The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-04-27
UNSELFISH.

.s, UNSELFISH.
"Look out for number one, my boy,,,i
said his father, as the baby held up his
bread-and-milk for mamma to eat.
That's what he never will do,'''
laughed mamma. 'sHe'd far rather
look out for number two. Not a spoon.
full will he take till he holds it I'D 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 a. little coax
ing sound.
'.The generous darlingr' said NAM
ma. {" Number two and number three
both come before number one in your
arithmetic; don't they, baby?''
Wen name him I Number One,' y
said aunty, from her easy-chair in the
corner; and ever after that she playful
" called him Number One.'' although
he soon had another name. Aunty had
. way OF proving that her choice of a
aame was a good one however, For,
rs baby grew older, his father was con-
tlnually repeating the saying: s.Look
out for number one;'' but it, was with a
proud feeling that his boy never could
De 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 as
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 r He
helped papa in many other ways. His
sick aunty called herself Number
FOUR for she came in for a 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 a brothera .aAs
How could Number One look out for
himself, when there began to be so many
other numbersP % ga od 8tS
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
ne counted the numbers, they went all.
the way from number eight to number
forty-seyen. He did not see them all
every day, to be sure; in fact, some Of
them lived so far away that the visits
We're 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. A's's .
Z 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 togearry him pailful of
mothers broth, and perhaps sit and
read a psalm to comfort him! iag <; 81
By-and-by he was strong enough to
shovel snow for Miss Patty, who lived
N 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. 4 Fl .59a.s.
Then there were numbers fifty and
[ifty-one-Tom Hanson and his little
brother. They had never sled to their
names. How could Number One help
ending them his for ride every other
time? True, Dick Jones and Jack Har-
Tey didn't lend theirs; but perhaps they
1idn't think. Yet, somehow, Number
one did think, and he couldn't enioy
MS all by himself, seeing the little fei-
ows look on with such hungry eyes.
Andso the numberskep addingup
alter day, and year after year.. At first,
sunty kept account to amuse herself In
her weary hours Of sickness; but by-and-
~ there were SO many that, she gave
t up. i.ssi'i - .Jsa52 7fi3
III believe there never wasa more un-
'elfish bey,' she said; s.and he's the
lappiest boy I know Of, too.r agI5
The numbers counted up pretty, fast
when Number One grew to be a man:
or he was married, and had bows Of his
'wn. But he often thought how much
re should love little daughter; and he
'oon found out way to add two new
numbers to his list. A poor woman
lied, leaving twin girlies without father
y mother, and Number One adopted
hem. He took them to. his !. home.
vnere his wife was all ready to welcome
hem. The twins were old enouoh to
their own dear mamma: but
before long they found that they loved
heir new mamma and papa Just as
much Their names were Catherine
md Tabitha; but their new papa called
hem Kitty and Pussy, for short. u In q |
ew years they were old enough to 90 to
boarding school.
When they came home for their first
'acation, they found that papa had
'dded new numbers splendid great |
abby cat, with yellow eyes. He had
zen sent out to sail on the harbor. in a |
'asket, by some cruel boy; and their
'apa. standing on the wharf, had heard |
Inn crying, and saved him from q wa |
cry grave. ~ 81 e ~
I've named him Noses he said. |
because took him from the water. |
lie pays me well hv catching Mia g. ! |