Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-16
DO THE NEXT BEST
MEET DISAPPOINTMENT WITH A
SMILE.
A Priscilla Sermon With Much Food
for Thought in
Written for TIE Star.


The excursion boat was crowded with
passengers bound for a Sundays outing
or the island far mp the river. The girl
who had been looking all week for a po-
sition leaned YEARLY against the railing.
listening indiferently to n monologue
which her escort was carrying on, while
he wondered what In the world allied the
best little girl In the land.
But when a girl has been answering al
verttsements all the week, and visiting
typewriter exchanges, only to hear We
don't want inexperienced help life is apt
to look dark even with the most des rable
chap in the world trying to entertain her.
At such time even Cupid tucks in his ar
rows and HES away for nap.
Look at the kid. She's bound To get
there somehow"
The girl turned Ianguidly In the direction
indicated by her escort. A two-year-old,
the skirt of her white frock clutched firmly
in her mothers hand, was moving heaven
and earth to reach a great splash OF lem
onade flung on the clean deck by careless
waiter. Just as she crept to point where
she could mop the spot with the front OF
her dress her mother turned and Jerked the
small parsonage and her improvised mop
backward.
Baby sucked her thumb and waited pa
tiently until her mother became absorbed
in conversation. then she snatched at a
passing scrap of newspaper, and, creeping
back. again attacked the fascinating spot
time setting her somewhat impatiently on
her wee feet Another pause. with babys
eyes glued on the delightful spot, and then
she began to walk forward until her patent
leather slippers touched the splash. With
all the vigor of her years she scattered the
moisture right and left with the sole OF
her slipper, smiling triumphantly the while.
The girl had lost track OF her escorts re-
marks. She was watching the babys ef-
forts curiously, and now their eyes met IN
sympathetic and understanding smile Tho
baby laughed gleefully and the girl sud
denly Strengthened up her dropping figure
and laughed, too.
Cunning little beggar." said the young
man.
The girl looked tenderly at the smiling
baby.
"She's deari Do you know Jimmy, I've
been going at It wrong all week. I'm go
ing to try another way tomorrow. You
know. the man / told you about who want
ed young girl for general office work?
Well. I'm going back to see him tomorrow
morning. Perhaps II do his fling and en-
terng correctly he will give me a chance at
stenography after a while, and I can keep
up my practice at home.
Sure" said the young man, from his ST.
perior wisdom OF five years experience
down town. "Au you want is a chance 10
show him you're the real stuff"
IT can see this Is q bad season to look for
position unless you're an experienced
stenographer. so guess I'll have to do the
next best thing and get into an office some
how"
But she did not speak regretfully. and
after mat she laughed and chatted with
her escort-and forgot the baby who had
taught her to do the next best thing
It is a wonderful gtft-to be able TO do the
next best thing with a smile. The girl who
sits down heavy browed and morose when
she cannot work out LIES problems ac-
cordtng to her narrow viewpoint, will never
be happy herself nor make others happy.
She Will never succeed In business and she
will never be q happy wife. The girl who
scores success in everything she undertakes
Is the girl who can do the next best thing
as thoroughly and as cheerfully as IL II had
all worked out just as she arranged 1t BY
and by she will find herself creeping nearer
and nearer the coveted goal
The girl who smilingly accommodates
herself to existing conditions In the store
where she clerks or the office where she
does typewriting will develop into a wife
who does not nag at her husband because
the fiat he can offer to her as their first
home has four rooms instead Of six.
'.Adaptabinty Is the secret of charm in
women" said an observing man Of the
world.
And what Is adaptabilityf Merely the
gift of doing the next best thing with a
smile.