"Wait awhile," said Charlie. "Who has a wood-saw?"
"I have," "So have I," answered three of the boys. "But what in the world do you want a wood saw for?"
[Ill.u.s.tration: "_We can saw and split this pile of wood_."]
"You shall see," replied Charlie. "It is almost eight o"clock now, so go and get your saws. You, Fred and Nathan, get each an axe, and I will get a shovel. Let us all be back here in fifteen minutes, and then I"ll show you the fun."
The boys separated to go on their several errands, each wondering what the fun could be, and what possible use could be made of wood saws and axes, in their play. But Charlie was not only a great favorite with them all, but also an acknowledged leader, and they fully believed in him and his promise.
Anxious to know what the "fun" was which Charlie had for them, they made haste, and were soon on hand, with their saws, axes, and shovels.
"Now," said Charlie, "Mrs. More is gone, for I met her when I was coming back; so let"s be off at once."
"But what are you going to do?" inquired several impatient members of the party.
"You shall see directly," replied the leader, as they approached the humble home of Mrs. More.
"Now, boys," said Charlie, "you see that pile of wood; a man hauled it here this afternoon, and I heard Mrs. More tell him that unless she got some one to saw it to-night, she would have nothing to make a fire with in the morning. Now, we can saw and split that pile of wood just about as easy as we could build a great snow man, and when Mrs. More comes home from her watching, she will be fully as much surprised to find her wood sawed, as she would to find a snow man at her doorstep, and a great deal more pleasantly, too. What say you--will you do it?"
One or two of the boys demurred at first, but the majority were in favor of Charley"s project; so all finally joined in, and went to work with a will.
"I"ll go round to the back of the shed," said Charley, "and crawl through the window and unfasten the door. Then we"ll take turns in sawing, splitting, and carrying in the wood; and I want to pile it up nicely, and to shovel all the snow away from the door; and make a good wide path, too, from the door to the street: What fun it will be when she comes home and sees it?"
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Carrying in the Wood_]
The boys began to appreciate the fun, for they felt that they were doing a good deed, and experienced the satisfaction which always results from well-doing.
It was not a long, wearisome job, for seven robust and healthy boys to saw, split, and pile up the poor widow"s half-cord of wood, and to shovel a good path.
When it was done, so great was their pleasure, that one of the boys, who objected to the work at first, proposed that they should go to a neighboring carpenter"s shop, where plenty of shavings could be had for the carrying away, and each bring an armful of kindling wood. This they did, and afterward hurried home, all of them more than satisfied with the "fun" of the winter evening.
The next morning, when Mrs. More came home, weary from watching by the sick bed, and saw what was done, she was very much surprised. When she was told who had done it, by a neighbor, who had witnessed the kindly deed, her fervent prayer, "G.o.d bless the boys!" was, of itself, an abundant reward for their labors.
Boys and girls, the best fun is always found in doing something that is kind and useful. If you doubt it in the least, just try it for yourselves, and you will be convinced.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration: "_I"ll help you across, if you wish to go_."]
SOMEBODY"S MOTHER
The woman was old, and ragged and gray, And bent with the chill of a winter"s day;
The street was wet with recent snow, And the woman"s feet were aged and slow,
She stood at the crossing, and waited long, Alone, uncared for amid the throng
Of human beings who pa.s.sed her by, Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laugh and shout, Glad in the freedom of "school is out,"
Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray Hastened the children on their way,
Nor offered a helping hand to her, So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses" feet Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came out of the merry troop The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her, and whispered low, "I"ll help you across, if you wish to go."
Her aged hand on his strong young arm She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along, Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went, His young heart happy and well content.
"She"s somebody"s mother, boys, you know, For all that she"s aged and poor and slow;
"And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To help _my_ mother, you understand,
"If ever she"s poor and old and gray, When her own dear boy is far away."
And "somebody"s mother" bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, "G.o.d be kind to the n.o.ble boy, Who is somebody"s son and pride and joy!"
[Ill.u.s.tration: _The Grist Mill_]
WAITING FOR THE GRIST
It is impossible to measure the influence which may be exerted by a single act, a word, or even a look. It was the simple act of an entire stranger that changed the course of my whole life.
When I was a boy, my father moved to the Far West--Ohio. It was before the days of steam, and no great mills thundered on her river banks, but occasionally there was a little gristmill by the side of some small stream.
To these little mills, the surrounding neighborhood flocked with their sacks of corn. Sometimes we had to wait two or three days for our turn.
I was generally the one sent from our house, for, while I was too small to be of much account on the farm, I was as good as a man to carry a grist to mill. So I was not at all surprised one morning when my father said, "Henry, you must take the horse and go to mill to-day."