The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-04-14

would have flled every nerve with vi
tai force, and every muscle with strengt
for daily toll. But the children prove
more ola burden than comfort. Their
was, in their home, so little SUNSHINE
that few green things flourished in thei
hearts. and the opening of flower wa
Of a rare occurrecne. But thorns t
wound and weeds to offend were there
and hourly they seemed to gain ranke
growth.
How it was in the home Of Peter Can
dali will be clear to every one now.-
There are, around US, thousands ant
thousands Of such homes, all the cham
bers of which are made dark and cheer
less. for the lack of small sweet court
estes Of life :" so cheaply given. and Sc
magicalin in their effects.
One day Peter Crandall was sent by his
employer, to do some work in the house
of customer. The work happened to
be in the family sitting room, in which
were four children with their mother
The lady spoke to him politely when he
came in, and the children treated him re-
spectfully. He had been at work only
little while. when his attention was at
tracted by a request from the mother to
one Of the children to go up stairs and
bring her some articles she named. We
say requested for this was the form Of
words she uttered. The child went in
stantly.
"Thank you, DEAR" said the mother.
Crandall turned and looked at the
child. Her countenance was TRANQUIL
and happy.
"Jane, l will take those scissors il
you please"
Crandall looked again. 1t was the
mother who had spoken. One Of the
children was sitting on the floor busily
engaged in cutting out pictures. But
she started up instantly and brought the
shears to her mother.
Thank you, DEAR" was the moth
er's acknowledgment of the services, as
in the former case.
"Will you want them long ?" asked
the child.
mo, dear, only few minutes. Then
you shall have them again.
The child stood patiently by the moth
er's side until the scissors were out of
service, and then received them.
"Thank you," she said, as she took
them from her mothers hand, and then
danced back. singing to her place on the
floor where her pictures lay.
All this struck Crandall as beautiful.
and he sighed as the harsher image of
his own home intruded itself. While at
work the husband and father came home.
His presence was hailed with delight
Every child had something to show or
tell him, and he entered into the feelings
of each, praised their little achievements
and approving wherever there seemed
chance for words Of appreciation. 1t was
the same towards his wife. She spoke of
some directions she had given to Gran
dali.
That was right he answered, add
ing, how thoughtful You are.''
A pleased smile went over the wife IS
countenance.
You forgot your pocket handkerchief
this morning. said the latter, handing a
white linen handkerchief to her husband.
So / did. Thank you, DEAR And he
received the handkerchief with as polite
an acknowledgement in manner as in
words.
Many other little instances of home
were observed by Crandall.
who left the house when his work was
completed. with new impression of life
upon his consciousness. The
image of that pleasant home was fixed
upon his mind like thing OF beauty
He had dreamed family of such homes
or read of them in books but the re-
atty was now before him. The husband
and father whose presence had bright
ened that home, he knew in a general
way as thriving man of business, who
came frequently to the establishment
where he worked. His face wore, gem
crafty. grave aspect. little sour. he
had not given him any credit for such
of feeling and was. therefore,
the more impressed with what he had
seen.
The sweet musical way in which thank
you DEAR had been said, reciprocally,
by mother and children. many times and
on all occasions of services rendered, no
matter how small. had found an echo in
his mind, where it was continually re-