Our Boys and Girls.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 6

Our Boys and Girls.

WHAT MAKES A BOY POPULAR.

Abraham Lincoln in his boyhood was very popular among the simple, hard-working pioneers. He had no money, but had what was better than a golden purse—a heart that could feel. He sympathised with everybody, and even with the beasts and birds. He was intolerant of any injustice, and was a true knight, although ho wore blue jean trousers, which were usually too short for him. This sympathy with others grew. Once walking in Washington with Seward and discussing affairs of State, he heard Borne birds crying, and found that a young bird had fallen from its nest. He stopped and replaced the bird in the neßt. That instinct of universal sympathy made him a popular boy, and yet a more popular man. If a person lives np to the beat light he has, he will have more. If a person is generous at heart without money, he will one day have money with which to be generous in hand. Robert Burns was a popnlar boy. Why ? Read his lines to a meadow mouse which he accidently ploughed out of the ground. Sir Henry Havelock was a popular boy. Why ? He was chivalrous. He led boys at sohool in the same high spiiit that he led the English army in India. Gladstone was a popular boy, although he was very conservative in his educational years. One of the things that-made him popular was a debating society that he had formed and of which he became the leader. The society was a study of life and the problems of the age. ..... Popularity is the recognition that the world gives to sympathy and unselfishness. It cannot be bought with money. It shuns him who is ambitiouß for it. ‘I am the most unpopular young man in college,’ said a student to me some years ago. ‘ I want to be popular ; I try to be; 1 spend _my money generouslv, give spreads, seek society, and yet lam disliked.’ He was rich, had an honoured name, and had been sent to the greatest of our colleges, but he sought to attract attention to himself, and his generosity was selfishness. Politeness makes a boy popular. Politeness is a debt due to superiority, and reverence is a likable trait in a boy. Let two boys apply to a gentleman for a situation, and that one will be selected who shuts the door, wipes his feet, and stands hat in hand with an ‘I thank you, sir.’ A gentle, man knows another gentleman by instinct, and nothing pleases a true gentleman more than to recognize a gentleman in the soul aud manners of a boy. The popular boy is a lover of sports. That ia right. But he looks upon the playground 39 a place for the pleasures of his fellows, and he goes there to the end that he may help them enjoy themselves. He buys his games for others. He goes on excursions for others, and when he camps out or goes out sailing he is eager to do twice the work of the others. An affectionate boy is always popular, if his affection be manly. Affection ia a manner of expressing sympathy with others. A generous boy is popular; generosity is but another way of expressing sympathy. A chivalrous boy is popular ; a high sense of honour is a regard for the rights of others, and yet another manner of expressing sympafchy. What makes a boy popular? Manliness. During the war how schools and colleges followed popular boys 1 These young leaders were the many boys whose hearts could be trusted. The boy who respects his mother, has leadership in him. The boy who is 'hareful of his sister, is a knight. The bey who will never violate his word, and who will pledge his honour to his whole heart and "change not. will have the confidence of his fellows. The boy who defends the weak will one day become a hero among the strong. The boy who will never hurt the feelings of any one will one day find himself in the atmosphere of universal sympathy. • j know not,’ once said the great Governor Andrew, ‘ what record of sin may await me in another world ; but this Ido know I never yet despised a man because be was poor, because he was ignorant, or because he waa black.’ Shall I tell you how to become a popular boy ? I will. Be too manly and generous and unselfish to seek to be popular ; be the soul of honour, and love others better than yourself, and people will give you their hearts and delight to make you happy. That ia what makes a boy popular.

MISJUDGED. She was a tot of only three— Called for a pet name Poppetty — Who sometimes went a little down Tho road to Bee old Mrs Brown ; And it happened once or twice She came back eating something Dice. At last her inather anxiously Said :—‘Dear me, Poppett, can it be You ask for anything to eat At Mrs Brown’s. That isn’t sweet At all; but still yon have, I fear. How could you be so naughty, dear V On hearing what her mother said Poor Poppett hung her little head. But it was noticed on a day Thereafter, in tho usual way, On opening her mother’s door. She munched a cooky as before. • You don’t mean,’ cried mamma, to say . , , You misbehaved again to-day And asked for that ? Now answer me 1 Then —‘ No’m, I never I’—Poppetty Explained her mother’s grave mistake—«l jus’ Bald—“Mia’ Brown I smell cake." ’ QUEER SAYINGS. She Waa Tired of the Family—Little Bessie had been offended in some way. She went off into a corner of the room and turned her baok on the company. *I in mad,’ she exclaimed, sulkily. ‘I wish 1 didn’t have any papa or mamma. That s wrong, dear,’ said her mother. ‘We are the best friends you have.’ ‘Well, said Bessie, still sulking, ‘ I don’t mind havin papa. He isn’t here much. But I m gettin awtdl tired of the rest of you.’