The Golden Rule.


"WILLIE," said Mrs. Page, as she lay

upon her bed, very sick, "I want to talk to

you a while. I may not be here long; and

I want to tell you a few things that are in

my mind. You are trying to serve Jesus.

You want to honor him. You want to

please him. Now, remember that in no way

can you please him better every day than by

keeping the Golden Rule: 'Whatsoever

ye would that men should do to you, do

ye even so to them.' Try and follow this

teaching of our blessed Lord, and you will

be both good and happy, And I want you

to take care of little Nellie. She is not

a strong child, and will miss a mother's care.

You must be both a mother and a brother to

her. Promise me that you will, my son."

"Oh! I will promise anything you ask,"

said he; "only don't leave me!" And the

poor boy, who was not much more than a

child himself, wept bitterly.

"God knows best, my dear son; and he

will do all things well. If I must go from

you, he will care for and protect you. I can

leave my children in his hands."

A very few days passed, and Willie was

motherless. No one in all the city cared for

him but little Nellie. He was poor, and too

young to do hard work; but he must do

something to support himself and his little

sister. But he searched in vain for something

to do. Some people wanted no boy,

and others said he was to small. Even

the crossings were all spoken for by other

boys; and there seemed nothing left for him

to do but starve.

One day, he was searching for employment

as usual. He was hungry and discouraged.

Just as he was crossing a crowded

street, he heard a cry; and, looking up, he

saw a lame boy with crutches, who was trying

to cross. He could only walk very

slowly; and, while he made his way along

carefully, and painfully, the street became

full of vehicles, and one horse seemed to be

coming upon him. Poor Johnny was sadly

frightened, and knew not which way to turn.

Willie saw him; and, in a moment, he

shouldered him and his crutches, and carried

him safely over. He was a heavy load for

the little fellow, being almost as large as

himself; but he did not stop to consider

that; and, although it was pretty hard,

he carried Johnny across the wide street,

and set him safely down on the pavement.

"How can I thank you enough?" said a

young lady who was crossing behind him.

"I was so afraid my little brother would be

run over! Here, little boy, take this!" and

she held out some money.

"No, I thank you. I only did as I would

be done by. If my little sister was lame and

in the street, I should want some one to help

her across."

"But can't I do something for you, my

boy?" said the lady.

"I don't want anything but something to

do. My little sister and I must have something

to eat and wear; and I am trying to

find work; but nobody seems to want me."

And Willie looked very sad.

"I can find you something to do, I know.

My father wants a boy in his store; and I

will ask him about it just as soon as I go

home."

Willie looked very happy, and thanked

the lady with all his heart. And he was not

disappointed this time; for Mr. Hildreth

took him at once, and liked him so well that

he said Providence must have sent him just

in the right time.

Willie was never sorry he helped the lame

boy across; and he still keeps up his practice

of the "Golden Rule."



 Well-Spring.



THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

IN some way or other the Lord will provide;

It may not be my way,

It may not be thy way,

And yet in his own way

"The Lord will provide."

At some time or other the Lord will provide;

It may not be my time,

It may not be thy time,

And yet in his own time

"The Lord will provide."