THE SECOND BEST 



How gladly would I have exchanged most of those 

 highly sensitive, brilliant minds for a few sympathetic 

 listeners willing to be second best. 



Why should we not be content to be one of a mass, 

 to do our tiny share toward enriching the world with 

 goodness or beauty or truth? Do you know the Skokie 

 when it is blue with the wild flag? Each individual 

 flower may not be as rich, as gorgeous, as perfect in 

 every part as the carefully tended Japanese iris. But 

 the glory of that waving field under the wind's caress, 

 the bending grass, the heaven-reflecting flower, as the 

 white clouds cast flying shadows over the marsh! 



Suppose that the song sparrow should say, "I am not 

 as beautiful as the oriole nor do my notes equal those 

 of the thrush, therefore I have no part to play in life." 

 How different the world would be without that cheery 

 song! I am sure each one of us can call to mind some 

 friend who occupies the same place in the world of hu- 

 manity as the song sparrow does in the bird world; a 

 modest, active little body with a sweet, contented nature, 

 accepting her lot without question, making the best of 



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