The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-09
THE MODEST LITTLE FREELY.

a EaU1es
One morning little FREELY who had
just learned that she could give light,
said to her mother. s.What Is the use
of such little thing as amp can't
give light like that great bright sun,
nor even like a star, nor yet as bright
as the lantern we saw last night. It
don't seem to me that there is any need
of me in the world"
"Wait, my child,'' said her mother,
g by-and-by you will see what you are
good for. Night will come soon and
then your light will show"
So the little one took a long nap, and
when it awoke the sun had gone down
and it was growing dark. The little
fly saw then that its light was shining.
But soon the full moon arose and made
the evening so light that the FREELY
could hardly be seen.
"Why, mother" said she, "my light
is not needed; it is all lost in the brig hit
light of the moon.''
Wait, my child, patiently; before
many nights even you will be needed"
And the little fly waited until, not
long after, there came dark and
rainy night. "Now, my child" said
the mother fly, "you may do some
good with your light; it will be plainly
seem"
So the little freely went out to see
what good she could do. Few of her
kind were out; it was so dark and
stormy. Soon she heard horse COM
ing along, drawing wagon. She heard
a man in the wagon say. at is so dark
that don't believe we can keep in the
road, and am afraid that we will drive
against a tree somewhere; l wish we
had a light"
"Now is my time" said the fly, "to
help some one little" So she iiew as
quickly as she could right up to the
fore wheels of the wagon; and sure
enough, it was out of the road and go
ing straight up to tree. She blazed
her light as brightly as she could.
just then the man saw the tree, and
called out, "Whoa, old Charlie! Come
here, you are out of the road. Why, if
it had not been for that lightning bug
we'd have gone against the tree sure"
The little fly saw the wagon safe in
the road, and went off as glad as could
be, to think that she had done some
good. As she flew along she heard
children crying.
"Oh, DEAR" said a little girls voice,
1--WE can't find the gate, and this pick
ct fence is so high that we can't climb
over. Poor Johnnie, / am afraid we
will have to stay out here over night"
Then little boys voice said. 81, 81 wish,
if we only had lantern..''
"Here maybe can do some good"
thought the FREELY. And away she
few along the fence to the children,
and then flew ahead of them more slow
ly. lighting the fence as the children
followed, until they came to the gate
and went through to their home.
When Emma saw the light of the fly
along the fence, she said, "See,
Johnnie, God has sent one of the little
angels with tiny bit of lantern to
show us the way. guess that God
heard us cry and felt sorry" Isn't
God good to little children?' said
Johnnie. Emma, mean to love
Him. cause He's SO good to u.s."
How happy the little freely felt when
she saw how much good she did in her
small way, need not be told. If you
children wish to know, just try to do
good to others and help to make them
happy.
After helping more people that night.
the freely went home as contented and
happy as could be. She told her
mother, az know now what am good
for. / am good to show people the way
ON dark nights. Ifmy light is not good
for much. it is good for dark times,
anyway"
Some little folks think that they do
not amount to much. Maybe God made
you for dark times, little ones. If you
have not much light to lead people
when it is bright all round, you have
enough for dark times, when it is most
needed. That is the kind of light that
does the most good. a. Davis, IN
Church Union.