The mountain Democrat., 1865-08-12
The Two Rules, and How They
Worked.

| "OEAe0f
Here are two rules for you, Fred,
said Giles Warren, looking up from the
papeE. he Was reaSs--- - addressing q
I younger brother, who was sitting By thc
fire, playing with favorite dog.
+ We'll what are they ? said Fred, sus
pending his sport with the dog.
The first is, never get vsxed ct any
thing you can help The second is
never get vexed at anything you cam
help
Cannot these rules be Is useful to you
as ty mSF asked Fred archly.
No doubt Of that replied Giles good
humoredly, but then, it is so much eas
Ter to hand over piece of good advice tc
another than to keep it for ones own use
II is kind Of generosity that doesn't re
quire much selfdeniaL' Fred laughed.
But That say you,' continued Giles
to the rulesf How would it work il W,
should adopt them?'
Il think they take q pretty wide ant
clean sweep said Fred. They dom
leave one chance at all to get vexed.'
That might be an objection to them,
said Giles, If any one were wiser, better
or happier for getting vexed. think
they are sensible rules. It is foolish t
vex ourselves about what can be helped
and it is useless to Vex ourselves abou
what can't be helped. Let US assist each
other to remember and obey these two
simple rules. What say you p
III agree to it, said Fred, who wa.
usually ready to agree to anything hii
brother proposed, if it was only proposed
good hum6redly.
That's too bad!' exclaimed Fred, the
next morning, while making preparation
for school.
What is the matter p inquired Giles.
Il have broken nv shoe. string, aud il
is vexatious; am in such q hurry
1t is vexatious, no doubt, replied Giles,
but you must net get vexed; for this is
one of the things that can be helped
You can find string in the left corner
OF the upper drawer in mothers ROOM
But we shall be late at school, said
Fred.
No. we shan't.' said Giles. I'VE shall
only have to walk little faster. Besides,
if you keep cool, you will find the string
and put'it in much sooner than YOU can
If you become vexed and worried
That's true, said Fred, as he started
for the string, quite restored to good hu-
NOR.
Several opportunities occurred during
the day for putting into practice the new.
y adopted rules. The last was this:
In the evening Giles broke the blade
OF his knife, while cutting hard piece o.
wood.
1t can't be helped, said Fred, so you
must not get vexed about it,.
1t might have been helped, said Giles,
'bnt can do better than to fret about it.
| can learn lesson of care for the future
which may some day save knife more
valuable than this. These rules work
well. Let's try them Tomorrow
The next morning Fred devoted an
hOCr before school to writing a compost.
iion. After he had written half dozen
lines, his mother called him off to do
something for her. During his absence,
bis sister Lucy made use Of his pen and
ink to write her name in her school-boOk.
In doing this, she carelessly let fall drop
Of ink on the page of his writing. Fred
returned while she was busily employed
in doing what she could to repair toe mis-.
chief.
You have made a great blot upon my
composition, be exclaimed, looking over
her shoulder.
Il am sorry. did not mean to do it, ,
said Lucy.
Fred was so much vexed that he would
have answered his sister very roughly, il
Giles had not interpo>cd.
Take care, Fred you know the thing
is done, and can't be helped
Fred tried hard to suppress bis vexa-
ton.
Il know it was an an accident he said
pleasantly, after = brief struggle with
himself.
Lucy left the room, and Fred sat down
again to his composition. After mo-
ment he looked up. No great harm has
been done after ALL" he said. Two or
three alterations are much needed, and if
| write it over again, can make them
SO much for cool head, and not get.
ting vexed,' said Giles laughing Our
rules work WELL
At night Fred tore his coat while climb
ing over fence.
That's too bad, said be.
It can't be helped said Giles, it can
be mended.'
The way to help it is what troubles
me- said Fred. Il don't want to ask
mother she has so much to do
Giles proposed that Fred should get
over this difficulty by asking Lucy to do
it for him, as her mother had learned her
to mend very neatly. Fred was at first
not disposed to adopt this measure. He
knew that Lucy disliked mending very
much, and vas afraid she would be cross
if he asked her to do it; but be at last de.
cided to run the risk of that They found
Lucy busily employed with . piece of
embroidery, and quite absorbed with her
work. Fred looked significantly at Giles
when be saw how his sister was occupied;
but he concluded he had gone too far to
retreat, and must make bold push.
wish to ask favor Of you, Lucy
said Fred; but l fear l have come at
wrong time --.
What do you wants' said Lucy.
I'm almost afraid to tell you, It's
too bad to ask you to leave that bewitch-
ing work to do what you dislike.
You are q, great while getting to what
is wanted, said Lucy, Laughing. Come,
cut with it,
i Fred, thus encouraged, held up his arm
and displayed the rent.
We'll, take it of, and will do my
best, said Lucy, cheerfully.
you are dear, good sister, said
Fred. when | saw what you were
about, l thought that you would not be
Suy;1l;nn. IL ;kl