The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-04-25
COMMUNICATED.
flor the Minnesota Pioneer.1

For the Minnesota Pioneer.1
/ Of all the incidents which affected my
childhood, there is one still green in my
memory as though it had occurred but
yesterday, and even now an advertance
to it, is fraught with no small share Of
the modification then experienced.
A small piece of ground, beautifully
enclosed, was allotted by my father to
the female part of our household for the
| flowers, of which | was passionately
fsnd.
Every one knows that rake is an in
dispensable appendage for such purposes,
but my father being farmer, this uten-
sill was constantly in the field, much to
my discontinue, for being mere girl of
twelve years, gardening work, was to
me, no work at all unless could use
rake.
set my wits at work to supply the
deficiency, and finally concluded on an
expedient, which should forever free me
from so harassing difficulty. Yes; /
would make a rake, and have the entire
command Of it to use when, and as
pleased. Accordingly with all magma
BILE secrecy commenced collecting the
materials. An old broom stick sufficed
for the handle; to be sure it was not as
long as rake handles usually are, but how
much more convenient thought /. Hav-
ing fastened the necessary apparatus up
on the end Of the handle, proceeded TO
prepare cavities for the teeth, which
did by means of red hot iron bolt. In
vain did my mother come to the door
time after time, to ascertain what
could be doing; my unvarying reply was
it's something very useful, and that we
need very much, while with particular
emphasis, l added, and the boys shan't
use it. At last the piece Of mechanism
was completed; the work was finished,
and exultingly picked it up, but imag-
inc my astonishment, when instead of the
usual angle formed by the teeth and body
Of that instrument, perceived that the
teeth projected straight onward in d.
rect line with the handle; | had made a
straight rake.
Just at this moment, my younger
brother, who had been informed by my
mother of my secret operations, rushe d
into the room and discovering with q
glance the deficiency, seized the rake in
spite of my struggles, and with the most
haunting glee, danced it through the yard
posing it on the tip of his finger, sc.
shouting ''he boys shont use IT," "he
boys shaat use IT., while the silent mirth
Of my parents so increased my chagrin,
that crept to my chamber and wept,
from sheer modification at my mistake.
Yet the recollection of this has guarded
me from many like excess, and if ever
afterward was prone to indulge my
ambition, by usurping the legitimate bust
ness of the other sex, it was only needful
for my mother to revert to the straight
rake, to bring me back to my proper
sphere.
And often since she scenes Of life have
become a sober reality, when beholding
a man pulled with 'conceit, scorning the
aid of advice, and rushing madly upon
an interest, which long before attained !,
would engulph him in the abyss Of de-
struction; have l sighed and thought,
that man is making a straight rake.
And when l seeia man avariciously
seeking to hoard u wealth; to Ease in ate
the minds of the vulgar, and install his
offspring untaught into that position, to
gain which his whole life has been spent /;
crowding out every feeling Of human
kindness for the love of filthy lucre, l
think that man is making straight rake.
And when see man torsaking the
humble occupations of life, to mix in the
greedy throng, in pursuit of that fame
which bids him stoop to all the petty
meannesses Of party strife, sacrificing
every chaste principle, to accomplish his
purpose, | think, assuredly, that man
is making a straight rake.
And when see youth whose ap-
pearance bears the impress of natures
noblest workmanship, indulging in bac-
chanalian revels, and seeking pleasure
where RIGHTEOUSNESS holds her midnight
orgies, think alas, too truly, that man
is indeed making q ssroight rake.
And when see i man soothing at the
principles of morality and religion, and
setting at naught those systems which
cement virtue and happiness in society,
and sowing in their place those seeds
which will ultimately produce viciousness
and corruption, think shame to that
man, he too is making a straight rake
ALVARETTA.
[For the Minnesota Pioneer.J
Nh. EDITOR: