NO PAY, NO WORK.

"LITTLE boy, will you help an old man up the hill
with his load?" These words were spoken by an old
gray-headed man, who was drawing a hand-cart with
a bag of corn in it.

"I can't; I'm in a hurry," said Hanson, the boy
addressed, who was in a hurry to get to the play-
ground, that he might play with the boys before school
began.

The old man sat down on a stone at the foot of the
hill to rest himself, and gather strength for the ascent.
He gazed after Hanson, and sighed as he thought of
the days of his youth, now far back in the past. A
tear was beginning to gather in his eye when another
little boy, John Wilson, came up to him and said,
"Shall I help you up the hill with your load?"

The old man brushed his eyes with the cuff of his
coat, and replied, "I shall be very glad to have your
help." He then arose, and taking the tongue of his cart,
pulled with all his strength, while John pushed behind.
When they reached the top of the hill, John discovered
a rent in the bag on the under side, from which the corn
was dropping out, and putting forth all his strength, he
turned the bag so that there might be no further loss
of corn.

"I am much obliged to you," said the old man, as
John set out upon a run for the school-house; "and
may the Lord reward you!" But John was out of
hearing before the last words were spoken.

When John reached the school-house, he was about
ten minutes too late, so that he received a bad mark
for want of punctuality. This was a very unusual
thing for him, as he was remarkable for punctuality.

If he had told the master what had detained him he
would have been excused: but he thought it would
not look well to do so. So he took the mark without
saying a word.

When the school was over, Hanson said to John,
"What did you get a bad mark for?"

"Because I was too late," said John.

"I know that; but why were you not in time? I
saw you at the foot of the hill, only a little way behind
me. I suppose you stopped to help old Stevenson up
the hill with his grist. He tried to stop me, but I
did not work for nothing."

"Nor I either."

"Oh, you got a bad mark from the schoolmaster.
Do you call that pay for your work?"

"You don't know what else I got."

"Did you get anything else?"

"I did not do it expecting to get anything for it."

"Why did you do it then?"

"Because I thought I ought to help the poor old
man."

"If you have a mind to be such a fool as to work for
nothing, you may. No pay, no work, is my rule."

To be kind and useful is my rule, John might have
said with truth; but he did not say so. Nor did John
really work for nothing when he performed acts of
kindness. In the first place, he had the approval of
his conscience, which was worth something. In the
second place, he had the pleasure of doing good, which
was worth something. In the third place, he had the
gratitude and love of many, also worth something.
And lastly, and best of all, he had the approbation of
God, who has promised that even a cup of cold water
given to a disciple shall not lose its reward.

-- ALDEN.