The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-16

FNfft MTHN0W N4
nesrlv an inch thick. What was be-
hind hat piece OF iron had often pug
lied the child, and the answer that IL
covered the opening left ia the brick
work. So that straw could be thrust mp
the chimney and lighted TO burn,it out
without removing the stove, conveyed
no meaning TO her perplexed mind
Inher eyes the queer square Of iron
covered the entrance to some enchant
cd region where little Eiris must neces-
sarily delight 70 go.
Accordingly, with all her little
strength, she tugged away at the bar
rier. She saw an irregular opening and
caught 4 CLEAN Of sunlight filter
Inp down TIE hue. She sought to
look further; but the iron wa too
heavy, and fell from the tiny fingers
upon tbs tiny toes with crushing
weight. The stately old grandfather
raised the iron and took the silent child
upoa his knee. kissing her, he said,
kindly:
1T must have hurt you very much.
my. ret
The little face was all a-quiver with
pain, tears stood In the brave, brown
eyes, and The words faltered as they
came:
II dess It's only for little VILE"
.sThatss right, darling,n said the
chiId's mother, gently removing shoe
and stocking from the little foot, new
found to have been seriously hurt;
athat's right Mothers brave little
girl knows that crying only makes the
hurt last longer
The poor baby could not keep the
tears from running down her little
cheeks, pale from the suffering; but she
did refrain from making the least out
cry, or even Rloan.
After sIla had been carried away In
her mothers arms to sleep away the
exhaustion 81 pain, her grandfather,
with tears Of pity and admiration in his
eyes, said, emphatiealy;
II have always loved my daughter
in-Iaw, but never have ! admired her
so much as to-day. She isteaching her
children to be hcroesI That child win
make her mark ia tile world, some day.
God bless herr
The grandsire was right. The child
became i woman 81 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 on BY a fever almost at
the close OF the war.
This noble woman's childish training
In habits of endurance would have
proved equally .nseful to her in any vo-
cation There is not d possible career
In which we are not called upon to
meet hardships Of one sort or another.
Has one done ones best, striving hon
ornbly to deserve only commentator,
and then won but blame or ridicnle,
the weakness Of yielding 10 mortifca-
tion can but render the matter worse.
Is one reproved. even harshly. one may
make the admonition fruitful OF good
results. Sickness, misfortune, power.
ty, disiilnsion, even undeservcd shame
and death itself lose half their terrors
when bravely faced and endured. In
. measure this lesson can be taught 10
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 facilitating, e~nervating, de-
structive.
How much Of future strength de-
Ponds upon early training ii the exer-
else Of true courage, comparatively few
seem to remember. 1t ii SO easy TO
pity, caress and openly sympathize
with q sobbing child; 50 hard to treat
its hurts whether m oral or physical
with a touch as firm as tender, being
brave, that the child may also bo
brave. Yet it Is as undou btedly d duty
to teach5fortitude as 1t is to teach truth
fitness. If the mother whose opinions
have been quoted be correct in her
views, truthfuiness itself ii 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 a person to retain abb
soiute honesty Of word and act; and the
most unhappy Of mortals are those
who nave not the courage to support
the real truthfulness Of their natures.
Helen Eyertson Smith, III II. Y. indie
pendent