The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-09
THE OPPORTUNITY OF A PIN
ry sms. J <. REID
Article No. ]

 in basket tota ca ried thither. where. time oniy can til Just how long I waited Tor the dawn of a new day I cannot say, ut 1 know when I did come in the open again I was in the hands of a saintly little miss, of the schoolgorl age. She pulled me from my bondage and pinned me close to her heart Oh, what a privilege to hear the heart beats of pure and modest girl.
 l began my school days with her. I learned what it was to be tardy, and when on time. l learned what It meant to be at the head of the class, and what it means to fail, and thought which am Ia sue cess or failure? Do fill my office well? Am true, am I faithful? Am 1 made of good metal? Finally I answered the aues- ton myself I must be of some value. l have the sticking quality. I have not changed homes in sometime. It is nice to feel you are in possession of a partner. even if one has to be silent. We studied together. played together, and lived to- gether. l knew her habits, I heard her whispers. and l knew her dreams. Youth IS beautiful, and school girl days are full Of joy. My little friend had a home of plenty. She wore good clothes, she at tended dancing schol, and she went to Sunday school. l was with her. and she had her little trials. When they came I tAito lo didW icdieT lb Hti anu tO UGH her she was growing This was life. Every plant has to push on through the earth to reach maturity. She was filling natures purpose. She was getting bigger in the world, reaching woma mood. To her it seemed by slow process, because the little ripples often of her own making, in- terfered with her personal plans. Strange Is fate, one day on the lawn, a day when all the world did not quite go to suit her, sha a ephOO1tnato Int She told of what seemed a life of hard ships to her, but oh. what an error in youth. not to value the daily freedom, the blessings of a home. and loved ones.
 Imaginary cares put these aside. so it did this day "Oh," she said. q started out with a streak of bad luck-I was an unluckly baby. The first thing l did, the very day I began to crawl, caused me pain, I swallowed a pin. The doctor had to pull 1t from my throat and it has been tender ever since" I did not hear the rest. I was full of ideas of my own-am I that pin? I was swallowed once. and the doctor of- ficiated and threw me out in the world. I was restless wondered if was not sent back to repair the wong With this guilty feeling I grew stronger and clung even more tightly to my job. Now ! held the blue ribbon sash to her belt.
 
 Is never best for a pin to show its face l felt had a definite purpose in life now. To cling so closely to the ten. der youth that I might dictate in her affairs silently, but heroically-that-th this service might remove the memories of the awful pain I might have caused in infancy. Alas, our plans are thwarted She had plucked a bunch of violets to- day, and she drew me from the sash. and with my aid fastened the boquet becomingly at her throat-"violets are blue and violets are true" she mur- mured, and she did not know how true had been-she did not know how l lived with her, how I prized my job; how I loved her service-any old pin would do, she must have thought, when ever she by chance had commanded my service, but l knew my place and was glad to fill it. I love the sweetness of youth-the beautious innocence of girl hood and the grace of school days. but l left as the violets faded away l might go with them to a destiny of de-