Mr. John Lewis Childs tells in the Auk an instance of a shrike he shot in Florida. The bird flew and tried to alight in a tree, but was unable to do so and fell to the ground. As Mr. Childs approached to capture him, the bird struggled up and fluttered away with difficulty, uttering a cry of distress. Immediately another of his kind darted out of a tree, flew to his wounded companion, and circled about him and underneath him, buoying him up as he was about to sink to the ground. These tactics were repeated continually, the birds rising higher and flying farther away till they had gone nearly out of sight and safely lodged in the top of a tall pine-tree.—Olive Thorne Miller, "The Bird Our Brother."
(1393)
Helpfulness as Testimony—See Witness of Service. HELPFULNESS, HAPPINESS IN "Guess who was the happiest child I saw to-day," said father, taking his two little boys on his knees. "Well," said Jim slowly, "it was a very rich little boy, with lots and lots of sweets and cakes." "No," said father. "He wasn't rich; he had no sweets and no cakes. What do you guess, Joe?" "He was a pretty big boy," said Joe, "and he was riding a big, high bicycle." "No," said father. "He wasn't big, and he wasn't riding a bicycle. You have lost your guesses, so I'll have to tell you. There was a flock of sheep crossing the city to-day; and they must have come a long way, so dusty and tired and thirsty were they. The drover took them up, bleating and lolling out their tongues, to a great pump, to water them. But one poor old ewe was too tired to get to the trough, and fell down on the hot, dusty stones. Then I saw my little man, ragged and dirty and tousled, spring out from the crowd of urchins who were watching the drove, fill his hat and carry it—one, two three—oh, as many as six times! to the poor, suffering animal, until the creature was able to get up and go on with the rest." "Did the sheep say, 'Thank you,' father?" asked Jim gravely. "I didn't hear it," answered father. "But the little boy's face was shining like the sun, and I'm sure he knows what a blest thing it is to help what needs helping."
(1394)
HELPS THAT HINDER Richard I, third Duke of Normandy, became involved in long and arduous wars with the King of France, which compelled him to call in the aid of more Northmen from the Baltic. His new allies, in the end, gave him as much trouble as the old enemy, with whom they came to help William I, his predecessor, contend; and he found it very hard to get them away. He wanted at length to make peace with the French king, and to have them leave his dominions; but they said: "That was not what we came for." There are helps that become hindrances, and aids that are embarrassing in the end.
(1395)
Hereafter and Here—See Exclusion from Heaven. HEREDITY With regard to the inheritance of handwriting there can be no doubt. Instances of close resemblances between the writings of the members of one and the same family will readily occur to every one. A particular slope in the writing or a mode of looping the letters, or of forming certain words may be passed on for several generations, especially when they originate from a man or woman of pronounced individuality. (Text.)—C. Ainsworth Mitchell, Knowledge and Scientific News.
(1396)
See Transmission. HEREDITY, CONQUERING How many people are kept back because of an unfortunate family history! The son of the notorious bandit, Jesse James, some time ago carried off the highest honor, summa cum laude, in the Kansas City Law School. Judge Silas Porter, of the Supreme Court of Kansas, delivered the address on the occasion. For years young James has been the only support of his widowed mother. He has worked in a packing-house, attended a cigar-stand, and has done all sorts of things to secure an education and make his way in the world; and at last he has succeeded in overcoming the handicap of his fearful inheritance. His success ought to be a great encouragement to the unfortunate boys and girls whose fathers or mothers have disgraced them and placed them at cruel odds with the world.—Success.
(1397)
