The Portland daily press., 1865-03-25
Saturday Morning, March 25, 1865.
Two Rules,
AND HOW THEY WORKED.

Here are two rules for you Fred, saic
Giles Warner, looking up from the paper he
was reading, and addressing younger broth
er, who was sitting by the stove, playing with
iavorte dog. foo5g Yfob
Well, what are they? Let's have them,
SAID Fred, suspending his sport with the dog.
the first is: Never get vexed with any
8 Thing you can help. The second is Never
get vexed with anything you can't help,'
Are not these rules as applicable to you as
to Ine?, inquired Fred, archly.
NO DOUBT OF that replied Giles, good hui
moredly; but then it is SO much easier to
hand over piece OF advice to another than
10 Keep 1t for ones own personal use. It is a
denial -
Fred laughed.
But what say you to these rules % contin-
ued Giles. How would it work if we adopt
them?
4 think they take pretty wide and clean
sweep, said Fred; they don't leave a fellow
any chance at all to get vexed.' llia asl- 97
is' That might might be an objection to them,
Z said Giles, ii any one were wiser or better or
& happier ior getting vexed. 4 think they are
sensible rules. 1t is foolish to vex ourselves
about things that can be helped, and it is use
less to vex ourselves about wRat can't be help
ed. Let US each assist each otehr to remen1-
Der these two simple rules. What say you?'
ready to agreeSto anything his brother pro-
posed, If IT wasNoniy proposed good humor-
edly..sas Ngln. ssT -
That's 10 badp exclaimed Fred the next
morning, while making preparations for
school. sa7l9eaa Ha To u 11edolE1 -
~ What is the matter9 p inquired Giles.
Il have broken my shoe string, and it is vex-
atious. I'm in such hurry, Tba.. Es.
1t is yexatious, no doubt replied Giles,
but you must not get vexed. for this is one loi
% the things that can be helped. You can find
string 70 the left corner Of the upper draw
er in mothers bureau ~ - 81 +
But we shall be late at school, said Fred.'
No we shan't,, said Giles We shall only
have to walk little faster. Besides, il you
keep COOL you will fnd the string, and put il
In much sooner than you can II you become
Vexed and worried a'nie . A2l
That's true,' said Fred, as he started for the
string, quite restored to good humor.
Several opportunities occurred during the
day for putting into practise the newly adopt
ed rules. The best was this: d' Huae
ol In the evening Giles broke the blade of his
knife while whiting hard piece of wood.
1t CAM be helped said Fred, $50 you must
not get vexed about it, So IA es.aa8 i
1T mighthave have been helped, said Giles,
'but can do better than to fret about it. /
s can learn q lesson of care for the future which
may some day save q knife more valuable than
b Sllio. 1 no AuiSS VIVA nOus A]Vs VI tHOA
Tomorrow ..., ..fg...
The next morning Fred devoted an hour
before school to writing a composition. AT
ter he had written a dozen lines, his mother
called him off to do something for her. Dur
ing his absence his sister Lucy made use Of
his pen and ink to write her name in school
book. In doing this she carelessly let fall d
drop of ink on the page he was writing. Fred
returned while she was busily employed in do
ing what she could to repair the mischief.
You have made q great, blot on my com
position he exclaimed, looking over her shoul.
der. sa84 .,acHAIq aiass ss
Il am very sorry. I did not mean to do ii, ;
said Lucy.
Fred was 80 vexed that he would have an.
swered his sister very roughly, if Giles had not
interposed.
Take care, Fred; you know the thing is
done and can't be helped y
Fred tried hard to suppress his vexaton.
Il know Twas an accident he said pleasant
ly, after a brief struggle with himself.
Lucy left the room, and Fred sat down again
to his composition. After a moment he look
ed up.
No great harm is done after ALL, he said.
Two or three alterations are much needed,
and if l write it over again can make them.'
$50 much for a cool head and not getting
vexed,' said Giles, laughing. Our rule works
WE'LL
At night Fred tore his pants while climbing
over fence. u1a
That's too bad he said.
It can be helped said Giles. They can be
mended.' f
sThe way to help tits what troubles me, said
Fred. Il don't like to ask mother, she has SO
much to do sa4
Giles proposed that he should get over his
difficulty by asking Lucy to do the job for him.
as her mother had taught her to mend very
Erad Uaq n ref dien0en1 N
this measure. He knew that Lucy disliked
mending very much, and was afraid she would
be cross if asked to do it, but at last decided
to run the risk of that. They found Lucy
busily employed with piece of embroidery,
and quite absorbed with her work Fred look
ed significantly at Giles when he concluded be
had gone too far to Retreat and must make a
bold push a
Il wish to ask favor OF you, Lucy, but
fear have come in the wrong time said
Fred.
what do you want@ said Lucy.
Il am almost afraid to tell you. It's too bad
to ask you to do what know you dislike.'
You are good while at getting to what
is wanted said Lucy, laughing. Come out
with it, saif1 4
Fred thus encouraged, held up his foot and
displayed the rent.
well. take them off, will do my best said
Lucy, cheerfully. Er
you are q dear, good sister, said Fred
'When / saw what you were about, / thought
you would not be willing to do it,
MY uncommon amiability quite puzzles you
does itp said Lucy, laughing. I shall have
to let YOU into the secret. To tell the truth. j
have been thinking all day what could dc
for you in return for your not getting vexed
with me for bottiug your composition. So
now you have it,
$50 much for ourrules,' exclaimed Giles, tri
umphantly. They work to charm!
'What rules? p inquired Lucy. s.gt
we must tell Lucy all about it, said Giles
They did tell her all about 1t, and the resul
the new rules.-Merry's Museum. .s