WHY DID YOU NOT COME BEFORE?
[An aged Hindoo woman, while first hearing the Gospel, said, "Why did you not come before? My hair has grown gray waiting for the good news.">[
AN aged woman, poor and weak,
She heard the mission teacher speak;
The slowly-rolling tears came down
Upon her withered features brown.
"What blessed news from yon far shore—
Would I had heard it long before.
"O, I have bowed at many a shrine,
When youth and health and strength were mine;
How earnestly my soul has striven
To find some gleam of light from heaven;
But all my toil has been in vain—
These gods of stone but mocked my pain.
"A weary pilgrimage I've trod,
To win some favor from my god;
And all my jewelled wealth I've laid
Beneath the dark Pagoda's shade;
But still, the burden on my breast
Bowed head and heart with sore unrest.
"Now, I have waited many a day,
My form is bent, my hair is gray;
But still the blessed words you bear
Have charmed away my long despair;
O sisters, from your happy shore,
Would you had sent to me before!
"O, precious is the message sweet
I hear your kindly lips repeat;
It bids me weep for joy again;
My stony eyes were dry with pain;
My weary heart with joy runs o'er—
Ah, had you come to me before!
"How welcome is the glorious name
Of Jesus, who to save me came.
And shall I live when death is past?
And may I all my burdens cast
On Him? And is His mercy free?
Not bought with gifts? Such news for me!
"Yes, please forgive me when I say,
I've needed this so many a day.
In your glad homes, did ye not know
How India's tears of sorrow flow?
If you had known on that bright shore,
Surely you would have come before!"
—Miss P. J. Owens, Methodist Protestant.
LITTLE MISSION WORKERS AT MOTHER'S KNEE.
Maud from Minnesota. Yes, I wrote the book which was your Christmas present. I am glad you like it. I think you will like the closing of the story about "Nettie and Jerry," but I must not tell you how it ends, for that would lessen the interest. "In a minute" is a very troublesome creature; I rejoice that you are going to get rid of his company.
Winnie from Pennsylvania. A "temper" is a very good servant, but makes a bad master. If you succeed in keeping rule over yours, as I know you will if you try, remembering the "Whisper Motto," you will be much happier and more useful than you could possibly be if it ruled you.
Deck and Wilder from Minnesota. Yes, indeed, your letter shall be published, and I hope "papa" will enjoy it as much as I did. I am also much obliged to "sister" for writing for you. Still, I hope you will write me a letter all yourselves, as soon as you can, and let me know how you succeed. I am truly glad you have resolved not to "contradict each other." Do you know I believe Satan likes to hear people contradict better than he likes almost any other fault which well brought up, truthful people have.
Newton from Pennsylvania. My boy, we welcome you with pleasure. To squarely own a fault is sometimes half the battle. You cannot be too careful of the words you speak to "mother." Cross words sometimes sting and burn after the mothers are gone. Watch carefully, and resolve to be a joy and comfort to your mother so long as you have one.
Rachel from Kentucky. These "hasty tempers!" You have only to read the answers to the Pansies from month to month to discover how many are troubled with them. It is a wise thing to begin very early in life to keep them under control. About the habit of "forgetfulness," it sometimes grows on people so rapidly that they injure all their prospects in life by it. You do well to watch it.
Emma from Massachusetts. It would be very pleasant to the Pansies to hear the story of some one whom you succeed in "Helping." Will you tell it for us? I hope the badge has reached you long ago, and is a comfort.
Ned from Massachusetts. Good for you, my brave young soldier! A pledge against all that can intoxicate, and against tobacco, is a grand thing. I hope every Pansy in the garden will follow your example. So you are tempted to say "I don't want to?" Sometimes that isn't a bad thing to say. If anybody coaxes you to do wrong, I hope you will always say boldly, "I don't want to." But if it is something you know you ought to do, suppose you rush right off and set about it so quickly that your tongue will not have time to speak the words. How will that do?
Bessie and Helen form North Carolina. Bless your dear hearts, of course you will not fail! Don't think of such a thing. When a pledge is right to take, and therefore right to keep, just shut your lips firmly and say, "We shall succeed, because we ought to, and what we ought to do, we can." Glad to enroll you.
Iya from Minnesota. I wonder if I have the name right? I am not sure. I hope your badge gave you help and pleasure. Oh, no, it costs nothing to belong to the P. S. but a good strong tussle with one's faults.
