The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-12-13
1T MADE A DIFFERENCE.

In the old days, before we had found
out that coal would burn, and when on
" wood was used, it was not easily
kindled, especially if it was what is
called "green dry. Then there
were no matches; our young people
hardly know what little time it is
since matches began to be used. Then,
if you wanted to make fire, you had
to carry Goals, and there was no blaze
until you could blow it up to blaze
with air. People blew with the mouth
fit to blow the breath away, and SO he
was well off who had bellows, with two
handles and a nose, or pipe, out of
which you could blow the air. The
blacksmith uses a big pair to make his
fire hot.
One day the fire didn't burn well; it
was wood fire, such as people have
again now They are very pleasant,
but will not make a room very warm
in cold weather. We had q fire, for. the
brightness and the cheeriness, and the
doctor Doctor Ellis, you know-liked
to see it. So he called out: 'tGrace.
won't you start up the fire little?n
1t was just at twilight; the lights
had not been brought in, and Grace
reached out her hand and took the bel
lows and blew little, feeble stream
OF air, that did no good whatever to the
flre She looked, and thought, per-
haps, she had them upside down, for
there is a hole on the under side where
the air draws in, and then a little flap
falls down inside and keeps the air from
coming out that way, and sends it
through the nozzle. But if the bellows
are upside down, this little trap falls
open. No; the whole was right, and
yet there was no air. sPshawn' said
Harry, ''you cant blow worth a cent?
and he took the bellows out of Grace's
hands. Harry was boy who could al
ways do things better than any one
else, at least in his own opinion. He
went to work with great zeal; with
much more zeal than success.
What's the matterP the mean thing
won't half openf'
''Let me try" said Susan; ''vou must
hold them so. Oh, see! somebody has
tied them together. Now, John, you're
always in mischief
"Ididn't, said John; II don't like to
be blamed when | don't do things;n and
there was prospect of lively dispute.
Stop, childrenr' said DR.. Ellis; Il
tied them, but don't you see. they will
work just as well;" and he began to
use them; it must be owned with very
small success.
Why, how absurdn' broke in Susan,
taking hold of them. 'sOf course the
bellows can't do any good tied up in
this way;" and she proceeded to loosen
the string. "Therer'
But" said the doctor, "you told
me Yesterday that it made no differ
ence."
"Why, papa!-ohn' and she stopped,
conseious-for her father had gently
told her she was wearing her dress too
tight about the waist, and that her bel
lows, that is, her lungs, which, with the
ribs, work in the same way, were tied
down too tightly, and could not do their
full work. Down in her inmost soul
Susan was conscious that her dress was
a tribe tight, but she hoped to train her
self, or reduce herself, or get used to it.
1t was SO very nice to have slender,
trim, waist And as she was an honest
girl, and did not really mean to do
wrong, this lesson rather came home to
her. She saw great many girls who
breathed up and down with their Shout
ders because their lungs had not room
''east and west" as her father said. and
she saw corsets advertised '.for day and
night wear" for the poor misguided
souls who did not know how the good
God had made them; she would not
be so wicked; but, then, it
was dreadful not to look trim and nice!
SO Susan and her sister both understood
the lesson of the bellows, and took it to
heart. Their father meant to interpose
his authority, If necessary, but he much
preferred they should see for themselves
and apply the lesson. He took off the
string, and the bellows worked freely;
he picked up the cat, which was quietly
taking her ease by the fire, and showed
how her ribs moved and swelled at
every breath. Then he proceeded to
put band around her and prevent this
motion of her ribs. But pussy had no
pride, and was not willing to be made
uncomfortable, especially as there was
SO little to be gained by it. So she res
lutely protested against tight band,
to say nothing of corsets. Sensible cat!
The doctor then went on to talk Incl
dentally Of the Flathead skull and the
Chinese foot, to show how much the
frame can bear and live; made some in
cidental illusions to high heels and
pinched toes as not being exactly what
the Maker of all intended, and left his
lessons to work their purpose. Then he
hung up the bellows by the side of the
fireplace, and they went out to tea
Christian Union.