Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-08

Playing" was the simple answer
Have you bcen good boy?"
Not all the time" answered tn,
child.
I'm sorry; Jimmy must try and b,
a good boy all the time. What have
you been playing?"
"Oh. every thing. Horses and
dogs, and turning up Jack, as mother
says"
Mr.. Crandall laughed out at the re
ply, sayinC,
You turned up Jack mostly, | sup
pose"
"Well. | guess / did"
Mr. Crandall laughed again. The
spirit of good nature was transfused
into every heart. Even Mrs Crandall,
usually in a frettcd state of mind, felt
its genial influence.
"Jimmy's been right good boy to-
day." said she, in an approving voice.
His turning up Jack hasn't amounted
to much -
Mrs. Crandall was moving busily
about, all this time, preparing supper.
Jane, who never willingly gave her
mother any assistance. and who was
rarely called upon because she grum-
bled whenever asked to do any thing,
now said,
Mother, can help you?"
"Ycs, dear" That dear" which
had fallen so unexpectedly from the
lips of her husband, had been echoing
in the mind of Mrs. Crandall ever
since, and now it came into utterance
quite as spontaneously as in the case
of her husband. Yes, dear, you may
finish setting the table, while dish up
the supper.
Wondering almost as much at her.
self as at her husband, Mrs. Crandall,
after seeing Jane move with a pleased
alacrity al out the table, went into the
kitchen, and soon all was ready.
Quite enough to satisfy that appetite
had Mrs. Crandall prepared; but her
thoughts turned upon something else
something that would give her the
opportunity to ask him if she should
not get it for his supper. 'Yes, dear"
How she was longing for the words
uttered in the gentle, loving way they
had little while before been spoken
but Cor her ears alone. At last she
turned from the fire, and going to the
door of the room, said very kindly,
"Shall l boil you a couple of fresh
eggs for your supper, Peter?"
eyes, dear, if you please"
How the wife's poor heart, which
for years had lain almost dead in her
bosom, leapcd with joyful impulse.
What light flashed over her counte-
nance, making it beautiful, as of old,
in the face of her husband. "Yes,
dear, if you please" Not even in the
voice of Grisi or Lind, would her ears
have found such sweet music.
At the supper table, Peter Crandall
praised the coffee, and the fried pota-
toes, and said the eggs were just what
he wanted. Mrs. Crandall looked
happy, and was happy. With the
vanishing of their fathers usual mo-
rose silence, AMI their mothers sour
looks and fretful tones, the children's
spirits, changing like a chameleon,
and taking the hue of things around
them, rose into new, better and happi-
er states. Contention ceased; and
there was something like an emulation
of kind offices among them, instead OF
selfish grasping of whatever the
heart desireth.
Suddenly the eyes of Mr.. Crandall
opened. Even while he was ponder
ing at the magical change produced by
few kind words, full revelation OF
the truth came to lis mind. a new
leaf in the book of his life was turned.
Thought turned once in the right
direction; Peter Crandall pondered this
new fact in his inner life history-the
magic Of kind words-and going back
to the very beginning, reviewed his
own conduct toward his wife and in
his family, almost day by day, up to
the evening when by the power almost
of single word, the whole scene
changed, and quite as suddenly as We
see it, sometimes, in pantomine. He
saw his error-saw and felt how IN.
just he had been; how cold and ever
cruel in his coldness. Very carefully
did he guard himself afterward; and
very prompt was he in observing all
the little social courtesies toward hi,
wife and children which are so beauti
full to see, and so sweet in all their in
huences. The green things fourishec
again in the heart of his wife, and th'
flowers bloomed there as of old. Th'
children learned to emulate the kin,
words, and courteous acknowledg
ments for all little services. that sool