Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-21
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 81, 1858.
SPEAK GENTLY TO EACH OrIiER.

SPEAK GENTLY TO EACH OlliER.
.sPlease to help me a minute, sister"
30 don't disturb me, Pm reading" was the
answer.
Blu, Just hold this stick, won't you, while
l drive this pin through"
II can't now, | want to finish this story"
said | emphatioally; and my little brother
turned away with a disappointed look, in
search Of somebody else to assist him.
He was q bright boy Of ten years and my
only brother. lie had been visiting a young
friend, and bad seen q windmill; and as soon
as he came home bis energies were al! EN-
plOyed in making a small one; for be was al
ways trying to make tops, wheei-barrows'
kites and all sorts of thing, such as boys de-
light in. lie worked patiently all the morn
ing With saw and jackknife, and now 1t only
needed putting together to complete lt-an1
his only sister had refused to assist blm' and
he had gone away with his young heart sag
dened!
thought of all this 10 the fifteen minutes
after be left me and my BOOK gave ms Nv
PLEASURE. 1t was not intentional unklhc-
ness onlv tbouehtlessness for | loved my
hrotber and was generally kind to him; still
I had refused to help him.. l would have
gone after bim and afforded the assistance
be needed, bu, | knew he bad got some one
else. But | had neglected an opportunity Vi
gladdeuiDg a childish heart.
Ip half an hour be came bounding Into
the bouse, exclaining "Come, Mary, I've got
it VI; Just see how it goes" His tones we're
JOYOUS, and | saw that he had forgotten my
petulance, so | vent with him, and sure
enough on the roof of the wocdhouse was las
tened a miniature windmill, and the arms
were whlrling around fast enough to suit any
bow. praised the Windmill aud my little
brothers ingenuity, aud be seemed happy
and entirely forgetiul of my unk'ndness
and | resolved, AS | bad many times before,
to be always loving and gentle.
A few days past by, ADD the shadow OF a
great sorrow darkened our dwelling. The
Joyous laugh and noisy gler we're husheo, ana
our merry boy lay in a darkened room WIFI
anxious faces around him, his cheek flushed
snd bis eyes unDaturally bright. oOme'ines
his TEMPLES would moisten and his muscles
relax. and then hope would come into our
hearts, aud our eyes would hi with thanh'ui
tears. II was ip one of these deceltiui Gains
in his disease that be beard the noise OF ms
little wheel, md said, II bear my windmill"
Does il make your head ache?' asked
"Sball we take it do"n?"
"Oh DO" replied he, sit seems as It l
we're GU, of doors, aud it makes me feel bet
ter"
lie unused q moment and then added
sD,n't you remember Mary, that wanted
you to help me fix it, and you was reading
aud told me you could moi? But 1t d'dn,t
make any difference, tor mamma helped me"
0, how sadly those words fell upon my
ear, ard what bitter memories they awaken.
ed. How | repeated, a. | kissed little Franks
forehead. that | had ever spoken uoklndly to
him. Hours OF sorrow went ty, aud we
watched his couch, hope growing fainter, and
fainter, aod anguish deeper, uuti one week
from the morning on which be spoke OF his
childish sports, we closed the eyes once spark
ling, and folded bis bands over his puseiess
heart. He sleeps now in the grave, ana home
is desolate; but the little windmll', the Work
of bis busy bands, is still swlngiog III the
breeze, Just where he placed it, upon the root
Of the old woodshed; aud every time zee the
tiny arms revolving | remember tie lost he
tie Frank-and | remember also the thought
less. the unkiDd words!
Brothers and sisters, be kind to each other.
Be gentle, considerate, and lo~vlng.-EIam'T.