Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-08-14
Chr family Circle.
The Ministry of POIfteneSs.

4" Kitty going to Join the ministry Well
if that isn't 4 good joke. She must think
she is a woman's Fighter and Harry
Franklin threw his hat up in the air and
gave laugh.
That isn't the kind of ministry L
mean," answered Kitty, shyly, while tears
began to come in her grey eyes. " mean
the ministry of politeness."
And pray, what is that, Miss Woman's
Rights 2" demanded Harry, with another
laugh, louder and more disagreeable than
the first, while he threw handful of grass
he had pulled to give the pony, standing
at the door, over Kitty's hat and curls.
" No wonder you ask, Harry" said his
mother, who had come out on the porch in
time to hear the last few remarks !; 8 for it
is very evident that you don't know !:
Even Rob, waiting patiently for US to get
into the phaetoD, knows more of 1t than
you do. He never would have thrown
that grass over Kitty's hair when she was
Just going to ride. If you really wish to
know what it is, I'll tell you. Part Of it
is Kits patiently taking the grass out Of
her hat, and shaking it from her hair with
out calling you horrid old thing, and
asking me to make you behave"
That's right, Kit, she said, turning
to her daughter; silence is the next best
thing to the soft answer If we learn
not to say disagreeable things, il is easier
to say agreeable ones. And now who is
going with me down to the cars to meet
papa p
&C l am" Harry answered Immediately
Kitty was only human, ard for mo
ment the new profession was forgotten, as
she said hastily
" Y gu went yesterday, and mamma said
might 90 to-day. | think it is real -
then he remembered, and suddenly stop
ped.
Ter mother noticed it, and always quick
to help her children in any triumph over
self, said at once
:" I'll take you to, Kit. this evening Tor
promised. Harry can 20 because he was
so patient in not speaking first.
Harry drew his brows together, for, as
be often conided to Kitty, " he would
much rather take whipping than have
mamma chaff him. The chatting did
some good, however, for he helped his
mother in the phaeton, then absolutely
waited till Kitty got in before he took his
seat in the rumble. He met his reward in
bright smile of appreciation from his
mother, a smile he valued in proportion to
its scarcity, for harem-scar Harry was
always in some mischief.
After they had been driven for few
moments down the pretty avenue OF trees
that led TO the gate, Mrs. Franklin looked
down at her little daughter sitting on the
the seat by her, and said
What made you think of politeness,
Kitty dear ~
was reading something about 1t the
other day IN that little book you gave me.
and | thought would try to be polite.
The Bible doesn't say any thing about
being polite" broke in Harry in his usual
abrupt style " Aud if it isn't in the
Bible we needn't do it,
But it is in the Bible, Harry" his
mother answered him What else does
this mean, Be kindly afectioned one TO
another with brotherly love, in honor pre-
ferring one another What else does the
Golden Rule mean ? Why, | could 20 on
for half an hour, repeating verses that
we must be polite to each other"
. But people need not be polite to their
family" Harry said.
Alb, my boy you never made q great
er mistake than that. There Is no place
where politeness is more needed than in
ones own family. We are much more
apt to be courteous to strangers whom we
do not feel intimate with than we are to
our own home people; aud it is mistake,
for we are less thrown with them, and so
less likely to be made uncomfortable"
- How does it make you uncomfortable,
mamma ?"
Suppose you were to ask me, Can't |
drive Rob, now, mamma ? and | was to
answer you, No, yeu shan't, wouldn't
that make you, feel very badly ?"
Yesm it would | would think | was
speaking to Kitty" Harry answered with a
sudden burst of thoughtfulness that made
Mrs Franklin and Kitty both laugh.
% But if | said, | am afraid to have
you drive now, for Rob is very tricky, and
we are going down hill, you would not feel
bad though you would not be allowed to
drive any more than if had answered
you roughly. Do you see p
Why, yes So it does make differ
ence." Harry said. . never thought of
that before
Zone reason that families don't get on
smoothly and happily together is, that they
are not particular enough about these little
acts of courtesy and kindness that make
life 90 so much more smoothly. You and
Kitty would be much happier together if
you spoke to each other as you speak to
papa and me-"
" How do you mean, mamma" Kitty
asked.
Why, if you said, Please, Harry,
don't touch that, it will break, instead of,
" Y ou mustn't touch my things Mamma,
please make Harry behave ~
Kitty looked conscious, for she remem-
bered having used those very words early
in the morning, and used them in a very
cross tone also.
You wouldn't speak that way to me-
her mother continued. You would have
spoken pleasantly and an ably and | would
have been great deal reader to listen
and do as you asked"
80 And you too, Harry" Mrs. Franklin
said, " Who was it heard yesterday say
ing, Go way and leave ne alone +; l don't |
want to be bothered by girl what can
girl know about making a kite?' and FIVE
minutes after, when l passed, the same
person said to me in a pleasant manner,
Please, mamma, help me hold this
paper till L paste it. Kitty could have
held it better than | could, for her fingers
are smaller, and would 60 in places where
mine would not 90, and she would have
been interested and stayed to help you,
while L had to 90 away in few moments"
Rr,t Il L diAnront cnrrnahnE mamma