NO PAYNO WORK.
"Little boy, will you help a poor old man up the hill with this
load?" said an old man, who was drawing a hand-cart with a bag of corn
for the mill.
"I can't," said the boy, "I am in a hurry to be at school."
As the old man sat on the stone, resting himself he thought of his
youthful days, and of his friends now in the grave; the tears began to
fall, when John Wilson came along, and said,--"
hall I help you up the
hill with your load sir?" The old man brushed his eyes with his coat
sleeve, and replied, "I should be glad to have you." He arose and took
the tongue of his cart, while John pushed behind. When they ascended
the top of the hill, the old man thanked the lad for his kindness. In
consequence of this John was ten minutes too late at school. It was
unusual for him to be late, as he was known to be punctual and prompt;
but as he said nothing to the teacher about the cause of his being
late, he was marked for not being in season.
After school, Hanson, the first boy, said to John, "I suppose you
stopped to help old Stevenson up the hill with his corn."
"Yes," replied John, "the old man was tired and I thought I would give
him a lift."
"Well, did you get your pay for it?" said Hanson, "for I don't work
for nothing."
"Nor do I," said John; "I didn't help him, expecting pay."
"Well, why did you do it? You knew you would be late to school."
"Because I thought I _ought_ to help the poor old man," said John.
"Well," replied Hanson "if you will work for nothing, you may. _No
pay, no work_, is my motto."
"To _be kind and obliging_, is mine," said John.
Here, children, is a good example. John did not perform this act of
kindness for nothing. He had the approbation of a good conscience--the
pleasure of doing good to the old man--and the respect and gratitude
of his friends. Even the small act of benevolence is like giving a cup
of cold water to the needy, which will not pass unnoticed. Does any
body work for nothing when he does good? Think of this, and do
likewise.