Nellie was a dear little girl about six years of age, who spent happy days from morn till night. There was a beautiful secret to this perennial happiness. Her parents, both of whom were Christian Scientists, taught her that God is Love; the Author of helpful, happy thoughts; that when she felt kind and loving toward anyone, God was governing her thought; so she was careful to choose as companions, thoughts of helpfulness and cheerfulness always. She also learned that there is nothing to feel afraid of, because God is everywhere—Love fills all space. Thus she found that by trusting God always, she could not have pain, show temper, or be discontented. Whenever discord seemed to appear, she would say: "Oh, my! I must hurry and catch my Good thought, then I shall feel all right." The result was harmony and gentleness throughout that little home circle.
I oftentimes think mammas or papas err when they put strange fear-thoughts into baby's head. Children are fearless until someone says: "Take care, you will fall," or, "Look out, that knife is sharp;" then bump and gash are the result.
Nellie's parents were to go a long way from home to teach and heal in Christian Science, and were in quite a puzzle as to what should be done with "Sparkle," as they called her, because she was always so cheerful and bright. They at last decided she had best go to her Uncle Johnson's. This uncle owned a farm in the country, where he lived in a big old-fashioned house with a peaked roof and an attic, where games of hide-and-seek and doll-house could be played every day. He was a grape cultivator, too, and packed grapes in wooden baskets which he sent, by the load, for sale to the adjacent cities. Nellie's Aunt Carrie carefully looked after the goodies, doughnuts, cookies, pumpkin pies, etc., for the little folks to eat when they visited her.
