“Now, boys,” said Charlie, “you see that pile of wood; a man hauled it here this afternoon, and I heard Mrs. More tell him that unless she got some one to saw it to-night, she would have nothing to make a fire with in the morning.  Now, we can saw and split that pile of wood just about as easy as we could build a great snow man, and when Mrs. More comes home from her watching, she will be fully as much surprised to find her wood sawed, as she would to find a snow man at her doorstep, and a great deal more pleasantly, too.  What say you—­will you do it?”

One or two of the boys demurred at first, but the majority were in favor of Charley’s project; so all finally joined in, and went to work with a will.

“I’ll go round to the back of the shed,” said Charley, “and crawl through the window and unfasten the door.  Then we’ll take turns in sawing, splitting, and carrying in the wood; and I want to pile it up nicely, and to shovel all the snow away from the door; and make a good wide path, too, from the door to the street:  What fun it will be when she comes home and sees it?”

[Illustration:  Carrying in the Wood]

The boys began to appreciate the fun, for they felt that they were doing a good deed, and experienced the satisfaction which always results from well-doing.

It was not a long, wearisome job, for seven robust and healthy boys to saw, split, and pile up the poor widow’s half-cord of wood, and to shovel a good path.

When it was done, so great was their pleasure, that one of the boys, who objected to the work at first, proposed that they should go to a neighboring carpenter’s shop, where plenty of shavings could be had for the carrying away, and each bring an armful of kindling wood.  This they did, and afterward hurried home, all of them more than satisfied with the “fun” of the winter evening.

The next morning, when Mrs. More came home, weary from watching by the sick bed, and saw what was done, she was very much surprised.  When she was told who had done it, by a neighbor, who had witnessed the kindly deed, her fervent prayer, “God bless the boys!” was, of itself, an abundant reward for their labors.

Boys and girls, the best fun is always found in doing something that is kind and useful.  If you doubt it in the least, just try it for yourselves, and you will be convinced.

[Illustration]

[Illustration:  “I’ll help you across, if you wish to go.”]

SOMEBODY’S MOTHER

  The woman was old, and ragged and gray,
  And bent with the chill of a winter’s day;

  The street was wet with recent snow,
  And the woman’s feet were aged and slow,

  She stood at the crossing, and waited long,
  Alone, uncared for amid the throng

  Of human beings who passed her by,
  Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.