THE CROWN—OR HOW TO SEEK HAPPINESS

[Illustrate this with a pretty gilded crown, made of pasteboard, or drawn on the blackboard in yellow.]

Once upon a time a kind and powerful ruler offered to give the gold crown of happiness and the kingdom that belongs to it to any one who would ask for it in the right way. Four people thought they would try for it one day.

The first of these was Master Vanity. He told the king, in a very pompous way, that he wanted the crown. Then he spent the rest of the day in decking himself out in rich robes, in silks and in laces, that he might be dressed suitably for the coronation. But some way the king never sent for him to receive the crown.

The second of these was Miss Selfish. She was afraid some one else would find out what she was about and ask to go with her and get a share of the crown and kingdom of happiness; so she went in great secrecy, all by herself, and told the king her desire. Then she kept away from all the rest, chuckling to herself, and planning how she could enjoy her kingdom without permitting any one else to enjoy it with her. But some way the king never sent for her, either.

Then there was Harry Headstrong. He went boldly to the king and told him that he would take the crown, never doubting that he would get it. The rest of the day he swaggered about, ordering every one around, and acting as if the crown were already on his head. He allowed no one to have his own way, but insisted on dictating just how all things should go. But the crown never came to him, for all he was so lordly.

But the fourth of these was Lucy Loving. She modestly told the king that she should like the crown and kingdom of happiness, but she did not tell him what she intended to do with them when she got them. She was going to divide them among her dear ones at home, and all her friends, and she had many friends. She couldn’t bring herself to keep any part for herself. Well, Lucy Loving went away and forgot all about the crown and kingdom, so busy was she all day doing kind and helpful things and thinking loving thoughts. Toward sunset some one stepped up to her and hailed her as “Queen Lucy,” She felt on her head and found there a beautiful gold and diamond crown. Indeed, she had had the crown of happiness all day, and all day she had been living in the kingdom of happiness. And, children, there is just such a crown and such a kingdom for each one of you, if you will ask for it in the way Lucy did.