Children are travelers newly arrived in a strange country; we should therefore make conscience not to mislead them.
301
IT'S ONLY ME.
A lady had two children—both girls. The elder was a fair child; the younger a beauty, and the mother's pet. Her whole love centered in it. The elder was neglected, while "Sweet" (the pet name of the younger) received every attention that affection could bestow. One day, after a severe illness, the mother was sitting in the parlor, when she heard a childish footstep on the stairs, and her thoughts were instantly with the favorite.
"Is that you, Sweet?" she enquired.
"No, mamma," was the sad, touching reply, "it isn't Sweet: it's only me."
The mother's heart smote her; and from that hour "only me" was restored to an equal place in her affections.
302
Children are usually what their mothers were, or are.