Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24
Educational
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The rhanktul Box.

tho Ihdnkiut pOh.
"Itis the lifted face that feels the
shining of the sum-"
In certain school where the pu-
pills are resident, there was manifest
among them at one time spirit of
discomfort. Slight discomforts were
magnified, lessons and house duties
were attended to with evident dis
taste, dull weather brought dull
faces and grumbling. The head
teacher, watchful and sensitive to
the atmosphere of the school, was
soon cognizant of this miasmatic
current, and sought for something to
dispel it.
No dreary, didactic lecturing did
she inflict upon the girls, no seedlings
or reproaches; but one morning
when about to read the daily chapter
from the Bible, at the morning exer-
cises, she attracted the girls atten-
tion by saying, in the tone of one
who has delight to offer, that she
would now read psalm of thanks
giving and few beautiful thanks
giving verses from other parts of the
Bible.
After a heartfelt reading, which
was a veritable pean of praise, came
the singing by the school of hymn.
This, too, was full of expressions of
fervent gratitude, having been chosen
to match the reading. Then propo-
sition was made to the pupils. A
box would he kept on the table-a
box sealed, but with slit in the
cover for coins to be dropped through
and when any person felt that she
had had some special little Joy or
pleasant happening, or had escaped
some disappointment or trouble, any
person, in short, who felt that she
had any extra reason for being
thankful (aside from the great and
wonderful blessings that are cause
enough for constant gratitude),
might be at liberty to put penny
into the Thankful Box, which was
now in readiness. After a while,
the box would be opened and the
fund used for whatever should be
voted for by the school.
A lively interest was taken in this
announcement, and in the chatter at
recess the thankful box was often
mentioned. Morning after morning
the girls would go to The table with
smiling faces. ga penny won't do
this morning; | was SO glad to get
mama's letter that will have to put
in fve!' 81 lost my composition
and thought that I would have to
rewrite it, and when l found it l was
50 thankful that l came straight
over to the box" 81 didn't get a
mark last week I" "Where's that
box? I've been invited to 90 to a
concert tonight" And "Why, / don't
know that | can afford to put in a
penny every time anything makes me
feel thankful !" 81 never knew how
expensive it would be-" declared one
girl, laughingly yet with little
shamefacedness.
The Thankful Box grew heavier
and heavier, and was finally full to
the top. A beautiful vine was
bought with the money and planted
at the door of one of the school
buildings, whore it grows luxuriantly
1t is known as the "Thankful Plant" /"
and mention Of it is sure TO bring a
sunny look into the face Of any one
who knows its history.--Emilie
Poulsson, in Kindergarten Review
Memory tempers prosperity, miti.
gates adversely, controls youth, and
delights old age.-Lactantius.
| M 4
| The Divine Garden.
o painter of the fruits and flowers,
We own thy wise design,
Whereby these human hands of ours
May share the works of Thine!
Apart from Thee we plant in vain
The root, and SOW the seed;
Thy early and Thy latter rain,
Thy sun and dew we need.
-Whittier.
4
The Body the Home OF the Soul.
When his age was eighty years,
John Quincy Adams was met on the