Arthur from Massachusetts. My boy, if I should put our roll of honor in The Pansy, there would be room for nothing else. There are thousands and thousands of names! Hurrah for the temperance pledge! I feel like giving a hearty cheer for every boy who signs it. I wonder how many Pansies we have who have done so? Wouldn't it be nice to know? Dear me, I hope you are not a lazy boy! Because they are almost certain to make lazy men. Don't be a lazy Pansy, please.
Cora from South Carolina. So glad to hear the badge is helping you. Give my love to Daisy and little Alice; you will have to be a very careful older sister in order to help them, will you not? So your dear father has gone to Heaven? Poor little Blossom! I know how you miss him. You must be a special flower for your dear mamma now, shedding all the perfume you can around her.
Martha from Massachusetts. Yes, I know all about how easy it is to "answer back," and I know just what a trial it is to the mothers. You do well to make a great effort to break the power of the habit. Getting up in the morning isn't the easiest work in the world for a great many people. I knew a lady who said she was obliged to spring out of bed as soon as her eyes were opened, because if she waited five minutes it seemed to her that it was not possible to get up! I suspect, my dear Blossom, that you have a good mother. There is nothing which needs more careful guarding than what we read. Make a rule to read nothing that mother does not approve.
Lena from New York. Glad to hear from Lena. These dear mothers are worth minding the very minute they speak. I almost know you will keep your pledge.
Cora from Indian Territory. Welcome, dear Cora, to our Pansy bed. I am sorry you have to bloom all alone in your far-away home. Cannot you find some more Pansies who would bloom if they had a chance? Try. I know all about what a nuisance it is to have people around who do not put away their "things." At this moment there lies a cap in the very centre of my study table among the papers. It belongs to a boy who is shouting at somebody in the kitchen to know if they have the least idea where his cap is! He spends an immense amount of time looking for things that ought to be hanging on their hooks, or lying properly on their shelves, and would be, I believe, if they could only walk.
Nettie from Ohio. I hope your Pansy reaches you regularly, my dear little girl, and that it gives you a great deal of comfort. You see your "prayer" was answered in just the way you most wanted. Our Father in Heaven always answers all prayer, but sometimes he has to say "No" because He can tell whether what we have asked is the best thing.
Edwin from New York. My boy, if you have done a "kind act" each day since you took your pledge, you must have some pleasant stories to tell which the Pansies would like to hear. Cannot you write out one of them for us?
Andrew from Illinois. O the teeth! I am very glad you have pledged to take care of them. I know a boy who says he "cannot" remember to brush his, only on Sundays, and I am very much afraid the consequence will be, they will not be worth brushing by the time he is a man. Thank you for being a worker for The Pansy. I know of no better way to show that you like the magazine than to try to get others to take it.
Ethelwyn from Pennsylvania. How many people have you helped, my dear? And how many ways have you discovered in which you can help others? Can we be helpful without speaking a word? One of the most helpful little people I know is a deaf and dumb girl. How do you suppose she manages it?
Minnie from Ohio. Dear little friend, it is very easy to be "impatient." There is a little girl of my acquaintance who became so impatient with a door which would not open that she knocked it with her knee. Now it happened that in her pocket was a small cushion with needles on it, and the knock sent a fine needle into her knee, which caused her dreadful pain and kept her from taking a step for many weeks. She used to say, "Oh, dear, if I only hadn't!"
Willie from Ohio. I like your pledge. When a boy has a good father and mother, and pledges himself always to obey them in everything, he is about as safe as he can be in this world; especially if they are Christian people, who say to him, "My boy, your first duty is to give yourself to the Lord Jesus to obey him in all things."
Jessie from Colorado. I wish you had sent me a copy of the "Exercise," "Jesus Our Star." It must have been very beautiful, and perhaps the Pansies would like to use it in their Sabbath-schools. Perhaps you can send us a copy for next Christmas? How many presents you received! What did you do for those who had none?
Frank from Michigan. So, my seven-year-old Blossom, you sometimes get angry, do you? That is bad; the perfume of angry flowers is very disagreeable. It is well you have taken the pledge to overcome.
Inez from Indiana. You are not alone in your fault, my darling. It is as natural for people to want their own way, as it is to breathe. The important thing is, to be very pleasant about giving it up, when for any reason you cannot, or ought not to have it. This is a thing well worth trying for.
