Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-15
WHEN THE DAY is DONE.
Reflections over q Little First Reader
Lying Upon the Floor.

How quiet the mousse is at midnight. Inc
people VINO talk and laugh and sing in IL
every day are asleep, and the people who
fell asleep in it long ago come silently
back into it. Every house has these two
classes of tenants Do we love best those
with whom wo can laugh and talk and
sing, or the dear silent ones who come so
noiselessly to our side and whisper TO US in
faint, sweet, far away whispers that have
no sound, so that we only hear their very
stiffness
am not tired, but my pen is weary. 1t
falls from my fingers aud / raise my head
start TO leave the table and my eyes fall
upon little book lying on the floor. 1t is
a little First Reader" He left it there this
afternoon. remember now. l remember
just bow l was impatient because he could
not read the simple little lesson-such an
easy less on-and l told him it was a waste
of my time trying to teach him, and pushed
him away from me l remember now. 1
see the flush come into the little tired face,
the brave, cheerful look in his eyes-his
mothers brave, patient notwithstanding
Cling with his disappointment and pain.
see him lilo down on the floor and the little
face bend over the troublesome little les
son--such simple, easy lesson, any baby
might read it. Then, after a little struggle
alone it has to be given UP, and the bafiie1
little soldier, with one more appealing look
toward me for re-enforcements, signs and
goes away from the lesson he cannot read
to the play that comforts him. And there
lies the little book just as he left it. All
me. could kneel down and kiss IL now, a.
though 1T were alive and loving.
Why, what was my time worth TO me to
day! What was there in the book L wanted
to read one-half so precious TO me as one
cooling word from the prattling lips that
quivered when turned away hate the
book Tread, will never LOOK at 1t again /;
were it the last book in the world l think
would burn it. All its gracious words are
lies. | say to you though all men pr aise
the book, and though an hour ago ! thought
it excellent / say to you that there is poi
son in its hateful pages. Why, what can
learn from books that baby lips cannot
teach mel Do you know want to go to
the door Of his room and listen; the house
is so still; maybe he is not breathing.
Why, If between my books and my boy
choose my book why should not God
leave me with my booksl My hateful
books
But was not harsk. l was only little
inpatient Because, You see, his lesson
was so easy, so simple All me, there were
two Of us trying to read this afternoon
There were two easy, simple lessons Minis
was such yerY simple, easy, pleasant,
loving one to learn. Just a line, just q
little throb of patience, of genteness, OF
love that would havo made my own heart
glow and laugh and sing. The letters were
so large and plain the words so easy and
the sentences so short. And II Oh, pity
me- missed every word Ibid not rend enc
line Alright. See, here is my copy now, all
/ blurred and blistered with tears and heart
ache all married and misspelled and blotted.
| I am ashamed to show it to the Master.
And yet | know He will DO patient with
me; know how loving and gentle He will
be- Why, how patiently and lovingly, all
these years, He has been teaching me this
simple lesson failed upon to-day. But
when my little pupil stumbled on a single
word Is my time, then, so much more
precious than the Masters that can not
teach the little lesson more than oncel
All, friend, we do waste time when we
plait scourges for ourselves These hurry
ing days, these busy, anxious, shrewd, am
bilious times Of ours are wasted when they
take our hearts away from patient gentle
ness, and give us fame for love and gold
for kisses Some day, then. when our hun
cry souls will ask for bread our selfish god
will give to US n stone. Life is not
a deep profound, perplexing problem
1t is a simple, easy lesson. such as any
child may read. You cannot find its solu-
lion in the pouderous tones of the old
fathers, the philosophers, the investigators,
the theorists. 1t Is not on your book
shelves But in the warmest corner OF the
most unlettered heart il glows in letters
that the blindest may read; a sweet, plain,
simple, easy, loving lesson. And when you
have learned it, brother of mine, the world
will be better and happier.
The Wonders of TeIemetry."
Tho system includes a series of instru