For Sake of the Younger Ones.
"Ralph, you went down town without permission after you came home from school to-day. Did you forget the rule about that?"
"I did forget, mamma, but what's the use of the rule, anyhow? I'm a pretty big fellow, it seems to me, to have to ask every time I want to go out. And there's a lot of rules that I think I might do without that are well enough for Archie and Bess." Ralph spoke in a fretful tone, and looked abused. It seemed to him that his mother did not realize what a great boy he was, or she would allow more liberty in many ways.
"It is partly for the sake of Archie and Bess that I make the rules for you, and I insist upon having them kept," said mamma. "The younger ones cannot understand why you should have more privileges in these ways than they have, and if I allowed you to do as you please, even if you should generally please to do right, it would make it much harder for them to obey rules laid down for them."
"It isn't very nice for me, though," grumbled Ralph. "I don't see why it should be made hard for me just for their sakes."
"It ought not to be hard, when you think of the reason, my boy. The rules are good for you, too, and even if they were needless, you should obey cheerfully for the sake of the younger ones. It is only fair, I am sure, that an older brother, who can help a great deal with the younger ones if he will, should gladly set them a good example, and even deny himself a little for their sakes."
