Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-03-05

How Willic Was Taught the Difference
Between q Cheerful and Joyous and q
fearful and Fretful Behavior.

= II ICIAul
Willie was one of the dearest little
boys when he was happy, and wasloved
devotedly by his papa, mamma and
two aunts who lived in the family. The
house in which they all lived was in
the country, and had windows on all
sides. Willie played out-of-doors every
pleasant day and was not happy when
the weather prevented his being out-of-
doors. He had never been q very
strong little boy, and his mamma was
compelled to keep him in many days
when he could not understand the rea-
son, and he was not very patient on
such days, and sometimes made all
who loved him sorry because he would
not be consoled by any means in their
power-he wanted to be out-of-doors,
and nothing else would do.
Now, Willie's mamma was not at all
well or strong, and when she heard her
little boy worry so, it worried her and
made her head ache worse. Aunt
Susie, who loved Willie almost as
much as though he were her own little
boy, thought Of a way to make Willie
see how unhappy he made everybody
in the house when he would not accept!
his mothers decisions as best.
One bright, sunshiny day in April
Willie was out-of-doors, running and
playing with his dog. He was perfect
ly happy, and had been so sweet and
lovable all the morning that Aunt
Susie thought: This is just the day to
show Willie the difference between
having a bright, sunshiny boy about
the house, and a fearful, frctful one.
The spare shutters We're closed,
and the room would have been very
dark and dreary if one stray sunbeam
had not found its way through the
shutters, making a bar Of gold across
the floor and a dancing spirit of gold
on the wall. Aunt Susie found the
place in the shutter through which tho
sunbeam came, and covered it up,
making the room perfectly dark, and
then she called Willie in, and took him
were seated she asked Willie: 'How
do you like this room, Willic?"
l don't like it at all, Aunt Susie;
it's all dark"
Then you would not like to stay
here?"
No, no, Auntie Susie, l want to go
out-of-doors."
Aunt Susie went to the window and
took away the towel fastened over the
crack in the shutter, and in danced the
lovely sunbeam.
ooh, OH" said Willie, chow pref
ty!" and he ran and stood on the car
pet where the sunbeam lay. Then he
knelt down and held his hands in it.
Aunt went up to him, sat on the floor
and took him in her lap. Then, very
sweetly and lovingly, she said: willie,
this room is just like mammals life, and
you are the sunbeam. When YOU
worry and are cross, her life is like
this room without the sunbeam"
Willie big blue eyes grew large and
sorrowful, and the tears gathered in
them, and then, with a little sob, he
put his head on Aunt Susic's shoulder
and said: "Ill member, Auntie Susie,
Ill member" Aunt Susie took him
by the hand, and soon they were play
ing out-of-door again as happy as ever.
Two weeks had passed, and ell in the
house We're impressed with the great
change in Willie. He had controlled
hlmsel whenever he was deprived of q
pleasure it was lot best he should have,
and Immediately interested himself in
whatever substitute was offered, Two
or three rainy days had followed each
other, and still Willie had been a de-
light and comfort to all in the house..
One day, when everybody had grown
tired of the wind and rain, Willie came
quietly into Aunt Susic's room and
stood by the window for some time.
Crossing the room to Aunt Susie, he
whispered; 'Auntie Susie, hasn't I
been mammals sunbeam since YOU told
me?' Aunt Susie took him in her
arms and kissed him again and again.
You have, Willie, darling, YOU have
been a sunbeam for us all."' With a
little sigh Willie nestled in her arms
and said: Use tried, Auntie Susie, Ise
tried" And for years after a frown
on Willie's face would disappear, or
the cross tone from his voice, When he
heard the question: "Where is MAN.
mas Christian Union.
-fH)lr01H nro,,n,.t1v ,,o,-