One afternoon I called with a friend to see a lady at whose house I had
not been before; she was very pleased to see us, and brought her little
boy, Reggie, into the room where we sat.
"Shake hands with the ladies, Reggie," said his mother; but Reggie
refused, and hid his face in her dress. She explained that he was shy,
and went on coaxing him to come and speak to us. After a great deal of
talking and persuading, he consented to come and shake hands, =if= his
mother would come with him. So she brought him across the room, and held
out his hand, just as you hold out the arm of your doll, when you play
at shaking hands with her.
Would =you= make all that fuss and trouble about shaking hands with any
one? I hope not. It is so silly, as well as ill-mannered.
After this Reggie sat down in a little chair, and tried to put his feet
up on a small table that was near--but you will not care to hear about
such a badly-behaved little boy. And it was not very long before his
mother had to take him from the room screaming, he was so tiresome and
naughty.
If Reggie had tried to please his mother and her visitors, instead of
his little =self=, everybody would have been much happier, and I am sure
=he= would, for selfish people cannot be happy.
Think =first= of others, =last= of self,
Be friendly, kindly all around;
Shake hands with strangers, be polite,
Unselfish, sweet be always found.