The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-03-16

word - reward for the service rendered
their father.
the othero
"What brave little men!" exclaimed MIR. |
O., really pleased at heart. and manifesting
his pleasure in the tones Of his voice. sI'm
. thousand timss obliged to YOU"
Jane returned with the slippers in few
moments, and stopping down drew them upon
cheeks glowing, and eyes dancing in q new
light, Mr.. @. thought her face looked really
beautiful.
ssThank You, dear" The words came now
really from the heart.
Mrs. Crandall looked and listened, won
deringly, while strange glow pervaded her
bosom. What could be tho meaning Of all
this !? In quiet, pleased way, the children
gatheIed around their father, one climbing
upon his knee.
"What have you been doing oil day, jim
my P" asked Mr.. 9. of the child.
"Playing," answered the child.
"Have you been good boy9
"Not oil the time.o
81 am sorry; Jimmy must try and be
good boy all the time. What have you been
playing2"
ooh, everything. Horses and dogs, and
turing up jack, as m other says"
Mr.. Crandall laughed out at the reply,
saying
'You turned up jack most Of the time,
suppose 9%.,; , u,... a.,
MIR. Crandal laughed again. The spirit
pf7 good nature was transferred into every
kheKft. Even Mrs. Crandall, who was usual
/ y n fret.ed state of mind, felt its genial
influence.
"Jimmy's been right good boy to-day"
said she, in an approving voice. aTlis turn
ing up jack hasn't amounted to much"
Mrs. Crandall was moving about oil this
time, preparing supper. Jane, who never
willingly gave her mother any assistance.
and who was rarely called upon because she
grumbled when asked to do anything, now
said, Smother, can help your"
'Yes dear.n That ssdear" which had fall
en- 20 unexpectedly from her husband, had
been echoing in the mind Of Mrs. Gran
dali quite as spontaneously as in the case
Of her husband. "Yes, my dear, you NAV
finish setting the table while | dish up the
supper"
Wondering almost as much at herself as
at her husband, Mrs. Crandall, after seeing
Jane move with pleasing alacrity about the
table, went into the kitchen, and soon all
was ready. Quite enough to satisfy that ap.
petite had Mrs. Crandall prepared; but her
thoughts turned upon something else--some-
thing that would give her an opportunity to
ask him If she should not get it for his sup
per. eyes, DEAR" How she was longing
for the words uttered in the gentle, loving
way they had little while before been
spoken-but for her ears alone. At last she
turned from the FIRE and going to the door OF
| the room sad very kindlu
"Shall 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, leaped
| with joyous impulse What a light
flashed over her countenance making it as
beautiful as of old, in the face Of her hus-
band. eyes, dear, If you please" Not
| even in the voice of Grisi or Dina, would her
ears have found such sweet music.
| AT the supper table Peter Crandall praised
the coffee and the fried potatoes, and said
the eggs were just what he wanted. Mrs.
Crandall looked happy and was happy.
With the vanishing of their fathers usual
silence, and their mothers sour looks and
fretful tones, the children's spirits changing
like the chameleon, and taking the hue OF
things around them, rose into new. better
and happier states. Contention ceased
| and there was something like an emula-
ton OF kind Offices amongst them, instead
OF selfish grasping Of whatever the heart
| desired.
Suddenly the eyes of Mr.. Crandal were
opened. Even while he was wondering at
| the magical change produced by few kind
words, foil revelation Of the truth came to
his mind new leaf in the book of his life
| was turned.
| Thought turned onoe in the right direction
Peter Crandall pondered this new fact in
his inner life history-.he magieof words
and going back to the very beginning, re-
viewing his own conduct towards his wife
and family, almost day by day, up to the
evening when by the power Of almost single
word, the whole scene changed, and quite a.
suddenly a. We see it, sometimes, in . pam
tomime. He saw his error--saw how unjust
he had been and cold, and even cruel in his
coldness. Very carefully did he guard him
self afterwards; and very prompt was be
in observing all the little courtesies to-
wards his wife and his children which ere so
beautiful to see and 80 sweet in al their in
| huences.
The green things aourshed again in the
heart OF his wife, and tho flowers bloomed
there as Of old. The children learned to EN-.
ulate the kind words, and courteous acknowl-
ments for oil little services, that soon became
habit with their father and mother; and
into kind words spoken, kind feeling soon
followed. 1t was the beginning OF new or
der of things in the home OF Peter Crandall |;
where, in good time, the desert bloonsd az
the rose.
Words appear as little things themselves,
but have great power. The magic OF kind
words is wonderful Try them, 20 silent Pc
ter Crandalls, who have fretfnl wives and
contentious children. Try the effect Of . lit
tie wholesome praise to your tired, unhap.
py, overworked companion, and see II il
doesn't brighten her pale face, as If food
OF scnbeams had been poured upon it. Try