American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-15
DUTY FIRST.

| The summer MONDAY sun shone broad
| ly and brightly over the hay-fields. The
birds sang in the trees; the rabbits ran in
and out of the hOllows; the insects hum
med overhead; the merry little brook
| went tumbling along; and the fish came
leaping out every now and then, their
silver sides flashing in the warm light.
| In the bayfield, the mowers were busy,
and borne on the gentle wind, softened to
| musical murmur, came the voices of the
| men and the sharpening of their scythes.
Ben MalIet and his little cousins Jenny
and Jake Brown were as happy and light
| hearted this bright summers day as any
three children could possibly be.
| Ben's father had made him a little
had run over to his aunt's cottage and
carried the two young children out to
play with him.
| They were in the middle of an exciting
| game, when Mrs. Browns voice was heard
calling to them, "Children, children.
want you"
Ben ran back to the cottage at once and
met his aunt coming out.
''Ben DEAR she said, sit is your uncle's
dinner-time, and l have made him some
stew. He is working in Farmer Rix's
hay field, and 1 should be glad if you
would take the children with you, and
carry your uncle his dinner. Here it is,
| in this little pot. Be careful not to spill
any of it, my boy, for it is not often that
can afford to buy meat nowadays"
| Ben took the pot and trudged off to the
place where he had left the little ones.
| They were not there, but he thought he
ieard their voices, and following the
| sound, he found the children in the poul-
| try-yard, where the ducks and geese
| crowded round them, expecting to be
| fed.
"Hurrahl ~ now We'll have some fun :"
| shouted Ben, snatching up his sword, and
brandishing it over his head. Here, Jenny,
hold the pot, and Jake and 1 will review
the troops"
Jenny took the pot, and Jake was told
to hold the fiag,which consisted of an old
northumberland tied to a stick.
Then Ben grasped his sword more firm
| ly; and blowing on half a clothes-peg in
stead of horn, he managed to drone out
tune, which he thought very grand in
deed.
The only trouble was that the ducks
would not march in time and they would
interrupt the music by their quacking.
1t was good half hour before he re-
membered the errand on which he had
been sent. The game had been SO new
and so full of fun that the thought of his
poor uncle working in the hot sun had
quite escaped his memory.
"Oh dear mer' he cried, throwing
down his sword, show stupid I've been!
Come along, pets; let us take your
fathers dinner to him. l don't know
long. Here, Jenny, give me the pot"
Jenny gave up the pot, but as Ben
looked into it he gave Il cry of dismay;
it was nearly empty. The savory broth
was all gone, and only few little bits of
meat lay at the bottom.
''Oh, Jenny, how stupid you are,' cried
Ben. "What have you done with all that
stew ?-have you split it, or what?"
Jenny began to cry. 81 did not touch
been as much interested in the game as
Ben himself, and had only held the pot
without thinking of it.
Just then Ben spied Toby, the old
watchdog, Sinking out of the yard with
his tail between his legs and his eyes
glancing behind him, as if he knew he
had been doing wrong, and half expected
to be punished.
"Ah, sir, so you are the thief, are you?"
said Ben; and making dive at the dog,
he boxed his ears smartly, and sent the
poor thing away bowling. Now we
must go to your mother, l suppose" said
Ben, "and tell her about it. Oh dear mel
what will she say?' And with heavy
hearts and long faces the children re-
turned TO the cottage
To tell the truth, Ben had begun to feel
by this time that he had done wrong in
blaming Jenny and beating the dog for
what was really his own fault.
'If | had only done what | was told at
once" said he to himself 'this would
never have happened" And SO he told
all to his aunt just as it had taken place,
not excusing himself or laying the blame
upon anyone else.
Mrs. Brown was very sorry She could
hardly be otherwise, for she was poor,
and could not afford to throw away
good dinner; but she saw that Ben was
very sorry too, and she felt that he had
had a lesson which he would not soon
forget So she did not scold the child,
but cut big piece of bread and a slice
of cheese to send her husband for his
dinner, and babe Ben wipe his eyes and
not take his carelessness too much to
heart.
Some weeks after, when Mrs. Brown
had forgotten all about this little event,
Ben rushed into the cottage one morning
with a parcel in his hand wrapped up in
a newspaper.
There, auntr' cried he, painting with
delight and at the speed with which he
had come; 1--WE brought you another
dinner for uncle"
Mrs. Brown opened the parcel, and
found it to contain a very nice piece of
meat, fresh from the butchers.
''Why, Ben DEAR" said she, chow did
you get this?"
Honestly, aunt-quite honestly" re
piled the boy. Il have saved up all the
pence that | have earned by running err
rands, and | had made up my mind that
as soon as | could | would make up to you
the dinner lest. So here it isl and Ben
looked as pleased as possible.
But, Ben" said Mrs. Brown as she
went to the cupboard and got dish on
which L. put the meat II am sorry you
spent your money ON this, for | know
there were several things you wanted to
buy for yourself"
"Duty first and pleasure ai1crward," re
piled Ben, gravely. Il forgot that once,
auntic, when | went to review the ducks,
instead of doing as | was told; but now |
have started fair, and mean to rcmem-
Der il always"
We are happy to say that Ben kept his
resolution, and through life he found that
the happicst as well rs the safest motto
. was, duty rst."-Childre't's Hour.