Amador ledger., 1901-04-12
POLLY LARKIN !;
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this selfish way of living until could
do nothing but feel sorry for myself and
found that l was becoming sour and
embittered because everything did not
seem to be coming my way. L woke
up to the realization one day that in
stead of finding bed of roses 1 was
sowing pathway with thorns that
wounded not only myself but others.
l determined to shake off this morbid
spirit and try and forget myself in being
little more thoughtful of others. One
of my first steps in the new life was to
remember to be thankful for mercies
that hitherto had accepted as mat
ter of course. 1 could find so many
others worse off than myself when 1
stopped to think of it. Others were
suffering from some incurable disease,
while my general health was good; yet
L had never stopped to think before
what priceless treasure good health
was and how much 1 had to be thank
full for. Others had had the angel of
death fold its wings over their homes,
and vacant chair was ever reminder
that the family circle had been broken,
and the home could never be the same
and the world never be so bright again.
had never been called upon to endure
this trial that has turned the brightness
of life to many to the gray ashes of de-
spair and made them cry out for one
little ray of comfort from the loved one
who had gone hence. l had never
been in want, and had never expressed
wish from my childhood up but what
it was granted, if possible. 1 found out
was one of the most unreasonable
creatures in the world, and 1 had a
hard time breaking myself of this I'M
desirable habit. Even now 1 OCCASION
ally have fit of the blues and imagine
l am dreadfully abused, or have the
worst luck and have nothing to be
thankful for. Had an attack the other
day and happened to pick up a paper
with your article on the cruel treatment
of chickens by San Francisco poultry
dealers. read the article through and
found something to be thankful for
right there. You may laugh, Polly,
when 1 tell you that spoke out loud
and said, We'll, Pm thankful Pm not
chicken1 At any rate, the world
seemed better after that"
The other day heard two little chill
dren discussing a visitor who had pun
ished her little child very severely in
their presence They had never known
what it was to receive chastisement
of that kind, for their parents believed
in reasoning with the little folks and
appealing to their sense of honor in
stead of humiliating them by whipping.
1t had worked like charm with them,
and they were Mortified when they saw
their little companion receiving pun
ishment that left ugly red streaks on
her little face and hands for some time
afterwards. "Ain't you glad Mrs. B.
isn't your mother?" asked one little
tot; land didn't she look ugly and mad
when she was whipping poor little
May?" I'D be awfully afraid of her
for mother, and I'd hate her, too. 1
used to think she was so sweet and
pretty, but she will always be ugly to
me now. Pm thankful she amt my
mother, and 1 only wish poor little
May could run away and have our
mamma for her mother. She never
whips, but is always sweet and good to
everybody" "All I've got to say"
said the other one, " is that Pm glad
she isn't our mother, and Pm going to
be better to May than I've ever been
before. She needs somebody to love
herr
Another case of something to be
thankful for, and really, between you
and Polly, don't you think that the
world would seem much brighter and
there would be more happy, contented
people here if we would only look
through thankful glasses. What if you
are not wealthy and cannot have all
the desires for the beautiful in life graf
flied, you may have health; and with
out that all the money in the universe
cannot make you happy and contented.
Life is burden to confirmed invalid,
who counts the moments that are free
from pain as blessings from Heaven.
They know what it is to toss restlessly
through the long hours of the night,
waiting for a new day that brings them
no relief. 1t would be good thing fol
us all to bear this in mind, and when
these ugly, respondent, little attacks
come upon us like thief unawares
and rob us of our peace of mind and
our good common sense, to put on oul
thankful glasses, and if we don them
in the right spirit we will surely see the
world in brighter phase; and, to ado
to the charm of the new vision, will
find something to do for someone else
possibly to make their burdens lighter
and forget ourselves at any rate for the
time being
The game of Authors" known t.
old and young, was being played by
some of Polly's little friends the othe
day and they got authors sadly mixe(
up with the catechism. None of then