LESSON 12 TWO WAYS

TWO WAYS

always grumble re-ply

speak to-geth-er when-ev-er

wound hand-le buck-et

1. There was once an old and very deep well, from which people drew water by means of a rope passing over a small wheel. To each end of the rope a bucket was made fast.

2. A strong pull brought one bucket to the top, while at the same time the other bucket was lowered to the water. They always passed each other on the way up and down, but they never had time to speak.

3. At last, the rope became so worn, that it was unsafe to use any longer, and a new rope had to be put in its place.

While this was being done, the two buckets were left standing together near the well.

4. "What a dull life we have!" said one bucket to the other. "I am quite tired of it. No matter how full we come up, we are always sent down empty. I think it is very hard!"

5. But the other bucket laughed, and said, "What a funny way you have of looking at things! To me, there seems nothing to grumble about. Don't you see,that whenever we are sent down empty, we always come up full?"

6. Boys and girls sometimes talk like these two buckets. You may hear one of them say, "Just as we are having a good game, we are made to stop, and go into work again." "Yes," the other will reply, "but as soon as work is over, we always get out to play."

7. There are two ways of looking at things. If you wish to be happy, look at the bright side.