LESSON 6
SMILES

1. Poor lame1 Jennie sat at her window, looking out upon the dismal, narrow street, with a look of pain and weariness on her face. “Oh, dear, ”she said with a sigh, “what a long day this is going to be, ” and she looked wishfully up the street.

2. Suddenly she leaned forward and pressed her pale face against the glass, as a rosy-cheeked boy came racing down the street, swinging his schoolbooks by the strap. Looking up to the window, he took off his hat and bowed with a bright, pleasant smile.

3. “What a nice boy he is, ” said Jennie to herself, as he ran out of sight. “I am so glad he goes by here on his way to school. When he smiles, it seems like having the sun shine. I wish everybody who goes by would look up and smile.”

4. “Mamma, ” said George West, as he came from school, “I can't help thinking about that poor little girl I told you of the other day. She looks so tired. I took off my hat and bowed to her to-day. I wish I could do something for her.”

5. “Suppose you should carry her a handful of pretty flowers some time when you go to school, ” said Mrs. West. “I'll do that to-morrow morning, ”said George, “if I can find my way into that rickety old house.”

6. The next morning, as Jennie sat leaning her head wearily against the window, watching the raindrops chasing one another down the glass, she spied George with a handful of beautiful flowers carefully picking his way across the street. He stopped in front of her window, and, smiling very pleasantly, said, “How shall I find the way to your room? ”

7. Jennie pointed to an alley near by, where he turned in, and with some difficulty found his way to the dingy staircase. Opening the door to Jennie's gentle “Come in, ” he said, “I have brought you a handful of flowers to look at this rainy day.”

8. “Are they for me? ” exclaimed Jennie, clapping her hands in delight.“How kind you are, ” she continued, as George laid them in her lap. “I have not had a flower since we live in the city.”

9. “Did you use to live in the country? ” asked George. “Oh, yes, ” answered Jennie, “we used to live in a beautiful cottage2, and there were trees and flowers and green grass, and the air was so sweet.”

10. “Well, what made you move here? ” “Oh, ” said Jennie, softly, “papa died, and mamma was sick so long that the money was all gone. Then mamma had to sell the cottage, and she moved here to try to get work to do.”

11. “Do you have to sit here all day? ” asked George, glancing around the bare room and out into the dismal street. “Yes, ” said Jennie, “because I am lame; but I would not care for that, if I could only help mamma.”

12. “I declare, it's too bad! ” said George, who dreaded nothing so much as being obliged to stay in the house. “Oh, no, it isn't, ” said Jennie, pleasantly;“mamma says maybe we should forget the Lord if we had everything we wanted, and He never forgets us, you know.”

13. “Well, I must rush for school, ” said George, not knowing exactly what to say next; and he was soon out of Jennie's sight, but had a happy little corner in his heart, because he had tried to do a kind act. He did not know how much good he had done in making a pleasant day out of a dreary one for a little sick girl.

14. “Mamma, ” said George, that evening, after he had told her what Jennie said, “papa must give them some money, so they can go back to their home.”

15. “No, ” said his mother; “he can not do that, and they would not wish him to do so; but perhaps he can help us contrive some way to assist them, so that they can live more comfortably.”

16. “I am going to carry Jennie some of the grapes grandpa sent me, to-morrow, ” said George, turning over the leaves of his geography. “I will put some of my pears into your basket, and go with you, ” said his mother; “but there is one thing we can always give, and sometimes it does more good than nice things to eat, or even money.”

17. “What is that, mamma, —smiles? ” asked George, looking up. “Yes, ”answered his mother; “and it is a good plan to throw in a kind word or two with them, when you can.”

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

lame:physically disabled.

dismal:gloomy,sad.

weariness:tiredness.

wishfully:with desire.

racing:running.

pleasant:friendly.

rickety:worn-out.

spied:saw suddenly.

dingy:dark,dirty.

exclaimed:speak with excitement.

delight:happiness.

glancing:looking quickly.

obliged:required.

dreary:boring,sad.

contrive:plan.

assist:help.

leaves:pages.

throw in:add.

B. Study Notes

1. “Lame” is not a common term in modern English and can even be considered rude. It is more respectful to use the term “disabled.”

2. A “cottage” is a small house, usually only a single level. Usually only one family lives in a cottage, unlike a building in a city, which may have many levels and many families living inside.

C. Vocabulary Practice—Choose one word to complete each sentence.

contrived lame obliged dreary glanced

1. Peter was the eldest child, so he was ________________to take care of his younger brother.

2. The rainy weather had made all of the children feel ________________.

3. Sasha ________________at the clock and realized she was late for the meeting.

D. Discussion Questions

1. How did George West make the day pleasant for Jennie?

2. What did George's mother suggest?

3. Why does Jennie live in the city?

4. What lesson does this story teach?

E. Writing Practice

1. Write about a time when someone did something nice for you. How did you feel?

2. Write about a time when you did something for someone else. How did you feel?