Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-02-26
AN OBJECT LESSON.

AN OBJECT LESSON.
| Making Footprints Which Can Never Be
Efaced.
Edith had just come in from walking:
and, as usual, she had a book under her
arm. For if Edith's walks did not lead
her near the librarysbuilding they were
apt to turn in the direction of some ac-
quaintance, or schoolmate, who was
ready to lend a perfectly splendid"
book.
She hastily put off her wrappings, and
was soon costly nestled in an easy
chair, so deeply in the new volume that
she never noticed grandma s entrance,
much less thought to offer her the COM
Portable seat; so deeply interested that
she gave no heed to her mothers re-
quest to put on little Fred his rubbers
and mittens, until the request was
twice repeated; and then, l am sorry
to say, Edith closed her book and went
with very bad grace, and a decided
frown on her brow, to attend to the
little brother.
And all through the evening, instead
of adding anything to the social enjoy
ment of the family, Edith sat apart, her
pretty head bowed over the book in her
hand. Uncle VIII was visiting at the
house, and had noticed how
very much reading his young niece
seemed to accomplish. At first, he was
pleased; for Uncle VIII was very fond
of books, and thought Edith was devel-
oping good literary taste.
But when he talked with her about
standard works of history and fiction
he was surprised to find how very little
she knew of his favorites. He was not
long surprised when he began to exam
inc some of the many volumes which
Edith brought home with such fire.
quency, among her school-books, Dor
rowed from other girls, or loaned from
the library.
The Bride of the Wreck, Ghost of
Ravens Hall, or Last Heir of Merton,
were not exactly the kind of reading
Uncle Will thought best fitted to foster
fine. pure taste, or make young
mind and heart stronger and better:
He said nothing yet to Edith; but he
thought a good deal of his bright,
pretty niece, and his eyes were often
fixed thoughtfully upon her, as she
pored over her books, Or sat dreamily
gazing into the fire when the shadows
grew too thick to see the pages filed
with such unreal but fascinating tales. |
Uncle VIII was perhaps little
graver than usual this particular even
ing, after Edith was so ungracious in
performing simple duties.
"Have you any special engagement
after school tomorrow be asked, |
when Edith babe him goodnight.
She looked up brightly, for Uncle
Will SO frequently had a nice treat on
hand.
..No, sir; only to take back Fanny
Merle's book. and get one Ellen Win |
ton promised to lend me"
Il will send back the borrowed book, |
and the other can wait, / am sure.
want you to go to the museum with
me-"
ooh, thank you, Uncle VIII! That is
SO very nice"
Edith was all ready at the appointed |
hour. She had been to the museum be- |
fore-yes, many times-but going with |
Uncle Will was quite different to going |
with any one else. He had away OF |
telling about the beautiful pictures and |
statuary, and various curiosities, that /
made them seem something more than |
mere canvas and paint, and marble or |
bronze.
And so to-day they went slowly from /
one department to another, looking at |
the wonderful, beautiful objects, and
Uncle Win talked SO pleasantly about
many things, and answered Edith's
questions clearly and plainly.
At last they stopped before case
FULL of many strange things.
Look, Uncle WILL said Edith;
I@what is this piece of grey-looking
stone with these funny marks upon it?"
Cannot you tell? Look Closely
said Uncle viii.
Il don't think it is writing of any
kind, said Ellen, peering into the case.
They look ike-yes, am sure they
must be bird-tracks Of some kind. But
20 large"
They are bird-tracks, my dear. The
.oot-marks of some great fowl that
lived ages ago, when the stone you see
vas soft, miry mass. on which these
,law-prints were easily impressed"
Glow very strange, said Edith, ito
link that q bird living so long ago
should have left tracks behind that we
IAN see to-day"
Every strange" said Uncle VIII,
smiling. "But these are only few of
he many wonderful tracks of past ages
vritten on the rocks. Did you ever
hink, Edith, that all of us-especially
voung folks like you-are making
prints which, like these bird-tracks,
nay last long after us?''
''Why, how, Uncle WHIP" asked
Edith.
81 told you this rock was once soft
substance, into which these grea. claws
EASILY sank. As ages passed by, the |