3. The Unhappy Boy.
Once there was a king who had a little boy whom he loved. He gave him beautiful rooms to live in, and pictures and toys and books. He gave him a pony to ride, and a row-boat on a lake, and servants. But for all this the young prince was not happy. He wore a frown wherever he went, and was always wishing for something he did not have. At length a magician came to court. He said to the king, “I can make your son happy.” So he took the boy into a private room and wrote something on a piece of paper. Next he gave the boy a candle and told him to light it and hold it under the paper and see what he could read. The boy did as he had been told, and white letters on the paper turned into a beautiful blue. They formed these words:—
Do a kindness to some one every day.
The prince made use of the secret and became the happiest boy in the kingdom.—Selected.
4. Which was the Gentleman?
Master Frank Amory went to the picnic, and so did Jimmy Bell. Frank’s father was a rich man. Jimmy’s father was a day-laborer. Frank wore handsome new clothes, and Jimmy’s knees and elbows were patched, his hat was torn, and he had no shoes. There was only one barrel of ice-water, with one drinking-cup; and as it was a hot day there was a crowd around the barrel most of the time. A half dozen girls had just come to get a drink when Frank at the head of a file of boys came running up, and snatching the cup rudely began to drink.
“Shame on you, Frank!” said one of the girls. “Don’t you know you always ought to let girls drink first?”
“I don’t know as girls are any better than I am,” said Frank, as he started off again.
Not long after, Jimmy and some other boys had come to the barrel, when shy little Minnie Carey came up. “Wait boys!” said Jimmy, dipping out a cup of water. “Let Minnie drink first.” And he very politely handed her the cup. Minnie drank, and thanked him as she handed it back again.—Selected.
5. The Elder Brother.
The sun was set. The twilight dim had gathered,