The Turnover And The Oranges.


"JUST see what a beautiful turnover mother

has baked for me," said a little boy to his aunt

as she entered the room where he was sitting.

"It is a very nice turnover," said his aunt

"Will you give me part of it?"

"It is hot," said the boy, taking the plate

in his hand, as if he feared he should lose his

treasure.

"But I will wait until it cools; will you

give me a piece then?"

"I am not going to eat it now, I shall put

it away."

"But I shall stay here all day; I am in no

hurry. Will you not give me a taste when you

eat it?"

"It is a very small turnover," said the boy

"I only want a very small taste. Will you

not give me that?"

"It is not good?"

"Oh! I think it is good. Your mother

makes very good turnovers; I know it would

taste good to me."

"Mother would not be willing; she made it

for me."

"I am sure your mother would be willing;

she is always generous."

"I want it all myself," said the boy, at last

giving the true reason.

This is a correct report of a conversation

which took place more than forty years ago.

The selfish boy is still living, and he is a selfish

man. I have observed him through these

years, and whatever he has, he wants it all

himself.

A few days ago, the very same lady who

asked for a part of the turnover, gave six 

oranges to a little boy about four years of age.

She gave them all to him for his own, but she

told him she wished him to give away part of

them. So he immediately gave one to his sister

Helen, and another to his sister Alice, and

two to other members of the family. His

aunt then said to him, "You must not give

them all away; you must keep two yourself."

But his mother, in whose lap he was sitting,

said to him, "Will you not give one of these

to auntie, and the other to me?"

"Oh! Yes," he cheerfully replied, "I will."

"But what will you do? how will you get

any orange?" said the mother to him.

"You will give me some of yours," said

the generous, confiding boy.

The future of this darling boy is known

only to God, but we trust that while he lives

he will be ready to "deal his bread to the

hungry," and to "have pity on the poor."





The Myrtle.