Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-02
sg(omth's Column.
For the MONITOR.
STRAIGHT-BACKED CHAIRS.

My dear young friends, did any of
you ever sit on straight backed chair? |
mean real up-and-down straight
backed chair. 1t isn't at all comforta-
BILE is it? 1t makes your shoulders
ache, and your back sore, till you feel
inclined to get up and knock that piece
of furniture into firewood. had one in
my study the other day, and before l
was aware, l sat down in it and COM
menced to read. got along very we'll
till I felt desire to change my position
for I happen to be mite restless in
my disposition--and there my troubles
began. First, one of my shoulders felt
uncomfortable, then the other entered
into partnership, and my back wishing
to be in the fashion, | suppose, began to
twinge. 1 dropped the book | was read
ing, and began to think about nux vom-
lea, or belladonna, or something of that
nature, and how many of those strange
little pellets it would take to effect
cure, when suddenly realized that the
back of my chair was too perpendicular
for my comfort, and after | had changed
it for one of an easier shape, resumed
my study with pleasure, and I trust
profit also. 1t is rule with me never
to sit in a straight backed chair if | can
help it. But did it ever strike you that
some people make straight backed chairs,
and delight to sit in them. Old people
and young, and people from whom you
would expect better things. I just think
of two classes, and here they are.
have seen young lady at Sunday
School picnic dressed most deliberately:
from the curls on her head down to slip
pers on her feet everything was so care
fully arranged, that she looked like
milliner's walking advertisement. But
what pleasure had she? The sun shone
beautifully, and danced merrily on the
ripping waters of the pretty lake, the
grass was green and pleasant, the trees
waved their leaf-laden boughs above us,
and running vines, and creepers, and wee
flowers invited a search underneath !;
there was frolicking, and pleasant joking,
and delightful little screams of half ter
ror and half fun over the hundred and
one little mishaps attendant on holding
your tea, and bread, and cream-pie, and
fruit-cake in your lap, instead of having
them on the table; but what glorious
fun it was, and how we all enjoyed our
selves, and We came away wishing we
could have another picnic right off; when
l said all, didn't mean the young lady
mentioned at the beginning of this para
graph. She couldn't enjoy the sun, or
the trees, or the vines, or tossing and
tumbling, she had made a straight back
: ed chair of her fine clothes, and she was
so uncomfortable that she wondered great
ly how people could bear those hate
full picnics. Poor thing! 1t wasn't the
picnic that was hateful, but her dress
!. that was unsuitable.
Then I've seen some good people in
our prayer and religious meetings who
never seem to be happy or easy in theil
religious duties; their faces are long
they talk with whine, or they use the
!, same words over and over again. I've
known men to use the same prayer 81
: often that three parts of the persons il
the room know what they are going II
say before they said it. and they would
commence in the same tone, and rails
and drop their voice just in the sam
place every time. Now that's what
: call straight backed religion. 1t ism
:. natural. The good Lord doesn't wan
us to whine, and we know how He warn
ed His disciples not to use vain repeti
= tions. We want cheerful open. face
religion. Sunny, genial, bright, fresh
: spoken. A religion that secs cause 70
:. new thanksgiving in every days expel
;. fence. This stereotyped, straight backed
castiron religion-if there is such
thing-repels men instead of winnin
them. A STRAIGHTFORWARD chair isn't
desirable sitting place either for til
j.. body or the soul, so don't use one on an
:, consideration.
= So, little folks, when you start out
! have good time, and / hope you wi
! have lots Of picnics this summer, see tn;
you leave behind you all the fnery tn;
- would be in your way. Enjoy yourselv
to the utmost. Laugh and shout, ar
come back feeling that you have ha
what you started out to have. And whe
in as I trust you all will, you are servil
ev the Lord Jesus Christ, do it hearth
,ar let it be like CLEAN of sunshine livil
es in your heart by day and by nigt
ell. Loving Jesus, which is the true religio
h. will no more make you gloomy and Ion
NO faced, than loving mother and faith
a will make you sad.