Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-12
Poor little Frankl He almost peep

POOf little FRANK lie almost peep
ed his eyes out, and yet could sec
nothing of his mothers neat and cheer.
full cottage with the grape vine at the
window and tho walnut tree before the
door ;-nothing, nothing but clouds,
through which the wind wildly rushed,
tearing the fleecy things until they
hung down in shreds.
At night, Frank went into dark,
little room, and lay down on bed
That was rs hard as stone. But he
could not sleep; for, scarce had he
closed his eyes, when tho sing
ing of tho hours awakened HIM.
and he would rise in terror to SEQ Saint
Grimhus already bonding over him
with tho rod.
Oh, what sad, sad, life it was {! One
day just like another. Everything
around was cold, gray, and sombre.
just like tho dress of tho grim school
master. But Frank was getting to be
good boy. The hundreds of punish
ments devised by Saint Grimbus, and
that grandfather of all rods, which was
scarce ever out of his hand, had fright
ened the boy out of his naughty ways,
and taught him to be thoughtful aud
studioup.
A long time had passed since Frank
came to the Schoolmaster's Rock
how long tho boy did not know, for
here there was neither spring nor sum.
mer, autumn nor winter.
One evening when old Grimbus was
singing out the seventh hour, Frank
looked away from his book, and gazsd
longingly down to the clouds which
hoated far below him. All at once, he
chariot two lovely children with
shining golden curls and snow-white
wings. Smiling, the bright visitants
approached Frank, but his heart beat
50 fast he could not utter word. The
children gazed pitifully at him, and
said: "What are you doing here on
this rugged cliff2 Do you not know
that it is spring down on the earth 2"
Frank wept bitterly as he replied:
II must stay up here always; but I
deserve it for being such IN idle, dis
obedient child. Who are you, bright,
beautiful childrena It does my heart
good to see you,"
We are Springs messengers, answer
ed the little ones; I" we must fly around
and announce the spring. She comes
silently stealing along at night, and in
the early morning the trees are already
blooming in white and red, and the lit.
tie snow-bells and crocuses are peeping
up from the sod. Oh, it is 50 beauti-
tul! Up.here no trees bud. no flowers
blossom: this is the Schoolmaster's
Rock but Spring, who would see all
blest and happy during her joy
GUS reign, whenever she comes
to her earthly realm, sends
us here to see if there is
not child we can take with us to our
own dear home"
"Oh, take me with youl' cried
Frank. "But I have no wings like
YOU" he added sadly.
lovely messengers. "We are allowed
to take back with us to the earth those
children who have grown better under
the rule of Schoolmaster Grimbus, and
are now studious and obedient Even
the strict, exacting old Saint Grimbus
gives good account of you. So just
fling your arms about us, and hold on
fast; We have no time to watt
Then Frank placed his arms right
and left around the winged children,
and, quick as tho wind, they Auttered
through tho rosy evening clouds, down
to the earth. Scloolmaster Grimbus
stood upon the highest rock, and with
his gray cap waved them silent adieu.
Thousands of flowers were breath
ing forth their fragrance on the dewy
night dir, and Frank, already weary
with hard days work, sunk into q
deep slumber. But the winged chill.
dren knew the way to his mothers
vine wreathed cottage, and, finding the
window of his little chamber open,
they flew in and gently laid the boy on
his bed without waking him.
When Frank opened his eyes the
next morning, the bright sun peeped
smiling through the shutters, the birds
twittered in the grape vines at the win
dow, and, ut her little sons bedside,
sat the fond, trAe mother, weeping for
joy:
"My darling" she said, "you have
had long, feverish dream, from which
vainly tried to woken you."
| And SO it was after all only dream
Franks mother had not called to the
whirlwind to take him, there was no
Saint Grimbus, no Schoolmaster's
Rockl But the dream had Taught the
little fellow good lesson. He now,
for the first time, began to prize his
pleasant home, his dear mother, his
kind teackers; and he became such s
good boy, both at home and in school,
that no rcd was ever needed to remind
him of his duty.