Part 1 (1/2)
Who Are Happiest? and Other Stories.
by T. S. Arthur.
INTRODUCTION.
In this volume, the stories are not ill.u.s.trative of childish experiences. Most of the actors are men and women,--and the trials and temptations to which they are subjected, such as are experienced in mature life. Their object is to fix in the young mind, by familiar ill.u.s.trations, principles of action for the future. While several of the volumes in this series will be addressed to children as children, others, like this one, will be addressed to them as our future men and women, toward which estate they are rapidly progressing, and in which they will need for their guidance all things good and true that can be stored up in their memories.
WHO ARE HAPPIEST?
”What troubles you, William?” said Mrs. Aiken, speaking in a tone of kind concern to her husband, who sat silent and moody, with his eyes now fixed upon the floor, and now following the forms of his plainly-clad children as they sported, full of health and spirits, about the room.
It was evening, and Mr. Aiken, a man who earned his bread by the sweat of his brow, had, a little while before, returned from his daily labour.
No answer was made to the wife's question. A few minutes went by, and then she spoke again:
”Is any thing wrong with you, William?”
”Nothing more than usual,” was replied. ”There's always something wrong.
The fact is, I'm out of heart.”
”William!”
Mrs. Aiken came and stood beside her husband, and laid her hand gently upon his shoulder.
The evil spirit of envy and discontent was in the poor man's heart,--this his wife understood right well. She had often before seen him in this frame of mind.
”I'm as good as Freeman; am I not?”
”Yes, and a great deal better, I hope,” replied Mrs. Aiken.
”And yet he is rolling in wealth, while I, though compelled to toil early and late, can scarcely keep soul and body together.”
”Hush, William! Don't talk so. It does you no good. We have a comfortable home, with food and raiment,--let us therewith be contented and thankful.”
”Thankful for this mean hut! Thankful for hard labour, poor fare, and coa.r.s.e clothing!”
”None are so happy as those who labour; none enjoy better health than they who have only the plainest food. Do you ever go hungry to bed, William?”
”No, of course not.”
”Do you or your children s.h.i.+ver in the cold of winter for lack of warm clothing?”
”No; but”----
”William! Do not look past your real comforts in envy of the blessings G.o.d has given to others. Depend upon it, we receive all of this world's goods the kind Father above sees best for us to have. With more, we might not be so happy as we are.”
”I'll take all that risk,” said Mr. Aiken. ”Give me plenty of money, and I'll find a way to largely increase the bounds of enjoyment.”