The Van Buren press., 1859-08-10
Speak Gently to Each Other.

teaSc 10 help me Il minute, sister. ?
30, don't disturb me, I'm reading" :"
was the answer
" But just hold this stick, wont you,
while drive this pin through 30
6 can't now | want to finish this sto-
ry.' said |, emphatically ; and my little
brother turned away with disap pointed
look. in search of some one else to assist
him.
lie was bright boy of ten years and
my only brother. lie had been visiting a
young friend, and had seen windmill, and
so soon as he came home his energies were
all employed in making small one for he
was always trying to make tops, wheelbar-
rows, kites, and al sorts Of things, such as
boys delight in. He had worked patiently
all the morning with saw aud 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 heart saddened.
l Thought of this in the fifteen minutes af-
ter he LETT rue, and my book gave me no
pleasure. Ii was not Intentional unkind-
ness, only thoughtlessness, for | loved my
. brother, and was generally kind to him !;
still. had refused to help HIM would
have gone after him. and afforded him the
assistance he needed, but I knew he had
fonnd some one else But ] had neglected
au opportunity OF gladdening childish
| heart
! In halfan hour he came bounding int5
the house, exclaiming, Come, Mary, 1 We
get 1t mp just see how it goes - His tones
were Joyous, and | saw that he had forgot
ten my petulance, so | determined to atone
/ by unusual kindness. | went with him,
and sure enough, on the roof Of the wood
/ house was fastened a miniature windmill,
/ and the arms were whirling round fast en-
oUsh TO suit any body praised the wind
mill and nay little brothers. ingenuity, and
he seemed happy and entirely forgctful 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
great sorrow darkened our dwelling The
joyous laugh and noisy glee were hushed,
and our merry boy lay in a darkened room,
with anxious faces around him, his cheeks
flushed and his eyes unnaturally bright
Sometimes, his temples would me;sten and
his muscles relax, and then hope would
come into our hearts, and our ewes would
fill with thankful tears. 1t was in one of
these deceitful Gains in his disease that he
heard the noise of his little wheel, and said,
81 hear my windmill
"Docs it make your head ache 90 | ask
ed. Shall we take it down 90
80, no." replied he 1T seems as if l
were ont of doors, and it makes me feel
BETTER
lie unused moment and then added,
Don't you remember, Mary, that want
ed you to help me fix it, and you were read
ing. and told me you could not But it
didn't make any difference, for mama help
ed me-"
o, how sadly those words fell upon my
ear, and what bitter memories they AVA
kened. How | repented, as / kissed little
Franks forehesd, that had ever spoken
unkindly to him. Hours of sorrow went
by, and we watched his couch, hope grow
ing fainter, and anguish deeper, until one
week from the morning on which he spoke
of his childish sports, we closed the eyes
so sparkling, and folded his hands over his
pulseless heart. He sleeps now in the
grave, and our home is desolate but the
little windmill, the work of his busy hands,
is still swinging in the breeze, Just where he
/ placed it, upon the roof of the old wood
shed and every time l see the tiny arms re-
volving ] remember the lost little Frank,
and l remember also the thoughtless and
unkind words. Brothers and sisters, be
kind to each other. Be gentle, considerate
/ loving. York Examiner
]