The lessons Mary learned that summer on the farm while filling her hope chest and preparing her mind for wifehood were of inestimable value to her in later years.  She learned not only to bake, brew and keep house, but from constant association with her Aunt she acquired a self-poise, a calm, serene manner, the value of which is beyond price in this swift, restless age.

One day, while having a little heart-to-heart talk with Mary, her Aunt said:  “My dear, never allow an opportunity to pass for doing a kind act.  If ever so small, it may cheer some sad, lonely heart.  Don’t wait to do big things.  The time may never come.  If only a kind word, speak it at once.  Kind words cost so little, and we should all be more prodigal with them; and to a tired, sad, discouraged soul, a kind word or act means so very much; and who is there that has not at some time in life known sorrow and felt the need of sympathy?  Were our lives all sunshine we could not feel in touch with sorrowing friends.  How natural it is for our hearts to go out in sympathy to the one who says ‘I have suffered.’  Give to your friend the warm hand-clasp and cheery greeting’ which cost us nothing in the giving.  ’Tis the little lifts which help us over stones in our pathway through life.  We think our cross the heaviest when, did we but know the weight of others, we’d not willingly exchange; and remember Mary, ’there are no crown-bearers in Heaven that were not cross-bearers below.’  Have you ever read the poem, ‘The Changed Cross?’ No?  Well, I will give it to you to copy in your book of recipes.  Should you ever, in future years, feel your cross too heavy to bear, read the poem.  How many brave, cheery little women greet us with a smile as they pass.  But little do we or any one realize that instead of a song in their hearts the smiles on their lips conceal troubles the world does not suspect, seeking to forget their own sorrows while doing kindly acts for others.  They are the real heroes whom the world does not reward with medals for bravery, ’To stand with a smile upon your face against a stake from which you cannot get away, that, no doubt, is heroic; but the true glory is not resignation to the inevitable.  To stand unchained, with perfect liberty to go away, held only by the higher claims of duty, and let the fire creep up to the heart, that is heroism.’  Ah! how many good women have lived faithful to duty when ’twould have been far easier to have died!”

“FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS.”

Matt. xxv:  23.

  It may seem to you but a trifle, which you have been called to do;
  Just some humble household labor, away from the public view,
  But the question is, are you faithful, and striving to do your best,
  As in sight of the Blessed Master, while leaving to Him the rest?

  It may be but a little corner, which you have been asked to fill;
  What matters it, if you are in it, doing the Master’s will? 
  Doing it well and faithfully, and doing it with your might;
  Not for the praise it may bring you, but because the thing is right.