"The gentleman laid his hand on Willie's shoulder, saying kindly, 'My
boy, I understand now why you have that smile; for you have learned a
secret which few people know--the secret of contentment. I shall have
to call you The Contented Boy.' And with that, he drove away.

"A few days later, a large box came to the village, addressed to Willie.
The express agent sent word out to the farm, and Willie's father drove
in to the village to get it.

"When Willie opened the box, he found a large card lying on top on which
were written the words: _To the Contented Boy, From a Grateful Friend
and Debtor_. He knew then that the box had come from the man whose team
he had stopped a few days before.

"It contained a new suit of clothes, some shirts, overalls, stockings,
a warm cap and mittens, and a new baseball and bat. When he lifted out
the overcoat he felt in the pockets and discovered a five-dollar bill.

"How pleased Willie was! As he went back to his work in the field, he
whistled more cheerily than before.

"But that was not all. At Christmas time, a wonderful bicycle came from
his new friend. You will believe me when I tell you that he was the
happiest boy in the country."

"That's the best story you have told us yet," said Don. "I think Willie
was a brave boy."

"And he deserved everything he got," added Grandma; "for he had learned
the secret of being content with a very little."