Daniel Wise

“ Button is a passionate woman; and they say that Kate swears when Bill Boaster teases her. So I thought you would not choose to call at the house of such a woman.”
“Perhaps it may not be pleasant, Minnie. But the more wretched these poor creatures are, the greater is their need of aid and counsel. Come, let us walk over and see the poor woman; who knows but that we may be as sunbeams to a dark and desolate spirit?”
“As sunbeams, aunt! How can we be sunbeams?” asked Minnie, as she walked along with her aunt towards the cottage. ”

“ I used to think a little girl, like me, could not do much good. You have taught me that I may.”
“I am glad to see you so willing to learn, Minnie. I hope you will try to practise the precious lesson after I return home. Whatever your lot in life may be, you must always try to be a sunbeam to others. I know a poor old lady who is so lame she cannot leave her house; yet she not only makes every one happy who comes near to her, but she contrives to give a handsome little sum of money every year to benevolent objects.”
[61] “How can she do so, aunt, if she is poor?” ”

“ The days seemed very long to the little girl during the next week. Old Time always seems to move slowly when any one wishes him to quicken his pace. But, like all other days, they were gone at last; and when the time drew near for aunt Amy’s arrival, Minnie took her work and sat down by the parlor window. I don’t think she did much work, however, for every sound which fell on her ear caused her to raise her head and look down the street to see if her aunt’s carriage was coming. ”

“ Minnie and her aunt now left the cottage. The little girl had learned a lesson, by what she had seen, which she did not soon forget. Her gentle nature was charmed by the love her aunt had shown to the poor woman. After walking in silence a while, she said,—
“Aunt Amy, I guess you are the brightest sunbeam that ever entered Mrs. Button’s cottage! Why, her pale face brightened up and looked almost cheerful before you left.”
“You see, then, Minnie, how little it [29] costs to do good. Our visit has really made the misery of that woman less, and it has done us good. ”

“ And she fancied how the sailor looked, at his own fire-side, reading her tract; and how it [47] touched his heart, and made him weep, and pray, and seek the road to heaven. It was a beautiful fancy, and it made Minnie’s heart swell with a rich joy. She fell asleep thinking she would be a sunbeam to some one every day of her life. Happy Minnie! She was learning to taste the pleasure of being kind and good to others.
The next day aunt Amy bought some things to make up for Kate Button. Minnie and her mother helped her, by sewing nearly all day upon Kate’s new frock. ”

“ By speaking a kind word, by smiling upon persons who need encouragement, or by giving a tract to do the same things for us, we are sunbeams to those we act upon. So that being a sunbeam or sowing good seed amounts to one and the same thing. But let us go and sow our seed.”
They now walked down the beach until they came to the spot where they saw the sailors. Here aunt Amy gave [43] Minnie a tract to carry to a stout sailor, who had on a large tarpaulin hat. She ran up to the man, with one of her sweetest smiles, and said,—
“Please, sir, will you accept a tract?” ”

“ We can now think of our walk with pleasure, because it has been useful.”
“Well, aunt, I wish I could be a sunbeam to somebody before I get home.”
“Perhaps you may be. Look down yonder lane. There is a little boy crying. He looks as if he was in trouble. See if you can comfort him with a kind word or two.”
While Minnie ran to see what good she could do to the weeping boy, a girl came along, very poorly clad, and carrying [30] a bundle of dry sticks on her head. Aunt Amy’s kind heart pitied the poor child. She stopped her and said,—
“What is your name, little girl?” ”

“ The weather being fine, they went beyond the village and down a lane which led to an old granite quarry on the edge of a fine piece of woods. On reaching the quarry, they sat down upon a large fragment of granite to rest themselves, for their walk made them feel a little tired. ”

“ But if not, she [49] will be wretched, even if we should dress her in silk, and adorn her with jewels.”
“Yes, I know Kate must be good if she is happy. But I think she will be when she gets her dress, and goes to Sunday school. Don’t you, aunt?”
“We will hope so, my dear. But now let us lay aside our work and take a walk.”
To this Minnie could make no objection. So she and her aunt walked out into the shady streets and lanes of Rosedale. On their way, they saw a poor old soldier, with a wooden leg, [50] hobbling towards them slowly. As soon as Minnie saw him advancing, she said,—
“O aunt! ”

“ It soon carried them beyond Rosedale into a pleasant road, and Minnie was busy all the rest of [37] the ride pointing to the pretty scenery they passed, and asking many questions about the mansions, cottages, and farms which met her eye. ”