The Little Boy and The Old Man

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."

Said the little old man, "I do that too."

The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."

"I do that too," laughed the old man.

Said the little boy, "I often cry."

The old man nodded. "So do I."

"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.

"I know what you mean," said the little old man.

By Shel Silverstein. Submitted by Ruth Wiele from a 3rd Serving of Cheicken Soup for the Soul

ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthly cause, who at his best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither nor defeat.

By Theodore Roosevelt from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul. Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Patty Hansen.

THE SMALL GIFT

Reverend Chalfant tells of a couple who were celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The husband was asked what the secret was to his successful marriage. As the elderly are won't to do, the old gentleman answered with a story.

His wife, Sarah, was the only girl he ever dated. He grew up in an orphanage and worked hard for everything he had. He never had time to date until Sarah swept him off his feet. Before he knew it she had managed to get him to ask her to marry him.

After they had said their vows on their wedding day, Sarah's father took the new groom aside and handed him a small gift. He said, "Within this gift is all you really need to know to have a happy marriage." The nervous young man fumbled with paper and ribbon until he got the package unwrapped.

Within the box lay a large gold watch. With great care he picked it up. Upon close examination he saw etched across the face of the watch a prudent reminder he would see whenever he checked the time of day . . . words that, if heeded, held the secret to a successful marriage. They were, "Say something nice to Sarah."

By Morris Chalfant retold by Marilyn K. McAuley from A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Copyright 1997 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor hansen, Hanoch McCarty & Meladee McCarty.

More Of My Favorite Chicken Soup For The Soul:
Back To Melinda's Everything: