The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1896-10-30

stop ana get out his watch just to tell
you what time it was," declared Hal.
"'Twas that" admitted Bill. est
was a downright imposition, so twas
But wasn't he obliging, though Z
Immense! can't say I'm sorry asked
him for the time, after all. 1t was better
than Christmas treat, candy, peanuts,
popcorn and all to see fine gentleman
treat little fellow like me in that way.
He's man who IS man, say, Hal"
''lf you'd been king he couldn't have
treated you finer"
do you know thought he'd snub
me, or turn up his nose and sniff, as
some of those aristoorats dos But
really wan ted to know what time it WAS.
l was afraid of being too late for SCHOOL,
Hal stood and unused awhile, rolling q
SNOWFALL between his mittened hands.
Then he tossed it against fence.post, as
he remarked:
"Say, Bill, that maa gave me an idea. u
"What is it ?'
"Why, always to be obliging-to begin
to be obliging now and keep it up. Do
you see 9''
''Of course l see. A mole could see
that the IDEAS good one. I've great
notion to work along that line myself"
"S'pose we both try, then"
"Agreed. It's bargain"
Inspired by Mr.. Randall's example, the
boys walked on toward the school build.
ing, their minds filled with good resolu
tions. Before five minutes had passed,
Bill and Hal had chance to test the
strength of their new resolves. An old
lady carrying heavy market basket was
just starting across the street at the next
corner. The crossing was quite slippery
with the ice that had frozen during the
night. Her feet slipped and she would
have fallen had she not let the basket
drop to the ground, and then held her.
self up by it. A number of school boys
suickered, and some of them laughed
aloud at her mishap. She looked around
helplessly, as she bent over and supported
herself by the handle of the basket.
"Hal, didn't we start out to be oh. liz.
ing ?" whispered Bill. Here's our
chance
"Come on, then.''
Two boys swift feet patted the pave.
n,ent, and in a moment stopped before
the woman.
"We'll help you, ma am" said Hal.
O! thank you, boys" she answered
heartily. You're very kind"
Bill carried the basket, while Hal, who
was somewhat the larger and stronger,
firmly held the old lady's arm and helped
her across the slippery street. When the
boys ran back, after receiving her thanks,
some of their piaymates tainted them.
"The old woman had two purity smart
beaux." guyed one.
"Catch me walking on the street looked
arms with an old woman" jeered another
"Wouldn't you be glad if some one
would help your mother if she was on q
slippery street," questioned Hal, with
blazing eyes.
"But she wasn't my mother"
well, very likely she was some one
else's mother" asserted Hal, "and that
amounts to the same thing" Then turn.
ing to Bill. he said: "I'm glad we helped
the old lady Bill; that's just what GU,
Mr.. Randall would have done, III
warrant you"
At the school Bill and Hal carried out
the same principle. They were obliging
to their teachers and fellow pupils. If q
girl dropped book, they would politely
pick it up and hand it to her, instead OF
snickering at her, as the other boys did.
If smaller boy became so cold on the
way home that he could scarcely carry
his books and slate, one of them would
be sure to offer to help him. Their spirit
soon became the subject of comment
among some of the ruder boys.
They're getting awfully goody
goody," scoffed julie Wand. 'T'n war.
rant they're as green as cucumbers."
"Of course they are," declared Jim
Nostrand. Lets see what fun we Gan
have with them. They're so aoeommo.
dating that you can get them to do any
thing for you. S'pose we try a little
game, and get good laugh on item"
And Jim did try his ''little game
The pupils were on their way home from
school. Hal and Bill being in a proup
just half block ahead of the two young
schemers.
"Ho, Bill Wait minute, Halp, Jim
shouted, running forward. 81 want you
to do me favor"
swell, what is it ?" answ cred Bill.
"Well, you see," Jim went on. "you
two fellows are the most accom- modatipp
boys in school. l wish you'd 60 to my
home and do up my chores for me this
evening-put coal in the furnace, clean
out the ashes, feed and curry the nag, and
run down to the grocer for mother, and
so on, won't you ?" he asked, with a sIy
twinkle In his eye.
Now see how 'green" Bill and Hal
were!
"What are you going to do 9'
questioned Bill, looking xeenly into Jim g
eyes.
30, Am! Why-I-I-want to go and
play game of ball on the commons, :"
laughed Jim.
''Then we won't do your chores for
you," refused Hal positively.
"You won't! Why not l though
You two fellows were going to be so
oblieing!'
"We do try to be obliging," said Hal,
shut we won't let ourselves be imposed
on. To be oblig',g means to help people
when they need it; not to go and do up a
strapping big fellows chores 80 that he
can play ball. Do you see the difference.
ehP"
Then there was great laugh among
the pupils at Jim Nostrand's expense.
"Bill was too sharp for you that time. !"
several cried. and for long while Jim
was nicknamed Chores"
''Say, Hal, one doesn't need to be
'gumpy' in order to be obliging, does
one ?" said Bill when the two ehums
were alone. "Our Mr.. Randall wouldn't
let people impose on him, do you think
he would ?''