Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-08-12
A LESSON ABOUT GIVING.
Selfishness That Claims to Be Gen.
erosity,

SelIS1nGSS fndk Sio''Ho ~ ~~''
erosity.
DO you want some walks swept, or
leaves raked, or kindling chopped =
asked CHEEKY young voice outside
Mrs. Grey's open door
why, Jamie Lyle, is that your
Mrs. Grey brought her sewing TO the
porch and sat down on the steps.
Yes, the lawn needs raking. And SO
you have gone into business
"Yes'm; | want to earn some mon
ey for Laurie's birthday
Your baby brother? / thought his
birthday came last month";"
'Yes'm, but things went very
crooked then Jamie studied the toes
of his tan shoes for a minute, and
then looked up with a sudden burst of
confidence. 4 s'pose I've been pretty
selfish a good while but l didn't
know it till babys birthday--honestly,
Mis- Grey, | didn't He was two years
old last month. and, of course, father
and mother gave him things, and
meant to buy him a present, too !
thought I'd get him a rubber ball and
a little red tin pail, so | went to Mr.,
Dentons first. While | sat on the
counter looking at things, l saw the
incest knife-four blades and a gim-
let.
Il wanted it the first minute, and
the longer | looked the more | wanted
il. had money enough to do 1t II l
didn't buy anything for baby, so at last
| took ii. l thought I'd call 1t buying
it for Laurie, but l could see 1t Just
the same. Well, when | showed 1t to
mother she said 1t was a very nice
knife but there was little look on
her face that made me feel queer IN
side. She said baby was too little TO
use it, for he'd cry to have 1t opened
and cut himself if it was open.
Is 'Yes'm, but l thought he'd like 1t
when he gets big enough | told her.
IT'S just the thing for boy like me
to USE
"She and father looked at each
other and then she said We'll, that
will be a long time TO wait so must
wrap it up in tissue paper and lay IT
away in my drawer where 1t viii keep
bright. It's Laurie's present, so 1t
wouldn't be right to let any one use
II or spoil it before he gets it,
Wasn't l disappointed! But l
couldn't say anything, and the knife
was laid away, and father and mother
didn't say another word about it. This
week my birthday came Did you
know l was eight years old Mis-
Grey? | hoped father would buy me
a bicycle, but | didn't know, and
what do you think he did that morn
ing? He came into the room rolling
a great big wheel, and said that he
had bought it for my birthday.
WHY. | can't ride that one
told him, and l felt most ready 10
cry.
No. not yet he said, as cool as
YOU please, but you'll grow up some
day. It's just right for me to ride
now
"He and mother smiled at each
other over my head; l knew they ana,
and thought if we were going to do
that miser'ble old present business al
over again, he should have it just the
way | did. So l said:
It's a very nice wheel, but it's
good While 10 wait, liiliih' via ~
If up though, and lock it up in my
room, so it'll keep new, cause it's Tor
me, and 'twouldn't be fair for some
body else to spoil it while I'm grow
ing up
"How he and mother did laugh!
The lump sort of went out OF my
throat then so l could laugh, too, ana
father said
We'll, that is turning the tables
isn't it, Jamie?'
Then he brought in another wheel,
lust right for me-he'd bought him.
self a new one, too-and we had
splendid ride together. l guess ne
thought | didn't need any preachin
to. and l didn't. It's the meanest
kind of selfshness to do selfish Things
and then try to cheat folks by pre-
tendin you did em because you're SO
generous. So 1 want to earn some
money, and I'm going TO buy baby
something for his two year-old birth
day. and not for my eight-year-old
one"
Mrs. Grey laughed heartily. We'll
Jamie" she said, I've got quite lot
of kindling to be cut, and you shall
have it all too. And l guess perhaps
il would be a good thing for us all to
learn the same lesson you've learned
about ving."-Selected.