The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-29
Kittie'S Tongue.


Kitty Myers tongue was a scorch--
ing flame, reaching out hither ana
thither, licking up all whom 1t could
devour. You would think a girl with
such sharp tongue in her head would
be disliked by everybody, but hltty
had many friends among those she
loved. OF all the girls, Kitty could be
the sweetest toward those whose favor
She wished to keep. Moreover, she
was very entertaining with her mimic
ry and drollery, and having wealthy
parents, she was never without COM
panshlp.
against some old, threadbare dress,
some pecrlarity of speech, the shape
of a nose, or Il queer manner. Even
the ancestors of acquaintances were
subject to her aharp comments. Any
thing and everything that could be
employed to set her companions in a
gale of laughter was seized upon re-
morselessly.
One day there came to the school
Kitty attended, a new scholar, little
girl with very sweet face and dressed
quite richly.
Kitty knew that she was the daugh-
ter of Judge Erril, who had just moved
into the neighborhOod and lived in the
grandest house in the place. She
wished therefore to smake the little
stranger one of her dearest friends, so
she looked over and bestowed upon
her one of her most captivating smiles.
The child smiled in return, and there
was hope Of great friendship until
when the new scholar opened her eyes
wide with sorrow and indignation
when she found Kitty and dozen of
her companionslaughing uproariously,
and learned that the object of their
ridicule was little girl with bright
red hair.
"Ha, ginger top! how much will you
take for one of your carrot ringlets ?"
asked Kitty, with laughter, in which
she was joined by the others.
If there was anything that Nettie
Rivers was sensitive about, it was her
red hair; and she WINGED and stam-
mered in her endeavor TO appear un-
concerned.
II say, Net, here comes a white
horse" continued Kitty, more disa-
greeaOle CnaQ ever.
Nettie WINGED again, while her face
flushed redder than her hair. She was
Just on the point of crying when Es-
ther Errill sprang forward, and putting
all arm around her waist, said:
Don't mind them, for love red
hair dearly. l just think it is beautiful
and my father says all the best artists
paint pictures of saints with red
hair ~
Kitty stared in astonishment and
scowled a little, while her dearest
friend fastened forward saying:
II hope you are not going to mind
Kitty's tongue. She is only in fun"
"But il hurts all the same, and l
don't like it," persisted Esther. "My
rule is never to hurt any ones feelings
and / cannot stand by and see others
hurt"
''Be careful or kitty's tongue may
be turned against you. You had bet
ter not make her angry" was the re-
ply:
III am no better than Others" she
persisted, "and do not care for her
friendship" And Esther walked
back into the school-house, her arm
still around Nettie's waist.
"Humpty, dumpty," shouted Kitty,
"climed up the wall and got big fall )"
and she laughed loudly, but to her
chagrin no one Joined her; on the cor
trary her dearest friend said:
"For shame, Kitty Myers, for she
is great deal prettier than you are,
if she is short and plump. Now you
have made her angry, and you will be
left out of all the lawn parties and the
good times they will have up there
this summer.
Kitty felt the truth of this, and the
next morning she tried to slip choice
bunch of grapes into EIther's hand,
but Esther drew it away, and said:
"Give it to Nettie Rivers over there.
believe she never had so fine a
bunch of grapes, because her mother
is widow and very poor"
kitty's face turned very red. She
hesitated a moment and then going
forward said
"Nettie, take, these grapes, please ;
and am very sorry I laughed at your
hair yesterday
Nettie took the grapes with pleas
ant lnank you, anu tHeu ESlueI
took Kitty's hand for one moment in
hers and said:
II do not want you to govern your
tongue for my sake, Kitty, but because
the Bible says: But the tongue can no
man tame IT is all unrully evil, full of
deadly poison l can not tame your
tongue, Kitty, but God can. He helps
us overcome every bad habit if we will
but ask him. Don't forget"
Kittie did sometimes forget, but
never in the presence of Esther Errill,
and at last, after giving her heart to
the Saviour, she did gain complete
mastery, for she said she had learned
vet another verse from the Bible: 'If
any one among you seem to be reli-
gious, and bride not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this mans re-
1iUioO ia vain