Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-31
Speaking Gently to Each Other.

"Please to help me a minute, sis
ter"
90, don't disturb me, I'm reading"
was the answer.
"But Just hold this stick, won't you,
while drive this pin through ?"
Z" can't now want to finish this
story said |, cmphaticaily and my
little brother turned away with dis
appointed look, in search Of some one
else to assist him.
He was bright boy of ten years,
and my only brother. He had been
visiting a young friend, and had seen a
windmill, and as soon as he came home
his energies were all employed in max
ing small one for he was always
trying to make tops, wheelbarrows,
kites, and all sorts Of things, such as
boys delight in. lie had worked pa
tientiy all the morning with saw and
jack knife, and now it only needed
putting together to finish it and his
only sister had refused to assist him.
and he had gone away with his young
saddencd.
| thought of this in the fifteen
minutes after he left me, and my book
gave me no pleasure. 1t was not in
territorial unkindness, only thoughtlcss-
ness, for loved my brother, and was
generally kind to him still, | had re-
fused to help him. | would have gone
after him and afforded him the assist
ance he needed, but | knew he had
found some one else. But ] had neg
lected an opportunity Of gladdening a
childish heart.
In half an honr he came bounding
into the house, cxcIaiming, "Comc
Mary, I've got it up, just see how it
goes !" His tones were joyous, and l
saw that he had forgotten my petu.
lance, SO | determined to atone by un-
usual kindness. | went with him, and
sure enough, on the roof Of the wood
house was fastened a miniature wind.
viii, and the arms we're whirling round
fast enough to suit any body. l praised
the windmill and my little brothers
ingenuity, and he seemed happy and
entirely forgetful of my unkindness,
and resolved, as had so many times
before, to be always loving and gentle.
A few days passed by, and the
shadow Of a great sorrow darkcned
our dwelling. The joyous laugh and
noisy glee we're hushed, and our mer>
ry boy lay in darkened room, with
anxious faces around him, his cheeks
flushed, and his eyes unnaturally
bright. Sometimes, his temples would
moisten and his muscles relax, and
then hope would come to our hearts
and our eyes would fill with thankful
tears. 1t was in one Of these decsitful
calms in his disease that he heard the
noise Of his little wheel, and said, IL
hear my windmill"
"Does it make your head ache 2"
l asked. "Shall we take it down :"
30, no." replied be, ut seems as il
we're out Of doors, and it makes me
feel better"
He unused moment and then adj
ded, Don't you remember. Mary, that
| wanted you to help me fix It, and
you we're reading, and told me YOU
could not T? But it didn't make any
difference, for mama helped me-"
., how sadly these words fell upon
my ear, and what bitter memories thew
awakened. How repcnted, as kissed
little Franks forehead, that I had ever
spoken unkindly to him. Hours Of
sorrow went by, and VIC watched his
cough, hope growing fainter, and an.
guish deeper, until one week from
that morning on which he spoke Of
his childish sports, we closed the evcs
once SO sparkling,an folded his hands
over his pulseless heart. He slecps
now in the grave, and our hone ia de,
ISOLATE but the little windmill. the
work Of his busy hands, il atill swing.
ing in the breeze, just where he placed
it. upon the roof Of the old woodsbed !:
and every time sse the tiny arms 70.
volving remember the lost little
Ffsnk, and / rsmsmbet also The
thopfhtleto I'D unkina verbs HAL.