THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PLAY ALWAYS
Reading edition
Everything in nature must work to live. Along with the pleasures of childhood should come the lessons of toil.
George did not like to work. He did not like to bring in wood, nor clean the yard, nor go on errands, nor take care of the baby, nor even to put away his own clothes. He loved to play all the time. His mother said to him one day:
“George, you must go over to your uncle’s house and bring me a basket of wool. Now hurry along.”
George thought this was hard, for he wanted to play and not to work. He wished he was a dog, a squirrel, a bee, a cow—just anything that seemed to be having a good time.
He took the basket and started across the field. On the way he met a dog.
“I wish I had nothing to do like you,” said George.
“Nothing to do!” exclaimed the dog. “I am a very hard worked animal. I dare not sleep at night, for I am the watch dog against burglars. Besides that, I have to protect the chickens against the old fox. Then I have to catch rabbits for my master; chase the cat away from the birds, keep the place clear of stray dogs, and even look after the sheep in the field. Then every morning I take the cow to pasture and bring her back in the afternoon. That is where I am going now. No, sir! I am as busy as a bee—I am.” And the dog hurried on after the cow.
Pretty soon George saw a bee on a flower.
“I wish I had nothing to do like you,” said George to the bee.
“Nothing to do!” said the bee. “You don’t know what you are talking about. I am at work all day looking for honey. I have to fill my hive so that you and your mother can have plenty for the winter, and then I must fill it over again for myself. I do not have a single minute. No, sir! I lead a dog’s life—I do.” And the bee flew on to get another load of honey.
Pretty soon the boy came to a squirrel. “Why you are having a good time,” said he. “I wish I had nothing to do like you.”
“Nothing to do!” said the squirrel. “I am far behind in my store of nuts for the winter. They are very scarce, and I am very much afraid I cannot find enough for my family. I must hurry from sunrise to dark. No, sir! I work like a horse—I do.”
George found the horse busy pulling the plow; the cow giving milk, the tree making acorns, the fields making corn, the flowers making seed, the ants storing food—and they were all so happy about it and nobody complaining at all.
When he reached his uncle’s house he got the wool and said:
“I must hurry on home now, for I am very busy; I have my work to do.” And he whistled all the way home, and the tired little mother kissed his happy face and said:
“Thank you, George, you can be a great help to me.”