3.“Oh，I know he will，mamma，and I won‘t trouble him in the least.Only think！it is six miles there.What a splendid long ride I shall have！”
4.The next day，as Willie walked to church with his parents，he thought of the pleasure in store for the morrow；but in the Sabbath school he was very much interested in the remarks of a stranger who addressed the school.
5.When he reached home，he said，“Mamma，that minister talked to us to-day about self-denying.He said the more we denied ourselves for the good of others，the happier we should feel；now is that really true？”
6.“It is，Willie.The Bible says，’It is more blessed to give than to receive，‘and we are told to ’deny ourselves，take up our cross，and follow Christ.‘“7.”Then I fear I am a very selfish little boy，for I do not like to deny myself at all.I ate all those oranges myself the other day，although I knew that Johnny Maloney would have been very glad of one，for he has just got over the fever；and I remember how good they tasted when I was getting well，after I was sick last fall.“8.”I am glad，Willie，to find you have been thinking of this matter.If you wish to prove the truth of the minister’s words，do some self-denying act the first opportunity you have，and see if you feel happier for it.“9.The next morning was bright and cloudless，and Willie was in high spirits all the forenoon.He scarcely knew how to employ his time until the happy hour should arrive for him to take his ride.He got tired of staying in the sitting-room，and so he thought he would pay a visit to Mrs.Maloney，who was washing in the kitchen.
10.”Oh，Master Willie，“she cried，“how nice you‘re looking this morning，and what a fine color you have in your cheeks.Here’s poor Johnny as pale as this sheet I‘m washing，ever since the laver left him.
11.”The doctor says he ought to take a ride now and then，and go out in the country a bit；but the like of me，that has to wash for a living，can’t do that at all.“12.A sudden thought startled Willie，and，scarcely stopping to make any answer，he rushed out into the yard.Back and forth he paced with slow step，and a very anxious，perplexed look upon his face.
13.All at once he came to a dead halt，and planting his footfirmly upon the bricks，he exclaimed，“I‘ll do it；”and then raninto the house.
14.“Mamma，”he said，“Johnny Maloney is down-stairs，and he looks so pale and thin；I think the ride into the country this afternoon will do him more good than it will me；and as there is room for only one，I will let him go in my stead，if you are willing.”
15.“Most certainly I am，Willie；”and clasping the little fellow to her heart，she gave him a kiss of approval.He flew to tell Mrs.Maloney of his decision，and resolutely stood by while Johnny was lifted up on the high seat beside Dennis.
16.He watched them till they rode out of sight，with a face on which smiles and tears were striving for possession；but the smiles gained it，and he went cheerfully on an errand for his mamma，which she had kindly postponed on account of the ride.
17.After Willie’s mamma had put him to bed that night，she sat down beside him，and putting her hand fondly upon his little curly head，she said，“You have made me very happy，dear Willie，to-day，by so soon putting in practice the resolution you made yesterday.
18.”It was a great act of self-denial for you to give up the ride；and now，how is it？Do you feel happier，or not，for staying at home so as to let Johnny go？“19.”Happier than if I had taken the best ride in the world，mamma.And you say it made you happy，too，and I know Mrs.Maloney and Johnny were happy；and so only think how much happiness it caused.I am sure I do not mean to be selfish again as long as I live.“【中文阅读】
1.”妈妈！“威利一放学，就急切跑进房间喊妈妈，”我们下周整整一个星期都放假，我可不可以星期一和丹尼斯一起出去？他去取爸爸从莫顿先生那里买的蔬菜。“2.”如果那天天气好，我想我没有理由不让你去，当然，如果丹尼斯愿意带你去的话。“3.”我知道他愿意，妈妈，而且我不会给他添麻烦。想一想吧！六英里的路，这会是多美妙的一次旅行。“4.第二天，威利和父母一起去教堂做祷告时，他一直想象着明天即将开始的旅行的乐趣。但当他在上教会课时，他被讲课老师的话吸引住了。
5.到家之后，他问妈妈：“妈妈，那位先生今天给我们讲了奉献的话题。他说，为了别人好，我们越多奉献，就会感到越幸福，这是真的吗？”
6.“是的，威利。《圣经》说：‘给予多于索取的人有福了。’因此我们从小就受教育要时刻奉献，要遵循上帝。”
7.“恐怕我是个自私的小男孩，因为我根本不喜欢奉献，比如那天，尽管我知道因为约翰o 麦乐尼刚发完烧，非常想吃橙子，我却一个人吃光了所有橙子。到现在我还记得，去年秋天刚生完病后吃橙子时的味道有多鲜美。”
8.“威利，我很高兴你开始思考这个问题了，如果你想证实一下那位先生的话，你可以利用这次出行的机会做一些奉献的事情，看看你是不是感觉更幸福。”
9.第二天早晨，天空晴朗，万里无云，整个一上午威利都极度兴奋。他几乎不知道去做点什么事情才能熬到外出旅行的时刻。在客厅里呆烦了，所以他想出去拜访一下麦乐尼夫人，麦乐尼夫人正在厨房里洗碗。
10.“哦，亲爱的威利先生，”她喊道，“今天你看起来气色不错，小脸红扑扑的。我可怜的约翰尼的脸色自从洗礼之后却白得像我正在洗的衬衫。
