The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11
A Soft Answer.


pavement Of large and handsome dwelling.
The eldest Of :hsm could not have been more
than eight years Of age, and from that they
descended to little curley- haired innocence Of
two summers. They played for nearly half
an hour, all harmony and peace, when little
golden-haired prattIer wished to play different
from the rest.
"No you shan't, Fanny Birdl'' exclaimed
the eldest Of the group.
eyes, but viii play just - please. You
have no right to dictate to me, Mittie Con-
way"
sYou always spoil our play,"' said Mittie,
sand just wish you would stay home, and
never come near my house. hate"
"Mittie, Mittie!" said gentle voice, and .
girl about sixteen came out Of the dwelling.
Instantly little Mi,sie stopped her harsh,
loud speaking. and came to the girls ST ;e.
elena" she said, s'Fanny Bird has spoiled
our play. Make her go home, she Is SO hate,
fulp'
s'Hush, Mittie. Do not speak thus Of your
little playmate. She did not intend to spoil
your play"
ayes she did, Lena. She was, oh SO angry,
and she die it on purpose.p
my dear little Mlttie, You must not be so
hasty. When Fanny got angry with you, you
should have either remained silent, or else an
swered her kindly. Your reply only exasper-
ated hers don't you know, "A soft answer
turneth away wrath, but grievous words st;r
up anger?'o
$50 you tell me, Lena, but can't do it,
when Fanny spoils our play"
ssYes ycu can, Mittie. Fanny is a very lit
tie girl, and you should not answer her so
harshly As you do. II she proposes play in
which you do not wish to engage, tell her
gently that you do not wish to play that now,
but after while she may il she wishes. That,
my little girl, would be soft answer, and
you would ind that it would save many an
angry word, and an unhappy feeling, between
you and your little plsymates. Now will not
Mittie try to be kind and gentle, and ever to
remember that q soft answer turneth away
wrath, but grisvous words stir up anger"
eIwill try, Lena, and now will 60 and tell
Fanny she may come and play"
"Go, dear, that will be making very good
beginning" And bending over, Lena kissed
Mittie,s cheek, and watched her n she ran of
in search Of her offended playmate, to try the
power OF soft and gentle word, and ere long
they returned, laughing and talking as merrily
as though harsh word had never passed be-
tween them,
Igazed upoa that fair young girl ~ she stood
looking at the children, with look Of such
calm, holy peace resting upon her countenancs
and Ifelt that she practiced the doctrine
which she was teaching little Mittie. ga soft
answer turning away wrath, but grievous
words stir up anger.n
Isaw 1t shining from her dark eye. II was
marked upon her smiling mouth, and doubt
not, had the history Of her life been written,
young 40 she was, 1t would have been one Of
self-sacri6eing love and charity. ga soft
snswsr tnrnsth away wrath, :, how true It is,
and what hsass-aehes, apd what anguish
might b saved, did every one ACT in accord
anc~ with that little sentence.
Al walked on, musing upon the little scene
I had Just witnessed, repeated to myself q
piece Of poetry he'd read q few days before:
"Spsak gently, Is b better far,
TO rule By love than feaF,
SPEAK seasly, let not harsh words mar
The good ve might DO here"
A gentle word is very little thing, and yet
what vast deal ofgood may be accomplish-
cd BY II.
Girls, take pattern aftsr Lena" and you
win never regret it-but Be happy, % well a.
make those around you happy. "Blesssi are
the peace makers"