JUDGE NOT—LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
By Mrs. Phena Morey
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. White were not only neighbors, but members of the same church, to which they had been connected for about two years. Mrs. White had been away on a visit, and after returning Mrs. Brown was the first caller. After talking over a revival which had been in progress in the church during Mrs. White’s absence, the latter anxiously inquired as to who had given their hearts to God. Mrs. Brown gave a sigh and looked out of the window. Just then Lula Jones passed. "There," said Mrs. Brown, "goes one of the converts with the same ruffled dress on as before." "Do you know the reason of her wearing it now?" spoke Mrs. White. "You know her father is poor and not able to furnish Lula with all new dresses, and she has had that dress a long time and she probably thinks it not worth making over. I should not, at least." "Mrs. Simple," said Mrs. Brown, "is another convert. You know how she runs her husband in debt; just two weeks before the meeting she bought a silk dress, which cost thirty dollars. Her husband has all he can do to keep out of debt. I saw her come from town last week again with a big armful, and I expect there is another big debt for Mr. Simple to pay." "Mrs. Brown, are you not too quick to notice these things? Did you know that Mr. Simple goes away early in the morning and does not get home till late at night, and Mrs. Simple has all the shopping to do, and likely she had been doing that this time. Mr. White works with Mr. Simple, and he says there is a great change in his wife, and that she sold her silk dress for twenty-five dollars, to help pay up his debts. That must have been quite a sacrifice for her; but we all receive blessings by sacrificing." "Why, I had never heard of that before," said Mrs. Brown. "There is Mr. Dipple, the drunkard," she continued, "he claims to have been converted but I saw him go in the saloon about a week ago. I don’t give much for such conversions." Mrs. White looked up and said: "I know a few weeks ago Mr. Dipple owed thirty dollars at the saloon; I hear he has work now, and gets forty dollars a month; it would show honesty in him to go and pay his debts everywhere. It may be that that was what he was doing last week." "Mrs. Gem joined the church, too, but she scolds her children as bad as ever. I guess the conversion was not very deep." "Poor woman!" said Mrs. White. "I feel sorry for her, she has so many trials, and she is only a babe in Christ. I expect a Christian visit from someone would help her. Suppose we try it. We will realize a blessing by helping her." Mrs. Brown now spoke her mind freely: "Mrs. White, you always look at the best side. Why is it?" "Why cannot I do so too?" replied Mrs. Brown. "You may. Just let the Lord do the work in you. Think of the love of Jesus to you, and then it will be easy to be charitable toward other people. When you get home, read carefully Mark 10: 27 and Heb. 13: 8. Then study 1 John 3: 22." This ended the conversation of the two friends. Dear reader, which one are we like?