: -,
1t all looked so naughty and silly in
the sparrows The Watchman.
II should think" remarked Mr..
Lushforth, "that women would be
clear miserable carving around those