The Basket and the Dime Novels
THE following anecdote, we have no doubt, will both instruct and amuse our youthful readers. One of the elders of the Methodist Episcopal church has a son, who inherited his father's love for whatever is comic, and this son returned from school a few months since with a report of scholarship below the average. "Well," said his father, "You've fallen behind this month, have you?" The father knew, if the son did not. A basket of apples stood upon the floor. And he said: "Empty out those apples, and take the basket and bring it to me half full of chips." Suspecting nothing the son obeyed. "And now," he continued, "put these apples back into the basket." When half the apples were replaced, the son said:— "Father, they roll off. I can't put in any more." "Put them in I tell you." "But father I can't put them in." "Put them in! No, of course you can't put them in. Do you expect to fill a basket half full of chips and then fill it with apples? You said you didn't know why you fell behind at school, and I will tell you. Your mind is like the basket. It will not hold more than so much. And here you've been the past month filling up with chip dirt—Dime Novels!" Not a dime novel has been seen in his hand from that day to this.