The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-03-30
"NUMBER ONE. +"

Salu his fatner, as the DaDy neld up MS
bread-and-milk for mamma to eat.
That's what he never will do"
laughed mamma. He'd far rather
look out for number two. Not a spoon
full will he take till he holdsit up for me
to taste
just as 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.
+" The generous darlingr' said mann
ma. Number two and number three
both come before number one in your
arithmetic; don't they, babyP"
I'VE II name him Number One,
said aunty, from her easy-chair in the
corner; and ever after tina. she playful
ly called him /" Number One" although
he soon had another name. Aunty had
way of proving that her choice of a
name was a good one however. For,
as baby grew older, his father was con-
tinually repeating the saying Look
out for number One;' but it was with
proud feeling that his boy never could
be selfish after ALL He was so forgetful
of self that he always thought of all
other numbers before number one.
He chopped kindlings for mamma rs
cheerfully as if it were the best fun in
the world; and often and often he
secured the knives, or even washed the
dishes, if she did not feel well. He
helped papa in many other ways. His
sick aunty called herself number
four" for she came in for large share
of his loving thoughtfulness.
As Number One grew older, he had a
darling baby sister, number five. Then,
by-and-by, came number six and seven
another sister and brother.
How could Number One look out for
himself, when there began to be SO many
other numbers?
He kept finding out new numbers,
too. There were Grandpa and Grand
ma Gray, Grandma Eaton, and aunts,
uncles and cousins-so many that, when
he counted the numbers, they went all
the way from number eight to number
forty-seven He did not see them all
every day, to be sure; in fact some OF
them lived so far away that the visits
were few and far between. But when
they did meet, they were all sure to feel
very soon that Number One was not
looking out for himself, but wished rath
er to make them happy.
Number Forty-eight was poor old
Darby, who had to sit in his chair from
morning till night, year in and year out
poor, lame and blind! How Number
One did delight to carry him pailful of
mothers broth, and perhaps sit and
read psalm to comfort himl
By-and-by he was strong enough to
shovel snow for Miss Patty, who lived
in the lane close by, or to dig up her
little patch of a garden in spring
time. So aunty called her Number For
ty-nine.
Then there were numbers fifty and
fifty-one-Tom Hanson and his little
brother. They had never asled to their
names. How could Number One help !
lending them his for ride every other
time? True, Dick Jones and Jack Har-
vey didn't lend theirs; but perhaps they /
didn't think. Yet. somehow, Number
One did think, and he couldn't enjoy |
his all by himself, seeing the little fel- /
lows look on with such hungry eyes.
And SO the numbers kept adding up day /
after day, and year after year At lirst, |
aunty kept account TO amuse herself IN 1
her weary hours of sickness; but by-and
by there were so many that she gave |
it up.
II believe there never was more un- |
selfish boy she said; land he's the /
happiest boy know of, too"
The numbers counted mp pretty fast /
when Number One grew to be man; /
for he was married, and had boys Of his /
own. But he often thought how much /
he should love little daughter; and he \
soon found out a way to add two new
numbers to his list A poor woman
died, leaving twin girlies without father
or mother, and Number One adopted /
them. He took them to his home,
where his wife was all ready to welcome
them. The twins were old enough TO
remember their own dear mamma; but
before long they found that they loved 1
their new mamma and papa just as
much. Their names were Catherine /
and Tabitha: but their new papa called /
them Kitty and Pussy, for short. In a
few years they were old enough TO 90 70 /
boarding school.
When they came home for their first |
vacation, they found that papa had |
added a new number splendid great f.
tabby-cat, with yellow eyes. He had 1
been sent out to sail on the harbor in a /
basket, by some cruel boy; and their .
papa. standing on the wharf, had heard I
him crying, and saved him from a wa
terry grave.
I've named him Moses" he said,
. because took him from the water.
He pays me well by catching mice"
The next day was papa's birthday, and /
Kitty and Pussy each had gift for
him. AS they were talking them over
together Kitty said: 'The trouble Is,
Puss, L always want to do something
my very own self for papa He's so
good to us, and to everybody. do be-
lieve everybody loves him. Even Moses
purrs on his knee, and catches mice for
him; but all we can do is to buy some
thing for him with the money that he
gives us. -
"Oh nor said Pussy, . that isn't al.