Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-06-16
Carving a Name.

The children had been playing in the
woods all the afternoon. They had been
band of gypsies for while, when they
made fire and roasted some potatoes.
Then they concluded to be Indians; they
built wigwam and shot great quantity
of imaginary game with their bows and
arrows. After that they became civil
lied children once more, and played hide
and seek among the bushes until they
were tired enough to sit down and rest.
1t never took Joe long to rest; and by
and-by he wandered away from the 9TH
ers, and finding great smooth tree began
to carve his name upon il as high up as
he could conveniently reach. twas slow
cutting, and before he had finished il the
others came to look at his work.
"Oh, cut my name, too % said Lily.
"Won't you, Joe ?'
"a haven't done my own yet"
"Well. you needn't cut il all; only
make your first name and then PIT Lily
under it." she coaxed.
"But, you see, want my whole name.
and real deep, too. so it willlaSt for years
and years." answered Joe.
"Never mind, Lily, I'll cut yours" said
Fred, good naturedly; and, selecting an
other tree, he drew his knife from his
pocket and began TO carve the letters,
while the little girl watched him.
"There Pve put mine where 1t will
stay, for one WHILE" said Joe, when he
had completed his work
"Fred has put his where it will stay,
too," said Aunt Lucy, who had been
quietly looking on.
Erred ? don't see where he has
carved his name at all, - answered Joe.
"Once upon time-"began Aunt Lucy,
leaning back against tree.
"A story story !" laughed the chill
dren, gathering around her.
"Once upon time" she repeated,
smilingly, ''there was very ambitious
man. He knew that he must some time
die, but he did not want to be forgotten,
so he determined to put his name where
it would always last Perhaps he began
by carving it on tree first; but the own
er of the forest feled the tree, and his
name was gone. Then he built a great
monument, and engraved his name on the
top OF it; but the lightning is drawn to
high points, and his monument was shat
tered in single night. Then he said, 4
will find the very highest and most solid
mountain in all the world, and ! will cut
my name on its topmoSt rock, and then
il will last. So he travelled over oceans
and plains, through towns and villages,
to find the mountain. He passed tired
people by the way who asked him to
help them, but he was too anxious about
carving his name, i'd he would not stop.
AT last he found the highest mountain,
and after long and tiresome climbing, cut
his name on its top. Then an earthquake
shook the mountain and tumbled great
rocks from IFS summit TO the valley below,
and his name was swept away.
"Tired. disappointed and growing old,
he said, 1T is of no use Nothing on earth
will last, and will not try any more. |
will be happy as can, and make others
happy, too, and think no more about my
name SO he began to help the poor, TO
feed the hungry and do deeds OF kindreSS
whenever he could, and people began 10
love him. One day little girl said 10
him, 4 shall love you always for helping
us so much; I'm sure shall never for
get you, if live thousand years
{" But you will not live so long, ne
answered, with smile at the child who
looked up TO him so lovingly.
" Yes, | shall a live great deal long
er, she said. Souls do not die, and Pm
sure I'll remember in heaven. and I'll re-
member you
"Then the man knew that he had now
done what he had been trying TO do for
so long-put his name where it would not
be written it on something that
could not be destroyed"
The children were silent, and after a
minute Aunt Lucy added, thoughtfully:
"But any one who had been living such
life OF unSelfish service TO others-at true,
good life-would have ceased TO be anx-
ious about his name by that time, because
he would have learned TO knowthe Lord,
who says to all that serve Him, The
righteous shall be held in everlasting re-
membrance'