1. Every child must observe how much more happy and beloved some children
are than others. There are some children you always love to be with. They
are happy themselves, and they make you happy.
2. There are others whom you always avoid. They seem to have no friends.
No person can be happy without friends. The heart is formed for love, and
can not be happy without it.
3. "'Tis not in titles nor in rank,
'Tis not in wealth like London bank,
To make us truly blest.
If happiness have not her seat
And center in the breast,
We may be wise, or rich, or great,
But never can be blest."
4. But you can not receive affection unless you will also give it. You can
not find others to love you unless you will also love them. Love is only
to be obtained by giving love in return. Hence the importance of
cultivating a good disposition. You can not be happy without it.
5. I have sometimes heard a girl say, "I know that I am very unpopular at
school." Now, this plainly shows that she is not amiable.
6. If your companions do not love you, it is your own fault. They can not
help loving you if you will be kind and friendly. If you are not loved, it
is a good proof that you do not deserve to be loved. It is true that a
sense of duty may, at times, render it necessary for you to do that which
will displease your companions.
7. But if it is seen that you have a noble spirit, that you are above
selfishness, that you are willing to make sacrifices to promote the
happiness of others, you will never be in want of friends.
8. You must not regard it as your misfortune that others do not love you,
but your fault. It is not beauty, it is not wealth, that will give you
friends. Your heart must glow with kindness, if you would attract to
yourself the esteem and affection of those around you.
9. You are little aware how much the happiness of your whole life depends
upon the cultivation of a good disposition. If you will adopt the
resolution that you will confer favors whenever you can, you will
certainly be surrounded by ardent friends. Begin upon this principle in
childhood, and act upon it through life, and you will make yourself happy,
and promote the happiness of all within your influence.
10. You go to school on a cold winter morning. A bright fire is blazing in
the stove, surrounded with boys struggling to get near it to warm
themselves. After you are slightly warmed, a schoolmate comes in suffering
with cold. "Here, James," you pleasantly call out to him, "I am almost
warm; you may have my place."
11. As you slip aside to allow him to take your place at the fire, will he
not feel that you are kind? The worst boy in the world can not help
admiring such generosity; and, even though he be so ungrateful as not to
return the favor, you may depend upon it that he will be your friend as
far as he is capable of friendship. If you will always act upon this
principle, you will never want for friends.
12. Suppose, some day, you are out with your companions playing ball.
After you have been playing for some time, another boy comes along. He can
not be chosen upon either side, for there is no one to match him. "Henry,"
you say, "you may take my place a little while, and I will rest."
13. You throw yourself down upon the grass, while Henry, fresh and
vigorous, takes your bat and engages in the game. He knows that you give
up to oblige him, and how can he help liking you for it? The fact is, that
neither man nor child can cultivate such a spirit of generosity and
kindness without attracting affection and esteem.
14. Look and see which of your companions have the most friends, and you
will find that they are those who have this noble spirit; who are willing
to deny themselves, that they may make others happy. There is but one way
to make friends; and that is, by being friendly to others.
15. Perhaps some child who reads this feels conscious of being disliked,
and yet desires to have the affection of his companions. You ask me what
you shall do. I will tell you. I will give you an infallible rule: Do all
in your power to make others happy. Be willing to make sacrifices, that
you may promote the happiness of others.
16. This is the way to make friends, and the only way. When you are
playing with your brothers and sisters at home, be always ready to give
them more than their share of privileges. Manifest an obliging
disposition, and they can not but regard you with affection. In all your
intercourse with others, at home or abroad, let these feelings influence
you, and you will receive a rich reward.
DEFINITIONS.--4. Cul'ti-vat-ing, cherishing, encouraging. 5.
Un-pop'u-lar, not pleasing others. 6. Com-pan'ions, those who keep company
with anyone. 7. Sac'ri-fic-es, things given up to oblige others.
Pro-mote', advance, forward. 10. Suf'fer-ing, undergoing pain. 11.
Gen-er-os'i-ty, kindness, nobleness of soul. 15. In-fal'li-ble, certain,
that can not fail. 16. Man'i-fest, to show plainly. In'ter-course,
communication, mutual dealings.
EXERCISES.--What is this lesson about? Can we be happy without friends?
How can we win the love of those about us? Whose fault is it if we are not
loved? What rule will surely gain us love and friendship if we always
follow it?