_Everything in nature must work to live. Along with the pleasures
of childhood should come the lessons of toil._
George did not like to work. He did not like to bring in wood, nor
clean the yard, nor go on errands, nor take care of the baby, nor
even to put away his own clothes. He loved to play all the time.
His mother said to him one day:
“George, you must go over to your uncle’s house and bring me a
basket of wool. Now hurry along.”
George thought this was hard, for he wanted to play and not to
work. He wished he was a dog, a squirrel, a bee, a cow--just
anything that seemed to be having a good time.
He took the basket and started across the field. On the way he met
a dog.
“I wish I had nothing to do like you,” said George.
“Nothing to do!” exclaimed the dog. “I am a very hard worked
animal. I dare not sleep at night, for I am the watch dog against
burglars. Besides that, I have to protect the chickens against the
old fox. Then I have to catch rabbits for my master; chase the cat
away from the birds, keep the place clear of stray dogs, and even
look after the sheep in the field. Then every morning I take the
cow to pasture and bring her back in the afternoon. That is where
I am going now. No, sir! I am as busy as a bee--I am.” And the dog
hurried on after the cow.
Pretty soon George saw a bee on a flower.
“I wish I had nothing to do like you,” said George to the bee.
“Nothing to do!” said the bee. “You don’t know what you are
talking about. I am at work all day looking for honey. I have to
fill my hive so that you and your mother can have plenty for the
winter, and then I must fill it over again for myself. I do not
have a single minute. No, sir! I lead a dog’s life--I do.” And the
bee flew on to get another load of honey.
Pretty soon the boy came to a squirrel. “Why you are having a good
time,” said he. “I wish I had nothing to do like you.”
“Nothing to do!” said the squirrel. “I am far behind in my store
of nuts for the winter. They are very scarce, and I am very much
afraid I cannot find enough for my family. I must hurry from
sunrise to dark. No, sir! I work like a horse--I do.”
George found the horse busy pulling the plow; the cow giving milk,
the tree making acorns, the fields making corn, the flowers making
seed, the ants storing food--and they were all so happy about it
and nobody complaining at all.
When he reached his uncle’s house he got the wool and said:
“I must hurry on home now, for I am very busy; I have my work to
do.” And he whistled all the way home, and the tired little mother
kissed his happy face and said:
“Thank you, George, you can be a great help to me.”