Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-08-24
Mtscrl anrOus.
From tho Springfield Il publican.
THE lHkEE KrtS.
a sroRY ~ CnIIpnEN.


another part Of he State soon after her M .h-
er's death to live with gentleman aud 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 thing,
full Of fun, learned easily and WAS fond Of
her new parents from the very frs,, who also
loved her, and laugh. her many useful things,
which she seemed glad to know, and tried TO
remember
Her own parents had not much money
and as they had seven chidfen-fve boys
and two girls, the youngesta boy Of only two
years-thls little girl, so young, had but
small Chance to learn, or to be instructed in
the ways Of the world.
She had not been taught, or if SO, had for
gotten it, that there are three keys which
children use when they mako known heir
wants to their parents OF Others, namely: the
iron key. the silver key, and the gold key.
Her new parents uuuced tlAt she used only
the iron key when she de-ifed anything Of
them that is, sue would take this key,
though not often ia rough manner, and at
tempt, through their ears, 90 reach aud IN
lock their hearts, and obtain what she wished
At fret she succeeded in o pening their hearts,
inasmueh as her parents considered that she
did not understand about he other keys yet
their hearts were always panied by its use,
and sched long siterward, fJf it was so very
rough aud unpublished, that 20 one could use
1t without paning the heart 1t touched, Let
us look at
THERON KEY.
Mother, | want au apple" Mother,
give me apple" Mother | want to 40
and see Hattie" That is the rough and uq.
polished iron key. 30 are the words no, ye,,
what, don't. won't, when used by children
toward parents, or persons much older than
Themselves, instead Of no sir, yes sir, what
say or, what sir please not, l had rather
not.
Now this little girl had new dress soon
after abe came 30 1--we with these rents, and
On the right side was pocket, made Of coarse
cloth, in which she carried The iron key. che
was not aware that on tue left side her moth
er had made another pocket Of very good
cloth, to hold silver key, aud tina, The key
was already there. Neither did she imsgine
that in this same dress, ami ee,ier to be
reached by the right hand than either of the
others there was sill another pocket, clore
to her heart, made Of very nice velvet, in
which was resting, really for u.e, a most
beautiful gold key--a key that rarely fails to
unlock almost auy heart to which it may be
applied.
So, one day, after her father had gone to
his work, her mother called her, showed her
the pockets, took out the keys, aud taught
her how to them. She seemed much
pleased with them, and her black eyes shone
brightly as she looked them over, aud prom
ised her mother that she would remember
she must use them. Now let US Look at
THE SILVER KY
Mother, please give me IN apple" 81
would like an apple, mother Mother, let
me 60 and see Hattie a few minutes" Moth
er, please excuse me-" (from the table ! No
this silver key is very good one, and gener-
ally safe for good and pleasant children to
use, but it often jars 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, it very rarely
unlocks our hearts, bat hur's the child who
uses it, more than the parents or other. ia t
try this key il a cross or rough manner, ana
notice how quickly it changes into an iron
key. Mother, please give me an apple "
Again, when used in another way, II will
become changed, ana appear 50 mucn like a
gold key, that no one can tell she difference,
for it will unlock the heart just az easily and
quickly as the real gold one and What is re-
msrkable about it, too, it never as the heart,
as the silver one sometimes does.
This changing of the silver key into an
iron one, or into a gold one, just according
as you use it, is very curious indeed, and o. :
culiar to this key, for neither the IRON Key
nor the gold key ever change into any other,
m al Cva in . ba l. A.
key, while the one Of silver changes into both.
We will now see
THE GOLD KEY
Mother, will you please give me an ap.
pleF Yes. DEAR the mother says. Moth
er, would like an apple, if you please -
Yes, darling, you shall have one replies
the mother, almost before the request is I'm
ished. Mo'her, may ! be excused ? or,
Please excuse me, mother 2 Yes, dear,
she answers. Mother, let me 20 and see
Hattie 70 y minutes Z Not nov, my daug.
ter, Is the reply IL is nearly school time
and you might get tsrdy mark So you
perceive that when she used the gold key, il
unlocked the heart in every inc ance, except
when the request, If granted would have
been improper. or an injury to her; and a.
parents have seen so much more Of the evil
and dangers of life, they are 4lweys supposed
to know better than tteir children what ID
right and best for them to do and besides
the Bible says, Children. obey our parents
for this is rights and again it says, Honor
thy father aud mother, that it may be well
with thee
When her father, who knew all about these
pocket keys, came home at noon, he was DO, b
surprised and pleased to zee her handling
these silver and gold keys But he suspect
ed what had hsppened-thst her mother bat
shown her the pockets, and had been talking
with her.
He had been in the house only shor
time, when she tried the gold key in bis ear,
in this way Please let me sit in your lap
fatherF and up she jumped, with his help
into his lap. she was but just seated, how
ever, before she snached out the silver Ike,
and thrust it into his ears in this manner =
'Oh please don't squeeze me 20 hard, ia
Their 'Well, he replied, do you know
what did it fori Have you not been doing