The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-06-08
ONE STICK AT A TIME.

n "A
Coming home from school one day, 1
found large pile of wood before our
door.
There's work for you, Willie," said
Ned Blake, the boy who was with me.
Your father had better do as my
father does, hire a man to get 1t in. IL
is too much for a boy, mother says; and
it will take the whole of Wednesday
afternoon. You will have no time for
play. No, VIII, would not do that, l
tell YOU"
This was the substance of Ned talk
as we stood before the wood pile; and
the more he said, the higher it grew.
By the time he left me, began to think
myself poorly used boy, indeed.
There is work for you, Willie"
said mother, as l sidled into the kitchen.
q Did YOU see that beautiful wood at the
gate as you came imp
81 should think | didr' / muttered
to myself, but saying nothing aloud,
only asking how father was. He was
i'll, and had been for many months; and
the family funds, / knew, were becom-
ing low.
1T is monstrOus pile / at length
said, getting a glimpse of it from the
window.
So much the better for us, Willie" p"
said mother, cheerfully. "A long win
ter is before US, you know"
Dinner was soon ready, the table
spread in the little kitchen, and father
was helped out from the adjoining room
by his two little daughters, one on each
side Father and mother sat down to
our frugal meal with thankful hearts,
am sure the girls chatted as usual,
while l sat broOding over that lawful
wOodpile." am afraid my chief dish
was dish of pOuts. Father asked me
several qustiOns, but | took no part in
the pleasant table-talk.
"Well, my boy" said father, after
dinner, there's that wood to be put in.
No school this afternoon, so you have
time enough. You had better do it the
first thing"
1T will take the whole afternoon" 1
said. coldly. 1.-The boys are going nut
ting"
was not sure of this, but anything
in the way of an objection to the wood.
My father said nothing. Dear, dear
father! God forgive me for wOunding
his feelings!
Mother" ] said, following her into
the pantry, " Ned Blake's father hires a
man to get his wood in. His mother
thinks it is too much for a boy to do.
Why does not father hire oneP''
"Ahr' said my mother sadly, the
Blakes are better off than we. Your poor
father"
Tears came into her eyes. She stopped.
Mary ran in where we were, and ], half
ashamed of myself, escaped out of the
back door.
Still, Ned Blake's words ranked in
me, and thought it was too bad; nor
did the brisk west wind blow off the
fumes of the foolish grumbling which
made a coward Of me. / sat down on
the woOd-block with my hands in my
pockets, and shuffled my feet among the
chips in sour discomfort.
"It is such monstrous pile" / said
10 myself dozen times.
Presently out came mother. Jumped
willie" she said, cheerfully, II
soon get it in
1T is so monstrous, mother" / said
in a self-pitying tone. ''It will take me
forever, and half kill me in the bar
gain"
e Forever is long, long WHILE she
said. "Come, let us look at the pile.
1t is big, but all you have to do is to
take a stick at a time. That will not
hurt you, Willie, | am sure-O1sty one
stick at q time; yet one stick at time
will make that pile vanish quicker than
you think for, Willie. Try it, now"
There was a kindness and yet deci
sion in my mothers tones which were
irresistible. She could put even hard
things, or what we thought hard, in a
very achievable light
s*Only one stick at timer / cried,
jumping up and following her. Really,
the pile seemed already to lessen under
this new mode Of attack. "Only one
stick at a time What need of man
to do thatP One stick at a time! If
Ned Blade could not do that, he was a
poor tool !"
All! and poor tool he proved to be.
My mother had got my metal up, and /
boldly went TO work.
. Father" said ], boiling into the
house at a later hour in the afternoon,
all in a glow, "please tell me what time
it is?''
Eight minutes after three" an
swered he, looking at his watch.
WhewF' l shouted, land the pile is
masteredr'
Never did / feel such strong and
joyous sense of the power of doing.
Finding my mother, l put my arm around
her neck and said: Mother, t0Gs a
naughty boy. but 'one stick at time
has cured me-
did not then know the full value of
the lesson l had learned. Years of la
bor-successful labor--have since tested
and amply proved its value. When your
work looks insurmOuntable and you
seem to have no heart TO take hold Of il,
as work many a time will, remember, II
IS only one stick at a time, and 90 at it
Toofoss BFasaso nj