been bought by some girl or boy with money that they'd been saving for months. R. What's the use of supposing all that. It's mine now, and I mean to keep it. What's lost is lost; and finding is keeping, the world over. If folks are careless enough to drop their things in the road, they mustn't expect to see them again. E. That isn't quite according to the Golden Rule, is it? R. Never mind about the Golden Rule. What's that to do with my finding a portemonnaie ? E. We'll see, (pulling out a Testament, and reading.) "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." R. Well, there's nothing there about portemonnaies. J. Isn't there? Supposing you had lost this beautiful porte-monnaie, and Jim Gates had found it, would you want him to hunt you up? Wouldn't you say he was a nice, honorable fellow, if he did, and a mean sneak if he didn't? and all because he had done as he would be done by. E. There goes Mr. Thompson now, looking on the ground as if he had lost something. I mean to call him in. (Rapping and beckoning.) Mr. Thompson. Well, little ones, what can I do for you? E. (embarrassed.) Nothing, sir, — but my brother Dick R. The fact is, Mr. Thompson, I found this beautiful porte-monnaie, and was tempted to keep it; but Ellen thought you might have lost it, and John insisted that I ought to see if it was yours. Mr. T. Well, it is mine, no mistake. I bought it as a birth-day present for my poor, lame nephew, and felt bad enough, when I got home and couldn't find it. Much obliged to you, Dick; and, I say, if you'll meet me at Jones's store to-morrow morning, you shall take your pick out of his two-bladed knives, as a reward for your honesty. R. For my honesty, Mr. Thompson? I wasn't honest. I wanted to keep the portemonnaie, and should, if it hadn't been for John and Ellen. They ought to have the reward, if anybody. John and Ellen. We don't need any reward; it's reward enough to see Dick doing right. R. And I say it's reward enough to do right. I really feel better than if I had a dozen porte-monnaies. There was something here, (pointing to his head) that said, all the while, "Don't keep it." Mr. T. Well, one of you must have the knife, for I've made up my mind to give it. R. John, let's give it to Ellen. J. All right. She deserves it, if ever a girl did. E. Well, I suppose I shall have to take it; but I'm sure no girl ever deserves anything for doing right. LITTLE THINGS. (Enter Charley and Willy. Charley stoops to pick up a pin.) Willy. Why what a monkey you are, to stop for such a little thing as that. Charley. I don't think it's a little thing. C. Well-yes—it is a little thing; but suppose I stick it into you. (With a threatening gesture.) W. (jumping.) Look out, there. C. O! it isn't such a little thing, after all, is it? W. Well, when it's bent up, and put into your seat at school, it's big enough, I admit; but it isn't of any account that's what I. meant. You might buy a paper of them for ten cents. C. But supposing you haven't any ten cents supposing you had put all your money into the contribution box last Sunday? W. Why, then go to your mother's pincushion and help yourself. C. Isn't that stealing, Willy? a penny, instead of a pin, you didn't think it worth while to pick up, and then went to mother's purse and helped yourself? W. Why, that would be stealing, of course. C. And I fancy the neglect of these little chances to save often leads to little chances to steal. W. I'm sure, Charley, I never heard any one take such a serious view of a poor old pin before. It's too little a thing to make such a fuss about. C. The pin is a little thing; but the not stopping to pick it up is one step towards forming a habit of wastefulness; and that's no little thing, as you may find to your sorrow some day. Some one has said that "there are no little things with God," and I don't believe there are any little things with men. Even the slightest event may have most momentous consequences. A single glass of wine is a very little thing, but it may make a drunkard. A single flake of snow is a very little thing, but flakes of snow make up the avalanche which W. Hold on, Charley. It aint Fourth of July. Just stop where you are, and I'll pick up all the pins I see for a year to come. C. All right. You'll be the better for it. THE ANNUAL REPORT. Superintendent. We have thought it well, instead of having one person read a written report to-day concerning the condition of the school, to have several persons report orally. I present you, therefore, with these young reporters, in favor of whom I temporarily abdicate my office. (Enter six little girls.) Minnie. Well, Carrie, it has been a good year for our Sabbath-school, hasn't it? Twelve months ago, we had only 40 officers and teachers and 250 scholars. To-day we have 50 officers and teachers, and 350 scholars a gain of more than a hundred. |