Daniel Wise

“ I mean trials, Minnie. When you are ill used by a schoolmate, and are tempted to be revengeful, you are tried as the tree is tried by a storm. If you remain patient and loving under the trial, you are benefited by it, and will be more likely to endure the next trial you meet. Thus all your little storms, or trials, will be for your good. ”

“ God to make you strong to suffer, and especially if you do not indulge any harsh feeling against Lillia, it will do you good in the end."
Just then some bright eyes were seen peeping through the railing of the yard. Jeannie had found the other girls, and all three of them had come to tell Minnie they did not believe Lillia. Fanny and Rhoda asked her to forgive them for not speaking to her, and promised not to believe ill of her any more.
Minnie's eyes grew bright now. The storm was over, and the sun shone in her heart as brightly as ever. Good, kind, gentle Minnie! ”

“ The purpose they had formed was a wrong one. They ought not to have believed so unlikely a story about Minnie. And if it was clear that Minnie had said what Lillia charged against her, they ought to have gone to her, and asked her to explain herself. Certainly it was wrong to treat her with contempt, without giving a reason.
It was not long before the innocent Minnie, tripping lightly along the street, met Fanny and Rhoda. As usual, she [48] ran towards them with a smile upon her pleasant face, and said,—
"How are you, girls? I am so glad to meet you!" ”

“ But Minnie did not belong to this class of girls. It was not often her mother called her off from her studies. She was a sensible woman; she knew that a parent should not make needless trials for a child. But at this time she was doing something she could not very well leave. Hence she had called Minnie.
Minnie did not like to be called away from her lessons, and was for a moment inclined to feel angry. ”

“ A pretty story is easier to read than a dry lesson. Many little girls neglect the lesson for the story, because the latter is the easiest. Minnie often felt tempted to do this. One evening, just as she sat down to get her lessons for the next day, her father brought in her favorite magazine. ”

“ It was only the other day I took her into my father's arbor, and let her swing all the afternoon."
This was a wicked lie. A selfish [42] child, like Lillia, never regards the truth. She seeks only to gratify her evil passions, as Lillia did by this falsehood.
But the girls looked at her as if they doubted her word. It seemed so unlike Minnie to be ungrateful or neglectful of any one, they hardly knew what to make of it. At length Fanny remarked,—
"I never saw any thing hateful in Minnie."
"And I think Minnie is a very lovely girl," added Rhoda.
"So do I," exclaimed Jeannie. ”

“ Is that right?"
"I suppose you cannot help the preference you feel for Arthur, my child. He is a good boy. Ralph is not. Arthur loves his mother, and is the best boy in the village. Ralph is disobedient, proud, and unlovely. But while you thus pre [16] fer Arthur because of his better qualities, you must feel nothing but kindness and pity for wicked Ralph, and a desire to benefit him."
"That is just as I do feel, mother. But what's that?"
"I think I heard the door bell ring. Run and see, Minnie."
Minnie stepped quickly to the door. A little girl, named Lillia, stood on the threshold. ”

“ She then related all that had taken place at Lillia's on the afternoon of her visit to the swing in the arbor, and denied having ever said a word against either Lillia or any of the other girls. Jeannie, who was quick to perceive the state of things, was satisfied, and tenderly kissing Minnie, said,—
"Never mind, Minnie, I will go and find the girls, and tell them. I know [50] they will believe you. Don't cry, dear Minnie; I'll make it all right."
And then she ran off in search of the other girls. But Minnie hurried home to tell her sorrow to her mother. Mrs. Brown was out. ”

“ Now, some children whom I have seen, when thus disturbed, have looked very cross. Their eyes have flashed with angry fires, and they have been wont to use pert words, such as, "Can't you let me get my lesson?" "What do you want?" ”

“ Here her father interrupted her, by asking,—
"Why do you think of asking Lillia, my child?"
"Because she has been my enemy, pa, and I want to make her love me, if I can."
"That's right, Minnie. Christ will love and bless you, if you always try to return enmity with kindness."
The list was now completed by the addition of several other names. Arthur Ellerslie was among the boys to be invited. And that night, I think, [57] Minnie had a dream. And the principal object in that dream was a Christmas tree, sparkling with lighted wax tapers, and loaded with choice presents for boys and girls. ”