Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-08-05
Ghildren's department.
WHO SHALL BE GREATEST

One beautiful morning III the spring, when
the birds were singing their sweetest songs in
the midst of the blossoms on the fruit-trees
when the dandelions were glowing in the
grass, and rarcr flowers were blooming i'll the
beds, Frank and Eddy went out into fhe gar
den to play "Be kind to one another" said
their mother, as they left the house, and then
she took her seat by the window, where she
could watch them without being seen. You
know that mothers are so very fond Of having
their children always in sight, especially when
they are those wide awake, mischievous, fun
loving little boys and girls, always getting in
to trouble, and always coming to their moth
er for help But Frank and Eddy managed
to keep out of mischief that merning- indeed,
they played so quietly for some time that
Mrs. Woolsey wondered at the Stiffness, but
it was only the calm before storm, as she
afterwards found to her sorrow.
eddy, 60 to the house and get your drum,
and something to fight with, aud we viii play
soldier
"WeH, but I'm going to be captain" =:
"No, you're not. III be captain myself;
Pm the oldesep
"But was drummer yesterday, and think
you ought to be>to-day.".
81 guess I wouldn't be ordered by.anybedy
younger than l am. I'm going tcbe captain,
or won't play at all"
"Well," said Eddy, his hip quivering and
the tears fast coming into hiS eyes. He had
wanted to have the command very much, but
he was unwilling to be left to amuse himself
alone, 50 he went for the necessary weapons.
Do you think that either brother was as
happy then as-tAough both had been kind
and obliaings not seeking each his own ad-
vantage but in "hehof preferring one anoth-
err"
Eddy was sorry that he could not obtain
the-eogeted position, and Frank, who was .ol
der, and ought to have set an example Of good
behavior, already beganto feel that he haa
acted se1hshly and unbecomipgy. However,
he was too proud to confess this, and whaa
Eddy came running back with his fathers
cane in lieu of sword. breom-handle in.
tended for a gun, and theafum SWING over his
shoulders bya strap, he msekly took his place
in the ranks and followed the commands
"Shoulder arms w "Mark time !" Right about
facew cct,j sct., with implicit .obedisace. He
and the captain were just in the midst ofa
forced march in pursuit of the enemy when a
cry OF terror was heard from over the fence
"What's thas?' the whole at1ny-that is to
say, the two beys-excloinred ut eace, and
both ran to the spot from whence the, sound
had proceeded.
"oh it's only little beggar girl. Come
back, Eddy. and Frank turned away dr.
dainfully::
His brother remained to investigate-afais
whats the matter, little gira3' ne asked o.
the child, by whose side was an overturned
basket. -
"That COW over there upset my basket and
and I was taking the bread home fordmner.'
She looked as though her greatest treasures
had suffered injury, as indeed they had: ;
"Never mind, III help you," said Eddy
kindly, and stopping down he began collect
ing the scattered pieces Of bread The little
girl; who was scarcely large enough to be
trusted oi,t of doors alone, assisted him in thu
task, and soon all the damage had been re-
paired. But Eddy did not stop here; he
thought he had net done 4uitseneugh, 80 be
said as politely as possible: II will g with
you q little way, so that you need not be afraid
of the cow. -. >.
The child thankfully accepted the offer and
was conducted beyond the reach of danger
As Eddy returned to the garden. he was met
by his brother; Who salnted him in no very res.
pcctful tone With these words: :
"WeH, don't think I'd take the trouble to
help q little beggar girl I'd like toknow what
motherwould ssyto. y0uan such. company as
that" ...:c
"Would you? Then come. to the house,
and you shall hear what l would say H
Mrs, Woolsey's watchful eyes and ears had
followed her children all the morning. She
had heard the dispute about their play, had
Witnessed the sudden close Of their sport, and
the ready Kindness shown By her yodnger BON
to the little stranger, and now she had come
to take her boys aside for a short talk, in order
to teach thom, if she could, some useful lesson
frsm the incidents of the day.
Whom they had reached the sitting room,
and Frank and Eddy had taken Their place,
one on achside Of herr their mother asked: :
''Can either of you tell me what ID general
ly the reason why. people fight against each
other?" -.
The boys hung their heads i'll silence, they
began to.suspect that they had not been so en-
tirely alone in the garden as they had suppo-
sed, But Mrs. Woolsey waited for a,reply,
80 Prank answered:
"It'sbccause they want to kill their enemies
isn't itY'.
"Yes l.; but why do they have enemies? and
why do they wish to,aestroy them? Is it not
often because they desire to. make themselves
powerful? YOU have read in your history Of
Caesar, the Roman general efAlexander, the
Macedonian king; Of Napoleon, the Emperor
of the French. All Of these, you know, the
world cans great, but each Of them was willing
to bring sorrow upon countless multithes II
he could secure authority to himself" And
their mother went on to.:teA them how much
trouble had been made III the world because
men wanted to control each other--very
much, she said, like little boys she knew Of
and how there had been many wars, and a
great deal Of fighting, and millions upon mil
lions had been slain for the reason that some
one or another had been all the time trying to
make him,selrpowerful and how few had been
willing to follow in humility the footsteps of
the Son Of Man, who "oamo not TO he minis
tered unto, but to minister and to give his
life a ransom fer many
After this Mrs Woolsev read from the Bi-
bic how Jesus, the great Teacher, taught hs
disciples: "He>that is greatest among you,
let him be as the younger; and he that n
chief, as he that doth serve"
"AHd new," she continued (which do YOU
think is tho more manly thing for son OF
mine to do-to insist upon ruling his brother,
even while engaged in play, or to leaye his