The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-28
KING ALFRED's MOTTO.

! denly caught by something which seen
, ed to her the most curious thing of all
frieze of golden letters on dark ground
I running all around the top of the wal
) On looking more closely she found ther
TO be notices or proverbs, some of whic
. were appropriate to the special articles o
furniture over which they we're placed
/, Over a large chest of drawers was tn
motto, "Order is Heavens first law /;
over the workable, "a stitch in tim
saves nine" But more than all thu
others, Lily's attention was attracted b,
a motto which ran along the wall jus
opposite her cousins easy-chair anC
writing-table, where she spent most o
her time-"Count that day lost in whicl
thou hast done no good deed"
Just then Bella returned, and seeing
Lily's gaze riveted on the frieze, she said
"Ah! you have discovered my pet mot
to; it was favorite saying of good ole
King Alfred, and / try to let no day pas
without acting on it little, or else i
reprOaches me whenever my eyes fal
upon it. And | cannot tell you, Lily
how much happier my life has beer
since have tried King Alfred's rule
Now that l have once begun to look out
for chances to do good deeds, the days
are not long enough to do half that
might"
A call to dinner here interrupted the
conversation, nor was there any chance
to resume it before Lily's departure for
home on the following day, but the
golden motto on the frieze refused to be
forgotten, and during her journey on the
cars the words kept running through her
head, keeping time with the jog of the
wheerin an odd way, like this:
Count that day
Lost in which
Thou hast done
| No good deed"
Before reaching home she made up
her mind to try and act out the motto
| for herself and see if her cousin Bela's
words were true.
| Lily Thacher was a sweet-tempered,
merry girl of sixteen, always ready for
"a good time" and great favorite among
her friends; but till now she had lived
careless, merry life, enjoying the good
things which fell to her lot and thinking
little of looking out for the happiness of
others, and yet she was not any more
| SSlIlSH Illdll llOSJ ICdllly gins Va
her age, only thoughtless, for she had
yet to learn the exquisite happiness, of
definitely seeking others happiness, as
we'll as of her own.
The morning after her return home,
she procured piece of white cardboard
about a foot square, painted on it in
large blue and gold letters, the motto,
and hung it by blue ribbon at one side
of her looking glass.
"Therew said she, II shall be sure to
see it at least three times day, anyway
And now for to days good deed'-what
shall it be? must hunt up some poor
woman to clothe or some sick man to
send flowers to-"
Just then her mothers voice was heard
calling "Lily, will you help Hugh mend
his kiteT | know this is your last day
of vacation, but / have all the weeks
mending to do, and haven't time to help
him."
Lily ran down into the sitting room
and patiently helped Hugh with his torn
kite. She was then Just about to run off
to see the girls whom she was wild to
tell about her visit, when her heart sud
denly smote her as she noticed how pale
and tired her mother looked bending
over the great basket which held the
weeks mending. Something within her
said Charity begins at home," and she
determined to try one little good
deed"
"Dear mamma" she said, "do lie
down Just a little while, you look so
tired. / will look after Hugh and you
will be so much fresher for the clothes
afterwards"
Mrs Thacher after some coaxing con-
sented to lie down for little while, for
she had slept little during the past night.
| Indeed, so tired was she that in few
minutes she was fast asleep.
Lily in the meantime had set Hugh to
playing blocks and bad herself taken
her mothers place by the basket. If
there was one thing which Lily hated to
do above all others, it was to mend, but
she resolved to surprise her mother with
the sight of the empty basket, so with a
little sigh at the thought of the girls, she
began distributing the clothes in various
piles, mending all that needed it, and
after an hour and half of diligent work
she had the satisfaction of putting them
all away in their respective bureau draw
ers.
She had hardly finished wheu Ms.
Thacher came from her room. LIly
was a hundred times repaid for her self
sacrifice at the sight of her mothers
mystified face as she spied the empty
/ basket and more than all with the loving
| tender kiss with which she rewarded Lily
| for her mornings work.
| That night as Lily's eye fell On the
card by her beureau, ard she thought
how happy she had been al! the after
noon, she said to herself, "King Alfred's
right after all the day hasen't been quite
lost"
The next day during the school re.
cess, Lily heard the girls say that old
| Miss Tibbits was laid up with rheuma.
tism again, and they wondered how she
| would get on without her niece, who
had Just gone away for a visit.
Lily thought of the good deed" she
was going to try for that day, and pres
emily plucked up courage to suggest
that each of the half dozen girls in her
special "set" should go and read to Mis-
Tibbits in turn every afternoon, and 50
make her less lonley. Now Miss Ti5bit:
was not a favorite with the girls, and
several laughed aud politely declined the
invitation but three or four agreed witt
Lily to take turns in enlivening the pool
old lady's dull days.
Lily went first, carrying with her {
dish of lemon jelly and a bright book
both of which greatly cheered Miss Tib
bits. Each girl brought something wher
it fell to her turn to goa bunch O
flowers, a few oranges or a bunch ol
grapes. At the end of a fortnight
when she was able to be around again
poor, cross, worried, lOnley little Mis-
Tibbits seemed like a different person
so Uuch good had these young girls
smiling faces done her. No one know
. how keenly old people enjoy little atten
, tions from the young.
So the days passed and thougl
/ some Lily counted as lost, on many
night her sleep was the sweeter for hay
ing done more than one good deed ii
helping Others
One day it was tedious, garrulon
/ caller 10 whom Lily showed such pc
lite foFbearance in listening to the lon
story 81 her complaints and ailments
controlling her impatience and so pei
seYeringlY turning her visitors thought
/, IL i more hopeful aud cheerful channel
! that when she ai last roac 60 40 she ex
! | cIaifned I've nol eDiorc0 such suH
) Ishina hour for malp 4 lan4 DAY
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