The Boy That Did Not Care
"James, my son, you are wasting your time playing with that kitten when you ought to be studying your lesson. You will get a bad mark," said Mother Mason to her son. "I don't care," said the boy, as he continued to amuse himself with the kitten. "But you ought to care, my boy," rejoined the lady, with a sigh. "You will grow up an ignorant, good-for-nothing man if you don't make use of your opportunities." "I don't care," said James, as he raced into the yard. "Don't care will be the ruin of that child," said the mother to herself; "I must teach him a lesson he will not easily forget." Guided by this, the lady made no provision for dinner. When noon arrived, her idle boy rushed into the house, as usual shouting, "Mother, I want my dinner!" "I don't care," said his mother, very calmly, working with her needle without looking up. "I'm hungry, mother," said the boy. "I don't care," she repeated. James was puzzled. His mother had never thus treated him before. They were strange words for her to use, and her manner was so cold that he could not understand it. He was silent for a while, then spoke again. "Mother, I want something to eat." "I don't care," was the cool reply. "But recess will soon be over, mother, and I shall starve if I do not get some dinner," urged James. This was too much for the boy to endure. He burst into tears. His mother, seeing him subdued, laid down her work, and, calling him to her side, stroked his hair very gently, and said: "My son, I want to make you see the folly and sin of the habit you have of saying, 'I don't care.' Suppose I did not care for you, what would you do for dinner, for clothing, and for education? You see, I must either care for you, or you must suffer. And if you must suffer through my lack of care for you, don't you think you will also suffer if you don't care for yourself? And don't you see that I must suffer, too, if you don't care for my wishes?" James had never looked on his evil habit in that light before. He promised to do better, and after having his dinner, went to school a wiser boy.—Christian Commonwealth.