Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-30

pied and torn. In this sad plight she sat
dreading the awful whoo-whoo" of the
OWL; but she was safe, and toward morn
ing she slept
When she awoke how distressed she
was! 1t was raining, ard she must find
her breakfast. She was so stiff and wet
that 1t was nearly the time that little chill
dren are at school before she could find
anything to eat. When she had swallowed
her scanty breakfast with the best grace
she could muster she sought her feathered
companions.
They had found shelter in some thick
cts, and though it was raining they all
seemed cheerful but poor Mary, whose
solled plumes and dropping wings made
! them all sing out:
Shame on the lazy bird We must
have light wings to fly aud clear throat
to sing"
Sick at heart, weary and worn. wet and
hungry, the poor little bird turned away,
and, with bitter sigh, exclaimed:
Mother! 0 mother! what would not
| give to be near you again'
Overcome by these sad thoughts she
sank toward the ground, and suddenly
found herself upon the cool mating of
her mothers pleasant sitting-room. She
looked around bewildered; there sat her
mother sewing, and above her the open
window with its interior festoons OF lace
curtains, and without there swayed the
vine, and beyond foated the creamy
| clouds.
In perfect delight she jumped up, say
| ing: Oh, mother! / am so glad it was
only dream. | would not be bird for
the world! Mother, how love you! and
promise to try to be a neat, tidy child as
! long as / live"
Her mother was surprised, for scarcely
an hour had elapsed since Mary had re-
garded her with sullen brow.
! Now the little girl ran to Mrs. Mason,
who held out her hand, saying:
Come, Mary, and tell me your Dire am :;
it must have been a short one, for not
long ago you were sitting wide awake,
| looking out Of the window, with your arm
bent on one side and your feet twisted I'M
| der your chair. IeXpected every moment
to see you fall. l did not think that, in
stead OF playing, you were asleep-you
were really dreaming. Did you dream
how many times the dress had been torn
this week ?''
ooh! [ got tore all to pieces myself;
oh! it was too frightfuI," exclaimed Mary
in breathless excitement
Let us hear about it then"
Mary sat down beside her mother and
told her wish, and how it seemed as if the
wish was granted, and how she had been
taught what birds life must be-
When she had finished relating her
trials her mother said:
My dear child, let this make you re-
alize that God has placed every creature
where he can be the most useful and con-
sequently the most happy, for duty con-
scientiously performed gives a sense of
| serenity which, if not happiness, is so
nearly allied to it as scarcely to be dis
| tinguished from it. If you will, you can
really be as happy as the birds seem to be,
so | hope you will never repine again"
Mother, promise will really try till
am what you wish me to be-"
Mary from that day applied herself to
correct her principal faults, which were
procrastination and laziness. My little
readers must not think she did it in day
or week; but by constant perseverance
she became all her mother wished her to
be. When she has any work to do she
goes Immediately at it and does it. When
there is book lying on divan she puts
| it in its place; and when flowers have
fallen from careless hands, as some of
their most enthusiastic admirers will
often gather to destroy, she gathers the
fragments and removes them. Thus in
every place, and especially about her dress
and person, she remembers the chorus
that admonished her concerning wings
and Threats. Her friends, when looking
at the fair young girl who is growing to
be her mothers sweet and charming
comforter, say often: "For neatness, en-
ergy and good temper who is the equal of
Mary Mason ?'-COnst071ce Rutherford, in
Christian Union.