Be Courteous, or, Religion, the True RefinerMaxwell, M. H. (Mary H.)
Religion
Be Courteous, or, Religion, the True Refiner
Maxwell, M. H. (Mary H.)
Charity; Conduct of life -- Religious aspects; Methodist Church -- Juvenile literature; Sunday school literature
"He has cheated himself in making change," said she; "I owe him a
quarter more."
"Never mind," said Alice; "you paid enough for the things, and that is
clear gain."
Fanny paid no attention to Alice, but ran after the old man, and gave
him all his due.
Emma saw this; and the charity in her heart which "rejoiceth not in
iniquity, but in the truth," exulted as one that findeth great spoil.
She forgot the bitter remark which Fanny had made respecting herself;
forgot all, except the one joyful thing that Fanny was not wholly
selfish.
"We walked over to see you for a little while," said Mary, as Fanny
came back; and Emma was far from feeling it a rudeness, though Fanny
did not say, "I am glad to see you." She, however, invited them into
the house where her grandfather and grandmother lived--for Fanny was an
orphan.
Emma was very tired, and Fanny brought a pillow, which she placed upon
the old-fashioned lounge, and asked her if she would like to lie down.
She saw that Emma was pale, and this little act of kindness was
prompted by a momentary feeling of pity: yet Fanny was ashamed of this
kindness, and afraid that Mary and Alice would think her anxious to
show Miss Lindsay particular attention; so putting on her old
"care-for-nobody airs," she said, "Don't _you_ undertake to faint, Mary
Palmer. We country girls are neither genteel nor sentimental enough for
that."
"And not feeble enough, I hope," replied Emma. "You have much to be
thankful for, and so have I; for if it please God to deprive us of
health, he will not leave us comfortless--not if we trust in him."
Fanny was not naturally a hardhearted girl. Her aged grandparents had
done much toward making her what she was. Left to them when she was but
two years of age, Fanny found herself left also to the full sway of
every selfish passion and desire. The old people believed from their
hearts that such another child never lived--so bright, so witty, so
smart, and fearless. They talked and laughed over her sayings in her
presence, and, in the blindness of their fond affection, saw not that
the child was impudent, even to themselves; yet there was a fountain of
purer water in that young heart, though self-love was rapidly drying it
up. Emma, however, had that day discovered a bright drop from that
better fountain, and she believed that the wasted streams of affection
might be unsealed, even in Fanny's heart; and the rude girl herself
wondered at the feelings which came over her, as Emma replied so meekly
to her unkind remark. "I did not know that you were out of health,"
said Fanny; and both Mary and Alice were surprised at the tone of her
voice and the expression of her countenance. She arose too, propped the
pillow under Emma's head, and begged to know if she could do anything
for her.
"Nothing," said Emma; "only love me: if you can do that, Fanny, I shall
feel better."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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