Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-13
A SERMON IN FIVE LINES.
BY MORRIS WAITE.

at takes so little to make a child
happy that it is a pity, in a world full
of sunshine and pleasant things, that
there should be any wistful faces, empty
hands or lonely young hearts"
L found these words in an old news
paper the other day. They were
headed "A Sermon in Five Lines" and
they came home to me with all the force
OF a personal appeal.
cit takes so little TO mako a child
happy How many times 1 had seen
the most trivial incident lift my own
little boy into the very e~sctacv of happi-
ness. How often would some simple
gilt or a song or a story chase the tears
from his eyes and bring the bright
smiles to his face. And vet, L thought
with a pang of regret. how many times
! had refused to exert myself at all for
his sake. That very night he had gone
to bed with q heavy heart because 1
would not romp with him. / was too
tired, l said.
1 stepped into the boys room before
l went to bed that night, and passing
my hand over his tiaxen hair as he Law
asleep. 1 resolved that in the future 1
would be a better father to him.
1T is a pity that there should be any
wistful faces, empty hands or lonely
young hearts," L thought, as 1 dropped
asleep. l remember that later in the
night l was dreaming Of visiting a great
factory and inspecting the machinery.
BE careful" [ heard some one say, and
then to my horror l saw that ] had APP.
proached too near some betting. Ny
beared had been caught and + was
frantically irving to eNtricate myself
when / awoke.
Hello, papa said a voice beside my
bed in the darkness.
Let go of papa's whiskers," I cried.
"What on earth are you doing in here
anyway, Dick?" I continued, sitting up.
"Dick wants Dicks animals" was the
answer.
Dick wants to go back to bed" said
I, land quick, too;;" and I carried him
into his little room and placed him on
the bed.
"Dick wants Dicks a-a-animals."
"You don't want"
ut takes so little to make a child
happy The words came to my mind
and dispelled all my annoyances at
once. J. lighted the gas, turned it
down quite low, fished out Noah's ark
from under the bed and placed it be-
side the boy. Cali right" l said, cheer
fully. you may take them, but be very
quiet and don't wake your baby
brother" Then + kissed him and went
back to my own bed again.
[ was almost asleep when I heard a
pattering of feet and a subdued voice
saying:
Dick wants papa to find the ele-
plant"
II wouldn't mind about the elephant
now," said ].
"Dick wants"
I arose and found the elephant.
Nov Dick" I said, you must keep
quiet and let papa sleep.
want papa to make Prancer stand
| up"
He was trying to make a three-leggei
horse stand alone IN the counterpart.
will you go to sleep if [ make hin
stand up for you?" I asked.
"Yes, papa"
Right away?"
"Yes, papa"
made Prancer stand erect BY brac.
ing Noah against his off hind quarter.
"There," said I, "now lie down,
Dick"
want papa to make all the animals
stand up"
Dick" said I, impressively, "it is
night. The animals are all asleep and
don't want to stand up. You must lie
down and let papa go to bed"
Dick wants to see the MOON"
"Mr. Dickie," l said, coaxingly, "if
you will stop talking, and not wake
your little baby brother"
dick wants little baby buzzer to get
up and shave"
Not a word was spoken after that.
Quietly, but firmly, 1 laid him down
and drew the blanket over him. I
turned out the gas, and taking a long
step to clear the stray animals, I made
my way back to my own room. Three
minutes later I knew from his regular
breathing that Dick was asleep, and, if
I remember rightly, 1 didn't care much
ut the time whether he had q wistful
face and empty hands and a lonely
young heart or not. Detroit Free