The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-09-29
I'LI TRY.

VI can DO It, NhoM can !, in"i
INJURED George, half rising from his seat
on the old pine log, and turning to the
wood-pilc, 'here | am, while the oth.r v
boys are all having good time to play,
coopcd up in this dull, tiresome yard,
with a great pile Of wood which | must
get into the shed somehow" Then, in
stead of commencing ais appointed task,
he kicked the chips about with his foot,
all the while surveying the wood-pile,
which rose, like mountain Of difficulty,
before him.
"'aThat is not the way, tssorge,'' said his
sister iAddie, from the kitchen window
Sitting on log, or kicking chips about,
will never pile wood
nj "It is easy enough for you to say so,
returned George, 'but the girls don't know
anything about work, All they have to
do is ,tqsit in the house sewing, or per-
h;lis wash a few dishes, and sweep the
room. What would Addie think if she
had to stand out here in the blazing sun,
throwing wood into the wheelbarrow and
then drawing the heavy thing into the
o This last question was probably ad-
dressed to himself, as his sister had dis
appeared from the window Her remarks
produced some effect, as George soon be-
gan his work-not cheerfully, however,
as if his heart was in it, but with sullen
face and dilatory step. Very slowly went
the sticks into the VIII eelbarrow, and when,
after much delay, the latter was filled, its
progress toward the wood-shed was still
more slow. Thus the greater part of the
morning passed, without any perceptiblc
diminution in the wood-pilc II
''lf you don't move faster, you will not
get your wood done before the snow
comes" exclaimed Addie, this time ap-
pearing az the back door, insteal of the
window.
lG "fou don't know how hard it is, an
swcred George, apologetically. I'ye got
N handle every stick of this large ,'lle
Tac,uo TIc can get it into the shed. fh>@
,vhccIharrow ~J, :; :" heavy enough without
anything in it, but wnern 1t Is 1uil, am
sure can't move quick" Il III CT,
"There is no need of going 50 much
like a snail" retorted Addie "lf | did,
when do you think your shirts would be
made, or your dinners be ready| With
these words the energetic girl disappeared
for her moments were too precious to be
wasted in talking 90
BY this time George was quite angry.
shirts and dinners" he thought con.
{ telnptously, "what are they compared
with piling wood? What did Addie know
about it?' Addie could have told him
that, although she never attempted the
last-named work, she daily performed
many duties which required the exercise
of the same patient persevering spirit OF
untiring labor. 1t could not be other
wise, since there was an invalid mother
for her to nurse, food to prepare for father
and brothers, garments to be kept in re-
pair, besides the constantly recurring du-
tics which render the work Of the most
efficient housewife never completed
When George again returned from the
shed, he dropped the handles of the
wheelbarrow, and sitting down upon the
log, rave inward expression to his discon-
tented feelings. The wood-pile seemed
to tower higher than ever, and he began
to calculate how many sticks there were
in the whole, and how many times he
should be obliged to travel backward and
forward before his task could be com
r,,leted. These calculations did not assist
his labor, while the longer he deliberated
the larger the pile seemed to grow, and
the more his shoulders ached in view oi
the difficulty.
4. ~ cannot do it, he at length exclaimed
7 al shall be as gray as grandfather yes
and as crooked too, before L get all tina
wood piled" Very shadowy grew hi
face, while occupied with these thoughts
and perhaps he would have cried were i
not for the fact that boys usually conside
sitbeneath Z their dignity to shed tears
Would that they deemed it equally be
meath their dignity to murmur at Difficult
tasks
,iilo'He was reused from these gloomy fore
holdings by the pressure of hand upo
his shoulder. A kind hand, he knew, b
the gentlencss of the touch-a symp;
thizing hand; there was a kind OF tell
graphic communication between it an
his heart, better felt than described
p, '1n trouble, my young friend" querie
voice, which was a fitting accompan
ment to the hand. 81 don't like to SC
sorrowful faces, especially when the heal
has as little cause for sorrow as yours. "
~ am tired and discouraged, Captai
RUSSELL" answered the lad. II thought
should have a nice time to enjoy myse
these two weeks of vacation, but faith,
says 1 must pile all this wood. Ever
stick of it have got to do myself, al
~ you see how much there is. My arm
ache and my head aches"
.ljl "And the heartaches more than either
interrupted Captain Russell. 81 kno
y oil about it, for | was a boy once, ar
have not yet forgotten how boys feel"
7?.il 7gil 1sIt is a large pile" added he, seatir
3 himself by the side Of George on the 10
g, .'but you don't expect to put it into ii
wheelbarrow by one effort"
e. /, '' u, 20 no, sir" answered George, In
:, tone quite unlike the complaining vol
which ho used q few minutes previous
~ II shall be satisfied if can do it !
wssking long time and taking gre
nAny steps, .......'
a'.Eever allow yourself to think he
many difficulties there are in the way
interposed Captain Russell, "but res