"Oh papa," cried an interesting
little girl of some seven summers, bursting into the room where
her father was sitting, "Oh papa, sister Kate says, that
the girls are going to get up a juvenile sewing society, and
mamma says I can sew well enough to join it, but they have to
pay ten cents for a fee, and I have no money to pay for one."
"And does my little daughter wish me to give her money?"
asked her father.
"Oh no, but could I hem some handkerchief
for you, and earn it, papa?"
"A bright thought, my dear: I will buy some this evening,
but it is now your bedtime, so good-night." "Good
night, papa."
Emma retired to bed, but not to sleep:
her mind was too much occupied with the new society, for sleep.
"And what was this new society?" some may ask. Was
it for obtaining money to use for own selfish purposes?"
Oh no, it was far better than that. It was for obtaining money
to send missionaries to the benighted heathen.
Long did she talk with her sister Kate
about it, and, when at last she fell asleep, it was only to
dream of it again. The next morning when she awoke, she found
three handkerchiefs, with sewing silk, needles and thimble on
the table beside her, and after dressing herself neatly, and
offering up her morning prayer, she commenced hemming a handkerchief.
Now it may seem like nothing, to those riper years to hem a
few handkerchiefs, yet it was quite an undertaking for little
Emma, who was not much use to it. As the school which she attended
took up the greater part of her time, she did not get along
with the handkerchiefs very fast. The next Saturday was to be
a holiday, and the little girls were intending to have a picnic
party in a neighboring grove, therefore Emma was chosen queen
of it. It cost her many bitter regret to give it up, which she
at last did. Emma stayed home, finished her handkerchiefs, and
received her ten cents, besides a great deal of approbation
from her parents, who were rejoiced to find their little girl
so steady and presevering.
The society flourished, and at the end
of a year, sent eight dollars to the cause of foreign missions.
Emma continued one of the most efficient
members of it, until her father moved from the place, which
was five years afterwards.
Girls, copy Emma, and remember that although
she did not accomplish her object without self-denial, yet she
was well rewarded, at least, by her own conscience.
