_LITTLE ACTS OF KINDNESS; LITTLE DEEDS OF LOVE._
Aunt May’s invitation to come every day and play with Maggie and Bessie
was never once lost sight of by Belle, who was only too glad to accept
it, and be with her beloved little playmates as much as possible.
It was surprising to see how much Belle had improved during these
months she had been so much with Maggie and Bessie: no, not surprising
either to any one who knew how much a good example can do; at least
when it shines before eyes which are willing and ready to profit by its
light.
And this was so with dear little Belle. She was not naturally an
obstinate or selfish child; and her faults had come chiefly from
the over-indulgence of her father and Daphne, who seldom or never
contradicted her, but allowed her to think that she must always have
her own way. She had never been taught the duty and pleasure of
yielding to others, until she was thrown so constantly with our little
girls; and then the lesson came to her almost without words. She could
not have better teaching than she found in the grave surprise in
Bessie’s sweet eyes when she worried her father, and fretted herself
for some forbidden pleasure, or when she was wilful and imperious with
her devoted old nurse; or in her gentle, “You wouldn’t tease your
father when you’re his little comfort: would you, Belle?” She could not
but learn ready obedience, generosity, and thoughtfulness for others,
when she saw them put in daily practice even by Maggie, who had so much
natural heedlessness to struggle with; and, almost without knowing
it, she strove to copy her little friends, and to put away the old
self-will and impatience.
“Why! how obedient and good my little daughter is growing,” said her
father, one day, surprised at her ready submission when he was obliged
to refuse her some pleasure she had begged for.
“’Cause Bessie says mamma and Jesus will be glad when I’m good,” Belle
answered, laying her cheek against her father’s; “and she said that was
the best way to make you happy too, papa. She says when we love um we
try to please um. Isn’t that true, papa?”
“Very true, my darling. Bessie is a dear little girl, and I am glad
that you remember when she tells you what is right.”
“She _does_ it more than she _tells_ it, papa: that’s why I ’member so
much. It makes me feel ’shamed when Maggie and Bessie see I am naughty.”
“I won’t go to Aunt May’s this morning, papa,” she said another day
when her father told her to go and be made ready.
“What! stay away from your dear Maggie and Bessie?” said Mr. Powers.
“How is that?”
“Daphne is sick, papa: she has such a hegget”--Belle meant
headache--“she could hardly dress me this morning, and had to lie right
down. If she has to get up again, I’m afraid she will be more worse, so
I will stay home to-day.”
But Belle’s voice shook as she proposed this, for it was a great
sacrifice for her. Six months since she would not have thought of
denying herself any thing for the sake of her old nurse, and her father
was both pleased and touched.
“Then papa’s unaccustomed fingers will see what they can do,” he said,
unwilling that his little girl should lose her day’s pleasure; and, if
Belle were not quite as neatly dressed as usual, no fault was found,
and “Aunt Margaret” soon remedied all that was wrong.
But another bit of self-denial came in Belle’s way that day, and that
she carried out.
Coming in with two or three bunches of fine hot-house grapes,--the
first of the season,--in his hand, Colonel Rush found the children on
the piazza, playing “party” with their dolls’ teacups and saucers.
Two other little girls, the children of a neighbor, were playing with
them. He stopped and gave Maggie a bunch to divide amongst them. They
were greatly pleased with this little treat; but Maggie and Bessie
were rather surprised to see Belle put hers aside on one of the doll’s
plates, as if she did not intend to eat, or even play with them.
“Are you not going to play with yours?” asked Maggie, rather
reproachfully.