Katherine M. Yates

“ You only showed them something better than they had, and did it without being obtrusive. Every one wants what is better than he has;—if he is allowed to take it of his own accord, and doesn't have it thrust upon him."
After this they walked along in silence for quite a long way, until they came to the top of a hill, and sat down to rest for a few moments. Marjorie heaved a sigh as she looked away over the low, green hills, the shady woods, and the winding stream. ”

“ The Dream nodded. "Only a little while,—just long enough to let your work pass you by."
"My work?" exclaimed Marjorie. "Why, I hadn't anything in particular to do!"
"Every one has something in particular to do," said the Dream, "if he has his hand ready;—but yours wasn't,—it was under your cheek."
"What was the work?" asked Marjorie.
The Dream pointed up the long hill in front of them; and away, almost at the top, she saw a little girl lifting a basket from the roadside, where she had set it while she was resting. ”

“ Marjorie was thinking hard, "—I am not sure but that I ought to be going on—"
"You said that you wanted to sing," said the boy.
Suddenly Marjorie's face brightened. "Oh, I know!" she exclaimed. "Did you ever try singing the multiplication table to that tune? It's lots of fun. Let's try it."
"All right," said the boy, "only I don't know it all."
"This will help you to learn it," said Marjorie. "I remember it, so you just follow me. We'll begin with the fives, because they're easy;" and they dropped a little way behind the others and began to sing, softly, putting their own words to the tune. ”

“ You are not arguing honestly. You are not called upon to do one thing more than you think, honestly, that you ought to. No more than that is your work." [Pg 9]
"But I could make myself think—" began Marjorie.
"I said honestly," said the Dream. "It isn't honest to make yourself think anything." ”

“ Marjorie looked unconvinced. "Your arguments sound all right," she said; "but I am sure that they must be wrong somewhere, because it certainly isn't right for those poor, dear little rabbits to be shut up that way. They ought to be let out right now. The fence is nearly done and they wouldn't try to go through the opening while you are working on it; they would be afraid. If you don't let them out, every one will be talking about how cruel you are. ”

“ I'm going to talk to him!" and Marjorie ran across the road again.
The boy glanced up as she approached; but [Pg 30] waited for her to speak. Marjorie looked him straight in the eye. "Where are your rabbits?" she asked, severely.
"In the shed," he replied, motioning with his head in the direction of the building she had noticed.
"What!" she exclaimed. "A lot of lovely white rabbits shut up in that little dark shed! Oh, how can you be so unkind?"
"They have been there only about two hours," said the boy, "and I shall let them out as soon as I have nailed on these last few pickets. ”

“ After a time they came to where a little brook wandered across the road. There had been stepping-stones, but some thoughtless youngsters had taken them to one side and built a [Pg 22] dam, which caused the water to back up until the way was impassable, if one would cross dry-shod.
Marjorie stood and looked for a moment, and then turned toward the fence where she saw that others had crossed by clinging to the boards. Then she stopped, and laying her roses in the shadow of a clump of bushes, she went to the little dam and began to loosen the stones. ”

“ And now they came to a place where there was a clump of wild roses growing by the wayside, and Marjorie stopped and began to gather some.
"The thorns are troublesome, aren't they?" asked the Dream, presently. ”

“ When he reached the building, he hesitated for an instant, and then he drew the bolt and [Pg 32] threw open the door; but before he had time to turn and head them off, out scrambled a white wave of rabbits; big and little, fat and thin; and with one accord made straight for the opening in the fence. The boy ran after them, calling excitedly to Marjorie to stand firm and not let them through; and for a moment Marjorie did stand firm before the oncoming army of waving ears and flying feet ”

“ Don't take what some one else says that you 'ought' to do, and try to shave yourself down to fit it. Study it out and think it out for yourself; and then if the other fellow's opinion seems wise, follow it;—and if it doesn't, follow a better one of your own. ”

“ If you have given some one the right to tell you what to do, it must be because you believe that person understands better than you do. If you believe that, be obedient; if you don't, say so and go your own way. ”