The Little Colonel

 When we were growing up, we had a book case upstairs that had so many books,

many of them quite old.  We never ran out of interesting and good  books to read.

Though it sat in that book case for years, I never picked this one up.

Published in 1922, "The Little Colonel" never interested me as a child.

But over the last few days, I finally picked it up.

A fast read, I found it quite fascinating that in those days,

there was no filter, like there is now, on socially accepted

terms especially for those of different races.  Words today

that raise many an eyebrow, were totally acceptable.  I loved

the book and the lesson behind it.  I just had to realize those

names were normal back then.

I had recently read something that stated when you read a book,

memorize one line to heart, that summarizes the plot. 

I had no trouble recognizing that line, and as soon as I 

read, I memorized it.  The story is about forgiveness, a father

who tosses his daughter out of his life for her choice in

a husband, a yankee.  Lloyd, his grand daughter looks at

a picture of her grandmother, then small, and exclaims,

"Then I just know that if my beautiful grand mother could come down out

of that frame, she'd go straight and put her arms around

my mother and kiss away all her sorry feelings."

I take this book to heart, and when I have those feelings 

where I find it hard to forgive, I'll remember the words

of the Little Colonel.  And forgive.