Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1875 — Our young Folks. [ARTICLE]

Our young Folks.

NEL ALTON’S MOTHER. “ Mamma! O mamma!” cried an eager young voice, and Nel Alton, a plump, rosy school girl of twelve summers, rushed into her mother’s room, and flinging her text-books on the sofa she seated herself on an ottoman at her mother’s feet. Mrs. Alton looked up from her sewing with a quiet smile and said, as she pushed back the tangled curls from Nel’s uplifted forehead : “ What is the matter with you, my girl ? Has anything serious occurred at the institute?” “ O mamma,” said Nel, half reproachfully, “ you can’t have forgotten,that it is just a week ago to-day I received that invitation to Minnie Shelburne’s party. You said at the time that you didn’t know whether I might accept, and I think I’ve, been awfully patient not to tease you about it, while it’s all the talk at school, and I’m just dying with anxiety and ” “ Really, Nel, i did not know that you were in such a critical condition. We will have Dr. Howe called immediately,” said Aunt Kate, who had just come in. She was a young girl of sixteen, and dearly loved to tease her high-spirited niece. Nel flushed up to the temples at this reminder of her besetting fault—exaggeration. “ Of course I don’t mean just that,” she said; “ but, any way, I’m crazy to go, and “ I believe lunatics are well provided for at the ” “ Yes, Kate, let the child have her say,” interposed Mrs. Alton. That young lady smiled gfaeiously and left the apartment with a sweeping courtesy. ' '“There, dear, proceed,” said Mrs. Alton, laying down her work, so as to devote her whole attention tq this one dear, little daughter. “ Thank you, mamma. I wanted totell you that almost all the girls are going. Mrs. Dressup has bought the loveliest silk for Carrie and Jessie; and Mrs. Showoff lias three women sewing on Emma’s dress. Here I am, not knowing whether I can go. Cousin Sue said she thought my ‘ mother a woman of great deliberation.’ ”

“ In years to come you will rejoice over the truth of that remark, my darling. ” “But, mamma, please decide now, won’t you?” “ I have decided, my dear. Last night your father and I had a long talk about the matter, and we agreed ” “To let me go!” cried eager Nei. “No, dear. Anxious for your truest good we were sorry we should have to disappoint you. But we cannot grant you harmful pleasures.” Nell bit her lip, while her brown eyes filled with tears. “ May I ask ycur reasons, mamma?” “Yes, dear; and I feel that my sensible little daughter cannot but be satisfied with them. All the advantages you are now having tend to make you at some future time a useful woman in society. To obtain their full benefit your ipind must remain undiverted from yourself, kept free from excitement and everything that will detract from your health and strength. Parties will excite you, deprive you of sleep, fill your mind full of foolish fancies, retard you in your school work, and make you thin, pale and irritable. We would sadly miss our bright, blooming Nel. Do you wonder we refuse to let you attend the party?” “But only just, once cannot hurt me,” pleaded Nel. “ The one party, my child, will be followed by a score of them. If you go to Miss Shelburne’s, the other girls will wonder why you cannot attend theirs, and ill feelings -will arise. We will talk no more about it now. Some time you. will thank me for my course. Are you satified?” “ I’ll try to be, mamma,” said Nel; but there were a few suspicious drops on her eyelashes. The night of the party arrived. Nel had had a very trying week at school, for the. girls thought of nothing else besides their fine preparations. She bore it bravely, and after tea sat resolutely down to her lessons, which were unusually difficult. Half-past eight found her strapping them up with the air of a conqueror, while she exclaimed; “ Now, mamma, they’re all done, every one. May I run over and see Cousin Sue off?” Consent was given, and Nel entered her uncle’s vestibule just as Sue was descending the stairs in a cloud of lace and pink silk. She felt a little choking in her throat, but said, with a spice of wickedness: “Sue, you look lovely; but to-mor-row’s French exercise is terribly hard.” " “ And Miss Propriety Stay-at-home has prepared for it, I infer. Aren’t you sorry you can’t go?” said Sue, settling her flounces with a satisfied air. “Mother knows best,” said Nel, decidedly; then she went home. While her sixth hour of sleep, sweet and restful, was passing by, poor, tired, cross Sue returned home, and wearily climbed the stairs to her room. Next day Nel came home, saying: “ I am at the head of all my classes. Some of the girls were late, others had headaches, all of them were disagreeable, and none of them had half-prepared their lessons. Prof. Marslily was very angry, but he thanked me for my good example to the others. You dearest mother! I’ll trust vou as lbng as I live.” And Nel sealed the compact with a kiss. Years afterward two ladies were seated in a pleasant room engaged in conversation. One of them reclined on a sofa, and her sallow features and restless, dissatisfied manner marked her an invalid. The 'face of the ofher was bright with health and vivacity. Her sunny smile and cheery voice showed her a stranger to sickness and pain. “ Nel, my dear,” sighed the former, “ you can have no idea of the dreadful condition of my nervous system. I spend the greater part of the day on the sofa. The children are a perfect worriment, everything about the house goes wrong, and Baipli looks so discontented I cannot enjoy.society at all. In fact the doctor says I had too much dissipation when young and ruined my constitution with parties and late suppers. I would give my fortune for your good health.” “ Cousin Sue, I remember when you used to drive oft' to parties and think scornfully of my quiet home evenings.” ' “I remember, Nel.. Do hand me the hartshorn and another cushion, and please lower the shade a little. There, thank j’ou. Now, will you inform to what you owe your healthy, happy life?”^, At this moment the door opened, and a silver-haired, sweetfaced Nel rose to meet her, and twining one arm atk>dt the lady’s waist, “ Cousin Sue,” she said, “my perfect health; my tbugood I am enabled to do for God and humanity, ihe comfort I succeed in giving to my hus-

band and children; the knowledge I have of my Heavenly Father and the love I bear Him I owe to the wonderful care, the wise counsel and the tender love and prayers of my mother.” - And like a coronet of glory these words rested on the head of the woman at her side.— Christian, at Work.