Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-17
R0SETTE'S FAITH.
BY ELIZABETH pRouDFoor.


that attracted them, but 1t was certain that
she did All the sick cats and dogs, to say
nothing Of the forlorn men and women.
knew she was their friend the moment they
set eyes upon her quaint little figure. Even
when she had been wee. tiny baby, she
had taken the food out OF her rosy smiling
mouth to give 1t to some unfortunate am
imal or human being. She always came In
from walk or play with some story about
The poor lame boy" or 'AThe sick little
kitty"
As long as her father lived 1t aid not
make SO much difference. for he earned .
comfortable living for his wife and three
children in the cottage. Since his death
things had grown harder and harder with
the family, and Rosette's mother had TO
curb the generosity Of her little daughter.
1t Is not always the most generous thing
to give, DEAR" she had said one day to
Rosette. Charity should nrst begin at
home, and in our case It must stay there
until brighter times come for u.s.
How hard it was to give up helping peo-
plet 'Rosatte had to shut her eyes when
kinds beset her path as they had been do
ing since she had been able to toddle alone.
Still by degrees the hard lesson was learn
ed-the lesson that charity must begin at
hcme.
One day something happened that con-
WINGED Rosette that 1t was hard to break
ones self of old habits. Her mother sent
her into the town to trade dozen eggs. at
hens at Rosette's house had not been as
generous In the matter OF egg-laying as
they might have been, and this dozen
meant great deal for the family.
Rosette started off with them in bas-
ket, looking very much like Red Riding
Hood on her errand of mercy to her grand
mother. She had not gone very far when
an old woman approached her. She was
he along
and piteously begged Rosette for money.
Rosette told her she had no money-noth-
Ing In the world but the dozen OF eggs. The
beggar told her she was particularly FOND
OF eggs and that no food was as strength
ening to one of her age.
Alas! what of the lesson about charity be-
ginning at home! Alas for the flour and
sugar! Surely they must have trembled In
their barrels at the grOcer's Before Rosette
knew what she was doing her generous
hand plunged into the basket-the begear
was richer-she was poorer, by two, OF me
dozen eggs.
Whether this woman told the story or not
is not known. One might think she did, for
the child was besieged for help as she
man was her second friend-in-need. Rosette
knew he was blind. for did not his sign
plainly say SO? How dreadful 1t must pc
to never be able to see the sunshine or the
beautiful flowers, thought the child. 1t Is
ever so much worse than being hungry.
The man told the plying child that II ne
could not see. his appetite was all that 1t
should be, and two more white eggs mace
their way out Of her basket into his
Two children next plead for help. 2hey
we're younger than Rosette, and oh. so
ragged and dirty. They told her that TWO
more children were at nome anu WouIu
starve unless some 1000 were DIoueHe "
them today.
What heart could resist such an appeal!
Certainly not heart as tender ana ioVlhs
as Rosette'si Her hand (Which mad Deen
he oh
story dipped into the basket and the store
of eggs was diminished by four more.
Rosette went on her way. her heart sing
ing because Of the good she had prougnt
to Others. She amused herself with dreams
of what she would do ii she were rich and
nowerful. In the midst of these pleasant
dreams something dreadful happened.
Rosette's eyes and thoughts were looking
upward (the wrong direction when one ~
walking on rough, stony road and carry
ing as breakable article as eggs. lSgs
have ever had a habit of falling, and OF
breaking, too, since the days of Humpty
Dumpty. When Rosette realized what had
actually happened her heart was sore In
deed far more than her bruised and bleed
ing knee, though that was sore enough,
goodness knows!
She examined her basket In fear ana
trembling. She was aghast at finding that
but one of the dozen eggs remained UNI
broken.
What wicked girl l am" sobbed the
child I have not been generous at all.
have given to people who have no claim
upon me, because 1t was the easiest thing
to do. AS a result my mother and sisters
will have to go without -four and sugar.
What shall do? What shall do?''
Poor little Rosette! Bitter were the tears
she shed. but tears were never OF the slight
est use in mending eggs. Any child old
enough to read Mother Goose knows that.
Down by the roadside sat the unhappy
child. What could be done to make the
matter less serious? All sorts of plans
were abandoned as useless, and her eyes
wandered hopelessly to the little white
church on the left. 1t was where her
mother brought her every Sunday, and SOHO
way Rosettes heart took a little more COM
fort as she gazed upon It's white steeple.
She walked up the path leading to its en-
trance, and finging herself on her knees
on the door step prayed aloud. Il gave my
eggs to your people. won't you help me to
get -four and sugar for mine?
feeling of peace and comfort came over
Rosette and a faith sure and certain came
with 1t. Was not this just what the min
listers taught their people to do? Rosette
felt that someway things would come out
all right in the end She did not know
how. but she did know that she was tired
and hot and she leaned her head against
tho doorway and was soon fast asleep. The
one white egg lay in her lap making a mute
appeal to the passersby had they but
known the story.
Mr. Gordon the minister had been in the
morrow The day was home mission SUM-
day. and the good man was wondering
what he could say to the people that had
not been told them before. Not feeling sat
ised with his work. he had just reached the
door when he heard the plaintive voice OF
a child in trouble. He listened and by de-
grces the whole story was pieced out by
his Imagination. He recognized the peni-
tent as one of his own flock. and although
he was far from rich, quickly decided what
to do. He stole quietly out OF the church
(by the back door, and tip-toed to the
place where Rosette peacefully slept. In a
second the white egg was slipped from her
lap, and dollar from his pocket, and gen.
thy placing it where the child would see 1t
on waking. the kind Mr.. Gordon crept
softly away.
.Rosette soon awaKened AS she remem-
bered what had happened before she had
fallen asleep, her eyes filed with tears Lest
any one might see them she hung her head
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