Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-03

Calls and Sketthes.
TAE LOST PINKNIFE.
\ STORY fOR EohS.


penknite lying on the ground. Now a
kniie was of all things just what Richard
wanted. and the sight of this one made
eagerly, pulled open the bright blade, and
ieasted his eyes on the white pearl handle
and shining steel.
I'm lucky fellow" he said to himself,
and then he started for home at full run
TO tell his brother and sister of his good
luck and show his beautiful knife.
81 wonder who could have lost it ?" said
brother Charley.
''It's more than know, or care either -
replied Richard. Finding is keeping "
Suppose you had lost it ?" said grave
brother Charley.
"Oh, bother" answered Richard, with
some impatence. Charley's suggestion
had fallen like wet blanket, as we say
sometimes, on Richards self-satisfaction
Somebody must have lost it," said
Charley.
maybe it was Mr.. Ellis" suggested
sister Marion. Il saw him going down
the road half an hour ago"
II don't believe it's his knife" spoke
out Richard, who was not feeling quite so
comfortable as when he came in.
I'D ask him if were you" said Char
ley
Richard made no reply to this sugges-
ton. Suppose he should ask Mr.. Ellis if
it was his knife, and he should say yes !?
He would of course have to give it up.
The thought was anything but agreeable.
Suppose" said Charley, looking up
from his book that evening as they sat
round a table studying their lessons, "you
had lost that knife, Richard ?"
why can't you let the knife rest p an
swered Richard, half angrily "Its no
concern of yours"
But can't help feeling sorry for the
person who lost It," said Charley. 'It's
such a beauty of knife, and. maybe,
little boy or girl bought it with the
money saved up for months
"Oh. .lbother"' exclaimed Richard. using
his tavorite word when things didn't 90
smoothly with him. whats the use of
supposing all that The knife is mine
now. Ii hadn't picked it up, somebody
else would. When a things lost. its lost,
and there s the end of it. If people are
careless enough to drop their things in the
public road, they mustn't expect the find
crs to run all through creation to look them
up Findings keeping the world over.
ut isn't according to the Golden Rule
answered Charley. LET me read it,
"Oh, never mind about the Golden
Rule. What has that to do with my find
ing penknife ?" returned Richard.
I'VE shall see;'' and Charley, who had
opened New Testament that was lying
on the table, read ''As ye woufti that
men should do to you, do ye even SO to
them"
well. don't see anything about find
ing pclknife there said Richard. "Do
you ?"
"Yes, answered Charley.
Then your eyes are sharper than
mine"
"If you had lost penknife, and Tom
Link had found it, wouldn't you be glad
if he We're to ask all round for the owner,
instead of keeping the knife and not say
ing IL word about it? Or course you
would! And you would say that Tom
was u nice iellow--so unselfish and hon
orable-and all because he had done as
he would be done by-had kept the
Golden Rule"
Richard looked very sober at this, for
it brought the matter home to him as he
had not seen it before. There was some
thing about this penknfe in the Golden
Rule, and he was beginning to see it,
And now a gradual change began to
come over his feelings, for he was able
to put himself in place of the one who had
lost the knife, and to feel sorry for the
loss. He took it out of his pocket, and
turned it over in his hands.
''lt is beautiful" he said. "and the per-
Uhn Lost fool haIlx. l.
isn't my knife, though did find it, that s
very clear"
"And you never could enjoy it," said
sister Nell, "because you'd be always
thinking how sorry the person who lost it
must be-
Maybe would Anyhow, I'm going
straight over to see MIR. Ellis in the morn
ing, and ask him if he lost it,"
And he did so.
"Why, Richard exclaimed Mr.. Ellis,
when he saw the knife. glow of surprise
and pleasure on his face. "Where did
you find it! 1t is one grandma sent to
Horace for birthday present, and lost
it on my way home. This is his birth
day. | have been so annoyed about the
loss"
I'm glad | found it for you," said
Richard. And he did feel glad as he
handed Mr.. Ellis the beautiful pearl
hand ed knife.
On the next day Richard received from
MIR. Ellis fine iour-bladed pocket-knife.
worth, for real service to a boy, dozen
such as the one he. had found, and the
pleasant note that came with it made him,
to use his own words, "feel good" He
could enjoy this knife, because it was
really his own. Nobody had lost it, and
SO no thought Of what another had lost