Year: 1866

CHAPTER TX


The Pusser rems-The Universal Malady-How to
Meet Difficulties Toll, Trouble Worry-The
Form Of a Ministering Spirit-A Railway Com
panion-An Eastern Apologue-The Visit
Blue Potatoes 81 Cards for the Kitchen Very
Desirable.


Keziah's memory seemed to get weak as she
grew older. She could now read and write
tolerably well, much be ter than when she hrst
came, as it had been ms practice to hear her
read selec'ed chapters from the Bible on Sunday
nights, just as my children did, and occasionally
to write copies. Que evening OF her early days,
after thought she had been much impressed
with what she had been reading, she startled me
by saying:-


Pm very fond of reading the Pussel'ems,
ma'am."


The Pusserems, Keziah that's not tit read
ing for Sunday nights" thinking she meant
riddles.


81 thought twas, ma'am, because theys in
the Bible" and, turning over the leaves, che
pointed TO the Psalms, and pronouncing the
word as three syllables, behold "the Pussel-
'emsn


set down the rising laugh by making her
properly pronounce the word, and said, Don't
mind the letter P, call 1t 'Salms.n


"That's funny" was her next remark; "my
father telld me | should never get on If didn't
mind my P's and Q's


This klpd OF conversation died out Us time
went on, and Keziah became more retiring in
her manners ana speech, and lost much OF her
country dialect. She became very regular
attendant in the afternoon service, but IN the
winter endeavored TO go 10 the evening service
as well, for in the summer she and the nurse
were allowed to go for walk but in the winter
the nurse preferred to stay at home.


After while KeZiah was seized with an in
trinity of temper, coupled with loss OF memory.
which seemed irremediable; for her pettishness
she was always sorry and penitent, but her
memory failed her in her cooking, and always
IN the little things that made it's perfection.
Still bore with her, thinking she was not we'll,
tor she had been llstless since her last return
from her home, where she went occasionally
from Saturday till Sunday night, for we had
cold dinner on Sabbath, She was m lcn IN her
own room at unreasonable times a. which l
was greatly puzzled, till | observed that her
fingers were frequently iLky, when a new light
seemed TO dawn upon me. ..


"Who have you been writing to, Keziah ?n


my mother, ma'am,


Still the fingers continued mixed.


You seem to write very frequently to your
mother,nI observed.


Kezlah blushed, but said nothing. The girl
had found a lover, that was quite clear; that
was The reason of my old troubles returning
upon me again, OF my beng 80 often obliged to
remind her of her shortcomings. But still was
unwilling to bring things to a criss-I thought
1t was an incplent fever that would pass away,
and so went on. being kind where ] should
have reproved; giving way when irmness was
needed; and thus no long time was needed to
convert the girl into becoming my mistress, and
a tyrant to boot Keziah knew her power, knew
how reluctant should be to give her warning,
and thought she could 90 to greater length OF
the tether without serious reprmand.


] have ever found that with any difficulty,
either close or at distance, the best way is to
grapple with it at once; to beat about the bush
ls to torture oneself


"Tender handed, touch the nettIe


Grasp 1t wi h the bo dsst mettle,


And 1t soft as silk remains"


Keziah was just now the nettle in my path;
however softly SPOKE to her, however SEEM
ingly blind to her faults, l felt q perpetual
sting, though varied in its intensity by the occa-
sion which called 1t forth. That the girl must
leave me soo1 / knew for a certainty, and il was
best to be prepared for it,


One evening spoke to her about her general
carelessness, and said / supposed she was tired
of the place.


"If you please, ma'am would rather leave,
I'm very sorry, maam. but my mother wants
me at home"


So this was the end of all my teaching; my
troubles were to begin again. was Wrathfui,
silently wrathtul no doubt oft, my temper was
rising, and / was nursing 1t to keep it warm
There were two things which always helped me
over my difficulties II could only command my
temper sufficiently long to think. One was TO
cast my trouble upon the One whose care is
ever over us; the other was to get away from
home for few hours. In this case got away
first and went by rail to visit friend. A rail,
way journey has ALWAYS power to soothe my
mind. can think better in rapid movement.


Every body must have felt, some time or other
how pertinaciously some sentence or words OF q





held fast by the words:-


"And make us minstering sprits"


Over and over again the sentence rose in NV
mind till was forced to think of its meaning
and to ponder upon the high privilege of be-
coming mlnisterng spirit. SO dreamily the
thought wove Itself into imagining the shape
in which such spirit mis mt manifest ITSELF
1t surely must come in human form with helm
for our needs; but its humanity must not be too
exalted nor too grand for our intercourse: and
thus one thought led 10 another. till il occurred
to me that each OF us could be "a ministerIng
sprit'-at least the helpers of each Other
whether we instructed the ignorant, clothed
and fed the needy, or consoled the afflicted
and that this was the WORK more especially
given to women to do; and ii from a sense Of
toll or WEAKNESS it was put aside, il became a
SIN OF omission equally censurable with a sin
OF commission. Then Keziah returned to my
OF the tedious trouble l once had IN teaching
her Then thought of governess life, of
the duties never ending, still renewing,n and
again took heart Others there were who must
still pursue weary life, with no loving voice,
no smile To cheer them on their rugged way.
Thus many accomplished and even self-edu-
Gated girls OF gentle lineage or noble ancestry
Were plodding to obtain their daily bread, while
!, with wealth of love surrounding me, and an
income which was ample for my wants, poured
into my lap without any care of mine, was
repining because the young girl whom had
educated for my own comfort was about to leave
me me, and to take her place among the worlds
surrounded my future work What had taRght
Keziah could teach others. had taught ker
how to have comfort on small meane how 10
save and utilize every household matter how 10
cook 70 insure good digestion, and showing that
what could be done with moderate income