Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1898 — “I Would Rather Sing.” [ARTICLE]

“I Would Rather Sing.”

An 8-year-old child with a cut In her hand was brought to a physician. It was necessary for the best results to take a few stitches with a surgeon’s needle. While the physician was making preparations the little girl swung her foot nervously against the chair, and was gentle admonished by her mother.

“That will do no harm,” said the doctor, kindly, “as long as you hold your hand still,” adding with a glance at the strained, anxious face of. the child, “you may cry as much as you like.” “I would rather sing,” replied the child. “All right, that would be better. What can you sing?” “I can sing, ‘Give, give, said the little stream.’ Do yon know that?” “I am not sure,” responded the doctor. “How does it begin?” The little patient proceeded to Illustrate. “That’s beautiful,” said the doctor. “I want to hear the whole of it. AM the while the skillful fingers were sewing up the wound the sweet, childish voice sounded bravely through fJhe room, and the only tears shed on the occasion came from the eyes of the mother. It is, I believe, a physiological fact that some expression of one’s feelings tends to lessen pain. Since weeping and groaning are distressing to one’s friends, how would it do for us all to try singing instead?