THE SECOND BEST 



should excel. The little boy who always behaves is 

 held up to our wide-opened eyes as a worthy example. 

 Do we love him and long to beat him in his own field? 

 Not at all. We long to beat him in a much more 

 material way, for some of us have a feeling that his 

 airs of superiority really need correction. The little 

 girl who never disobeys her parents, who never tears 

 her frock, who never asks for a second piece of cake 

 or forgets to say, "Yes, Mrs. Brown" or "Thank you, 

 Mrs. Jones" — is she the general favorite? Quite the 

 contrary. Isolated on her spotless throne she surveys 

 the world about her and has no sympathy with our 

 convulsive struggles, our futile attempts which only 

 reach the level of second best. 



A faint wonder sometimes drops into the youthful 

 mind as to whether or no it is desirable to be perfect. 

 Does he see perfection in the objects around him? Is 

 every tree perfect, symmetrical, without a flaw? 

 Every shrub and plant, every leaf and blade of grass? 

 To his surprise, each he discovers has some slight im- 

 perfection, which makes it more beautiful. The sting 

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