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 DEAN'S 
 
 LORD RODEN AND TH 
 
 SERVANT GIRL 
 
 LOMDOiN : DEAN & SON, 
 11, Ludgate Hill. 
 
 
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LORD RODEN AND THE SERVANT GIRL 
 
 It is a graceful habit for children to thank 
 each other whenever they are in any way 
 obliged. The little words, " Thank you,*' 
 cost no trouble, yet give so much plea- 
 sure ! — while they cast an additional 
 beauty around the rosy lips which utter 
 them. Children are very apt to forget to 
 
LORD ROPEN. o 
 
 be polite with each other and with ser- 
 vants. 
 
 The Earl of Roden was an example of 
 true politeness. Though he was a great 
 lord, and lived in a beautiful castle, sur- 
 rounded with a large retinue of servants, 
 and though he was very wealthy, he never 
 failed to thank those who served him, and 
 to be mindful of their welfare. I will 
 tell you a story about him — a true story, 
 which you must remember as long as you 
 
 live. 
 
 One day, as the lord and his gentle 
 la&y were travelling in their carriage 
 between Tollymore Park and Dublin, the 
 weather, which had been very pleasant in 
 the morning, suddenly changed. Large 
 drops of rain began to fall ; a wild wind 
 arose, beating fiercely in the face of the 
 servants, who rode outside. Lord Roden 
 ordered the postillion to stop the horses, 
 and, stepping out of the carriage, he 
 ordered Lady Roden's maid to take his 
 place inside, while he took hers on the 
 box ; and there he sat all the long way, 
 and allowed himself to be drenched through 
 
4 
 
 LORD ROPTCN. 
 
 by that disma rain, in order that he 
 might spare so much discomfort and ex- 
 posure to a humble servant-girl. This 
 was truly a Christian act. 
 
 It is a false idea which some people 
 have, that politeness in children renders 
 their manners stiff and affected. On the 
 
 
 
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 contrary, it is the very grace of life and 
 its greatest charm. True politeness is 
 ever easy and free, because it proceeds 
 from a wish to make others happy, and 
 
LORD RODEN. £ 
 
 to surround them with comfort. When a 
 child does not think about his own enjoy- 
 ment or pleasure, and does not seek his 
 own gratification, that child at once be- 
 comes attractive and lovable. Another 
 child may enter a room very gracefully 
 or eat without vulgarity ; may know all 
 the forms of good breeding, and at the 
 same time may remain essentially impo- 
 lite, not having dislodged irom his heart 
 the deep roots of selfishness which hide 
 themselves there. Nothing makes people 
 more awkward and disagreeable Mian' to 
 be too much occupied with themselves. 
 
 Then, children, train yourselves early 
 to prefer the comfort of other people to 
 your own. Learn to contribute to the 
 comfort of others at the sacrifice of your 
 own. That blessed lesson the heart never 
 unleari s 
 
 I will tell you another story of Lord 
 Koden, although perhaps you may have 
 read it before. It shows that this same 
 nobleman, who suffered such inconvenience 
 tor the sake of a servant, was not ashamed 
 
6 
 
 LORD RODEN. 
 
 of his religion in the presence of his 
 
 superiors. 
 
 On one occasion, when the king was in 
 Ireland, he told Lord Roden that on a 
 particular morning he was coming to 
 
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 breakfast with him. He accordingly set 
 out, and, taking two or three of the 
 nobility with him, he happened to arrive 
 
LORD RODEN. 7 
 
 just as his lordship and family had 
 assembled for family worship. 
 
 Lord Roden, being told that his august 
 guest had arrived, went to the door, met 
 him with every expression of respect, and 
 escorted him and the gentlemen that accom- 
 panied him to the breakfast-room. He 
 then turned to the king, and said, 
 
 " Your majesty will not doubt that I 
 feel highly honoured by this visit ; but 
 there is a duty that 1 have not discharged 
 this morning, which I owe to the King of 
 kings — that of performing domestic wor- 
 ship. Your majesty will be kind enough 
 to excuse me, while I retire with my 
 household and attend to it." 
 
 " Certainly," replied the king; "but 
 I am going with you," and immediately 
 rose and followed him into the hall where 
 the family were assembled, and, taking 
 his station in an old arm-chair, remained 
 during the family devotions. 
 
 This anecdote reflects honour both upon 
 his lordship and his majesty. While it 
 exhibits in the one the dignity of uuyield- 
 
8 
 
 LORD HODEN. 
 
 ing Christian principles, it displays in the 
 
 other the courtesy of a gentleman, and 
 the regard felt for a consistant religious 
 character.