Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-03
A Golden Rule
Fourth Of July

Wide piazZas where hammocls swuno
and roses nodded from every pillar A
wide paved street lay before it-a
street with shade trees down the sides
ana a dainty little park through the
center.
All the houses in Park Place were
large and handsome, and the little girls
VINO played about them looked as if
sorrow had never been heard of in their
world
Marguerite lived next door to Bessie
on one side and Dorothy on the other.
one Gay, the last of June, the three lit
Tie girls sat together--as they often did
on Bessie's front porch.
What are you going to do at your
mouse to celebrate the Fourth of
july" asked Marguerite.
I've been wonderinS," put in peace-
maker D"rnthy. now we would feel if
we couldn't have any good times or
nice Things at all. Just think of the
children in Tenement Row. don't
spos they'll have any fun, and there's
so many of them. Girls, why couldn't
We
couldn't We WHAT" demanded two
voices, as Dorothy paused.
Sort of help TO give them a good
time, buy some crackers and torpedoes
and few rockets for them to have on
their own street?'
whats the use?" asked Marguerite,
impatiently. I'VE never could buv
enough to go all round, and they'd
probly fight over them and be horrid -
I'VE could do all we could-and be
doing unto others as we'd like to be
done by. | don't believe they'd fight
poor little things" persisted Dorothy
1t seems strange that only one square
away from the cool veranda stood Ten
ement Row, as crowded and uncomfor-
table as Park Row was roomy and
beautiful. On the very afternoon that
the girls sat there talking. another lit
tie girl was carried in to Tenement
Row and laid in a bed beside a window
that overlooked Bessie's pretty home.
This other little girl had been knocked
down by runaway horse, and had
her leg dreadfully broken.
Through the long hot days she lay
there, weak and suffering, growing pa
Ter and thinner =! the time She was
still there Whcl the glorious Fourth
relied round, to ak to show the Joy
Of the other Gu. 'ivl in the generous
gifts from tie c little girls Too
full of suffering 10 80 'loved from her
hard bed, yet not = k enough to pre-
vent a wistful lnnG.n; to have some
share in the good tin 6
Bessie saw the pale little face at the
window h.,r Io oh
the yard, tying up the Japanese Ian
terms and helping trim the summer
house with flags and flowers. Some
now the other little girl haunted her
thoughts, till at last. looking up, she
NODDED brightly. The wan smile that
answered filled her heart with pity, and
suddenly DOrothy's words flashed into
her mind, 1--WE could do as we'd like to
be done by"
why are you fixing all these things,
papa" she asked
Because it's Fourth of July, daugh-
ter, the day we celebrate"
YES, sir; but what else?"
$40 please you, l guess. Aren's you
satisfied, pet?"
ITS lovely-only-. Papa, l want to
ask the greatest favor You're sure
you won't mind?"
GAS sure as sure. What is it, your
highness?" and papa smiled lovingly
into the earnest face.
an Tenement House Row-look over
and you'll see her at the fourth story
back window, Maggie McColloch, papa,
and her leg is broken so she can't move
ut ALL She can't have a bit of fun all
day. Just has to lie there and suffer.
And. papa, if it's to please me, and
you're sure you don't care, let's have
our fireworks out here instead of in
'front.'
why, daughtie, I thought it was
your ambition to outshne Marguerite!'
ct was, but I've changed by mind.
The Park Place people will have lots of
pretty things to look at, and Maggie
can't see a bit OF it with all the houses
in the way till the rockets and fiery
serpcnts get clear up above the tree
tops-and her window is very narrow
May We?"
Indeed we may, dear. Father is
glad his Bessie is learning the valuable
lesson that helps us think of the pleas
urcs of others before our own, espec-
l2lly OF tlloSe VINO nave Few pleasures
at best
That night the lanterns swung gaily
in the breeze. the flags tloated and
futtered; but Marguerite and Dorothy
watched in vain for the brilliant dis
play which was to rival their, wonder
ing why it was that the promised dis
play was not to be seen in front of
Bessie's house.
Out behind the house the pin wheels
whirlcd. the colored lights flash Il. the
set pieces blaZed against the dark
BACKGROUND of grass and shrIhbery,
while the pale little face in the iourth
story window of Tenement Row .!ushet
ard Frightened till it was radi"nt with
joy.
Other faces appeared at many Win
dows, all wan and weary ana ne beau
tiful things shone OFT FOR them, TOO
and told them that back Of the KIND act
there lay loving thought that meant
more th.n al the fireworks Iii Park
Place-something higher and more en-
during than such things.
And that was the way one little girl
anu!ied the Golden Rule to the FOGrtn