Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-07

The Boys Two Rules.

hllcs alheIi loOhlhH up from inc paper ne
was reading, and addressing q younger broth
CT who was sitting by the stove playing with
a iayorte dog.
Well, what are they let's have them, 80
said Fred, suspending his sport with the dog.
The first is Never get yexed with any
thing you can help The second is, Never
get yexed with anything you can't help"
Are not these rules as applicable to you
as to me % inquired Fred archly.
No doubt Of that" replied Giles good
humorcdly " but then it is so much easier
to hand over a piece Of good advice to au-
other than to keep it for ones own personal
use. It's kind Of generosity that does not
require any se-denial" Fred laughed.
" But what do you say to these two rules2"
continued Giles How would they work if
we do adopt them ?"
think they take a pretty wide and
clean sweep" said Fred. d" 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. think they are
sensible rules. 1t is foolish to vex ourselves
about what can't be helped. Let US assist
each other to remember 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 broth
er 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.
have broken my shoe-string, and it is
vexatious, I'm in such hurry"
1t is yexatious, no doubt replied Giles
" but you must not get yexed, for this is one
of the things that can be helped You can
find a string in the left corner Of the upper
drawer of mothers bureau
But we shall be late at school, sait
Fred
"No, we shall not, said Giles. 1--WE
shall only have to walk little faster. Be
side 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 went for
the string, quite restored to good humor
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 O piece
Of hard wood.
1t can't be helped so you are not to ge
vexed about it, said Fred.
at can't be helped, but | can do better
than fret about it. | can learn a lesson Of
care for the future, which may some day save
me a knife more valuable than this The
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 a half a-dozen lines, his mother
called him off to do something for her. Ii
his absence, his sister Lucy made use of hi
pen to write her name in a book, and she le
fall n great drop Of ink on the page he wa
writing. Fred returned while she was busill
employed in doing what she could do to re
pair the mischief
You have made a great blot on my com
position he exclaimed, looking over he
shoulder.
| am very sorry, did not mean to d.
it," said Lucy. But Fred was so vexed tina
he would have answered his sister very rough
ly if Giles had not interposed.
Take care, Fred you know the thing j
done and can't be helped"
Fred tried hard to suppress his yexation.
" know it was an accident, he said pleas
anty after a brief struggle.
Lucy then left the room, and Fred sat silent
After a moment he looked up. No grea
harm is done after ALL Two or three altera
tions are much needed, and if | write it owe
again | can make them"
." SO much for a cool head and not gettin
yexed," said Giles laughing, Our rule
work we'll"
At night Fred tore his trowsers in climb
ing fence. That's too bad.
; p" 1t can be helped, said Giles "they ca
be mended"
Z" The way to help it is what troubles me,
said Fred. don't like to ask mother, sh
has so much to do"
Giles proposed that he should get oye
this difficulty by asking Lucy to do the jo
for him, as her mother had taught her t
mend very neatly. Fred was not at frs
disposed to adopt this measure. He kne'
that Lucy disliked mending very much, AM
was afraid she would be cross if asked to
it; but at last decided to run the risk {
that. They found Lucy busily employe
with piece of embroidery and quite Absorb
ed with her work.
Fred looked Significantly at Giles when h
saw how she was employed; but he conclud
ed he lad gone too far to retreat, and mus
make bold push.
" wish to ask great favor Of you, Lucy
+ but | fear have come in the wrong time,
said Fred.
, What do you want ?" said Lucy,
" I'm almost afraid to tell you. It's TO
bad to ask you to do what l know you di'
like"
You are a good while getting to wha
: is wanted" said Lucy, laughing. Come
out with it."
Fred, thus encouraged, held up his foe
and displayed a rent
r Well, take them off will do my best,
Q said Lucy, cheerfully.
You are dear, good sister," said Free
0 " When | saw what you were about,
, thought you would not be willing to do it,"
. My unusual amiabiity quite puzzles you
f does N2" said Lucy, laughing. | shall hay
to let you into the secret. To tell the trutl
have been thinking all day what could d
v Tor you III return lor youi NV bo'.inS '0Ae
with me for blotting your composition. 5
: now you have it, go,
80 much for our rules" exclaimed Gile
r triumphantly. "They work like charm" !"
!. What rules ?" inquired Lucy.
r We must tell Lucy all about -" sai
/ Giles.
: They did tell her all about it and the IT
J. suit was that she agreed to join them in try
ing the new rules