Newspaper Page Text
Entered according to Act of Congress, in June, 1869, by J. W. Burke & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia.
Vol. Ill—No. 23.
A DAY IN THE COUNTRY.
4 t|T HAT was a “ golden
day,” as Aunt Edith
P" says ; a day full of de
light. We spent it in the coun
try. I was only eight years old,
but I remember it as though it
were but yesterday. What a
happy time was ours, sporting on
the grass, gathering flowers, run
ning, dancing, swinging, wander
ing in the woods, or sitting by
the quiet streams!
I had passed days in the coun
try before, and I spent many days
in the country afterward, but no
day is “ golden” in my memory
like that one.
Shall I tell you, dear children,
the reason why? I did not see
it then, nor for many years after
wards, but it all came to me
once, when I talked with a child
who returned from a pic-nic
looking very unhappy.
“ What is the trouble, dear ?”
I asked.
“ Oh,” she replied, as her
eyes filled with tears, “so many
of the children were cross, and
others wouldn’t do anything if
we didn’t let them have their own
way.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“ And so am I,” she returned,
artlessly, “for I haven't been
happy or good.”
“ Were you cross and selfish
like the rest?” I inquired.
Her lips quivered, and two o r
three tears’ dropped over her
c heeks. A heavy sigh came up from
her heart as she answered :
“Maybe I was. Oh, dear! "when
other children are cross and ugly, I get
so too. It seems as if I couldn’t help
it. And then I’m so miserable ! I wish
I could always be with good and kind
children ; it would be so nice.”
And then it all came to me why that
day in the country had been a “golden
day.” From morning until evening I
MACON, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 4, 1869.
did not hear a cross word, nor see a
wrong action. Every one of that com
pany of children seemed to be full of
the spirit of kindness. Oh, dear little
ones, is not love very sweet and selfish
ness very bitter.
Children's Hour.
,«*.
Children should have a view, if pos
sible, of all the wonders of nature and
of art.
. Kindness Remembered,
plpp AVID almost lost his way. He
came from school through the
woods. It was anew home,
and David had not learned all the turns
and openings yet. There was a little
path through the woods ; but it had
been snowing all day, and the path was
covered with snow. r lhe sun was set
Whole No. 127.
ting, and the moon was rising.
David got bewildered. He got
“turned round,” he said, and
could not find his way home.
He called, but nobody answered.
He shouted as loud as he could,
but was orly answered by the
echo. He called again :
“Father! father 1”
Presently he heard a feeble
voice near him, crying mew, mew,
mew. He turned round, and
there was his little kitten. She
heard her young master’s voice
in the woods, and, remembering
his kindness, ran a long way
through the snow to find him.
David took up the pretty kitten,
and, following its foot-marks,
soon saw a bright light shining
through the kitchen window.
“ There is home,” he cried
joyfully, “ home for pussy and
me.”
If David had amused himself
by tormenting and frightening
the kitten, you may be sure it
would have run the other way.
Kindness is a golden thread
which draws friends to us when
we least expect them.
Give your Child a Paper,
A child beginning to read be
comes delighted with a newspa
per, because he reads of names
and things which are familiar,
and he will progress accordingly.
A newspaper in one year is worth
a quarter’s schooling to a child.
Every father must consider that
information is connected with ad
vancement. The mother of a
family, being one of its heads, and hav
ing a more immediate charge of child
ren, should herself be instructed. A
mind occupied becomes fortified against
the ills of life, and is braced for emer
gency. Children amused by reading or
study are of course more considerate
and easily governed.
How many thoughtless young men
have spent their earnings in a tavern,
or billiard saloon, or grog shop, who