The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-09
SMALL PEOPLE.
Hhe Very Large Sorrows Which They Are
Called Upon to Endure.

SMALL PEOPLE.
rhs Very Large Sorrows which They Ar.
Called Upon to Endure.
Children are very much like other
people, after all. Their joys. however
trivial to othefs. are entirely real to
themselves; their short-lived sorrows
have all the intensity of full-grown
griefs. Childish troubles do not con-
tinue long, the clouds soon break, but,
oh, the exceeding blackness of the
shadows while they do last! Older
people have learned that when the toys
of life break in the hands they may be
mended; older minds reason that the
picnic postponed from to-day will be as
enjoyable tomorrow; older, more ex-
perienced hearts could better bear the
shock when the dread suspicion grows
to a reality that the beloved, the
trusted, the carefully tended doll has
only a sawdust constitution. But such
small things to small folks for the time
being bring the very abomination OF
desolation.
The little boy who a good many
years ago spent q whole summer holi-
day constructing a mud dam in the
meadow-brOOk behind the house, and
who the next day brought from school
to view the result his boon companion,
also a dam-builder of acknowledged
ability, only to find that his triumph of
engineering skill. which babe fair to
turn fertile meadow into Al oozy
swamp, removed by paternal orders
that little boy thought, and still thinks,
that he touched then about the lowest
deepS of disappointment and chagrin
possibly to either boy or man. He saw
one day preparations being made for an
excursion of some kind. There was an
ominous look about the fact that no
one told him to be getting ready, still
he hoped against hope, and refused to
believe the worst. Surely, they would
not 90 without him. What if only the
men folks were going-wasn't he al
most man? But they left him after
all. and, seeing them depart, he settled
down into the firm belief that he should
never smile again. How he did hate
himself for being SO small!
These things We're hard enough to
bear, but something worse came. They
told him one day that the little brass
toed boots must not stamp so heavily
about the house, that the shrill tones
must be modulated, even in moments of
the greatest excitement. His mother
was sick. they said, very sick, and he
was as much frightened at the mention
of neuralgia of the heart as if he knew
what it meant Day after day passed
by, and the childish heart seemed
breaking with its trouble. Others,
more experienced in sickness, knew
that there was hope of recovery; the
little boy never for 4 moment doubted
that his mother was lost to him forever.
Everyone was tender and loving with
the little sorrower. Even the solemn
old doctor spoke to him kindly rs he
rested his hand for moment on his
head in passing-attentions received
with a degree of resentment that must
have surprised that aged practitioner.
The memory of certain tooth-pulling
and raccinating experiences had not
the touch of the doctor to his
former victim.
Everyone was kind; yeteveryone was
worried and busy, and the little boy had
for the most part to comfort himself
And it was sometimes doleful work.
Sitting often on the doorstep in the
evening hush. eating his bowl of bread
and milk preparatory to being put to
bed, the tears would 50 run down his
face that the bread and milk acquired
a distinctly salty flavor. And his aunt,s
goodnight kiss was at best but a poor
for his mothers. Suddenly,
to the little pessimist's intense surprise
and delight. his mother recovered. The
trouble Was over then, but while it
lasted it was full-grown six-foot sor-
row, very grievous for small shoulders
to bear.
Yet this same little boy grew up with
of Il happy, careless child
hood. More than most children was he
in his early years from small
Affections. He did not escape his share
of very real childish troubles, simply be-
cause it is the lot OF every child as well
as of every man to have the hitter
VIVA thC sNNtCt. ALiiC 10 " cSii-
Gus affair to young hearts rs well as to
old. Existence is by no means all sun
shine until manhood or womanhood is
and all shadows then. Indeed,
are such that to some
children childhood Is not An especially
happy period, and the truest happiness
is reached in after life. The joys of
childhood are at best but childish joys,
and if the sorrows of the child are ONLY
childish sorrows, the little one has but
a child's strength with which to bear
them. Added years bring added cour-
age, endurance, most of all strength
ened hold on the future and on the
promises of God. Life deepens and
broaderS as the years 60 by. and deep
er, truer happiness is possible to the
man than any child can know. The
child can b. happy. so can the man;
the man will have SORROWS. so viii the
child; children are very much like 9TH
er folks after all. If they can claim
more complete blessedness at any point,
it is hardly in . more perfect immunity
from veXations of earth; rather is it in
the promise that of such as they the
kingdom OF Heaven is-and even this
assurance, IS it alone to the heart of the
child. or equally to every childlike
heart?-Christtdn at Work.