The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-05-14
Cold GRAY stones.

NOAo Si@t olouoo, 1uuteu L III JUST
about tired Of this. Even a stone, if YOU
hit it too hard, will flash ont at You.
In the story of the foolish SEED that
didn't believe the song of the canary,
and that found a shelter between myself
and my brother, twice are we called "cold
gray stones" There are the words.
You can see them for yourself in the
number Of ST. Nicholas for last Decem-
Der.
Now, I'd like to know what that poor
little seed would have done if we hadn't
given her a home! She would have been
scorched by the sun, rotted by the rain,
or snapped up by the first bird that came
along.
| wasn't our fault that she didn't turn
into a flower we did the best we could
for her.
And as for our not caring for anything,
and nothing caring for lis, [ say-and
say it fiatly-that's not true!
The Moss family is, and always has
been, very much attached to us. 1t
cllngs to rs long after the summer months
have departed, and every one knows
there can be no better love han that
which O~utlasts the ummer.
And the tOads-the only animals that
have Jewels in their heads they don't
have to pay for-have quite an affection
for us.
They come and sit beneath our shade
III the long, hot days, and sleep and
dream the hours away, or pass their time
telling us wonderful tales of the strange
places they have hoped over.
And the beetles, honest old fellows,
who don't care for houses, but live in
cosey underground cellars. what would
they do without stones to keep the rain
off?
just turn us over some day, and you'll
see the many-legged creatures running
nimbly about !; but turn us back again
quickly, for we don't like to have the
poor things frightened, though we "have
no more heart than a stone"
And new / am going TO tell you about
two "cold gray stones" cousins of mine,
who live IN a great tiresome city.
The wind brought the story to me, and
so you may be sure it is all true.
These cousins We're part of the back
rarl Of n ,rro+aInl l44lo lo.z =
the wretched little house lived a pale,
blue-eyed child.
The poor child had never seen any
thing growing but tie struggling grass
that tried to force its way up here and
there III the dirty streets, and she never
caught but a glimpse of the blue sky,
because all the rest was hidden by the
tall, gloomy, houses around her.
ooh, dear :" said one of my cousins
to the other, one day !; chow [ wish she
could see a flower 2" when along came .
Wind in a great hurry, as he almost
always is.
Puff, puff" said he chow hot you
are here! How DO you doE"
"Same as ever, said my cousin "but
what are you carrying? ?"
GA few seeds" answered Wind, 81
picked up miles from here, and I'm look
ing for some good, rich earth to drop
them on"
"Dear Wind" said my cousin, "do
drop some here"
Here" said Wind, and be laughed
until the wretched little house shook. |
"What good would they do here? /
see plenty of dirt-ha /! ha ! no but no
earth-ho no !! ha +. ha !"
"There is a creyice between u.s." said
my cousin, "where there is a little
earth (do stop laughing for a moment,
and look, dear Wind, and we think a
flower might grow there. Please give
us one seed, and we will hide it from
the birds, and protect it from careless
footsteps, and watch it carefully until it !
grows to gladden. the heart of the pale,
blue-eyed child"
"An right" said Wind, and he
blew a seed in the crack between the
"two cold gray stones, and hen fed,
laughing, around the corner.
And the seed took root, and sent up
two bright green leaves to tell the stones