Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-02-24

i
long intervals. Besides, You have q
home and a kind mother, and those poor
little fellows have only strangers to attend
10 them.
"Among them there is d boy about
twelve years old He has to lie on his
back from morning ill night. He. can
not even turn without help. But he is
the merriest, brightest fellowin his ward,
and is always singing and working"
working" said David; In aStonish-
ment. "How kin he work, I'd like to
knoww
"Why, he has his hands, and he car.
we'd that ship. We gave him u set of
tools, and as he used to live in seaport
town when he was we'll, he knew exact
ly how to rig a vessel The work kept
him busy and happy for many days.
When 1t was finished 1 said to him.
ATS very beautiful; Pm glad you've
made it. Shall fix place on the bed
where you can have it near You and al.
ways see it,?
mo. NJ ISIS Morton" he said. 81 don't
think l want TO do that with it,"
"Then you wish to sell il? 1dare say
I can find purchaser" :.
"No, not this one, ma'am. If any
body'll buy them, can carve some more.
But think I'd like to have you to find
some boy who is cripple like me, and
give 1t to him from me. I'd like, too, to
have you tell him that it makes
time pass very quick to do such work.
1t amt hard either, and he'll forget all
his pain, too. Prehaps If you give him
this ship, it may make him try to do
something like it, too.
David gazed at the ship, some awe
mixing with his establishment. What, q
poor cripple like him-nay, even more
helpless-could make such beautiful
things? Not only make them, but de-
prive himself TO give pleasure to others
who we're in pain, and kept In bed like
bimP
Here was q strange revelation 1t WAS
too new to his experience to be under
stood ut once.
Miss Morton watched him closely. She
saw light dawning in the fretful face and
smoothing out its hard lines.
"Shall I tell him anything from your"
she asked.
"rell him I'm glad to have the ship,
and-and-thank him. Look here,
ma'am! See, the drawer in that table?
Yes? Open 1t. Don't you see a.picture?
Yes, that's it," he said, as she drew out
wretched, faded chrome of child
PLAYING with kittens. Take that to-
What did You say his name wasF"
"It's Willie.'
ayes, take that to him. and tell him
it's the only pretty thing I've got, and
I'd like to give it to him. Perhaps he
could learn to paint picture like that,
I'd like to ever SO much"
"I'l gladly take it," she said smil.
ing. "pll tell him what you say. But
xo,, Il Caop, 70 ooro for unrr -
He took them up and buried his face
in them. ooh, like 'em better than
anything else," he said. II never saw
any like these-only Fwild flowers, you
know, that don't smell sweet
"I'll put them in this tumbier ofwater
by your bed, 30 that you can look anthem
and smell them ali the time. But it's
too close in here. Roses won't i've nm
less they have light and air. Besides,
you want light so that you can can see
your ship" -,
She threw open the shutters. The
boy, absorbed in his new interests, for
got to complain ofthe sunshine. A sealed
window IN his own heart had been
opened, and he hailed the light which
made the roses glow, and showed him
the delicate workmanship of his vessel.
Promising 10 return in few days,
Miss Morton took her leave. AS she
stood on the threshold of the room she
stOpred'a moment TO look once more at
the picture within. With the light shin
ing on him, all the boys moodiness had
disappeared. His eager, absorbed face
turned first 10 one of his treasures and
then to the other. The painful sense Of
isolation which crushed him was lifted
for there was at least.one bein- in the
world besides his mother who was inter-
ested in him, and wished to give him
pleasure.
The weary round of his sad, complain-
dwelt on himself ard his own hard fate.
What beautiful things roses were, and
if he could only paint them!
4 week passed. AS Miss Morton sat
at his bedside, he slyly drew a head he
had carved from under his pillow.
Il have seen pictures Of vessels with
heads in 'front.'" he said: Don't you
think this will do to put on my shipp"
Miss Morton looked att with surprise
1t was rough piece Of work, but the
features were well cut,
"Why, how we'll You have done it,"
she said. "And with only penknife! If
you can do 30 we'll with only a penknife.
! must get you box Of tools"
20 ma'am, if you please" he cried, In
an eager, excited manner, "if stead of
the tools, you'd only get me some paint!
Pm sure l could paint flowers and things.
I'd rather do that, it seems to me, than
anything else. To be sure, l don't know
how to begin"--his voice falling-"but
then, I'd try real hard"
81 know how to draw, and can paint
a little, David" she answered, gently.
"I'n teach you at first. and if find YOU
have really taste for 1t. you shall have
better instructions than can give"
From that day began David s new life.
Miss Morton, when she was interested,
never did things by shalves, and there
was something to her in"xpressibly de-
lightful in leading the dark mind to the
light.
She never preached to him. The ser
mon of lovessand tender sympathy he
learned from her gentle heart and kind
words. Eand acts, led him gradually to
recognize his r1eavenly Fathers care
and tenderness, even in his affection.
The days Of darkness an morbid repin-
ing In that garrett had passed. But you
may be sure that he did notgrow amiable
and gentle all at once. He was often ir-
ritable, but he tried to control his tenn
pr, dllu li0 was w lAICTcDlCu
bis work, and too busy With it to dwell
on himself
Eighteen months after these events,
there was charity fair given by the Ia
dies of the wealthy st. Pauls Church.
One small table at which Miss Morton
presided excited. the attention andadmi-
ration of many of the visitors. There
were china cups and vases on it, admira-
bly, painted, the flowers grouped with
much artistic grace. There were wood
en- brackets, wallpockets, and knife-
holders, of most delicate workmanship.
But above all, there was story attached
to these things, which Miss Morton told
one evening with so much feeling that
the crowd pressed eagerly forward so as
not to lose word.
LAS 1 told you," she went on, che
will never walk, but he is an undoubted
genius, as you may see from his work; a
genius who fretted and pinned, I'M
conscious of his powers, until the
windows of his soul were opened by q
mere chance.
"When I first saw him, he hated a
ray of light, Now he cannot have too
mich of it for these creations of his