Do as you Would Be Done By.


A LITTLE boy, in holiday-time, set off to

walk to his home. It was some distance off,

but the day was bright and clear, and as he

walked on in the shade the birds were singing

in the branches, and he felt pleased and

happy. When he came out into the open

fields, he saw young lambs sporting by the

side of their mothers, and here and there

cows were standing knee-deep in the cool

streams. After walking about a mile he began

to feel somewhat tired, when he reached

a shady bank, where a mossy seat had been

made near a spring. He threw himself at

his length upon this seat, and was enjoying

the rest it afforded, when another boy came

along, seemingly much more wearied than

himself, and asked him to make room that

he might sit down and rest beside him in the

shade.

"Oh, no!" said our little boy; " do not

ask me to move, I am so comfortable; I have

found this resting place, and if you go on

"further, I dare say you can find another spot

as pleasant, where you can also stretch yourself

and rest."

The little traveler thought him, no doubt,

very selfish; but he said nothing, and passed

on. When our little boy was rested enough,

he arose and resumed his walk. The sun

was now pretty high, and the heat was great,

and it was only here and there that shady

places were to be found. He felt more and

more tired, and longed to reach a large tree

which he saw at a distance, that he might

rest himself in its shade. As he drew near

he found that the ground all about it was

wet and miry, but a rude bench had been

formed beneath the tree, and on it was

stretched the very same boy that had passed

him an hour before. He felt, as he drew

near, that he had no right to ask the boy to

allow him room upon that bench to rest himself

weary and heated as he was for had

he not refused to render the same kindness

a short time before to that very boy? He

stood still awhile, and looked wistfully at

the seat, and the boy who occupied it sprang

up, and making room for him, said:

"Come, you look as tired as I was an hour

ago I know you will be glad to rest yourself

in this shady place. Here is plenty of

room for both of us. Come and sit down

a while."

Which of these two little boys felt the

happier? The one who thought only of his

own comfort, or he that did as he would be

done by, and returned good for evil?

Childhood is the holiday-time of life, and

you, dear little ones, are setting off for your

home, the house of your Father in Heaven.

While your thoughts are full of cheerfulness

and your hearts of innocence and good

affections, one of the first evils you must

try to strive against, is selfishness. To give

way to this evil may seem to be pleasant, but

have you ever tried how much pleasanter it

is to strive to do to others as we would have

them do to us? Now, the first chance you

have, try this. 




Children's Hour,