I remember very well, that, when I was young, there was a boy at school by the name of Rufus, and it chanced that he and myself were rivals in almost everything. We were always striving to see which should run the swiftest; which should hop the farthest; which should excel in writing, arithmetic, &c.
Now all this was very well, except one thing. Our rivalry at last went so far, that we desired victory more than anything else. We did not wish so much to do things well, as to triumph over our competitors. Nor was this all: we began at length to dislike each other, and a very bad feeling was therefore begotten by our strife, in our bosoms.
This was certainly wrong, and young people as well as old people should be careful never to indulge in any strife which leads to hatred. We should love all around us, for love is the chief source of happiness. Anything which interferes with this is wrong.
The Swing.
Here are children indulging themselves in swinging. ’Tis a very pleasant amusement, and is as near to flying as anything we can do. What a thrill passes through the heart, half pleasant and half painful, when we go up, up, up—and then down, down, down!
In the western country, the children do not have to make swings of ropes, for they are provided by nature. The grape vines climb up the trees, often to the height of twenty feet, and then afford good swings for the children. If you ever visit Kentucky, or Ohio, or Missouri, or any of those great states in the west, you will probably see children amusing themselves in grape vine swings.