Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-01-20

zled the child, and the answer that 1t
covered the opening left in the brick.
work, so that straw could be thrust up
the chimney and lighted to burn it out
without removing the stove," conveyed
no meaning to her perplexed mind.
In her eyes the queer square of iron
covered the entrance to some enchant-
ed region where little girls must neces.
sarily delight to go.
Accordingly, with all her little
strength, she tuggcd away at the bar
rier She saw an irregular opening and
caught CLEAN Of sunlight filter
ing down the fue. She sought to
look further; but the iron was too
heavy, and fell from the tiny fingers
upon the tiny toes with crushing
weight. The stately old grandfather
raised the iron and took the silent child
upon his knee. Kissing her, he said,
kindly:
"lt must have hurt you very much,
my pet"
The little face was all a-quiver with
pain, tears stood in the brave, brown
eyes, and the words faltercd as they
came:
~ dess it's on'y for little VILE"
"Thats right, darling" said the
child's mother, gently removing shoe
and stocking from the little foot, now
found to have been seriously hurt;
'that's right! Mothers brave littl.
girl knows that crying only makes the
hurt last longer
The poor baby could not keep the
tears from running down her little
checks, pale from the suffering; but she
did refrain from making the least out
cry, or even moan.
After she had been carried away in
her mothers arms, to sleep away the
exhaustion of pain, her grandfather,
with tears Of pity and admiration in his
eyes, said, omphatically:
II have always loved my daughter
in-law. but never have admired her
so much as to-day. She is teaching her
children to be heroes! That child will
make her mark in the world, some day.
God bless hcrm
The grandsire was right. The child
became n woman of marked character
and ability. She was but nineteen at
the outbreak of our civil war, but such
was her ardor and enthusiasm, tenn
pered by reason and strengthened by
courage, that she was among the first
to enter into hospital service working
until carried off by fever almost at
the close of the war.
This noble woman's childish training
in habits of endurance would have
proved equally useful to her in any vo-
cation. There is not possible career
in which we are not called upon to
meet hardships of one sort or another.
Has one done ones best, striving hon
orably to deserve only commendation,
and then won but blame or ridicule,
the weakness of yielding to mortifica-
tion can bnt render the matter worse
Is one reproved, even harshly, one may
make the admonition fruitful of good
results. Sickness, misfortune, power.
ty, disillusion, even undeserved shame
and death itself lose half their terrors
when bravely faced and endured. In
a measure this lesson can be taught to
the youngest; the oldest cannot afford
to cease from learning it. TO grow
strong by suffering one must have
learned to endure hardships with for
titude. Suffering of any sort, not SO
borne, is debilitating, encrvating, de-
structive.
How much of future strength de-
pends upon early training in the exer-
else of true courage, comparatively few
seem to remember. 1t is so easy tc
pity, caress and openly sympathize
with q sobbing child; SO hard to treat
its hurts-whether n oral or physical
with touch as firm as tender; being
brave, that the child may also be
brave. Yet it is as undoubtedly duty
to teach fortitude as it is to teach truth
fulness. If the mother whose opinions
have been quoted be correct in hel
views, truthfulness itself is largely de
pendent upon courage. A naturally
timid person may, indeed, be also ma
lively honest; yet it seems almost i'm
possible for such person to retain alb
solute honesty of word and act; and the
most unhappy of mortals are those
who have not the courage to support
the real truthfulness of their natures
Helen Evertson Smith, In N. Inde
pendent.