The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-11-02
OLD NEWSPAPERS.
How Little Thoughtfulness Can Bring .
 Great Deal of Sunshine.

How Little Thoughtfulness Can Bring .
 Great Deal of Sunshine.
 Our daily comforts and little belong ings are so thoughtlessly enjoyed that we seldom pause to consider them in the light of blessings, consequently it is q surprise to discover that these necessities can become objects of envy or longing.
 The average American family is bountifully supplied with ephemeral reading, and in most houses newspa- pers accumulate with astonishing and embarrassing rapidity. This fact has been taken advantage of for the bene- fit of the sick in hospitals, and the ''collection boxes" for reading matter are prominent at all ferries and rail- way stations. But nearer home the needs of those who cannot afford to buy paper have scarcely appealed to us, and it was with little pang of re- gret at her want of thought that lady found herself acceding to the re- quest of former servant for some of the superabundance of newspapers. II never, knew how few things poor peo- pie have until married, " said the young woman, whom matrimony had trans planted from the comforts of domestic service into the dignity of keeping house for two; 'it seems so strange not to have anything to read, and never scrap of paper to light my fire!' This little shaft pierced more than one armor of indifference, as the friend who overheard, and who 'only board ed, " bethought herself that she might easily find some one to whom old news papers would be welcome, and soon discovered that her laundress had a hitherto unsatisfied yearning for them. With the simplicity and directness of her Scandinavian origin, this soft spoken creature expatiated upon the comfort of having her shelves nicely covered, and her slender stock of wearing apparel protected from the whitewashed walls. Moreover, she displayed her gratitude by bringing from her tiny garden bright little nose ia ys-the old English word best de- scribes the punches of zinnias, nastur- tiums and marigolds, with an occasion al bit of gerunium-taking so much pleasure in the blessing of giving that she is an example and unconsciously a reproach to those who carelessly neg lect their greater means of bestowing benefits or pleasures.
 Illustrated papers are great boon. It is wonderful how much pleasure and instruction they give to the older mem- bers, while the little ones of the family find endless delight in them. When everything has been read out of them the pictures tackled upon the walls re- lieve the barest room of it's plainness.
 Paper books drop into the hospital boxes, too, and the unattached-bach elors and travelers-can well afford to add to the store of light reading for the weary invalids. It is wiser for people in permanent homes to consider those whose every coin is devoted to pure utility, and to make up parcel which shall carry light and sweetness to a country rectory, or to the hard-work ing wife of hard-working home mis- sionary. The personal element counts for so much and warns the hearts of those who receive such gifts. Even the familiar handwriting of the address has been known to give thrill of de- light to lonely and secluded life Harper's BaZar.