Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-03-16
SMistsIlaneous.
The TWO Rules, and How They
Worked.

,
GILES Warner looking up from the paper he
was reading and addressing younger broth
er, who was sitting by the fire, playing with
iavorite dog.
well what are they ?" said Fred, sus-
/ pending his sport with the dog.
/ The first is, never get vexed at ANYTHING
you can help. The second is, never get
/ yexed at anything you can't help.
! Cannot these rules be as useful TO you
as to me 2 asked Fred archly.
NO doubt Of that" replied Giles good
humoredly, but then it is so much easier
( to hand over piece Of good advice to an.
other than to keep it for ones own use 1t
/ is kind Of generosity that dosent require
much self denial. Fred laughed.
/ But what say you, continued Giles.
/ ',to these rules? How would it work if we
should adopt them p
Il think they take pretty wide and
clean sweep said Fred. 'They don't
leave one any 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. 1t is foolish to vex our
selves about what can be helped, and it is
useless to vex ourselves about what can
be helped. Let US assist each other to re-
member and obey these two simple rules. =.
| What say youY'
IN egree to it, said Fred, who was
usually ready TO agree to anything his broth
er proposed, if it was only proposed good
| humoredly.
That's too bad :" exclaimed Fred. the
next morning, while making the preparation
! for school.
What is the matter?'' inquired Giles.
| 81 have broken my shoe-string and it is
vexatious am in such hurry"
1t is vexatious no doubt, replied Giles
''but YOU must not get vexed for this is
one Of the things that can be helped. You
can find a string in the left corner of the
upper drawer in mother room"
But we shall be late at school," said
Fred.
"No, we shan't," said Giles. ''We 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 COON humor
! Several opportunities occurred during the
! day for putting into practice the newly adop-
ted rules. The last was this:
In the evening Giles broke the blade of
his knife, while cutting hard piece of wood
1T can't be helped" said Fred, so you
must not get vexed about it.
1T might have been helped, said Giles,
| but | can do better than TO fret about it.
| can learn a lesson of care for the future
which may some day save a knife more val |
liable than this. These rules work we'll
/ Let's try them Tomorrow.
The next morning Fred devoted an hour
| before school to writing a composition -
After he had written half a dozen lines. his .
mother called him off to- do something for .
her, During his absence, his sister Lucy
made use of his pen and ink to write her
name in her schoOl-book. 1t doing this.
she carelessly let fall a drop of ink on the
page Of his writing. Fred returned while
she was busily employed in doing what she
could to repair the mischief.
You have made great blot upon my
composition, he 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, if
Giles had not interposed
Take care, Fred; you know the thing is
done, and can't be helped.
Fred tried hard to suppress his vexation.
Il know it was an accident" he said
pleasantly, after brief struggle with him
self
Lucy left the room, and Fred sat down
again to his composition. After a moment
he looked up. mo 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"
80 much for a cool head and not getting
vexed, said Giles laughing. Our rules
work well.
AT night Fred tore his coat while climbing
over fence.
''That's too bad" said he.
''lt cant 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 muh 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 was afraid
she would be cross if asked to do it but he |
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 looked significantly at Giles
when he saw how his sister was occupied
but he concluded he had gone too far to re-
treat, aud INST make bold push.
"lwish to ask great favor of you, Lucy"
said Fred; but l fear | have come al
wrong time.
What do you want ?" said Lucy.
TIN almost afraid to tell you. It's too
bad to ask you to leave that bewitching work |
to do what you dislike. |
You are great while getting to what is |
wanted, said Lucy, laughing. Come, out
with it.
Fred, thus encouraged, held up his arm
and displayed the rent.
We'll take it off, and l will do my best, y
said Lucy, cheerfully.
You are dear, good sister. " said Fred
when | saw what you were about, l
thought that you would not be willing to
do it,
My uncommon amiability quite puzzles
you, does it? said Lucy, laughing. i
shall have to let you into secret. 10 tell
the truth, | have been thinking all day
what | could do for you in return for your
not getting vexed with me for blotting your
composition. So not you have the cause of
my willingness.
80 much for our rules, exclaimed Giles
triumphantly. ''They work to charm.
What rules p inquired Lucy. /
I'VE must tell Lucy all about it, said
Giles.
They did tell her all about it, and the re-
IL Il 1 u