TALEVII.O!said Phebe Talkative, one day to Nancy Diligent, I wish I had finished my work—what a long seam this is, I think I never shall have done. Nancy told her she wished she would not talk so, for she had as much work to do as herself, and talking only hindered them both. Phebe told her she thought it very hard if they might not talk; but, if she would not speak, she would get somebody else. She then turned to the little girl who sat on the other side; in so doing, she lost her needle: she was then obliged to get up and look it, and off dropped her thimble. Dear heart, said she, my things are always so tiresome, I wonder what business my needle had to drop; I do not see that other people’s needles and thimbles fall. Thus she kept talking on, and it was some time before she had again taken herseat, and got to work. Presently she observed that Nancy Diligent was not in her place; and, when she came back to it, she said, this is you who would not speak; but I see you can leave your place and walk about as well as other girls. Nancy told her that she had only been to have her work fixed, as she had done her seam. Phebe was now a little ashamed. Whether she minded better in future, I do not know; but certain I am, that if people would observe, that the inconveniencies they meet with are chiefly owing to their own carelessness, they might do a great deal better, and be a great deal happier.Whate’er thy duty bids thee do,“Do it with all thy might;”They who this simple path pursue,And they, alone, are right.FINIS.
O!said Phebe Talkative, one day to Nancy Diligent, I wish I had finished my work—what a long seam this is, I think I never shall have done. Nancy told her she wished she would not talk so, for she had as much work to do as herself, and talking only hindered them both. Phebe told her she thought it very hard if they might not talk; but, if she would not speak, she would get somebody else. She then turned to the little girl who sat on the other side; in so doing, she lost her needle: she was then obliged to get up and look it, and off dropped her thimble. Dear heart, said she, my things are always so tiresome, I wonder what business my needle had to drop; I do not see that other people’s needles and thimbles fall. Thus she kept talking on, and it was some time before she had again taken herseat, and got to work. Presently she observed that Nancy Diligent was not in her place; and, when she came back to it, she said, this is you who would not speak; but I see you can leave your place and walk about as well as other girls. Nancy told her that she had only been to have her work fixed, as she had done her seam. Phebe was now a little ashamed. Whether she minded better in future, I do not know; but certain I am, that if people would observe, that the inconveniencies they meet with are chiefly owing to their own carelessness, they might do a great deal better, and be a great deal happier.
Whate’er thy duty bids thee do,“Do it with all thy might;”They who this simple path pursue,And they, alone, are right.
Whate’er thy duty bids thee do,“Do it with all thy might;”They who this simple path pursue,And they, alone, are right.
Whate’er thy duty bids thee do,
“Do it with all thy might;”
They who this simple path pursue,
And they, alone, are right.
FINIS.