Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
(Honorable mention.)
Kindness

By Bessie jackson, Aged II Years, SIS
South I'D Street, Omaha. Red.
Marie, look at my new coat and hat. l
think it is the p~rettiest coat that any girl
has around here" stop your bragging
about yourself. Ethel" Il amt Dragging
at all, but it is the p]rettiest coat here
We'll maybe It is and maybe It isn't
Ethel Walton was very rich and lived in
a beautiful house. She had everything
she wanted, but was selfish and unkind
and always kept Dragging about the nice
things she had.
Marie Sherman was rich also, but IN
selfish and kind.
One day when Marie Sherman and Ethel
Walton were out walking they met a poor
little girl who begged for a PENNY. Ethel
passed her by and haughtily holding her
head in the air said, IT suppose you com
pare her coat and hat to mine; l know
you'll say I'm Dragging but l don't care.
l suppose you're going to stop and give that
miserable creature some money or some
thing like that" "Of course | will give
her some money. poor creature" and
walking toward the little girl Marie handed
her some lhoney, but to her sur
prise the little girl started to cry. What
is the matter, little girl?" she asked. She
told her that they were very poor. Marie
asked neG 10 tel neI STORY, anu size btBdh'
MY mother is so poor but she is too
proud to let anybody help her; she would
not let me work. but father died and she
was too weak to work so I made her let
me work. I worked q few weeks doing
errands and made only s1.N a week, but
that was not enough to keep US warm and
to have enough food and mother was sick
and could not work, but after awhile she
died and left me alone" us It long since
your mother died?' Yes. a year ago."
where do you get your meals and where
do you, go over night?" The little girl
stood a moment like a statue; Il can't
tell you; If 1 did I would be thrown out
and then I wouldn't have any place to CO."
please tell me. l will take you home to
my mother and you can be my little play
mate" "Well then 1 will tell you.
When mother died there lived across the
street an old woman with her son, who
was seventeen years old. He was rough
and un5ind but he told me he would take
me to his mother. I consented willingly. At
first she was kind to me but after q week
or so she grew very unkind. and made me
do all sorts of work. Then she made me
sing in the streets, and after that to
beg, as I am doing now. If 1 don't bring
home enough for supper she will beat me
and make me go to bed without supper
Marie stood and stared at the girl. She
never thought that so great a misery
could happen in her beautiful happy world.
At last she broke the silence and said. 81
will take you home this minute, not for a
playmate but for a sister"
Ethel did not listen to the conversation,
for, thought she, II wouldn't bother my
head about a miserable urchin." Marie
called her over and told the little girl to
tell her story, and once more she told 1t.
Ethel felt a twinge in her heart which
had never been there before. with a glance
of sympathy she actually stopped and
kissed the tear-stained face. Marie gasped
and stared at her. Was this the naughty
proud and selfish Ethel Of only a few
minutes ago? Ethel wanted to take her
home but Marie said she had spoken to
her first so she had a right to take her
home. At this speech Ethel turned as red
as her hat but said nothing. She was to
STAY at Marie's house and visit Ethel fire.
quently.
The little girl said afterwards that Ma
rie's mother was the kindest woman on
earth for when she saw the child she
cheerily said, You're welcome child; for
get the past but think of the present
1t was indeed a great change from the
dirty street and tumbled down hut to the
big comfortable house with a cheerful fire
inside.
Ethel learned a lesson from Marie's kind
act and she was unselfish and kind ever
after that.