Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-25
The Snow nall,

went out TO play 10 tho snow. After try :
ing this thiog aud that -tumhling each
other over in the snow, watching the dog J
as be p'oughed through too deep drifts, !
riding on their little hand sleds, and snow
balliDg each other, they were for a few
moments fairly at a loss for something !
new,
'Well,' we can make . snow ball, if we
can't make anything else ? said Henry.
'Oh, yes, exclaimed Charles, seisipg
and improving upon the suggestion; let Us
make an avalanche aud set it rolling down
this hill, as they DO down the Alps
All hands were instantly 10 requisition,
and eagerly engaged in making an ava
lanche. They first made q ball about as
large as a chiid's head, poured water over
ii, and then commenced rolling it. If a
rolling stone gathers DO moss a rolling
ball will gather snow, and the snow ball
was soon almost as large around as a cart
wheel, and they could make it no larger.
Now let us get it up on these boards,
and plunge it off on the other end J cried
Charles, all in a glow with exultation.-
But here was q difficulty they had not
thought of. Their ball was so large as to
be entirely unmanageable. In vain they
all tugged, Dow on this side, now on the
other. 1t still obstinately refused to stir
from its groveling position on the ground
up the board.
i don't care !! said Henry, in 'I.do-care
tone-it may stay upon the ground
What's the use of getting it upon these
boards just to tumble it down again p
And he buttoned up one more button of
his coat aud with an air of a baf1ed phi
~losopher marched into the house The rest
soon followed. Their mother had been
standing by the window, watching their
whole operations, and as they entered, look
ing crest fallen, she called them around the
FIRE, and endeavored to soothe their disap-
p%olntment.
have a eonuundrum to PROPOSE said
she See who can solve it, Snow man,
fort and avalanche, were at this instantly
forgotten, and, What is it mother z was
the universal cry.
i. why are human cares like the snowfall
you have just been makingf'
: Every preposterous answer imaginabl'
u was by turns given. But the mother still
!" shook her head, until finally all cried, wv
J give it up and begged her to answer it fo
= them.
Because she then replied, while th
u children all seriously listened, because hr
man cares are often at the outset So sma
% as to be no more worthy of notice than til
's little snow ball with which comm.nce
3 what you termed your avalanche. b.
10 we worry over them, rolling them alon
'S borrowing a little from the right, and
III little from the left, and they become SO pc
derous and heavy that we can no long
u carry them. | lave known a man tn
lcr over his troubles in his head, by night al
Ior by day, just as you have that SNOW ba
en- and what was the advantage
y 'Oh, WI had our snow ball, said Henri
20 YES replied the mother, 'aud so h
= the man his great ball of trouble, incre,
ne ed ten fold by borrowing of fancy, and VIII
er good did it do him? As your ball weari
III you in vain, so he every day found Huns
GU with a heavier head and heavier heart
~ We'll, how could he help it, mother?'
~ inquired Charles the principal spokesm;
Aud how could we help it, when
'uu ball was 50 large, if we could not lift i
=, You could not, indeed, but you Col
ny have asked advice before it became so lar
And so could the man, before rolling
cares along, until they became SO heavy
could no longer carry them
-" But who could the man GO to for
vice, mother?
wv TO God. Bot we too seldom do t
~ We have not half enough of faith 10 c
We go on as if we thought He was asl
or too negligent to care for US, or els'
." worse, and bring our folly to the aid of
wisdom, by f~ancyirg we could arrange
nay affairs of the world much better than
u'''S has done. Yet [ think in the end we
orally 6ud, if we inquire, that after all
Heavenly Father manages about right
Yes mother bat then, people, |
y pose, do not always think of that
!. know they do not, but they shout
so. Is 1t not a sin to forget that He
~ has always supported us in existence,
:" protects US from evi-has told US to
our cares upon Him, for he careth for
PIP Aud is it not a sin not to trust in Him
The boys were silent, but their MI
- saw that the seed she was sowing die
Wueu fall in unfruitful soil.
J 1. Come said she, shall | teach
-. little prayer to offer up to God, wher
are in trouble, or doubt the power of
Heavenly Father to aid you
Yes, mother, dc, said Charles co
near to her.
80 We'll, then, listen My Father,
r;I art in Heaven, l would call upon Tn
ooL.a my trouble, and shall it be in vain
ILL has formed mine eye, and canst The
. see me! Tnou has made mine ear
GO canst Thou not hear me ? Thou has Ct
;, -, my heart, aod canst thou not feel for
! Gre, | will carry my cares, then, no farther
to Thee. ! will open my heart, and
IT., Thee grief that is too heavy for me tC
,a,;na tor know, On, my Father, that
= De wilt life from ne that which | am toe
arod;n to lit. Hear the prayer Of a chic
Father, and answer it in Thy great |
pleas III" oIdo.
little prayer, aud their mother felt a
II OF pleasure When, two or three days
-" as some childish trouble assailed G
80 she overheard him humbly and piol
H~tbbNN farinr - ~ D.. I'll 49, - -