Anne from Washington. I was very deeply interested in your letter, and have great sympathy for you in your great affliction. What a wonderful and blessed thing it will be if all the members of your large family meet in Heaven! Are you doing all you can to make sure of that happy meeting?
Florence from New York. A letter "all to yourself" is something I cannot give, my Blossom, much as I would like to. Don't you see it would not be fair to the others? I think you have the best possible sort of "pet." Finger nails are very useful things, and have a way of looking very badly if they are forgotten. I am glad you are going to care for yours.
Edith and Lilian from Massachusetts. I am always glad to welcome two sisters; I think they can be such helps to each other. We are delighted to accept "Grandma" as an "honorary member." We have a special and tender love for all the dear grandmas. I have not the least doubt but she will keep her beautiful pledge to try to make somebody happy every day; and I can imagine how happy you two can make her if she sees you trying.
Robert from Massachusetts. So you "don't like to mind quickly?" Well, never mind whether you like it or not, if you succeed in doing it. I think myself it requires a good deal of decision to accomplish it, and I don't know of any habit more important to acquire, so I welcome you with pleasure.
Pauline from Massachusetts. My little "wilful" Blossom! A will is a very good thing if you make a servant of it, and oblige it to do just the right thing; but when one gets to be its slave, oh, dear! I am glad you have begun early to train it aright.
Daisy from New York. Poor finger nails! How would you like to be bitten every time you plucked up courage and grew a little. Don't treat your faithful little servants so badly. "Clayton" is very nearly right. We can do almost anything we try hard to do, that is if it is right that we should do it. For, back of this idea lies a great truth: God never gives us any command which is too hard for us to obey. It is very easy to get angry, and sometimes hard to break the habit; but it can be done.
Lulu from Virginia. Here is another little Southern Blossom who wants to overcome "all" her faults. Brave little girl! I am sure you will succeed much better than those who never think about their faults at all.
Emma from Connecticut. Did she have so many faults that she couldn't count them? Poor little robin! Still I suspect that is the honest truth about every one of us. We are great bundles of faults. If you try with wide-open eyes to overcome each as it appears to you, you will keep a very important pledge.
Arthur Fred from Rhode Island. My boy, I can sympathize with "mamma." I am not sure that I know a more troublesome small habit than the one of moving slowly. Especially when one is waiting for you. Did you ever hear of the boy who lost his life because he waited to say "What for?" when told to bend his head? I could tell you of a little girl who lost a long delightful journey because she moved so slowly across a railroad depot that the train went off and left her behind.
Bertha from Maine. "Getting mad!" Oh, dear! what a sorrowful fault for a little Bertha. The "Whisper Motto," my dear, is "For Jesus' Sake." It is called so because though we may be often in places where we could not whisper to our father or mother or any earthly friends, it is not possible to go where we could not speak to Jesus, and get his help. If you control your temper for Jesus' sake, you will surely succeed.
Lena from Massachusetts. "Little sister" will have a much happier life because of your pledge. And she will probably make a better woman if she lives, because of it. If sisters only knew how much they could help each other, by watching their words, I think they would take your pledge.
Helen from Connecticut. You are right, my friend, everybody has "need of patience." I don't suppose you will find a day in your life but you will need a large stock of it to draw from. You do well to begin early to gather it.
Jessie from Connecticut. We are glad to enroll you among our number. There is no doubt but that you and your friend can be great helps to each other. Patient people, those who can be patient with little trials or annoyances, are sadly needed in this world. I heard a gentleman say of a quiet little lady once, that she had a remarkable mind. "How do you know?" I asked, for I was aware that he had not talked much with her. "Because," he said, "I saw her keep a perfectly quiet face and gentle manner under a series of annoying circumstances; and only people with very cultured minds or hearts can do that."
Laura from New Jersey. Your plan for getting up a P. S. is an excellent one. I hope you will write and tell us how you succeed. We are very glad to welcome Andrew. I wish all the boys in the country would take his pledge to keep their arms off the table. Wouldn't the mothers rejoice!
Anita Harriet and Ada Maud. Welcome, dear little sisters, who write such nice letters. Does the old giant Impatience trouble you so much, Anita? I suspect about the time he comes along, Giant Cross gets hold of Maud. Am I right? Those two are very fond of working together. You are wise to join hands in fighting them.
