Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-14
THE CANDLES.

THERE was great Wax.light, that
knew well enough what 1t was
81 am born in wax and moulded in a
FORM" 1t said. II give more light and
burn longer time than any other light
My place is in the chandelier, or silver
candlestick.
"That must be charming life |" said
the Tallow. candle. ~ am only Of tallow
only tallow dip; but then, comfort
myself, it is always better than to be a
mere taper, that is dipped only two times:
| am dipped eight times, to get decent
thickness I'm satisfied. 1t would, to be
sure, be finer and luckier still to have
been born in wax, and not in tallow but
one doesn't fix himself Trey are put In
great rooms and in glass candlesticks. |
live in the kitchen-but that is good
place, too; they get up all the dishes in
the house there"
"There is something that Is more I'M
portant than eating!" said the Wax-can-
die. Good company-to see them shine
and shine yourself There 10 ball here
this evening. Now l and all my family
are soon to be sent for"
Scarcely was this said, when all the
Wax lights were sent for-but the Tai
ow-candle, too The mistress took 1t in
her delicate hand and carried 1t out into
the kitchen there stood little boy with
a basket that was full OF potatoes, and a
few apples were In 1t, too.
The good lady had given all these to
the little poor boy.
"Here is candle for you, my little
friend" said she. Your mother sits up
and works far into the night-she can
use this"
The lady's little daughter stood by her
and when she heard the words "far into
night" she said, eagerly, "And I'm going
to sit up till night, TOOL We're going to
have ball, and I'm to wear big red bows
for IT,"
How her face shone yes, that was hap
pinees! no wax light could shine like the
child's eyes.
"That is blessed thing to see, thought
the Tallow- candle. II shall never forget
it, and certainly 1t seems to me there can
be nothing more" And 30 the candle
was laid In the basket under the cover,
and the boy took 1t away.
"Where am going to nows" thought
the Candle. ~ shall be with poor folks
perhaps not once get brass candlestick !;
but the Waxlight Is stuck In silver, and
sees the finest folks What can there be
more delightful than to be q light among
fine folkss That's my lot-tallow, not
wax"
And 80 the Candle came to the poor
people-a widow with three children, in
little, low studded room, right over oppo.
site the rich house.
"God bless the good lady for what she
gave !" said the mother; sit Ia splendid
candle-it can burn till far into the night"
And the Candle was lighted.
"Pugh |" 1T said. "Thst was hor-
rid match she lighted me with. One hard
ly offers such thing az that TO wax
light, over at the rich house."
There also the wax-lights were lighted,
and shone out over the street. The car
riages rumb!ed up to the rich house with
the guests for the hall, dressed 80 finely;
the music struck up.
Nov they're beginning over there"
felt the TallOw candle, and thought Of the
little rich girls bright face, that was
brighter than all the axlights. THAT
sight never shall see any more"
Then the smallest OF the children in the
poor house came-she was little girl
and put her arms round her brother and
sisters necks; she had something very
important to tell, and must whisper II.
aWe're going to have this evening
just think OF it-we're going to have
face beamed with happiness The Candle
shone right at her, and saw pleasure,
happiness, as great a. was in the
rich house, where the little girl said, 1--WE
are going TO have ball this evening, and
I shall wear some great red bows"
"ls 1t such q great thing to get
warm potatoesY thought the Candle.
" Well, here is Just the same Joy
among the little thingsl' and 1t sneezed*
at thst-that is, it sputtered-and
more than that no tallow.candle could
do. The table was spread, the potatoes
were eaten. 0, how good they tasted 1t
was real feast; and then each got an
apple beside, and the smallest child sang
the little verse:
Now thanks, dear Lord, 1 give TO- Thee.
That thou again hast filed mo. Amou."
"Was not that said prettilyi" asked
the little girl.
" You mustn't ask that, or say II, said
The mother. You should only thank the |
good God, who has Allied you"
And the little children went to bed, gave I
! goodnight kiss, and fell asleep right
sway; and the mother sat till far into the
,ight, and sewed, TO get living for them
md herself; and from the rich house the
lights shOne, and the music sounded. The
Itars twinkled over al the houses, over
he rich and over the poor, just a. clear,
ust - kindly.
That was In sooth rare evening""
.h0ught the TallOw.candle. "D0 you
;hink the wsx.lights had any better time,
n their silver candle-sticksf that I'd like
% know before an burnt outi"
And Il thought Of the haply childreps /