Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-18
speak kind words.

Have you any little sisters or broth
ers? Do you love them? Then take care
never to speak an unkind word to them.
If you should de so, you may be sorry
for it wAen they are laid in the grave,
as you may learn from q little story we
will now tell you: l11
la Ellen and Jane were sisters. They
lived in nice house which had long
garden to it, like those of other houses
near. g5 ea - zs73g
Ellen was ten years old, and Jane
five. Ellen loved Jane, and in most
things set her good example. The eld-
est child in a family should be pattern
to all the rest. - s-s
Ellen was busy little girl, and tried
to help her mother in many ways.
There we're little things she could do,
which saved her mothers time. She
could use her needle very nicely, and
could be trusted to go to shops. She
used to rock her baby brother to sleep
in the cradle, and nurse and kiss him
when he cried Then she could read
and write, and learn her lessons quite
we'll. Some people said she was clever
little girl. ,,s'495@7- ~ O.. .,., ~
We think Ellen wished to be good
and kind girl; but she had one fault.
She often spoke in hastv way, and
used words that were not kind or prop
er. Her mother had often spoken to
her about this bad habit; but she was
no better for all that was said to her.
One day Ellen went to play in the
garden by herself Her sister Jane was
ill, and was lying on pillow in the
front room. As Ellen was at play, a
lady in the next garden gave her d
large, rosy apple. She ran with it into
the house. and with much joy called
out. Look, Jane, what anice red apple
have got. Did you ever see such fine
one?" geifs.Sl u .a7.a. i.
Jane turned slowly on her pillow, and
held out her little hands, and said.
'Please let me have it., Ellen. My lips
are so dry, shouldso like bit of it. T"
Now Ellen knew that her little sister
was too i'll to go into the garden.to get
an apple from the lady She might
have given her the one she had, with
loving smile. But she spoke in haste.
In a sharp way, she made this unkind
reply: "NO, | want it myself. l will
keep it until my cousins come to play
with me-" As soon as she had said
these words, she felt she had spoken
what was unkind. But still she kept
the apple to herself ~ $50
Little Jane turned with sad look
away. and tears fell fast on the pillow.
That night the poor child was much.
worse. Her mother sat beside of her
bed till daylight the next day. When
the doctor came. it was ssoon found that
Jane was SO ill that she would not live
long.
AS she lay on her bed, She was Sc gen.
tie and meek that every one who saw
her could not but love her. She often
put up her little hands and prayed to
God. 81 do love Jesus" she said to her
mother. l'Oh! I like to think of those
kind words, "Suffer the little children to
come unto mel and, 81 love them that
love me AMI those that seek me early
shall find me. +" b '-.s y5
Her mother knelt by the bedside and
cried to God to spare her child; but If it
were his will that she should die, that
Jesus the kind Shepherd would take the
dear lamo to heaven. tAai -t -a-i'a
When Ellen saw the pale face of Jane
she was very sad. How glad she would
then have beento have given her the ap
pie; but it was too late. Jane could n t
then eat any of it. nor would it have
been good for her.
The next day Jane was not able to
quite closed; and in few hours she
died. e l7tE15l
How did Ellen feel now? "Oh!n she
said, t'if dear Jane could come back to
life, would never speak an unkind
werd to her again | would never refuse
her anything Then She kissed the
cold face. and sobbed aloud. "Oh! if ]
only knew that she forgave me. Oh dear
Jane! know you did love me, but j
have been very unkind.n sa
Ellen's mother heard her words and
saw her tears. She called her to come
to her, then said, nMy dear child, you
now and find what sorrow we bring on
our own hearts when we do not speak or
act kindly. / am glad to see you weep,
as it makes me hope that you are sorry
f rwhat you did" aaI f,--l as = :.
80 mother" said Ellen, 's'I wish /
could tell dear Jane how sorry / am for
my unkind word"
THAT cannot be, /" said her mother.
"She will not return to us, but we shall
go to her. May you from this time learn
to speak only words of truth and love
Pray to God to give you the Holy Spirit
that you may be like Jesus who was
meek and lowly in heart As you say
you are sorry for what you have said and
done, yon may through faith in him find
mercy
Ellen lived to be an old woman, but
she often thought of her little sister and
the apple, and of the lesson she was once
taught to be kind and gentle to all.
[ Exchange.