The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-05

f ee and I am turning to you for ad-
 vice. 1t IS hard to say just what
 is the matter with me, for hate
 to own that I am envious and Jealous by nature and yet am afraid that is the trouble. But I can't be glad when other people have better luck and better times than have and 1t just seems as though every one I knew had more to make them happy.
 "I don't mean to say haven't much that is pleasant in my life. am married to the best man in the world and have two lovely children. Not for anything would exchange one of them for any one else in the world. But 1t does seem as if the girls knew at school had married men who could make more money and had prettier homes When I go to the houses of some of them am ashamed to ask any one to visit my plain little place. l have never gone abroad or trav- eled much and the people I know have most of them been able to make trips of all sorts.
 "I try to think of the mercies and blessings that are mine, but at the same time there arises up in me longing for I likely to have. l don't see any chance of my ever getting glimpse of the wonders of even my country-unless, as a friend of mine used to say. the angel who is talk ing me to heaven should go that wayl And l don't want to wait until then.
 You give so much advice to the Cor nerites that I have been wondering if perhaps you can't speak word of coun- sel to me that will help me out of this state of mind. Do you think I am ter ribly wicked to feel like this? And have you ever heard of any one who had these same feelings and was able to get over them at all? UNHAPPY"
 Ever since this letter came into my hands @ while ago I have been thinking of it and trying to find out the right thing to say to help this poor struggling, un- happy Cornerite. Her case Is not so un- usual as she seems to think, and from what she tells me of herself am inclined to fancy she was born with this sort of disposition. I have known those who came into life with sunny temperaments and who were reduced to forlorn, de- pressed beings by circumstances they did not seem to be strong enough to meet and vanquish. But there are others who have this tendency to low spirits, to envy, to jealousy, or to whatever you choose to call it, from birth.
 woman was confessing to me not long ago share of these very qualities. When I was little girl my uncle came home from abroad and brought presents to all of us" she said. Those were the days when European trip was a rather un- usual thing, and the travellers generally returned laden with gifts for the stay at homes. My elder brother, who was the uncle namesake and his especial pet, was made supremely happy by the gift of watch, and to my sister and myself were brought pretty little lockets. She was older than I and the larger loclSet was given to her.
 Never have I forgotten the rage that swelled my heart at this discrimination l did not dare show anything of the sort in the presence of my elders and I thanked my urcle with the best grace I could muster, but when we went up to the nurs- cry l gave free rein to my fury. threw the despised locket on the floor. I stamped, I cried, I abused my uncle for having given better things to the others than to me and them for having received them I recollect that even the offer of my sister to take my locket and give me hers did not appease me. Yet I really liked the little pendant and wore it later with great satisfaction. It was only that I felt others were better treated than l."
 She drew deep sigh. " I wish l couti