The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-05-08
The Preserving Pool.

Il uO ASoOA 'AAAe3
Once upon time there was little
pool, a mere handful of water, glim-
mering at the foot of a great tree. i
was very pleasant staying there with
the bright sun shining upon it morn,
ling and evening, and at noon the
great boughs overshadowing it. But
by and by the little pool grew tired
of doing nothing, and determined to
be up.and busy. 1t was not discon-
tented but it knew that somewhere ir
the great wide world there was worl
tobe done, and deep down in its heart
q springy, little voice seemed calling
it to begin at once to make way
through the muddy banks that hem
med it in.
"Better stay where you are, little
pool" said the tall tree, patronizing,
ly. "Hard times, the worlds work
ers have. You will be much wiser to
keep quiet and remain here under my
shelter"
But the little pool did not think so
"You were made to stay in one
place, dear tree" it answered, "tO
blossom and bear fruit; but God
meant me to run away among the
hills and valleys, to water the flowers
and give drink to bird and beast
and if l am content to lie here al
ways, in the sunshine and shadow,
my work will not be done"
But" said the cid tree, pointing
one of his long green arms across the
valley, its leaves allin futter at the
the though of losing its bright eyed
little companion, "yonder is great
mountain standing right in your
path. What will you do when you
come to that ?"
"Work my way through it," said
the little pool bravely.
"Pretty hard work you'll have o.
it too," said the old tree, dIscourag
ingly. "Better take my advice, and
stay where your are"
But the little pool did not hear The
last words, for already it was work.
ing it's way down the hillside, at frs,
very slowly, only a slender rill, but
by and by it grew broader, and gain
ed siren 9Th, and went rippling ovel
the roots and stones, laughing for
Joy in its new-found freedom. II
was pleasant work at first, for the
way lay through green fields and val
leys, but presently its rapid course
was checked by rocks and hills, ant
scarcely were these conquered, VIXEN
straight before it, rose up the
giant mountain-the very same
of which the old tree had giver
warning-grim and defiant, gazing
down on the silvery stream at ,t'
base with a look which seemed to say
sect through me II you can" But
the little pool had now become 6
strong, broad brook, and was not tC
be turned back. A long task lay
before it, but it went at 1T bravely
and never stopped until, inch by inch
it had found channel for itsel
through the veryheart of the granite
mountain. Then it went singing OF
its way, through field and forest, and
by and by became mighty river.
Was not that grand for the little
pool? Yet, had it been content tc
remain in ldleness, and afraid to en-
counter difficulties, it would never
have been anything better than 6
handful of muddy water.
There are some. boys and girls in the
world for whom this little story has
a moral-boys and girls who make
mountains of everything in the way
of work and study, and, lacking the
little POOLS perseverance, dare not
even try to get through them. II
they are content to be idle thus very
long, their brains will by and by be-
come mere muddy pools, where moi
"a single bright idea can find place
to sun itself.