Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
The Pattern in the
Heart

Shelah was little girl VINO grew
up in the Far East. She could re
member that when she was very
small indeed that they lived in a
large brown tent, and that a wide
cloth was hung over the door at night
The time came when Shelah moved
into a white house, built very low,
with thick walls and tiny windows. 1t
stood near the house of her uncle,
who owned large date-tree.
Shelah's father had large brown
camel, on which he often took long
journeys. Her mother prepared the
dates and bread for their meals and
made their loose white clothing.
Every day, too, she would sit and
weave before great loom strung
with threads that ran up and down,
through which she drew other threads
of lovely colors. AS she worked, the
rug that she was weaving grew heavy
and long beneath her hands, and a
ished surface.
LET me weave. mother" Shelah
said one day; but her mother smiling
ly turned her away, saying
"You don't know the pattern
After that time Shelah watched her
mother work, thinking that with care
she could learn the pattern; but all Of
the threads seemed to be arranged
differently.
Lend me your pattern, mother"
she begged. II wish to weave"
Some day you will, little daughter
replied her mother, "but you are too
small now. have no pattern except
the beautiful one hold in my heart"
Shelah thought great deal about
her mothers words. That there could
be pattern in her heart seemed to
the child a very strange thing.
When the nightingale sang sweetly
from the tree near her window at
night, Shelah listened breathlessly.
"She is singing from the pattern in
her heart" she thought. What a
lovely pattern it must be-"
Her father often spoke of the diff
culties of his desert trips and of the
faithful camel's endurance.
ellis is a rude. rough pattern,
thought Shelah, "but strong and we'll
woven, like the rug"
There came a time when Shelah
had no mother or father, but only the
uncle who lived next door and owned
the date tree; and he sold the date
tree and with the money from the
sale took Shelah across the ocean to
America.
Shelah brought with her the rug
that she had seen her mother weave,
for she knew that it was not only
beautiful but lasting. Generations Of
other children might yet walk upon
its rich colors.
In the new country she went to
school. and there found friend, 3
little American girl named Rosina.
One day Rosina said: "Shelah, how
is it that you always look SO neat and
know your lessons SO well? You do
better than most girls who have al
ways lived in this country"
II know not replied Shelah, "un.
less 1t is because of the pattern with.
in my heart"
What is that?" asked Rosina. 81
do not understand"
Then Shelah told her of her moth.
er's rug and the hidden pattern in her
heart, from which had come its
beauty.
Some day" she said, Il shall try
to make rug like my mothers, but
first try to hold only beautiful pat
tern in my heart. 1t is because of the
pattern that I study hard"
How fne!" exclaimed Rosina. "T
am so glad you told me! intend to
try to hold a pretty pattern in my
heart, too, and some day you must
show me the beautiful rug that your
mother made."-Harriett Ives, in The
Youths COMPANION