Harvey and Lillie from New York. A brother and sister starting out together; that is good. Harvey, my boy, I don't often get a letter which gives me more pleasure than did yours. It is not easy work that you have undertaken, it is true, but you have a great Helper on your side. As soon as I can manage it, we must get up a mammoth temperance organization from the members of the P. S. As for the little sister, her sweet and thoughtful pledge will be helpful to you, as well as to herself.
Dear Pansy:
In reading my magazine I found you would like to know how your Pansies spent Christmas. I spent mine very pleasantly; we had a small tree in our sitting-room, with presents from papa and mamma, and all the family. In the evening sister went to the organ and played some sweet pieces, and we all joined in the singing. Then we went up to grandpa's. I think the day was filled with pleasant things.
Dear Pansy, I do try to keep my pledge. I try hard to keep things in their proper places; but I find I need to be very watchful, and to ask for a great deal of help from God. Mamma has just written to Boston to renew my subscription to The Pansy. It is rather late, but I hope not too late to wish you a Happy New Year.
Lovingly yours,
Lanetta Briggs.
Dear Pansy:
I want to join the P. S. because I have many faults, and I think the badge would help me. I believe my worst fault is being careless. Last year I raised some strawberries, and in that way earned the money for my Pansy. I hope to make enough this year to take it again. I can hardly wait for the next number to come. I would like to have your photograph if you have any to sell. I try to remember our "Whisper Motto." This is the first letter I ever wrote.
Your friend,
George Crosley.
Dear Pansy:
I have a good many faults, but I think my temper is the worst. That is when I get out of patience I am awful mad! Don't that sound dreadful? I am trying to control it, and I know The Pansy helps me. I like it better than all the papers and magazines in the world. Thank you for your good stories. I wish you a Happy New Year, not in words, but from my heart.
Your dear friend,
Willie Parsons.
Dear Pansy:
I write to you to promise three things:
1st. I promise to avoid the use of slang language of all descriptions.
2nd. I promise to avoid being irritable.
3rd. I promise to get as many people to sign the temperance pledge as I can.
Harvey Romer.
I have signed the temperance pledge and would have tried to carry out my third promise before but I did not know where to get pledges.
I am aware that what I undertake is not easy to perform, but I am one of Jesus' followers and I know he will help me if I ask him. I hope also that the badge will remind me of my pledge, and the whisper motto encourage me to perform it.
Yours Very Truly,
Harvey Romer.
P. S. I am a subscriber to the Pansy and would like a badge.
H. R.
Dear Pansy:
My brother Milton and I take The Pansy this year, and I want to be one of your little Pansies. I am seven years old, and can read and make letters and figures on my slate. I am trying to be a good boy, and if you will let me be one of your Blossoms, I will try to be better every day, and will promise not to drink any wine or cider, or anything that will make people drunk, and to be like the little boy my grandma read about in The Pansy, who signed the pledge when he was such a little boy. I say my prayers, and go to Sunday-school when I am well. I am sick now, have been in bed for two days, and my grandma reads to me out of The Pansy. We have some pretty pansies in our flower garden in the spring, and when they bloom I shall think of Pansy, and maybe I will send you some. My brother Milton has written to you, and I send twelve cents to pay for one of our badges. Warren wants to join too—says he is going to try to be good every day, but we think he is too little—he is only three years old. Don't you think he had better wait till he is a little bigger? With love from
Your little Blossom, D. Jemison Titlow.
I can write my own name, but not very good yet.
Dear Pansy:
My papa takes The Pansy for me this year, and I want to be one of your little Pansies. I am a little boy five years old, and live away down on the Eastern shore of Virginia. I go to school and am in my Second Reader and spelling-book, and make letters and figures on my slate. I can't write yet, so my papa is writing this for me. I try to be a good boy, but I want to be better, and am going to try and mind my papa and mamma every day, and help them all I can. I also promise not to drink any wine or cider, or anything to make me drunk. I say my prayers every night, and ask the Lord to bless my papa and mamma and brothers, and make me a good boy. I have a brother named Jemison who is seven years old, and a little brother named Warren who is three years old. Warren says naughty words sometimes. He says he is going to stop, and wants to be one of your Pansies, but I think he is too little. Jemmie is going to write to you and send twelve cents to pay for a badge. I go to Ocean Grove sometimes, and if I go this summer I hope I will see you. My papa gave me a copy-book to-day, and I am going to learn to write, so that I can write to you myself. I must now close, with love, from
Your little Blossom, Milton R. Titlow.
