essie to school. Her
father's words rang as sweet music in her ears. How good the dear Lord
was to answer her in her father's behalf! She felt that no good thing
would be withheld from them that walk uprightly. But Bessie was soon to
meet a severe and unexpected trial.

Her mother had made her a school-dress. Though neat and pretty, it was
of a material commonly used for men's shirts. Bessie knew this, but
thought nothing of it until some of her schoolmates gathered round her
at recess and said, "O girls, Bessie has a new dress like her father's
shirt." Another said, "Perhaps it is his shirt." The remarks were
certainly unkind, and Bessie felt them keenly; but she laughed and said,
"Yes; I know it." Nothing more was said. But oh, that dress! How she
disliked to wear it! At times she could hardly start to school with it
on; but then she would think, "I know Mama thought it was pretty when
she got it for me; and I thought it was nice until the girls made those
remarks. I will try to like it for Mama's sake."

With such thoughts in her mind she returned home from school one
evening. When she reached the house, she saw that no one was at home;
but, knowing where the key was kept, she easily gained admittance.
Finding herself alone in the house, she thought: "Now is the time to
learn to like my dress, and I'm going to do it. Mother shall not know
how I have felt about it." She hastened into the parlor and stood before
a large mirror.

Now, Bessie knew that she did not have a pretty face, and she had gained
the victory over that; but she did want to feel that her clothes looked
well on her, and that was the battle she meant to fight that evening. As
she slowly turned from side to side viewing herself intently, she liked
the dress better and better. At last she thought it very pretty and
becoming, and she knelt down and thanked God for giving it to her. As
she changed it for her work-dress, she wondered why she had allowed the
children's remarks to affect her so much and had not appreciated the
dress more. No more remarks were ever made about the dress, and Bessie
continued to admire it until it was worn out. No one but herself and the
Lord knew of the struggle through which she passed.

Through the trial concerning the dress, Bessie learned several valuable
lessons: first, the less notice one takes of unkindness, the better;
second, God's grace can keep in time of temptation; third, one should
not murmur because of persec