Unpleasant Tasks Made Pleasant
By Mrs. T. B. Westbrook
Pitter, patter on the window-pane and down came the rain. "Mama, look at the rain; isn't it beautiful?" exclaimed little Paul McKee, pressing his tiny nose to the window-pane and looking out at the rain as the wind drove it fiercely against the house across the way. Mrs. McKee looked up from her sewing, and smiled at her little son. "Why do you think it looks beautiful, Paul?" she asked in her pleasant way. "Why, mama, we always have such fine times with the toys on rainy days that I don't mind staying indoors at all. You are such a dear mama, and home is such a splendid place," continued Paul; and going over to Mrs. McKee's side, he gave her a hearty kiss. Just then ting-a-ling went the door-bell. Mrs. McKee arose, and as she opened the door, Paul heard her say, "Why, Edward, how pleased Paul will be to see you! and what a fine time you will have with the toys!" Little Edward Lee lived in the next block, and was very happy when his mama gave him permission to visit Paul's home. He had been there once, and had had a splendid time; for Paul had such a wonderful home. This time mama had said that he might stay two long hours. Soon Paul and Edward were busy with the toys. The soldier boys were marching to the beat of the drum, with the flag floating above them. The fire-wagons were all out; and how busy the firemen were as they rushed to the many fourth of July fires! The automobile was spinning around on the floor, with the chauffeur sitting faithfully at his post. The carpenters were unusually busy building an eighteen-story house. How fast the blocks were piling up in the air! The merry clatter of the children filled the room, and Mrs. McKee smiled as she saw the children having such an enjoyable time. Suddenly the soldier boys ceased to march, Old Glory fell to the ground, the fire-wagons halted, the carpenters left the apartment-house before it was completed, and little Edward, creeping up to Paul, exclaimed in an undertone, "Paul, won't your mama scold when she looks up and sees all these things on the floor?" "O, no," replied Paul, "mama won't care, if we pick them all up; and really, Edward, picking them up is the best fun of all." Edward opened his eyes in wonder as Paul continued, "You see it is this way: Sometimes when the toys are all around, mama says, 'Now, Paul, the soldier boys must be tired from being on parade so long, so if the toy-box is put in the corner, part of it will do nicely for the barracks; and then after your bugle-call, you may form your soldiers in line and march them one by one to the barracks,' and that is such fun," continued Paul. "Then part of the toy-box is the fire station; and after the fires are all out, the chief's wagon has to go back to the station, and then the chemical and hook-and-ladder wagons, which are followed by the engine. They all go back slowly; for you see the fires are out, and the horses ran so hard to get there that they are tired going back. Then the automobile—mama says it has run so many miles to-day that surely it must go to the garage for repairs, and will need more gasoline for to-morrow. Now, Edward, isn't that great fun?" exclaimed Paul. "Then we always have something just as nice planned for the top and ball. And the blocks, I must tell you about them. One end of the toy-box is the lumber-yard; and as the old house is torn down, we draw all the lumber to the lumber-yard in my little red cart; then we pile it up nicely, ready to sell to the first buyer in the morning." "O," exclaimed little Edward, "won't that be fine! May we put them all away now?" Soon the children were busy marching the toys to their respective places. Mrs. McKee paused in her sewing, and a happy look came into her eyes. "Surely," she thought, "the time spent with Paul has implanted in his little heart true happiness and contentment, and has made what seems like unpleasant tasks to children pleasant ones." After Edward had gone, Mrs. McKee drew her young son to her side; the evening shadows were beginning to creep into the cozy sitting-room, and here we leave them. As the door closes, we catch a few words which tell us that mother and son are having a twilight heart-to-heart talk, which Paul considers the happiest time of the day. As parents, let us study ways and means whereby we may keep our children near us. Let us make home the brightest spot in our children's lives. Thus the Christian's home will become a school where the tender hearts will receive impressions that will bear fruit in eternity. Lessons of usefulness, kindness, and cheerfulness will be learned; and as the years roll by and our children mingle with the world, it will not be able to draw them from us. The world, with all its allurements, its dazzling gaiety, will not seem desirable to our loved ones. Why?—Because before their mind's eye will rise a gentle mother and a kind father, a cozy spot where love and happiness have always reigned, and they will desire to be at home, which to them is the best place in all the world.