Often kind-hearted boys, going up the hill to school,
will carry part of a heavy load, or will put their strong, young
shoulders to the wheel. If the hill is long, you can bring a stone or a
log of wood to block the wheel, and give the horse a moment's needed
rest. Do not get angry even with a cruel driver. Every kind thought,
kindly carried out, will not only be an immediate help, but it may lead
a thoughtless driver to be careful. If you can do nothing more, you can
speak a friendly word, which is never thrown away, even on a horse.
Sometimes a little encouragement will help over a hard place.
REMEMBER THE VALUE OF LITTLE THINGS. A cup of cold water to some toiling
worker may mean the difference between comfort and misery. Animals, as
well as human beings, suffer very much if they cannot get water. Louisa
Alcott tells a pretty story of the efforts of two little girls to give
water to the thirsty cattle in a dusty cattle-train.
"Full in the hot sun stood the cars, and every crevice of room between
the bars was filled with pathetic noses, sniffing eagerly at the sultry
gusts that blew by, with now and then a fresher breath from the pool
that lay dimpling before them. How they must have suffered, in sight of
water, with the cool dash of the fall tempting them, and not a drop to
wet their parched mouths!
"I could not hear what the little girls said, but as they worked away so
heartily, their little tanned faces grew lovely to me, in spite of their
old hats and their shabby gowns.
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