A THORN IN THE PILLOW.


LTTLE Mabel went to visit her grandmother. She seemed happy all day; for she had everything to make her happy; but when her grandmother went to look at her after she was asleep, she saw tear-drops on her eye-lashes.

"Ah," said the old lady the next morning, "you were a little homesick last night, my dear?"

"Oh, no, grandmother!" Mabel replied, 

"I could never be homesick with you."

It was just the same the next night, and the next. At length her grandmother thought, as the child seemed troubled, she would sit in the next room until she went to sleep. Presently, although Mabel was tucked up, she began to rustle the quilt, and shake her pillow; and her grandmother heard a little sob; so she went to her and said,

"Mabel, my child, you have a thorn in your pillow; what is it?"

Then the little girl hid her face, and began to cry aloud. Her grandmother was very much troubled.

At length Mabel answered, "O grandmother! When I am alone here I cannot forget how I said 'I won't, mother!' and I cannot unsay it. Mother is so good, and. loves me very much! And I, I was so naughty, grandmother!"

The tears streamed afresh down the child's cheeks. Here, then, was the thorn in the pillow; and she could not withdraw it. And so it will be by-and-by with the little boy who is at home now. When he is away among strangers he will think of the home of his childhood, and the recollection of some unkind word or action will be a thorn in his pillow when he retires at night. And the little girl who does not care to help her mother now, and looks cross when told to do anything, will find a thorn in her pillow when that mother sleeps in the grave.

 




London Children's Friend.