The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-09-28
The Three Keys.
A STORY FOR CHILDREN

1he Three Keys.
A STORY FOR CHILDREN.
\ little girl in Vermont. whose mother
died IN January, 1864, when she was less
than four years old, was taken into an
other part OF the state soon after her
mothers death, to live with a gentleman
and lady who had no children, but who
adopted her as their own daughter, and
She called them father and mother.
She was bright and pleasant little
lhlns, full of fun, learned easily, and was
1ond OF her new parents from the very
first, who also loved her and t,nght her
many useful things, which she seemed
clad to know and rel to remember.
Her own parents had not much money ::
and a> they had seven children-iive bows
and two girls, the youngest a boy of only
two year--this little girl, 50 young, had
but a small chance to learn, or to he in
>tructed in the ways of the world
She had not been taught, or if so had
forgotten 1t, that there are three KEYS
which children use when they make
known their wants to their parents or
others, namely the iron key, the silver
key, and the gold key.
Her new parents noticed that she used
only the iron key when she desired any
dining Of them; that is, She would take
tlIi, key, though not often in rough
manner, and attempt, through their ears,
to reach and unlock their hearts, and OBJ
tain what she wished. AT first she sue
cceecd i'll opening their hearts, masmuch
as her parents considered that she did not
understand about the other KEYS; vet
their hearts were always panied by It's
use, and ached long atterward, for it was
50 very rough and unPollshed that 10 one
coud use it without paining the heart it
touched. Let Us look at
THE IRON KEY.
, Mother, | want an apple" "Moth-
er, give me an apple" Mother, want
to 90 and see Hattie" That is the rough
and unpolished iron key. So are the
words no, yes, what, don't, | won't,
where used by children toward parents, or
persons much older than themselves, IN
stead Of no sir, yes sir, what say Or what
sir ! please not, had rather not.
Now this little gill had a new dress
soon after she came to live with these pa
rents. and on the right side was a pocket
made OF coarse cloth, III which she car
ricd the IRON key She was not aware
that on the lett side her mother had made
! another pocket oi very good cloth, to hold
a silver key, and that the key was al
ready there Neither did she imagine
That in the same dress, and easier to be
reached by the right hand than either of
the others, there was still another pocket,
close 10 her heart, made Of very nice vel
VT. III which was resting read J i"r use, Il
most beautiful gold key-a key that rare
Iy tails to unlock almost any heart to
which it may DC applied.
So, ore day, after her father had gone
to his work, her mother called her, SHOW
cd hcr the pockets, took out the KEYS, and
taucht her how to use them. She SEEM
cd much pleased with them, and her black
eyes sione brightly as She looked them
over anl promised her mother that she
would remember she must use them.
Now Let Us look at
TIE SILVER KEY.
Mother, please give me an apple"
Il would like an apple, mother"
"AIothcr. let mAgo and see Hattie a few
minutes" 'Mother, please excuse me,
(irom the table, Now this silver key is
a very good one and generally safe for
good and pleasant children to use, but ii
often i;lrS the heart and besides, there is
something dangerous about it. and very
curious. the secret of which will be eX-
planned by and by.
Sometimes. when used by children who
are selfish and impatient, it will change
into rough iron key In such cases il
very rarely unlocks our hearts, but usual
; iy hurts the child who uses it, more than
the parents or others; Just try TINS key
in a cross OF rough manner, and notice
how quickly it changes into an IRON key
Mother, please give me an apple
Again. when used in another way, il
will become changed and appear 50 muci
like a gold key that no one can tell the
difference, for it will unlock the heart jus
as easily and quickly as the real gold one
and what i, remarkable about it, too, /
never Jars the heart, as the silver on
sometimes does.
This changing Of the silver key into al
r iron one or into gold one, just accord
INC as YOU Use them. is very curious IN
' deed, and peculiar to this key, for nelthe
o the iron key nor the gold key ever chang
:, into any other, but always remain tn
j. same iron key or gold key, while the on
t of silver changes into both. We will nov
;; see
IL TIE GOLD KEY.
c' Mother will YOU please give Inc a
:, apple ," ''IeS, dear" the mother says
+ i' Mother, would like an apple, if yo
.y please" Yes, darling, you shall hay
one replies the mother, almost beioI
d the request is finished. Mother, may
= be excused ;" or, Please excuse me
III mother p Yes, dear" she answers