A Valuable Secret

Sarah, I wish you would lend me your thimble. I can never find mine when I want it.”

“Why can not you find it, Mary?” “If you do not choose to lend me yours, I can borrow of somebody else.” “I am willing to lend it to you, Mary. Here it is.”

“I knew you would let me have it.” “Why do you always come to me to borrow when you have lost anything, Mary?”

“Because you never lose your things, and always know where to find them.” “How do you suppose I always know where to find my things?” “I am sure I cannot tell. If I knew, I might, perhaps, sometimes contrive to find my own.”

“This is the secret. I have a place for everything, and after I have done using anything, it is my rule to put it away in its proper place.”

“Yes, just as though your life depended upon it.” “My life does not depend upon it, Mary, but my convenience does very much.”

“Well, I never can find time to put my things away.” “How much more time will it take to put a thing away in its proper place, than it will be to hunt after it, when it is lost?”

“Well, I’ll never borrow of you again, you may depend on it.” “Why? you are not offended, Mary, I hope!” “Oh no, Sarah. But I am ashamed that I have been so careless and disorderly, and now resolve to do as you do, to have a place for everything, and everything in its place.”

“Well, Mary, this is a good resolution and will be easily carried out, if you bear in mind that, ‘Heaven’s first law is order.’”