Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-11-14
HIGH UP.
The. Carved Name and the Lesson Eel!
Learned From His Grandfather.

''What are you doing. Felix?"
Pm cutting my name up here,
grandfather"
pretty hard work, isn't it?"
ooh, not so very" Felix pulled a
little as he spoke and turned a very red
face towards his grandfather.
He was carving his name on the
bark of a large elm. He had been anx-
ious to, place it high up, and in order to
do so was clasping his legs around the
lowest branch of the tree and hanging
down to do his cutting. 1t is very
likely that if he had been set to it as a
task he would have thought it a hard
one and. himself very ill-used boy
I'm most DONE" he added. as he
rounded a period and then, holding by
his hands and letting go with his feet.
jumped to the ground. You see,
grandfather. wanted to cut it away up
there and couldn't reach any other
way without a step-ladder, and it was
SO far to bring it."
..I!see," said grandfather
Its my name and the date to-day:
I cut it because it's my birthday and
because. you gave me this new pocket
knife"
Are. you always going to make a
high mark as you go along?"
WE'LL" said Felix, not quite under
standing the question; Il don't expect
to cut my name on many trees, In: the
city they won't let us boys do it. -
mo-, suppose not; but wherever
you 60. my boy, you are sure to leave a
mark-of some kind. All through your
school:li life you will leave it. H'will.be
on the books that a boy of your name
was there and left his record either
high or low But you will write a far
clearer record on the hearts of all those
who may be about you. Your compan-
ions will all feel your influence either
for good or evil. And this influence
will last far longer than the name and
date in the bark of tree. You can not
pass through life without making marks
which must last through all eternity. y
..WilI this last very long? asked
Felix, looking up at his letters and, fig
ures..
Come here" said grandfather.
Felix followed as he walked around
to, the other side Of the. tree. He
looked closely at some marks on the
bark to which his grandfather pointed.
Why" he said, that's your name,
grandfather, and eighteen hundred and
thirty-six. That's more than fifty years
ago."
.AYes," said grandfather, II cut;those
when I was not much older than you
are to-day"
Fifty years." Felix looked. in awe
at these letters which had been cut
such a very, very long time ago, as it
seemed to him. land will my: name
stay here for fifty years."
Il suppose so, unless the tree is cut
down. Every time you come back to
the old place you, will come here and
see your name on the tree. If YOU live
for fifty years you will still find, ii here.
Your hair will be gray then'-grand-
father caresssingly laid his hand on the
curly brown head-'.and / shall be ~.
ing over there ON the hillside" he
pointed to some white stones in the dis.
lance
but I shan't want to, come here
then. grandfather" said Felix, with
tears very near his eyes.
20 yes, you will. You will have
other things to interest you then, as il
is right you should have. And I am
trusting, Felix. that you will have beer
making such high marks all along thai
it will be pleasure for you to come
here and see the letters you cut SO long
ago and to be- able to think within
yourself:
eff grandfather could see me to-day
he would see that I have remembered
what he said to me on my birthday 81
long ago."
Grandfather walked slowly across tht
meadows towards the house. Feli1
looked after him for few moments
and then turned again to his lettering
on the elm.
Il know exactly what he means" h
said to himself, '.he means that mus
do my very best all the time. Now
while I'm boy, too, I've often heart
him say that it takes good boy t,
make a good man. Yes. yes. yes.