Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-02-28

BUILDING.
BY JOSIE KEEN.
From the New York Observer

much, that she might accomplish
something to betalked about-some.
thing to make her famous and win
her praise from all who knew her, as
well as from an admirlng public.
Now, i'll were only old enough to
be Florence Nightingale, go to the
seat of war and nurse the wounded
soldiers, wouldn't that be splendid
Or, like Grace Darling, rescue some
one from a watery grave. Dear me
what can or shall l ever do? p
And foolish Ella---forgetting that
her room needed righting, that she
had not yet practiced her music les
son, or that her mother might need
some assistance this busy morning
with Nurse sick and Willie fretting
over not receiving his usual attention
went on idly dreaming or planning
what she would do at some future
day when big enough to accomplish
something worth while.
'E!la DEAR called out sweet, gen.
tie voice from the parlor door, would
you please run up into the nursery
and help am1se Willie !? Jennie's face
is aching SO badly she cannot pay
much attention to him.
ooh, dear ! it is always Just so. l
no sooner get comfortably seated
reading than l must go to amuse Will
lie. He's perfect bother = mentally
said Ella, as she slowly rose out Of
the big armchair, into which she had
curled herself for good long indul.
gence, reading and castle-building.
Come Ella, Willie will get to fret
ting and then it will be much more
difficult to amuse him.
But mother, this is Saturday and
| think | might have little rest and
pleasure OF my own, without having
to amuse baby, whenever he is cross
and fretful.
Very true, dear, it is your holiday;
but cannot you find pleasure in max,
ing others happy? I would not have
my little girl grow up cold and self
ish being, thinking only of her own
enjoyment
Grow up cold and selfish p repeat
cd Ella AS she slowly assembled he
stairs, why mamma does not know
what great things mean to accom-.
plish one of these days. How | do
wish l was big enough now to go
away to China or Africa and teach
the heathens, or do something of the
kind
A scream from Willie quickened
her steps but her brow wore rather
sulky look as she turned the knob of
the nursery door.
ooh, Miss Ella I'm so clad YOU
have come. ! have a distracting
tootheache and the neuralgia all
down one side of my face and can't
amuse Willie DO way
you took cold talking for so long
time over the fence last EVENING"
replied Ella in no very gracious tone.
There, Willie stop your crying, or
I'll not play with you = Just see, you
have upset the soap-suds and broken
your soap-bubble pipe
Willie had stopped crying upon his
sisters entrance but now stood with
quivering lips, scarcely knowing
whether to confess he was sorry or to
rebel and again set up defiant veil.
What has become of Elias wish to
care for wounded soldiers or to teach
the heathenP Has she poured oil up
on tho troubled waters? Helped to
ease Jennie of the torturing pain she
is so patiently trying to endure ? Or
seen what gentle words may do to
quiet Willie ? Alas, no.! The work
just before her does not seem grand
enough to claim her attention. 1t is
not one that will win praise from her
fellow-creatures; and 80 Ella sets
about amusing Willie in a preoccu-
pied, listless manner. Jennie is not
sent to lie down or Willie put into a
thorough good humor, until mamma
is disengaged, enters the room, and
by her own bright, sunny face and
manner sets things right. Jennie has
something given to her for her tooth
and a soothing lotion to battle her
face, and is then sent off to lie down.
Willie is taken upon the lap and soon
quoted and made happy with pref.
ty picture book.
Ella, watching these proceedings.
wonders why she has not thought of
them, and with regretful feelings,
tells her mother so.
well, my child, it is not easy TO
put old heads on young shoulders
But mamma, only this morning
was planning what great deeds,
meant to do and was wishing to be-
gin them right straight off,
and forgot that tho work directly
before you was the only one God re-
qulres Of you. I'm afraid my little
girl INDUCES III castle building. Like
bright bubbles they will fall to pieces.
doary, unless you 6rst lay firm
foundation
'And how can do that. mamma ?
don't quite understand your mean
ing''
1T is this; In dreaming or castle.
building, as il is called, for future
time. to tho neglect of present duties
1t is apt to weaken the character in.
stead of Strengthening it, and when
the time comes for some real heroic
deed, such one is unnerved or inca
pacitated TO act in the way he had
deemed he should. While another
who daily strives to make others hap.
Ply, unconsciously performs brave
deeds all the time. This is the firm
foundation of which | speak. Aud
you see Ella, when time comes fol
what you consider great heroic deeds
they are performed as naturally anG
and with as little thought of self as
the simple ones that have long beer
transacted. And, dear child, let me
add, without thought of the worlds
praise, such as castle builders expec,
to follow their great deeds
Ella looked thoughtful. Had ma
ma so clearly read her thoughts, Of
was this really the way with al
dreamy castle.builders (? If so sh,
would not be one of them. And, form
ing good resolutions she no Longer