The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-05-13

COLD GRAY STONES.-"COld gray
stones," indeed! Pm just about tired Of
this. Even stone, If you hit it too hard,
will flash out at you.
In the story Of the foolish seed that
didn't believe the song of the canary and
that found 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 81. Nicholas for last December.
Now, I'd like to know what that poor
little seed would have done if zoe 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.
1t wasn't our fault that she didn't
turn into flower; we did the best we
could for her.
And as for our not caring for any
thing, and nothing caring for us, say
and say it fatly-shat's not true!
The Moss family is, and always has
been, very much attached to us. 1t
clipgs to us long after the summer
months have departed, and every one
knows there can be no better love than
that which outlasts the summer.
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
in 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.
A.~1 IL Il roII
who don't care for houses, but live in cozy
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 "hare
no more heart than stone."
And now l am going to tell you about
two "cold gray stones" cousins of mine,
who live in great, tiresome city.
The wind brought the story to me, and
so you may be sure it is all true.
These cousins were part of the back
yard of wretched little house, and in the
wretched little house lived a pale, blue
eyed child.
The poor child had never seen nything
growing but the struggling grass that
tried to force its way up here and there
in the dirty streets, and she never caught
but glimpse of the blue sky, because
all the rest was hidden by the tall, gloomy
houses around her.
"Oh, dear!" said one of my cousins to
the other, one day; chow l wish she
could see a fower!' when along came
the wind, in great hurry, as he almost
always is.
"Puff, puff! |" said he; chow hot you
are here! How do you dOW
"Same rs ever" said my cousin; "but
what are you carryingw
GA few Seeds" answered the wind, 81
picked up miles from here, and am
looking for some good, rich earth to drop
them on"
"Dear Wind" said my cousin, edo
drop some here"
"Herep said the wind, ard he laughed
until the wretched little house shook.
"What good would they do here? / see
plenty of dirt-ha! ha! ho! ho!-but
no eartll-hol no! ha! hap
"There is crevice between u.s." said
my cousin, "where there is little earth
lido stop laughing for moment and look,
dear Wind), and we think flower might
grow there. Please give us one seed, and
we will hide it from the birds, and pro-
tect it from careless footsteps, and watch
it carefully until it grows to gladden. the
heart of the pale, blue-eyed child"
GAIL right" said the wind, and he
blew n seed in the crack between the
1.-TWO gray stones" and then fled, laugh.
ing, around the corner.
And the seed took root, and sent up
two bright green leaves to tell the stones
that more were on the way; and the blue.
eyed child, coming into the back yard to
look at the patch of sky, one morning
spied them. and clapped her little hands
with gladness.
And from that day, AS the plant grew and
grew, she became happier and happier
and when a fragrant purple and white
flower opened to the sun, her joy knew
no bounds.
And with each succeeding blossom
came new joy, and 80 the clild was happy
all summer long.
And my cousins looked on and were
well content.
My sermon is finished. / suppose yor
know the greatest writer that ever lives
said we could preachf
Yes, sir. He said there were sermons
in us. You have got to acknowledge
that, if you do call us cold gray stones.
-Margaret Eytinge, in ST. Nicholas.
The OsTRICH.-A Arab chief wa
lyin asleep one day, wen he was woke W
by feelin something in his trousers pock
its. He saw it was a ostrich, and lay
still to see wot il wud do. First it tool
out his peg top and laid it one side
Then it took out his kite string, wicf
was wound on stick, and put IL will
the top. Then all his marbles was tool
out, and laid away too. Then some cot
ton reels, and some peeces of cole, ant
too slate pensils and a lump of chok, ant
a brass button, and some tofy, and ,
tack hammer, and handle of nails, ant
oyster shel, and rubber Dol, and stee
pen, wich it piled up to one side; ant
the last thing IL found was a jacknif
with thirty-two blades. Wen 1t had 60
everything it could fine in the chief
pockets, it went and stood over the pill
and etc one thing after n other till IL hat