Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1876 — Lazy Lily’s Dream. [ARTICLE]

Lazy Lily’s Dream.

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, on the borders of a lovely forest, lived a poor widow with her only daughter. She was a very pretty; good, little girl, but she bad one great fauUf she was most terribly idle, and cared neither to goto school nor to help her mother in her housework. This was the more unkind of Lily, as, since her father’s death, her mother was obliged to work very hard to find bread for herself and child. One bright summer's day her mother was suddenly sent for to do some needlework. lief re leaving, she “called Lily and begged heY to do what she could to tidy the house, and make things nice and comfortable before her return. But Lily s-at listlessly by the open door a long time after ner mother left, gazing idly intb the depths of the forest, aud watching the pretty butterflies and birds that darted hither and thither through the waving trees. All at once ehe noticed; a beautiful patch of yellow primroses by the side of the sparkling brook that ran through the wood'. “An!” thought Lily, “any time will

do for my work. Mother ought not e» peet me to keep in-doora this flne inuniME day.” Bo avyty she ran, and began picking primroses, and every wild flower aM could find, until, quite wearied out, t*V disobedient child threw herself down rest beneath the shade of a large oak-tree, and there slept long and soundly. Suddenly lifting her head, Lily thought abff heard a very strange noise, which mt muff to Come nearer and nearer, and, springing to her feet, imagine her surprise and die-, may on beholding ail her neglected work advancing toward her! First came the bundle of fagots and the coal-scuttle, with an eld newspaper fluttering betweeflr them; then the kettle on three little leM toddled after them, then the broom, pall, flannel duster, work box, bustled along; and, lastly, her own Bunday white stockings, that her mother had particularly requested her to mend very carefully, were now very quietly walking toward her, the great holes in the toes showing to advantage in the bright sunlight. As soon ae this extraordinary assemblage of forgotten duties came up to Lily, they set up moot appalling noises, shouts of unearthly triumph, till the frightened child was almost stunned by the hideous noise and clatter. Light us quickly!” cried fagots and coals, tumbling over each other. “ Fill me from the spring!” sang the kettle, at the top of its voice. ** Mend us!” roared the stockings. ” Sweep, wash, scrub and dust with us!’’ vociferated the broom, thundering down upon her with wild yells of delight Not content with shouting, the broom began belaboring Lily so soundly that awrfy the started, at full speed, homeward, thinking the best thing she could do was to clear up the place as quickly as possible, unless she wanted tho broom to break itself across her shoulders.

Lily, like a good many little boys and girls, could work ver) well if she pleased, and soon the fireplace was nicely swept, the fire lighted (al! the household utensils having reached home), and, Oddly enough, they none of them looked as though they baa moved —indeed, it might all have been a dream for all I know—the floor nicely cleaned, the porch carefully swept out, and supper laid neatly on the table; whilst the flowers that had occasioned her such trouble, arranged in an old vase, brightened up the humble tea-service wonderfully. Having made everything neat and nice, Lily washed and dressed herself, and sat down to darn the old and neglected stockings. She was awakeenough now—but her dream had taught her a lesson.— LiUU Folks.