The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-05-06
KINDNESS.


he yc kind 90 one another" En-. h.. ~.
Die you ever notice the way in which
train Of railroad cars are fastened to-
gether? AT the end Of each car Is a
bolt, which slides in and out little
way. 10 which Is hooked another bolt
Just like II on the next ear. When the
engine backs and the two cars come to-
gether, they do not strike with hard
tHn'p. jolting the passengers out Of
their seats, but the two fastcnings meet,
each slides in few inches, breaking
the force o. the blow. and the two cars
come together easily and gently. These
slides are called buffers. because they
bun each other and save the cars from
many bump. Now. do you know that
everybody can carry with him butler.
which will help him 10 avoid hard hits
with other people? That buffer is kind-
ness. A kind word. spoken gently even
IN answer to an unkind one; kind ac-
ton, seeking the good Of another; above
all, kind heart, full Of love. will make
all around us friendly and fill the world
with sunshine.
You remember how Joseph went out
Of his prison 10 become Prince. III he
had moped and snlked in Potiphar's
house. as he had some reason for doing.
or had sat down in the prison cross and
snappish. do You suppose he would ever
ha,e risen TO greatness? No. for all
his ability. but for his kindness, and
cheerful, helpful spirit. you and would
never have heard Of his name. More
than one man since his time has found
kindness useful in bringing him success.
Once young man with very little
money opened small store in 4 New
England city. So few people came in
to buy his goods that he grew lis
couragcd. and said to himself. a. he shut
up his store one Friday night. Ill l
don't have more customers tomorrow
Ill give il up and 60 away" Just then
little girl came along. looked up al
him, and said
Are You the man that keeps this
store?r
Yes" he answered, '.this il nv
store; but il Is shut and locked up now
wei" said the little girl. won't
you please open II again and sell me
spool Of No. ~ cotton? All the stores
are shut up, and my mamma wants II
70 finish my dress tonight. 50 that
can 60 and visit my auntie tomorrow.
The young merchant could not refuse
the child's pleading voice; 50 be I'M
locked the store, went In. lit his lamp.
found for her the spool Of thread. and
took her six cents. She went happy on
her way home; the next day her mother
came in with two other ladies, thanked
him for his kindness. and bought some
goods. As did the other ladies also. who
had heard the story. Perhaps they
told il TO others, for more customers
came in. ard from that day his store
was successful. Afterward he became
very rich, and used to say. II owe II
all 10 that spool Of cotton But II was
the kindness, more than the cotton.
which won him friends and success: for
who wouldn't rather buy Of kind. |
pleasant person than Of one who seemed |
selfish and careless Of others?
And kindness will overcome difIi- |
culties when harsh and severe treat
ment only increases them. Once so !
runs an old fable the Lord command !
ed an angel 70 destroy great iceberg.
giving him thousand years for his
task. lie called together an army Of |
men with pickaxes and shovels. and let I
them dig at the iceberg for live hundred \
years; but even then they had only /
made hole in II. and il seemed as big |
Is ever. Then he called for the storms
70 beat and blow upon il. For four
hundred years more the rain and snow
fell, and the north wind whistled around
its crown, but il only grew the greater.
AT last the angel went back 20 Heaven
and said. !" Lord, cannot destroy this /
great mountain Then the Lord said, I
\ will show you how to conquer IT,"
So he called upon the sun 70 shine with |
warm rays upon II; and the soft south l
wind 70 breathe upon il; and soon the \
great mountain Of Ice melted away and !
only showed where II had been By the \
green meadows, al the greener because \
Of It's moisture. So. IL you want 70
conquer an enemy, watch your chance,
not 70 throw q stone at him. but to do
kind act or speak . kind word, which |
will melt him and make him your friend /
forever. That is the way that Christ i
wins ", BY loving US, and blessing Us.
md dying IN our stead; and even 30
may we, Chrlstlike. win and save 9TH \
ers. --Reu' Y. 4. Huritut, IL Christian