Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-03-07
Fireside Department.
A Little Thorn in the Pillow

Walter could not sleep. The curtain
was drawn aside from the window, and
through the opening he could see the
stars-a splendid sight at other times
but now they seemed to look sadly down
on him, and though he turned away, he
knew they were till there. He heard
the sound of the waterfall up by the
old mill, and though he had often said
its murmuringwas like music and helped
him to go to sleep every night, yet now
it disturbed him; it was like the voices
of people talking low together, and
about him too, and he wished he could
stop it.
He turned his pillow over, and tried
to arrange the quilt better, but his kind
mother had done everything that could
be done to make her little boys bed
comfortable before she left him for the
night, and all the changes he made
brought no rest. He had never been so
uneasy on that bed.
What was the matter with Walter
There was thorn in his pilloto-not just
like those which you see on thorn
bushes, but a kind which gives one
even more pain than they can. And
how came it there? Perhaps We shall
learn from Walter. He heard the pleas
ant voices of the family in the parlor
below. 81 ought to tell mother" he
thought; ''but don't want to do so.''
The water kept on murmuring, and
he could almost hear himself accused of
something in the sound. The stars
looked in at the window more sadly
than before. Walter thought again, 81
ought to tell-and / Will"
He got up from his little bed, went
down the stairs, and, tapping on the
parlor door, called for his mother. She
came, wondering what had brought her
little boy there, when she had supposed
he was sleeping quietly. BY his re-
quest she went back with him and Wal
ter confessed. 81 promised you Iwould
not take any more of the fruit this noon,
mother; but after you left the table l
did take a bunch of grapes and three
apples, and hid them in my box in the
nursery, and there they are now. I'm
sorry, mother, / want you to forgive
me. | couldn't 90 to sleep, because |
had disobeyed you, and told lie too."
This was the thorn. The grapes and
apples-disobedience and falsehood-
had set it in his pillow. As his mother
laid her hand lovingly on his head af-
ter this confession, and told him she
freely forgave him, and that she was
glad her son had not concealed his
wrong doing from her, tears of peni-
tence began to fall. Walter knew he
had sinned against another dear friend
of children, and kneellng by his mother
he asked forgivness of Jesus. He asked
that friend evermore to be his guide,
and help him to overcome whenever
tempted. His mother snugly tucked
him into bed once more. The stars
twinkled brightly. The waterfall sang
its goodnight song, and Walter slept
for the little thorn was gone out of his
pillow.
Did any of you ever have such thOrns
in your pillows? l am afraid so. That
which seems very small sin is apt to
plant them; and disobedience to dear
parents and unkind words have per-
haps set more thorns in little children's
pillows than any thing else. 1t may be
that some are growing in your pillow
to-day. Think moment. If any are
there try to get them out now. Don't
wait, as Walter did, till you lay your
head down on them tonight.