Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-08

very closely the comparison applied to
her own management of Peggy, said:
THAT will do very well for folks that
have plenty of turnips to spare
For the matter of that answered
Mrs. Fairweather, whips cost something
as well as turnips; and since one makes
the donkey stand still and the other
makes him trot, it is very easy TO
decide which is the most economical.
But, neighbor Turnpenny, since you like
my pies so well. pray take one home with
you. ! am afraid they will mold before
we can eat them up"
and she was astonished to find herself
going out with pie We'll, Mrs Fair
weather. said she, "you are neighbor
thank you thousand times" When
she reached her own door, she hesitated
for an instant, then turned back, pie in
hand, to say, "Neighbor Fairweather,
you needn't trouble yourself about sending
Pink away. It's natural you should like
the little creature, seeing he belongs to
your son. I'll try to keep Tab indoors,
and perhaps after while they will agree
| better"
81 hope they will, replied the friendly
matron 'we will try them while long
er, and if they persist in quarreling,
will send the dog into the country"
Pink, who was sleeping in chair,
scratched himself and gaped. His kind
mistress patted him on the head. "Ah,
you foolish little beast" saidkhe, "what is
the use of plaguing poor Tab ~
"Well, | do say, observed Sally" smil-
ing, "you'arc master woman for stop
ping quarrel"
Il learned a good lesson when | was a
little girl" rejoined Mrs. Fairweather
Zone frosty morning | was looking out
of the window into my fathers barn
| yard, where stood many cows, oxen and
horses, waiting to drink 1t was one OF
| those cold, swapping mornings, when
slight thing irritates both man and beast.
The cattle all stood very still and meek
| till one of the cows attempted to turn
round. In making the attempt, she hap
pcned to hit her next neighbor; where
upon the neighbor kicked and hit another.
In five minutes the whole herd'were kick
ing and hooking each other, with all fury.
My mother laughed and said, zee what
comes of kicking when you're hit Just
so I've seen one cross word set whole
family by the ears, some frosty morning.
Afterward, if my brothers or myself were
little irritable, she would say, Take
care, children. Remember how the fight
in the barn yard began. Never give
kick for hit, and you will save yourself
and others a deal of trouble"
That same afternoon the sunshiny dame
stepped into Aunt Hetty's rooms, where
she found Peggy sewing as usual, with
the eternal switch on the table beside her.
"I'm obliged to go to Harlem on business"
said she. 81 feel rather lonely without
company, and | always like to have a
child with me, will pay her fare in the
omnibus"
'She has her spelling lesson to get be-
fore night" replied Aunt Hetty. 81 don't
approve of young folks going pleasur-
ing and neglecting their education"
Neither do 1, rejoined her neighbor
"but / think there is a great deal of cdu
cation that is not found in books. The
fresh air will make Peggy grow stout and
active. prophesy she will do great
credit to your bringing up"
The sugared words, and the remem-
brance of the sugared pie, touched the
soft place in Miss Turnpenny's heart, and
she told the astonishcd Peggy that she
might go and put on her best gown and
bonnet. The poor child began to think
Of the good fairies she had read about in
| the picture books. The excursion was en-
joyed only as a child can enjoy the coun-
| try. The world seems such a pleasant
place, when the letters are off, and nature
folds the young heart lovingly to her DO.
| som. A flock of real birds and two living
butterflies put the little orphan in per-
| feet ecstacy. She pointed TO the fields
covered with dandeions, and said, "See
how pretty! 1t looks as if the stars had
| come down to lie on the grass" All, our
little stinted Peggy has poetry in her,
though Aunt Hctty never found it out.
Every human soul has the gems of some
flowers within, and they would open if
they could only find sunshine and free
air to expand them.
Mrs. Fairweather was practical phi
losopher in her own small way. She OBJ
served that Miss Turnpenny really liked
a pleasant tune; and when winter came
she tried to persuade her that sin ng
would be excellent for Peggy's lungs, and
perhaps keep her from going into the con-
sumption.
MY nephew, James Fairweather, keeps
singing school" said she, land he says
he will teach her gratis. You need not
feel under great obligations for her
!
ear is SO quick it will be no trouble at all
to teach her. Perhaps you would go with
us sometimes, neighbor Turnpenny? 1t
is very pleasant to hear the children's
voices"
The cordagc of Aunt Hetty's mouth re-
Taxed into smile. She accepted the in
vitation, and was SO much pleased that
she went every Sunday evening. The
simple tunes, and the sweet young voices,
tell like the dew on her dried-up heart, and
greatly aided the genial influence of her
neighbours example. There silently disap-
peared from the table. IfPeggy was dispos-
ed to be idle, it was only necessary to say,
"When you have finished your work, you
may go and ask whether Mrs. Fairweather
wants any errands done" Bless me, how
the fingers flew! Aunt Hetty had learned
to use turnips instead of the cudgel.
When spring came, Mrs. Fairweather
busted herself with planting roses and
vines Miss Turnpenny readily consent
ed that Peggy should help her, and even
refused to take any pay from such good
neighbOr. But she maintained her own
opinion that it was q mere waste OF time