Tis For The Love  



DOING GOOD FOR THE LOVE'OF IT.



MR. HARVEY was riding slowly along the dusty road, looking in all directions for a stream, or even a house, where he might refresh his tired and thirsty horse with a good draught of water. While he was thinking and wondering, he turned an abrupt bend in the road, and saw before him a comfortable looking farmhouse; and at the same time a boy ten or twelve years old came out into the road with a small pail, and stood directly before him.

"What do you wish, my boy?" said Mr. Harvey, stopping his horse.

"Would your horse like a drink?" said the boy respectfully.

"Indeed he would, and I was wondering where I could obtain it."  Mr. Harvey thought little of it, supposing of course that the boy earned a few pennies in this manner, and therefore he offered him a bit of silver, but was astonished to see him refuse it.

"I would like you to take it," he said, looking earnestly at the child, and observing for the first time that limped slightly. 

"Indeed, sir, I don't want it. It is little enough I can do for myself or any one; I am lame, and my back is bad, sir, but mother says that no matter how small a favor may seem, if it is all we are capable of, God loves it as much as he does any favor; and this is the most I can do for others. You see, sir, the distance from Painesville to this place is eight miles, and I happen to know that there is no stream crossing the road that distance, and the houses are all some distance from the road, and so, sir, almost every one passing here from that place is sure to lave a thirsty horse." 

Mr. Harvey looked down into the gray eyes that were kindling and glowing with the thought of doing good to others, and a moisture gathered in his own, as a moment later he jogged off, pondering deeply upon the quaint little sermon that had been delivered so innocently and unexpectedly. 




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