The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-19

KIV0t lump 4t0<k ~ 4VmmyH tuI00&
and made Il ache. and his eyes smart
cd.
II know" said grandma. from tho
other side 81 the fire. ~ she laid down
her knitting and took OF her glasses %
wipe them. ''Last year there was
dear. good father 10 come home nc
night with comforts that his strong
hands had earned. and who never loft
us In the morning without a kiss and
kind word; but he went up TO Heaven
Don't YOU remember how no told his
boy. Just before he went. 10 be sure and
serve the Lord. and be comfort 10
mother. and gel ready 10 como and
live with father some dayP'
Tommy wiped away the tears. but
sat still without replying.
I'm tell you." said grandma, after
little pause; slct's have grumblc-
meeting"
"A whatP' said Tommy. looking up
with widc-open eyes.
"A mountaineering. You don't SEQ
what we've got to praise God for; lets
see what we have TO grumblc about.
We've seen trouble this year that's
sure; we're not the only ones, but then
we feel II more than we do other peo-
pies troubles. Now. | know little
boy who hasn't lost his father by
death as you have. Oh. no! but one
cold day last week. he and his mother
and little baby sister were all day with
out any fire or food. because every cent
that the poor. crazy thing that he calls
father earns goes over the bar Of the
saloon for drink. Once he beat the
mother black and blue. and kicked
Freddy till they were afraid that he
would never get over H. The neigh
bors had him arrested. but he was
worse than ever after he got out
.Oh-hl~ said Tommy, drawing
long breath. and looking y little fool
ish.
"Shan't we complain little because
you haven't such father. instead Of
one waiting 70 welcome you in
Heaven? No? We don't seem To get
started well on this meeting. Let's
take something else. We are poor;
that's 4 fact You cant have fine
clothes. nor half the playthings YOU
want. Mother has this little home
that father bought. and she has steady
work, and turn in my little income;
but what is thata What did You have
for supper"
Nothing but bread and mills" said
Tommy. the whine coming back into
his voice.
Now we've got good start II
YOU only had the nice, light meal that
saw two little folks have, there might
be something 10 be thankful for. They
...st.s.I. si1 ak.pf,
and the older one was eating snow.
but the younger one was crying bit
terly. stopped and asked whas was
the matter. and she said: Is 80
hungry The older one said: We've
had nothing to eat since morning. I
eats snow. but she don't Don't you
think You might have something to
praise God for II you had been in their
placer
Tommy hung his head
Then these two little girls han on
some old shoes that grown folks mad
worn out. and saw their bare toes
| through the holes. and the blue skin
through the ragged stockings No~.
mother don't keep you dressed in any
thing but good. thick flanncls and
| stout. warm clothes. though they are .
little patched. Shan't we grumble
over that?"
| "N-no,- said Tommy. family. and
| turning red, for that very morning he
| had fretted about those very patches.
Then" grandma went on cheerful
". ..there's mother. It's a shame, the
way she treats you. II you had some
mothers, you might have something 10
be thankful for-like Billy McGrana-
| hans. for instance, who lets him run
| the streets. and never sends hun 10
school nor Sunday-school. nor nlends
his clothes. nor washes him. nor acts
As II she loved him. Why. all the little
mother does il 10 work all day foe her
little son, rs bright and cheerful as
though her heart wasn't sore with her
sorrow. and tuck him up in warm
bed NJ night. with kiss and prayer.
and teach him and train him so that he
NAV grow up TO be good man. Don't
YOU think we had better have biz
grumblc over hcr?'
20 rrandmar' and the sorry tears
came into the little boys eyes.
"Ihen. there the great, good Father
who has given you all these blessings
who. knew what was best when He
took father away, who loves Us, and
cares for US every day, who il prepar-
ing home up there for us. Shall We
grumblc. Tommy"
mo. nor cried he, jumping up y
throw his arms around her meek anu
kiss her; don't. don't wonder
mother wanted to 60 70 praise-mees'
ingr' Y
"Bless mcr' said mother. coming y
that moment. her cheeks pink and NJ
veil frosty; ..what bright faces. 10y
must have been talking about some
thing pleasant"
We've been holding a grumhe
meeting" said grandma.
..And we turned IL into a praisr-Hsee''
ing" said Tommy.-D. A. Hayes "
8. 3. Times.