VI. KINDNESS.
17. Squeaking Wheels.
A lady was one day taking a walk along a country lane, and just as she was passing the gate of a field a horse and cart came out, and went down the road in the same direction as she was going, and oh! how the wheels did squeak! The lady longed to get away from the sound of them. First she walked very quickly, hoping to get well ahead; but no, the horse hurried up too, and kept pace with her. Perhaps he disliked the squeaking, and wanted his journey to be quickly finished. Then she lingered behind, and sauntered along slowly, but squeak, squeak—the hateful sound was still there. At last the cart was driven down a lane to the right, and now the lady could listen to the songs of the birds, the humming of the bees, and the sweet rustle of the leaves as the wind played amongst them. "How much pleasanter," thought she, "are these sounds than the squeaking of the wheels."
I wonder if you have ever seen any little children who make you think of those disagreeable wheels? They are children who do not like to lend their toys, or to play the games that their companions suggest, but who like, instead, to please themselves.
Do you know what the wheels needed to make them go sweetly? They needed oil. And the disagreeable children who grate on us with their selfish, unkind ways, need another sort of oil—the oil of kindness. That will make things go sweetly; so we will write on the blackboard
(Blackboard)
Squeaking Wheels need Oil.
Children need the Oil of Kindness.
18. Birds and Trees.
Did you know that trees and birds, bees and flowers could be kind to each other? They can; I will tell you how.
See the pretty red cherries growing on that tree. All little children like cherries, and the birds like them too.