Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-12-09
A CHILD,S VICTORY.


ON the rug before the open fire sat
Pussie, her head against her aunt $
knee, her Skye in her arms-a picture
of content. After silence of at least two
minutes she drew a long breath-so
long that Aunt Kitty laughed, and
asked her what the matter was. r. o..
With a good deal of hesitation the
little girl answered, in a very sad voice,
because it is almost time to go to
bed"
..Pussie, why don't you like to go to
bedp'' -. s......t...~ 81.
Observation-Disclosures don't want
to say" .,.. .-,.. .. .-... a.
Then I will tell you why. Shall I,
dearp"
"Oh. auntie- you don't know. You
can not even guess why" .--
Aunt Kitty stopped over and whis-
pered something, which had the effect
of bringing Pussie on her feet, as she
exclaimed, ''Why! how did you know?n
- once was little girl myself,
dear" -..,.-,
"Oh yes. 1 know; but then you never
felt as feel about the dark"
one. What should you say if told you
l.
just because used to feel as you feel
n6w?"
Still incredulous, Pussie shook her
away? You are not afraid Of anything
now"
Come here, and l will tell you,"
and taking the child on her knee Aunt
Katherine told her this little story of
her own life.
Nv hen was a child was as timid
as hare. l was very shy; did not
like strangers, and l did not care for
companions of my own age. 1 was
perfectly happy with my mother and
father and my beloved dolls. Now you
see you have the advantage of me, for
you are not shy. you are fond of little
girls and boys, and then, too, you have
Your dogs and your pony. Now /! was
so afraid of a dog that the sight of one,
as far off as could see him, filled me
with snch terror that l instinctively
drew up my small legs, and then took
to nv heels. / was SO afraid of a worm
that ] have gone a whole block out of
the way to avoid passing one. I am
afraid, Pussie, that was born cow
ard, but nothing was so absolutely awful
was bad enough when unlighted, but
most truly horrible place that could
be conceived of. The windows. with
their distinctly defined sashes, were one
of the most frightful features for me,
and 1 remember lying awake at night
and seeing the four or eight white
squares in the darkness, and trembling
oe hot n
And Miss Katherine heard little muir
muir. - .r....
"Oh, auntie, it always frightens me
so! am glad it frightened you, too"
And with closer cuddle she said,
"Please 90 on"
"Once my father spoke to me about
it, reasoning with me most lovingly and
tenderly, never uttering one word of
ridicule or of reproach, telling me that
no one else could help me in overcom-
ing the dread of darkness, but that 1
might conquer it myself. used to
wonder if l should ever feel as he did
about it, and be as brave as he was in
every way.
"Some little time passed away, and
old an idea flashed through my brain,
ttua WIN tCll yOu WhDs u uiN.
ut was Just about this hour, between
six and seven o'clock. and at this sea
son of the year, when / made up my
mind to explore the whole house in the
dark. Sir John Franklin and DIR. Kane
(you remember was telling you about
them only last nightly could not have
had a firmer conviction of the dangers
they were Drawing than had ut that
The norR pr;ta
known a region to me rs the north pole
to them, and set thick with terrible
risks and perils; but having made up
my mind to do it, the possibility OF re-
treat did not occur to me, for remem-
| Der felt as if it were . sort Of duty, q
promise to my father; SO walked out
kof the room where all the family were
sitting by the freight, and began to
back part OF the house-unlighted save
| bv a ground glass window, through
I which the hall lamp threw u dim light.
| had made up my mind to begin with
[ the worst. and went steadily mp. one
! led to the attic, divided into two rooms
the outer one finished but never occu
pied; the inner one unfinished, and each
lighted by window in the roof, anG
communicating by a little door, SO low
that, small rs / was, could not stand
upright in passing throu IA. In uttel
darkness 1 climbed the steep stairs
closing the door at the foot, and at las
found myself cropping my way into tn,
inner attic through the door have jus
described. Then on my hands ant
knees 1 crawled under the caves
i ~ ,.f
corner UNEMPLOYED. 1 remember goin,
back moro than once. to be sure that
] had not shirkcd.' In this way wen