Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-04-16
cARELEssNEss
How Felix Learned That No One Can Do a
Wrong Thing Without Hurting Some-
One Else.

But, two hours later the old gentle
man setout Oh his accustomed afternoon
walk. AS he strolled along a pleasant
shaded path he observed a little group
OF boys STOPPING over something on
the ground, and going near saw that
they We're intently interested in the
motions of two beetles.
''See them tug!' said one.
What do they do it for, any wayp"
asked another.
why, they use that ball of earth to
lay their eggs i'm
81 don't believe it." said Felix.
'1t's so, for my father told me-" said
the other.
eyes, it's so,"said grandfather, with
a smile, touching Felix's cheek with
the end of his cane
The boys sprang up in surprise at
seeing him bending over them.
"Why, grandfather, is that youp:"
asked Felix.
eyes. Did .you see Mr.. Gay?"
Well-not yet sir. Just waited
a few minutes to run a race with the
boys, and then we saw these beetles
and"
"But where is the book?"
ooh, that's all safe, sir. I hid it
right behind this tree"
He ran towards it and his grand
father, following Kim, saw Rover, his
little dog, very busy at something.
"Get out of the way, Rove" cried
Felix. "Hcre It's. Oh!'
His face fell in blank dismay as he
raised the book. The dog had torn off
the wrapping and had then gnawed off
a corner Of the costly volume, of
curse entirely running it's appearance.
What a mean, mlschievous dog''
exclaimed Felix, ready to cry with re-
gret and confusion.
What q careless, unreliable boy!
father. ':How could you be SO negli-
gent Felix, when l trusted you with it
and told you to be careful?h
"I'm sorry" faltcred Felix.
"But your sorrow will never help
the matter, you see. Nothing which
you can do will help it. All the loss
must fall on Others"
Grandfather took q newspaper from
his pocket and again wrapped up the
book.
Nov take it to Mr.. Gay" he said.
''Tell him exactly what has happened,
and say to him that the loss shall be
made good as far as / can make it So"
Felix hung back.
grandfather, lean not bear to tell
him." he said.
II know it is hard, my boy. l send
you not to punish you, but to try to
give you a lesson which YOU may re-
member"
Felix thought it the hardest lesson
which could have been set him, but
co%wardicc was not one of his faults,
and in a few moments he stood before
Mr.. Gay, bravely told his error, and
and showed the sad result, adding very
earnestly:
81 only wish it had been something
of NINE that had been spoiled, sir. I
guess grandfather's right when he says
no one can ever do q wrong thing with
out its hurting some one else"
"Yes," said the gentleman" looking
regretfully at the mischief. Your
grandfather is right"
eagerly. Jpn save up every ZEN of
enough"
Mr.. Gay laid his hand kindly on the
boys head.
'.Never mind that. It is a loss which
no one could make up to me, for the
book vas a gift of a dear friend who is
now dead. But, my boy, if you are
given to careless and negligent ways
in your boyhood you will be SURE to
work far greater mischief to yourself
and others than the spelling of q
book. Let ME tell you of something
that happened to me whenI was .
boy
He sat down and motioned Felix to a
chair.
When l was not many years older
than you are my father died and [ had
to stop going to school for awhile and
go to work. l got a situation in a large
business house and often had valuable
parcels placed in my care.
+. at is a pity that l had not a deeper
sense of the need of being faithful in
the performance of all duties whether
grea. or small, to the very letter. l
was careless to an extent which led my
mother often to warn me that | should
come to serious harm if 1 did not
mend my ways. 1 paid little heed to
her cautions, feeling quite satisfied
with myself in view Of the fact that