Stepping Heavenward
by Mrs. E. Prentiss
January 15, 1831.
How dreadfully old I am getting! Sixteen! Well, I don't see as I canhelp it. There it is in the big Bible in father's own hand:"Katherine, born Jan. 15, 1815."
I meant to get up early this morning, but it looked dismally cold outof doors, and felt delightfully warm in bed. So I covered myself up,and made ever so many good resolutions.
I determined, in the first place, to begin this Journal. To be sure,I have begun half a dozen, and got tired of them after a while. Nottired of writing them, but disgusted with what I had to say ofmyself. But this time I mean to go on, in spite of everything. Itwill do me good to read it over, and see what a creature I am.
Then I resolved to do more to please mother than I have done.
And I determined to make one more effort to conquer my hasty temper.I thought, too, I would be self-denying this winter, like the peopleone reads about in books. I fancied how surprised and pleasedeverybody would be to see me so much improved!
Time passed quickly amid these agreeable thoughts, and I was quitestartled to hear the bell ring for prayers. I jumped up in a greatflurry and dressed as quickly as I could. Everything conspiredtogether to plague me. I could not find a clean collar, or ahandkerchief. It is always just so. Susan is forever poking my thingsinto out-of-the-way places! When at last I went down, they were allat breakfast.
"I hoped you would celebrate your birthday, dear, by coming down ingood season," said mother.
I do hate to be found fault with, so I fired up in an instant.
"If people hide my things so that I can't find them, of course I haveto be late," I said. And I rather think I said it in a very crossway, for mother sighed a little. I wish mother wouldn't sigh. I wouldrather be called names out and out.
The moment breakfast was over I had to hurry off to school. Just as Iwas going out mother said, "Have you your overshoes, dear?"
"Oh, mother, don't hinder me! I shall be late," I said. "I don't needovershoes."
"It snowed all night, and I think you do need them," mother said.
"I don't know where they are. I hate overshoes. Do let me go,mother," I cried. "I do wish I could ever have my own way."
"You shall have it now, my child," mother said, and went away.
Now what was the use of her calling me "my child" in such a tone, Ishould like to know.
I hurried off, and just as I got to the door of the schoolroom itflashed into my mind that I had not said my prayers! A nice way tobegin on one's birthday, to be sure! Well, I had not time. Andperhaps my good resolutions pleased God almost as much as one of myrambling stupid prayers could. For I must own I can't make goodprayers. I can't think of anything to say. I often wonder what motherfinds to say when she is shut up by the hour together.
I had a pretty good time at school. My teachers praised me, andAmelia seemed so fond of me! She brought me a birthday present of apurse that she had knit for me herself, and a net for my hair. Netsare just coming into fashion. It will save a good deal of time myhaving this one. Instead of combing and combing and combing my oldhair to get it glossy enough to suit mother, I can just give it onetwist and one squeeze and the whole thing will be settled for theday.
Amelia wrote me a dear little note, with her presen