The Grange advance., 1874-09-30

ny CHARLOTTE HOWE.

know a woman who, in her every
day life, when all things are going on
smoothly y and there is nothing to
modest her or make her afraid, cares
as little for religion and it's etceteras as
pig does for pianos; yet when thun-
der shower arises, she invariably plants
herself in the middle Of feather bed,
:pulls'' a long face, and repeats hymns
and exhorts.
Those ;rreverent creatures, her rel
atives and ''dear" friends, laugh, and
call it her 'thunder and lightning pie
ty'' but between ourselves, I think it
quite an idea to be able to adapt ones
self SO admirably to even the disagree
able circumstance Of thunder show
er.
cannot see that any Of the family
have the start Of her in any way, for in
the aforesaid trying period they sit in
terrified silence, with their feet tucked
mp in chairs, as far away frcm the walls,
the sewing-machine, the needle-cases
and scissors a. they consistently can
get without moving out Of doors.
But she (who shall be nameless) sits
enthroncd in her downy retreat, and
talks swcetly Of spiritual things, and
offers bits of consolatory advice to any.
body that happens to be around.
/! she should chance to be suddenly
electrified, there she is, all ready, her
lamp trimmed and burning as it we're
words of comforting assurance, etc.,
while you and !, with our feet tucked
up under US, 80 out trembling like corn
stalks in gale Of wind.
The pleasantest people l have ever
met are these possessors Of that charm
ing adaptation. They arc travellers,
VINO even laugh joyfully over that Gu
riously condensed "fifteen minutes for
refreshments;' who swallow muddy
coffee and India rubber pie, and rather
like it who never mind other peoples
babies, and don't care whether it rains
or shines.
Or they are people who step out of
beautiful, luxurious homes, and by cir
cumstances find themselves cramped,
and narrowed and impoverished, yet 80
about gracefully, contentedly, uncom-
plainingly, adapting themselves to the
new order of things.
An accident brought me once in the
face of an illustration worth telling.
There had been = catastrophe-how
when, or where it does not matter-and
a man was brought up all crushed,
blackened and bleeding.
'Will some one come here ana help
me 2" asked the only physician. Il
need a steady hand for few mo-
lnentS.
Such a dainty little woman went
over to the dirty, mangled laborer-a
woman all elegance and fashion, with q
face as soft as child's, and hands
slender, white and delicately moulded
But there was really no one else, and
she did the needed work as though
bred to it. She did not finch ut
sight of the gaping, ugly wound, or
pale at the doctors merciless work,
but looked bravely on, and did her
part without quiver Of her lips, or an
apparent quickening of her cool blood.
Oh, happy. diyine-given faculty!
Who would not give much to possess
it Ito be able at all times,
in all places, under all circum'
stances to carry happy spirit, and do
contentedly the allotted work?
A feather bed, and thunder shower,
is good time and place in which to
turn ones thoughts heavenwards, and
it is better to turn them there just then
than never at all.
And to those travellers and good an
gels who, with the heat and dust and
indigestible ''grub,' or in times of sore
distress and misery, can keep cheerful
hearts, and do untlinchingly their ap'
pointed work, must say, "You arc
blessed of God !''--!S0turdny Night.
Little Worries.
Great misfortunes can be borne with