The Washington herald., 1912-10-27
LITTLE THINGS THAT
COUNT THB MOST
Some Things Cost Nothing, but
Yield Big Rel lts.
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

Acting upon a sudden impulse q
stranger In a little village recently asked
for a bit OF guidance from . resident
who CHANGED to sit near her ON q trolley
| car. II must have been an Inspiration
that made her do II. because the result
was 30 satisfying that IL has echosd and
re-echoed ever since.
The resident-a man-without in the
least overstepping the usual strancsC
hedge. very graciously and naturally as
| sumed the role of village sponsor He
pointed out everything that possibly
could interest a stranger. indicated some
walks that might appeal. and somehow
managed to garb his home town in its
best and most striking attire. Incident
ally. too. he left fine impression Of q
man who knows how to draw the line
how to show a natural pride in the little
village he calls his own. how to make a
stranger welcome within its gates and
how to be-just friendly.
As the car sped along on its way. the
stranger was very well aware that tho
town was not the best ever" and thas
there was not so very much to commend
II to any but those who loved 1t for its
personal traditions and associations. Yet
she has tucked away the memory Of it's
attractions along with its shortcomings
and will not soon forget them. Just be-
cause of the kindly effort Of one who
went out Of his way to mirror the best
the village could offer.
Bit of Pleasant Color.
And as she left the car and went on
her way over the country road the con-
viction grew that frtendliness must be
in the very air.
1t was the close OF the long summer
vacation. and a little country lad and
smaller maid were hurrying to school,
with their books showily tucked under
their arms. The stranger approached
them with just the showing Of city
smile, but not SO the little man of
the road His face lighted UP with a
genuine smile born OF free. wholesome
air and his own bright self His hand
went to his little gray cap, which was
of his head in a trice, the cheeriest kind
OF good morning. followed, and the
manly young figure passed on. leaving q
bit of pleasant color that WIFI last for
many a day.
And the stranger realized the truth OF
the statement that 1t is the little things
that count the most when the days are
all reckoned up. the things that cost
nothing, yet yield big results
Doubtless the incident has quite slipped
from the memory of the man whose
courtesy was SO impressive. 1t probably
never occurred to him that he would
stand as an example Of what a man
might do when he wanted his town TO
put forward its very best foot. And IL
is unlikely It entered his head that no
Is bit out OF the ordinary In the way
Of graciousness and that other WAY Of
giving folk something pleasant to re-
member.
And as for the little knight on his way
to school-the tip OF his cap. the ex-
panse Of his smile. and the sturdiness of
his sunny self meant nothing In particu-
lar to him and were soon driven out OF
mind by happenings far bigger and more
important But the morning was much
the brighter because he passed that
waS.
And the stranger thought
Manifestations of Friendliness.
When It is possible for two absolutely
happenings to leave SO
marked an impression upon the mind and
SO pleasant an effect upon the current of
the day, it is time for all of Us to reckon
longer and more seriously with our man
ner Of dealing with folks with whom We
come in passing touch and the others with
whom our lives are passed.
For the striking point OF IL isthe un-
doubted fact that while such little inoa-
dents are very commonplace from one
view point, they are quite out of the or
dinary viewed from another angle. They
certainly come within our range Of OBJ
servation seldom enough that they al
most invariably lead to pleased comment
and another little item for the great store
house of memory.
And just why it is that there are 20 few
Of pure friendliness, and
that We oftener stihe than heed the gra-
cious impulse to greet a stranger on a
warmer basis? Most Of US simply beam
and bubble when the recipients of an un.
courtesy. but We are rather re-
uctant to pass 1t along
And.it remains for a warm-hearted VII
lager, a merry little country lad. and a few
others whom We meet and pass on the
great highway OF life to show us how
really beautiful and telling a thing II is
70 live and act as IL the whole world had
in common.
n