The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-08-25
A Lesson About Giving.

% you want some walks swept, or leave
raked, or kindling ehoppeds
asked CHEEKY young voice outside Mrs
Grey's open door,
Why, james Lvle, is that your Mrs
Grey brought her sewing TO the porch ant
ga. down on the steps. Yes, the lawr
needs rakng. Ard so You have gore into
businestf
/ Yes'm; | want to earn some money foi
Laurie's birthday.
Your baby brother? thought his birth.
day came last month";
fes'm, but things went very crooked
then. jamie studied the toes Of his tan
shoes for minute, ard then looked up
with sudden burst Of col fiitnce. sup
pose I've been pretty selfish good while,
but didn't know Ii til baby's birthday
honestly, Mis- G:ey, I didn't. He was two
years old last month, and, Of course faith
er and mother gave him things, and !
mean. TO buy him present, 100. thought
I'd get him rubber bali aud a little red
tin pail, so | went to Mr.. Denton's first.
While | sat on tie counter looking at
things, saw the incest knfc--four blades
ard gimlet.
| wanted 1t the first nlaute, aud the
| longer looked the more ! wanted It. ]
had money enough to do 1t II didn't buy
anything for baby, 90 at last took 1t.
thought call 1t buying it for Laurie, but
could zee 1t just the same. Well, when
showed 1t to mother she said 1t was very
nice knife, but there WAS a look on her face
that made me feel queer inside. She said
baby was was too little to use 1t, for he'd
cry to have It opened, ard cut himself il 1t
was open.
Yes'm, but l thought he'd like 1t when
he gets big enough, | told her. Il's just
the thing for a Toy like me to use.
She and father looked at each other, and
then she said, Well, that will be long time
10 wait, SO must wrap 1t up In tissue pa
per and lay II away In my drawer " here 1t
will keep bright. LIS Lsuii.'s present, so
it wouldn't be right TO let any one use It or
spoil 1t before he gels it.
Wasn't disappointed! But couldn't
say any thing, and the knife was lsii away,
and father ard moiher didn't cay another
word about II. This week my birthday |
csme. Did you know | was eIAht years
old, Mis-, Greyy hoped father would buy
me wheel, but | didn't know, and what
do you think he did that moruingf He !
came into the room wheeling a great biz
wheel, ard said be had bought 1t for my
Why, can't ride that one, told him
and felt most ready to cry.
No. not yet, he said, as cool as you
please, but you II grow up some day. It's
Just right for me to ride now.
he aud mother smiled at each other over
my head knew they did, and thought
Il we we're going to do that miserable old
present business over again, he should
have Il l1st the way did. 50 lad:
IG'savtIy nice wheel, but lis good
while to wait, think. ] will do 1t mp
though, and lock 1t up In my room, 80 tn
keep new, cause i.'s for me, ard 'twould
hot te fair for sornehody else to spoil 1t
xhls I'm growing up.
How be and mttn,r old laugh The lump
Eort Of went cut of my throa. then so |
could laugh, too, and father raid;
Well, ,ha. is turiieg the tabies, isn't -
Jsmi.f
Then be brought 10 another wheel, just
riah. for me--he'd bought himself rev
one, toe--snd We had a splendid iiie to.
gether. suefs be thought didn't need
my preaching tc, and ! didn't. la the
leanest kidd Of &C 4 shness TO do SELF ID
things and then try TO cheat folks by pre-
tending ytu did EN- because you're 30 gene
rous 50 want 10 earn some money, and
I'm goIf fg to bug bsby Laurie fome.biEg
'3r Li. tso.ysaf.oli birthday, and not for
ny eight-yess-old ore.
Mrs. Grey ispghtd heartily. Well,
annie, 'he said. I've got qaiie lot Of
Eirdlirg 10 be cut, ard lou shail have II
Ill to do. Aud gueu Il would be good
hing for Us all to learn the tame lesson
you've learned about giving.
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