Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-05
THE POWER OF KINDNESS.

''Tom here" said father to his boy.
| speaking in authority. The lad was at play
He looked toward his father, but did not leave
his companions
"Do you hear me, sir?" spoke the father,
more sternly than before.
With an unhappy face and reluctant step,
the boy left his play and approached his parent.
"Why do you creep along at a snairs pace?"
said the latter, angrily "Come quickly, when
want you. When speak, look to be obeyed
instantly Here, take this note to Mr.. Smith
and see that you don't go to sleep by the way
| Now, run as fast as you can GO"
The boy took the note. There was cloud
upon his brow. He moved away, but at slow
pace
You, Tom is that doing as ordered? Is
that going quickly 2" called the father, when
he saw the boy creep away "If you are not
back in half an hour will punish you.
But the words had but little effect The
boys feelings were hurt by the unkindness of
the parent He experienced a sense of injustice,
consciousness that wrong had been done him
By nature he was like his father proud and
stubborn and these qualities of his mind were
aroused, and he indulged in them, fearless Of
consequences.
al never saw such boy" said the father,
speaking to friend who had observed the oc-
currence. "My words scarcely made an inn
preston on him"
"Kind words often prove most powerful, =
said the friend The father looked surprised.
Kind words,o continued the friend, "are
like the gentle rain and the refreshing dews :;
but harsh words bend and break like the angry
tempest. They first develop and strengthen
good affections, while the others sweep over the
heart in devastation, and mar and deform all
they touch. Try him with kind words they
will prove q hundred fold more powerful"
The latter seemed hurt by the rcproof butt
left him thoughtful An hour passed away ere
his son returned At times during his absence
he was angry at the delay, and meditated the
inaiction Of punishment. But the words of re
monstrance were in his ears and he resolved
to obey them. At last the lad came slowly in
with cloudy countenance, and reported the
result of his errand. Having stayed far be-
yond his time, he looked for punishment, and
was prepared to receive it with an angry def
ance. To his surprise, after delivering the
message he had brought, his father, instead of
angry reproof and punishment said kindly,
very well, my son, you can go and play
again"
The boy went out, but was not happy. He
had disobeyed and disobligcd his father, and
tlle tllOuBuJOl bilS lIOuDltu WOIu 10
had not cloudcd his mind nor aroused a spirit
of reckless anger Instead Of joining his com
panions, he went and sat down by himself
grieying over his act of disobedicnce. As he
thus sat, he heard hisname called. He listened.
Thomas, my son, said his father, kindly.
The boy sprang to his feet and was almost in
stantly beside his parent
"Did you call, father? 2"
II did, my son. VIII you take this package
to Mr.. Long for me?'
There was no hesitation in the boys manner,
He looked pleased Mt the thought of doing his
father service, and reached out his hand for
the package. On receiving it he bounded
away with a light step.
"There is powerin Kindness" said the father,
as he sat musing after the lads departure.
And even while he satmusing over the incident,
the boy came back with q cheerful, happy face,
and said Like.
"Can do anything else for you, father y
Yes there is power in kindness. The tempest
of passion can only subdue constrain, and
break but in love and genteness there is the
power of the summer rain, the dew, and the
sunshine