The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-16
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
Two Rules, and How They Worked.


said Giles Warner, looking up from the
paper he was reading, and addressing a
younger brother, who was sitting by the
stove playing with a favOrite dog
"Well, what are they? let's have them,"
said Fred, suspending his sport with the
dog.
"The first is, Never get vexed with
anything you can help The second is,
Never get vexed with anything you can't
help"
" Are not those rules as applicable TO
you as to me?" inquired Fred, archly.
4" 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 per-
sonal use. 1t is kind of generosity that
does not require any selfdenlal" Fred
laughed
"But what do you say to these rules ?"
continued Giles How would they work
if we adopt them?"
Il think they take pretty wide and
clean sweep" said Fred. "They don't
leave fellow any chance at all to get
vexed."
"That might be an objection to them,"
said Giles, "if any one became wiser,
better, or happier for getting vexed. l
think they are sensible rules. 1t is foolish
to vex ourselves about what can't be
helped. Let us assist each other TO re-
member and obey these two simple rules.
What say yOu?"
I'll agree to it." said Fred, who was
usually ready to agree to anything his
brother proposed, if it was only proposed
good -humoredly.
"That's too bad" exclaimed Fred, the
next morning, while making preparations
for school.
"What is the matter?" inquired Giles.
Il have broken my shoe string, and it is
veXatious; I'm in such hurry"
at 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 mothers bureau"
"But we shall be late at school," said
Fred
mo, we shall not" said Giles. awe
shall only have to walk a 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 wor-
ried"
That's true" said Fred, as he went
for the string, quite restored to goOd-hu
NOR.
Several opportunities occurred during
the day for putting the rules into practice.
The best was this: In the evening Giles
broke the blade of his knife while whiting
a piece of hard wood.
at can't be helped, so you are not TO
get veXed about it." said Fred.
at can't be helped, but can do better
than fret about it. j can learn lesson of
care for the future, which may some day
save me a knife more valuable than this.
The rules work well. Let's try them to-
morrow"
The next morning Fred devoted an
hour before school to writing compost
ton. After he had written half dozen
lines, his mother called him of to do some
thing for her. In his absence, his sister
Lucy made use Of his pen TO write her
name in a book. and she let fall drop of
ink on the page lac was writing. Fred re-
turned while she was busly employed IN
doing what she could do to repair the mis-
chief.
"You have made a great blot on my
composition" he exclaimed, looking over
her shoulder.
a am very sorry did not mean TO do
it." said Lucy. But Fred was so vcXcd
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 vexa-
ton.
Il know it was an accident" he said
pleasantly, after brief struggle.
Lucy left the room, and Fred sat down
again to his composition. After a moment
he looked up. No great harm is done,
after all Two or three alterations are
much needed, and if write it over again
[ can make them"
80 much for good cool head and not
getting vexed." said Giles, laughing. "Our
rules work well.
At night Fred tore his trowsers in climb
ing fence. That's too bad"
at can BE- helped" said Giles; they
can be menled."
"The way to help it is what troubles
me-" said Fred Il don't like TO ask
mother, she has so much to do"
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 neatly. Fred was not at first
disposed to adopt this measure. He knew
that Lucy dislked 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 en-
ployed with piece of embroidery, and
quite absorbed with her work.
Fred looked Significantly at Giles, when
he saw. how she was employed but he
concluded he had gone too far To retreat,
and must make bold push.
q wish to ask IA great favor Of YOU,
Lucy. but fear have come in the wrong
time" said Fred.
What do you want ?" said Lucy
a am almost afraid to tell you. ltstoo
bad to ask you to do what | know you dis
like"
"You are a good while getting 10 what
is wanted" said Lucy, laughing. Come,
out with it,"
Fred, thus encouraged, held up his foot
and displayed the rent.
"Well. take them off; l will do my best"
said Lucy, cheerfully.
"You are a dear, good sister," said
Fred.
"When | saw what you were about, |
thought you would not be willing To do
it,"
. "My unusual amiability quite puzzles
YOU, does it?" said Lucy, laughing. Il
Shall have to let you into the secret To
tell the truth, | have been thinking all
day what | could do for YOU in return for
your composition. So now you have II" )"
so much for our rules" exclaimed
Giles, triumphantly. They work TO a
charm"
"What rules ?" inquired Lucy.
ave must tell Lucy all about il" said
Giles.
They did tell her all about it; and the
result was that she agreed To join them i'm
irving the new rules.-AmericdR PtreaO-
logical Journal.