The Story of the Big Front Door

AGIC

her cheerful simply to look at it, she had no idea, no

liam told one stormy Sunday evening

t Zélie sick with a cold. Perhaps it was not to be wondered at that by afternoon they had grown "cantank

was over, and they gathered around the fir

n reach, touching Grandfather's portrait with its gentle magic, till he himself seemed to be standing

d our house?" Bess asked. "She calls

ood name and remi

all begged, and so without

thers found fault with it, objecting that it was out of proportion and too large for a dwelling-house. But after a while they discovered that it was more than an ordinary door. There was some magic about it; it shed a radiance over the whole neighborhood. People when they were perplexed would look towards it, and presently their doubts would fade away. Those who were despondent or sorrowful were cheered and

been always the same, and it seemed improbable that it would ever change. They missed their father sadly, but for a time continued to live as they had when he was with them. However, as the months passed, all unconsciously at first they began to neglect their duties; to forget the acts of neighborly kindness they had once been so glad to perform; and saddest of all, they fell to quarrelling among themselves. Then one day they could not open the door, try as they would. Rust was discovered

at it was the spirit of helpfulness that made our home happy, and gave our door its strange power? We have neglec

rious ways they tried to begin over again, and live as their father had lived. Then happiness returned to their home, the key slipped easily into the lock, the door opened wide once more, and graduall

es; then Bess asked, "Was Grandfa

illiam

elves, but I acknowledge that Miss

were cross this afternoon,

n we are bad just by looking at th

readful," said

about our door, i

goosie," repli

as a little boy, hardly as old as Helen, but I remember distinctly the first time I went through it. I was very much delighted, and came running down the steps, calling, 'Oh, father, what a nice house this is!' and he replied, 'I am glad you like it, William. It is only a house now, but we are going to try to make it

e this house a real home while he lived,

inding and marking the text in her own Bible, at Uncle William's suggest

t it, but it's not so easy to b

we can all try," Uncle William replied, "and now we h

erhaps she would like to help!" said Lou