The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-07
HOW ROSE WAS CURED OF LAZI.
NESS.

well to read to her pet this pretty story
taken from the French. The writer has
children of her own, upon whop this
story had very good effect, and feel
ing for other mothers who have great
trouble in teaching their charges A, B,
=, she repeats it here for family use.
Rose was pretty little girl five years
old, who would have been very sweet
but for one bad fault. [ am sorry to
say she was very lazy. When her
mamma called her to say her lesson,
she had ever so many reasons to give
for not coming. '1t is too soon;" "The
clock has not struck YETI" or "Wait
till have done this game" or cit is
too cold" Then, when she had made
up her mind to come at last, she would
yawn between each word, stop, look
down on the ground, play with her feet,
and say over and over again: ''Oh! how
tiresome learning to read isl" You
may know that she did not get along
fast. Ali the little friends of her own
age who came to SEE her were already
able to amuse themselves reading
pretty stories without help, while she
was just beginning to spell in one syl-
liable. Poor, poor child.
One day she said to her mother:
Mamma, why am l obliged to learn
to read and sew? Only look at jean
nette, the farmers girl; she is fifteen
years old, but knows nothing about
reading or writing. She told me that
it tired her to 90 to school, and that her
mother had let her stay away"
Mamma-So, you would like to re-
semble Jeannette, who is nothing but q
rough peasant girl, who can never do
ANYTHING better while she lives than
keep COWS? But even that is some oc-
cupation, while you would be good for
nothing at all.
RoSe-I think it would be splendid to
keep cows and goats. and If you will
only let me say no more LESSONS, man.
ma, I'll 90 every day and help Jeannette
to take care of them.
Mammal believe, my child, that you
will soon have enough of it, but we can
try it. Ii you like you may begin to-
morrow.
The next morning Rose was wakened
by her nurse at six o'clock. Now you
must know our little lady had no mind
to rise so early, but the novelty of the
thing made her submit without fretting
more than little bit. She swallowed a
cup of milk as fast as she could. ate a
small piece of bread and ran out to join
Jeanette, who was waiting for her in
the yard with her cows and goats. Rose,
having had a crook given her, drove
them before her. They soon came to a
large meadow, covered with grass and
shut in by hedges. Jeanette sat down
on a rock and took out her knitting.
while Rose picked flowers to make a
nosegay and ran about gaily from side
to side Suddenly she caught sight OF
a pretty wild rose blooming in hedge,
and have it she would; but in order to
reach it, she had to climb over the
bushes that grew around it; at last her
hand touched it, and she pulled the
pricked her, and pain made her draw
back so abruptly that she fell, tearing
her dress and scratching her knee. Cry
ing bitterly, she ran to show Jeanette
hC.r scratched fingers and bleeding knee
Instead of pitying her, the girl laughed
at her and said: LA, miss, you know
that roses have thOrnsi When you come
out in the fields to play, you ought not
to cry for such trifeS.n After Rose had
| queted down a little, she began to play
with a young goat, that consented al
first to gambOl with her; but pretty soon
the goat showed signs of wanting tC
butt, while Rose pulled and pushed tC
keep it back, until the animal, grown
angry, made thrust at poor Rose with
her horns, that sent her rolling on the
| ground, believing as if she were being
killed. Jeanette came to her aid, fOl
| Madam Goat wanted to return to the
charge. She picked up the little girl,
made her sit down by her side and said
'.rll thank you to be quiet awhile, Miss
Rose; YOU are harder to take care Oi
than all the cows and goats put to-
gether.''
Rose-Jeannette, am hungry: wheI
are we to 90 and get breakfast?
Jeannette-Oh, we are not going tC
breakfast at all. We are not to see
home until seven o'clock inthe evening
But here, child. you can have some
black bread and an onion.
Rose-An onion! oh! dreadful what
a scent! Why, it makes the tears come
in my eyes Just to see you eat it:
Rose ate a part of her bread, anC
gave the rest to the COWS. Then she
knew not what to do next. ''Jeannette
tell me story, will you?"
Jeannette-La, miss! l don't know
any.
ROse-Have you not read some il
books, like my mamma? She tells mt
such pretty ones.
Jeannette-Why, miss, you know
that | cannot read.
Rose-Ah, forgot But, Jeanette
I am so tired. Are you not tired, too
say?
Jeannette--La, miss, not much.
am knitting, you see. Why don't yol
knit?
Rose-I don't know how. Mamm'
diCssry to teach me, but / would no
learn.
Rose kept trying to get Jeanette t.
talk, but to every question that sh'
asked could get no other answer thai
this: LA, miss, | don't know" and 81
the poor child got more and more tired
Never had day seemed so long TO her
She would have given anything in tn
world to see her mamma appear, ever
with the lessOn-book in her hand. As sh
had only eaten little of her bread sh
soon gotrery hungry again, and began 3
cry and beg Jeanette to take her bacl
home. But Jeanette said no, she mus
mind her beasts and wait for the night
lime to come for leading them home
To fill up the cup of her misery the SIX
yrew dark and heavy rain fell. Jean
ette, with her coarse, woolen gown
vas not much hurt, but Roses thil
clothes were soaked through directly
Az Lost Iaannatta agreed to return to tn