The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-26
NUMBER l9---vOLUME S.

Inc Thorghtless Sprite.-A Story for Children.
Once upon q time, a mountain spirit
said coaxingly to the streams which 90
leaping down the outer spurs and peaks
Of the Alps into the Adriatic, between the
Piave and Adige, "Play with me. PLAY
with me-" But they all answered, "No,
we are too busy"
"Too busy" replied the little spirit.
"Too busy, indeed l should like TO
know what you are doing but dancing and
singing. and MISUNDERSTANDING, in
fact, the whole way from this to the great
gulf. Yes, what, indeed ?''
ave are laying the foundation for
city which viii be the wonder of the
world" was the reply.
Hal hal" shouted the spirit, and
though she was SO small, her voice sound
ed through the glsns, and was caught up
aud repeated by the tree crested hill tops.
-aai hal" Il was mocking laugh, but
the streams did not heed it. They went
diligently on, depositing far out in the
Adriatic the earth, twigs and pebbles,
which they gathered in their course.
"Ha !! hal" shouted the spirit once
more. 'In hundred years, or so, will
come again."
The hundred years passed by, and the
merry triier flew down to see what the
streams had done. "Ha! ha no no !"
she laughed, even louder than before !;
for she found only long, narrow net
work of islands, and q few poor people
who had escaped the sword of the con-
queror, Attila, and who exchanged salt
and fish for the most necessary articles of
food and clothing. "Ha! ha no no !!
a great city indeed !" and she fitted back
to her mossy caverns and shaded dells.
1t was long, long time before the
needless elf thought Of the steady toll of
her old scquaintances, or of the miserable
exiles living in huts on the growing sand
banks. At last, however, it occurred to
her it might be well to pay them another
visit. What was her amazenent upon
beholding the change. Sitting by the
sea, as if born of its sparkling waves, was
a wilderness of churches and palaces, of
great marts trodden by the feet of crowd
ing strangers, of massive walls, fine domes,
and stately towers, while the rosy sunset
touched the broad Lagune, crimsoned the
countless sails, and glowed on the green
islands outlying toward the ocean. The
gorgeous banner of the city, with its
winged lion, symboled the sovereignty
of rich eastern territories, of Gambia also,
Cyprus and the Morea, and smiling prov
inces on either shore of the classic sea-
Sixteen thousand men wrought in her ar
senal; forty thousand manned her war
ships. Her glass works furnished the
world with crystal fabrics velvets, and
silks, and cloths of gold multiplied in her
manufactures. Uncounted halls were
gilded, and tapestried, and filled with
lovely landscapes and speaking portraits.
Exquisite sculpture invited to study, paint
ed windows let in the tinted light upon
floors, and walls, and roofs dazzling with
mosaics of precious srones; and columns
of porphyry, alabaster, and serpentine up
held marble arches marvellous in their
grace and beauty. Gates of brass inlaid
with silver, pictured pavements, arcades,
and cloisters, and galleries magical in
their proportions, fairy-like spires, and
gossamer carving, alike sought and satis-
fled the eye. The sun went down be-
hind the Tyrol, draping in regal purple
the Euganean hills, the Friulian noun
tains, the distant continent, and festive
Venice, when suddenly the vast square of
st. Mark, with its cathedral and palaces,
burst into light along its myriad curves,
and distances, and heights, and points, a
miracle of flaming architecture in honor
of foreign king.
Awed by the scene, the mountain spirit
kept silence for awhile, and then softly
whispered "Who shall read in the be-
ginning of things the prophecy of their
end !'
Dear Children, you-like the far of
streams-are, day by day, hour by hour,
minute by minute, laying the foundation
of Character and your Future is the city
which will be built thereon. Each of
your thoughts however fleeting, each pur-
pose however momentary, each word how
ever trifiing, each deed however apparent
ly unimportant, has voiceless and un-
seen influence which none can estimate,
and whose result none can foresee. Be
not, however, for this, mopirg and sad
BE gay and hopeful with the bright sun
shine, the fragrant flowers, the melodious
birds but be also industrious, patient
obedient, loving, and true so shall life
be to you good if not great, and the light
labor of your childhood and youth will
sustain noble superstructure raised by
your maturer years.-Boston Journal.