"Give it to Jacob," shouted nearly all the boys, for they all liked him.
I handed it to Jacob; and what do you think he did? He gave it to the smallest boy, saying, "I think little Joseph ought to have it."
That was really noble, because he was very fond of reading, and I knew that he wanted it; but the little fellow looked so wishful, that Jacob did as he would wish to be done by, and the bright glow on his face showed how happy this little sacrifice had made him.
And I!—wasn't I happy? Yes, indeed! And I bade them all good-by, and promised to bring a "real nice book" next time, and went back to the room where the ladies were sewing, with such a joyous expression on my face, that they asked if my ten bad boys had all flown away to the moon? to which I gravely answered: "The badness has flown away, and left ten splendid boys."
The next Friday came; and, true to my promise, I carried a book which contained a very interesting story of two children who lived in Gibraltar with their father, who was an officer in the English army. It described the battles the English fought on sea and land to obtain possession of that famous rock; a trip the children took to Africa, which you know is just opposite; and was so full of information about the customs and manners of the people who lived there, that it made a delightful little history, told in the form of a story.
My ten boys met me in the little room with joyful greetings; but I am sorry to say they had to confess that they had not kept the resolutions any better than before. Still, as they showed plainly that they wanted to be good, I was puzzled to whom to give the book, as they all seemed to have behaved equally naughty as well as good.
"I don't want to take the book home again," I said; "whom shall I give it to?"
"Give it to me!" "Give it to me!" "No, to me!" each one shouted.
I looked reproachfully at them, and said quietly, "Then it seems you are all selfish."