The Columbus journal., 1882-06-14
"NUMBER ONE"

"NUMBER ONE"
"Look out for number one, my boy
said his father, rs the baby held up hi.
bread-and-milk for mamma to eat.
"That's what he never will d."
laughed mamma. He'd far rather
look out for number two. Not a spoon
full will he take till he holds it up for me
to taste"
Just a mamma had taken her sip
baby caught sight Of pspa's curling
beard and laughing eyes. Holding VI
the spoon to him, he made q little coax
ing sound.
"The generous darling" said nam
ma Number two and number three
both come before number one in YOU
arithmetic; don't they, baby"
"We'n name him Number One,''
said aunty, from her easy-chair in the
corner; and ever after that she playful
ly calledhim Number One" although
he sOOn had another name. Aunty had
q way of proving that her choice of q
name was a good one however. For,
as baby grew older. his father was con.
tinually repeating the saying: "Looh
out for number One;" but it was with q
proud feeling that his boy never could
be selfish after all. He wa SO forgetful
of self that he always thought of al
other numbers before number m
He chopped kindlings for mamma as
cheerfully as if it were the best fun in
the world; and often and often he
secured the knives, or ven 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 q
darling baby sister, number five: Then.
by-and-by, came number six and seven
another sister and q brother.
How could Number One look out fol
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 III 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 a pailful of
mothers broth, and perhaps sit and
read q psalm to comfort him!
By-and-by he vas strong enough to
shovel snow for Miss Patty, who lived
in the lane close by, or to dig up her
little patch of . garden in spring.
time. So aunty ,alled her Number For
ty-nine.
Then there were numbers fifty and
6fty-one-Tom Hanson and his little
brother. They had never a sled to their
names. How could Number One help
lending them his for a 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 fell
lows look on with such hungry eyes.
And so the numbers kept adding up day
after day, and year after year. At first,
aunty kept account to amuse herself in
her weary hours of sickness; but by-and-
by there were SO many that she gave
it up.
II believe there wasa more I'M
selfish boy" she said; land he's the
hsppiest boy 1 know of, too"
The numbers counted up 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 q little daughter; and he
soon found out q 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
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 60 to
boarding-school.
When they came home for their first
vacation, they found that papa had
added q new numbers splendid great
tabby-cat, with yellow eyes. He had
been sent out to sail on the harbOr in q
basket. by some cruel boy; and their
papa. standing on the wharf, had heard
him crying. and saved him from a wa
terry grave: hin u,,.n no ..;d
ssbecause l took him from the water.
He pays me well by catching mice"
The next day vas papa's birthday, and
Kitty and Pussy each had q gift for
him. As they were talking them over
together. Kitty said: 1.-The trouble is,
Puss, l always want to do something
nv very own self for papa He's so
good to US, and to everybody. do be-
feve everybody loves him. Even Moses
purrs on bis knee, and catches mice for
him; but all we can do is to buy some
thing for him with the money that he
gives u.s."
"Oh nor said Pussy, that isn't all.
We can try to please him every day.
and I'm sure he will understand from
that how much we love him"
But then l want to say it somehow,
and not Just act it out" said Kitty.
'Oh! 1 know what I'll do. I'll write
him a birthday note"
Half an hour after, Pussy was just
putting the last stitch in the pretty
~watch-hook which was to be her gift,
when Kitty held out the note for her to
read.
That's NICE" said Pussy. And
I'll add . little"
Then they folded the note, wrote upon
the outside, "For Pspa's Birthday"
and placed it with their gifts under his
plate at table. When he opened it, he
Rad:
He stood alone upon the wharf;
A vail came DER the water.
Can that be Moses vOiceT be cried.
nA--