JUDGE NOT by Mrs. Annie A. Preston

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 13.

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JUDGE NOT.

By Mrs. Annie A. Preston

"HAVE you heard from Mrs. Dwight Ely this winter?" asked Mrs. Bell of a lady caller one January day.

"Didn't you know I have been down and made her a week's visit?"

"No, indeed, how did you find her? She was not at all well during the autumn."

Mrs. Weldon laughed skeptically as she replied,—

"She is making a great pretense of invalidism, it seems to me. I suppose she thinks it makes her appear interesting. She is thin, to be sure, but that is nothing new. She is about the house, looks after things and reads a little. She does not cough, she has quite a good appetite, but she wears a loose wrapper all the time, and does not go out even to church, where she used to be so devoted; she has given up fancy work and her music, but she never complains, only when someone inquires after her health she says with such a sweetly resigned expression, 'Not as well as I could desire.' Now I must admit that I haven't the least sympathy for her. I believe if she would dress up and stir about, and go to ride, and into society, she would be as well as anyone."

"Mrs. Dwight Ely has gone to New York to consult a physician there—started this morning," said another caller who came in. "She went off as cheerfully as possible, but her husband appeared very sad."

"Nothing in the world ails her but nervousness," said Mrs. Weldon. "It is a shame for her to insist upon going to New York for advice when all she needs is fresh air and exercise. I do hate to see a woman so humored, and a man so humbugged."

Two weeks later, as Mrs. Weldon and Mrs. Bell met on the street, the former said,—

"I have just heard that Mrs. Dwight Ely is dead, and am so shocked. She went to New York to be treated for a cancer, but the case was entirely hopeless. She had suffered in silence this two years; no one knew the cause of her feeble health excepting her husband and physician. We can't always judge by appearance. I feel quite conscience-stricken, and am resolved to put a contribution out of my allowance into the missionary box every time I judge anyone wrongfully."

Only the next day at the sewing society, however, she said,—

"I think it is a shame for Mrs. Humes to wear that old gray gown another winter; she said six months ago she was about buying a new one, and asked my advice about material; but probably the money has gone into the savings bank."

"No, it went into a suit for Ray Harper, so that he may go on and graduate at the high school."

"What was that for? He is not a relative."

"His invalid mother is her intimate neighbor. Ray is the hope of the family. He has the promise of an excellent situation when he graduates."

"Oh, dear! how little one knows of their neighbors' motives! When shall I ever learn to rule my unfortunate tongue?"

Only a week later she made a cruel remark about a young girl in the church whom she had seen riding with a married man, that might have created a scandal had not the person addressed been able to explain that the young lady had been sent for in haste to go to her sister, who had just met with a serious accident.

At the end of the quarter, Mrs. Weldon carried her mite box to Mrs. Bell. It was heavy, and as it was being unfastened, she said,—

"I mean to keep up giving every time I say anything uncharitable, as a penance. I never shall be able to break myself of the bad habit."

"You never will until you remember who it was who said 'Judge not,' and look to Him for a new heart in which no desire for evil speaking has a place," said Mrs. Bell, gently.

"I believe that is so; will you not pray with me that I may no longer strive to correct my faults in my own strength? for I have come to believe that it is impossible, and thank you for pointing me to the true way."

—Mrs. Annie A. Preston, in Christian at Work.