KITTY’S VERSE.
“I WILL try very hard, mamma," said Kitty, "and I think I can say it perfectly now."
"Well, let me hear it." So Kitty 'repeated slowly, but with great satisfaction, "'Charity suffereth long, and is kind.' There! That's right, isn't it? Now I'll go and play with Puff."
The plum little ball of a kitten thus named was snugly curled away in some corner, with her paws folded over her nose, and could not be found. Kitty was checked in her search for the missing pet by the entrance of sturdy Dick, who had three years the start of his little sister in life's race, and considered himself correspondingly ahead of her.
"Out of my way, Kitty!" he shouted. "I've got no end of study before school-time. How you do scatter things about!" and with a well-aimed blow, Dick swept from the table a heap of Kitty's small possessions, left there from yesterday's play. Poor Kitty sprang to prevent the hasty hands, but too late; and the next moment she saw her cherished transparent slate in fragments on the floor. The tears flew to her eyes, and the angry words to her lips, but her verse was fresh in her mind. So, with a great sob, she sat down to pick up her treasures.
Dick looked as if "didn't mean to" was written all over his bright face, as he glanced at his work and his sister's quivering lips.
"What a shame! I'm really sorry, Kitty;
But I was in such a hurry, you see. Why, what's up? You haven't said a cross word!"
I am angry, though; at least I was," said Kitty, who was the soul of truth. "But I remembered my verse and what mamma said."
"What was that?" said Dick; so Kitty repeated her verse, with her mother's explanation, adding,
“I promised to remember that charity means love, and to be kind today. Only it is hard work, and I'm afraid I shall fail."
"Well, I'll keep an eye on you myself," said Dick, who had much faith in his own strength.
"Anyhow you're real good not to be vexed at me. I'm ever so sorry I made a muss with your things; and I'll get you another slate sometime." Dick turned to his books, and Kitty, having returned his kiss of peace-offering, betook herself to the nursery, and the comfort of a frolic with baby. But she was disappointed.
"I can have no play at all now," pouted Kitty, "Fred is so restless."
"Patience always goes with charity, darling Nurse was sewing, the baby was asleep, and Kitty's mamma bade her take toddling Fred to the garden and amuse him for an hour," whispered mamma, with a kiss on the white brow that would frown. So Kitty called back the smiles, and amused her little charge faithfully, knowing that her mother's sweet approval was a reward for any toil.
At last Fred was disposed of in his crib, and Kitty's labors, if not her trials, were over. She began to think the latter were more than she could bear when Dick said that all the Carters were coming to dinner. The Carter children were not very well bred. Kitty remembered their noise and practical jokes with a shudder.
Nor did she find Dick a help that afternoon; for he joined in Alec Carter's laugh when Susie knocked off the waxen nose of Kitty's best doll, and
her brother tipped both girls from the swing, to the great damage of muslin frocks and white aprons. At last the unwelcome guests departed, and Kitty watched their retreating figures through the twilight with satisfaction mingled with vexation. Something has happened all the time!
"It has been just the hardest day!---- I do believe it's because I tried to mind my verse—something has the time!"
If Kitty confessed to herself this was a naughty thought, she did not drive it away, but stood thinking about it so earnestly she did not hear a stealthy step behind her, till she felt a shock of something cold on her bare shoulder, and Dick's voice sang at her ear, "Beautiful dreamer, waken to me!"
Kitty thought ice a luxury of summer; but the bit Dick had taken from the water-pitcher, and slily placed on her neck, did not seem appropriate.
She gave a scream and sudden start; and that start upset the chair on which she leaned, which knocked down the frail fancy-table close by, which, in its turn, hit and broke in pieces a little statuette of Parian marble, the pride and joy of Kitty's heart. Dick stood dismayed at the train of accidents following his poor joke. "I didn't mean"—he began, but his sister did not allow him to finish.
"O you bad boy! You did mean to—you always do—and I won't stand it any longer! You are always teasing me, and I don't love you one bit. I'll go right and tear up your Robinson Crusoe, and cut your fish-line all to pieces!" And with streaming eyes and scarlet cheeks, Kitty rushed away to fulfill her threat, and tumbled into the arms of her mamma, who stood on the threshold.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind," whispered her dear voice, as she held fast her struggling little daughter.
"I don't care!" cried Kitty," I have suffered long—very long—all day! And I've been kind, and tried to love people—and it's no use at all. It's harder and harder, and worse all the time I try, so-o-o." But here Kitty had no more breath for words, and used it all in a burst of passionate sobbing.
"There is another verse that says, 'Charity never faileth,' my darling," said mamma, still holding fast the little girl.
"Then I may as well give up," answered Kitty, between her sobs; "for I cannot be good, and don't and won't love Dick anymore."
"Did Jesus say that ever? Even at the time of his cruel death, after he had suffered long, yes, all his life, he said, Father, forgive them.' "Poor Kitty! She wouldn't look at the sorrowful figure in the window; and she tried not to know that there were tears in the eyes of her teasing brother. Yet before long, mamma had, both her children together in her arms, and impulsive Kitty's kisses were not given to her alone. Dick looked after the two, who presently went up the stairs, and gave himself a vigorous shake,
"You're a humbug, Richard Spofford," he said to himself softly. "You were going to keep an eye on that little sister of yours! I should think you had with a vengeance." And he also walked upstairs to bed, with a very soft whistle, more significant than words, and a shining drop or two on his honest cheek.
The Ladies' Repository.
LABOR on from dawn till nightfall,
Choose not what thy work shall be,
Even if a homely service
Is what God requires of thee.
For the task that first appeareth
Is the one that needs thy care;
And while doing it, remember
Thou must hallow it with prayer.