The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-04-01
"NuMBER 0NE.'

"I.ook out for number one, my boy" |
said his father, ~ the baby held up his |
brcld.and. for mamma to eat
That's what he never will do,n
laughed mamma "llo'd far rather
look out for number two Not a spoon
iul will he take ill be holdsit up for nic
to taste
Just ns mamma had taken her sip.
baby caught sight of papa's curling
beard and laughing eyes. Holding up
the spoon To him, he made little coax
ing sound.
"Thc generous dnrlngw said nam
ma. Number two and nrmbcr three
both come before number ono In your
arithmetic. don't they. babyP"
"Wo'll name him Number One "
said nunty, from her easy-chair In the
corneri and ever after that she playful
ly called him Number One" although
he soon had another name. Aunty had
n way Of proving that her choice Of
name was good one however. For,
as baby grew older. his father was con
tinnally repeating tho saying Look
out for number one;" but II was with n
proud feeling that his boy never could
be selfish after all. He was so forgetful
Of self that hc always thought Of oil
other numbers before number one.
Hc chopped kindlings for mamma rs
chcerfully ~ II IL wcrc tho best fun In
the world and often and often he
secured the knives, or even washed the
dishes, II she did not feel well. lie
helped papa In many other ways Ills
sick annty called herself ." number
four, for she came In for large share
OF his loving thoughtfalness
As Number One grew older, he had
darling baby sister, number five. Then,
by-and-by, came number six and seven
another sister and brother.
How could Number One look out fol
himself, when there began TO be so many
other numbersp
lie kept finding out new numbers
too. There were Grandpa and Grand
ma Gray. Grandma Eaton, and aunts
unclcs and cousins so many that, wher
he counted tho numbers, they went al
lhe way from number eight 70 number
foriy.seyen. He did not see them nj
every day, TO bo sure; In fact, some %
them lived 10 far away that the visit
were few and far between. But wher
they did meet, they we're all sure to fee
very soon that Number One was mol
looking ont for himself, but wished raih'
or TO make them happy. :,
Number Forty-eight was poor old
Darby, who had TO sit In his chair from
morning tin night, year In and year ou'
poor. lame aud blindl How Number
One did delight 10 carry him pailiul ol
mothers broth, and perhaps sit and
read psalm 10 comfort himl
By-and-by he was strong enough "a
shovel snow for Miss Patty, who lived
In the lane close by. or TO dig up her
little patch OF q garden IN spring
time. SO auniy called her Number For
ty.nine.
Then there were numbers fifty and
iifty-one Tom Hanson aud his little
brother. They had never sled 10 their
names. How could Number One help
lending them his for ride every other
timer True. Dick Jones and Jack liar
sey didn't lend theirs; but perhaps they
didn't think. Yet. somehow, Number
Onc did think. and he couldn't enjoy
his all by himself, seeing the little iel-
lows look on with such hungry eyes.
And 90 the numbers kept adding up day
after day, and year after year. Atfirst.
aunty kept account 10 amuse hersclf In
her weary hours Of sickness; but by-and-
by there were 50 many that she gave
u up.
IL believe there never wasa . more un'
selfish boy" she said ''and he's the
happiest boy ! know Of. too"
The numbers counted up pretty fast
when Number One grew TO be man
for he was married, and had boys Of hl'
own. hut he often thought how m'sh
he should love . little daughter anu "
soon found out way 70 add TWO new
numbers 70 his hst a poor woman
died. Leaving twin gir,ies Without ,aane'
or mother. ana Numper ons anop'es
them. lie took them to his home
where his vile was all ready 70 weleem'
them. The twins were old enough y
remember their own dear mamma; bu
before long they found that they love-
their new mamma and papa Just 4
much. Their names were Cathsrln
and Tabithai but their new papa eaile'
them Kitty and Pussy. Tor short. In