The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-09-26
SPEAK GENTLY TO EACH OTHER.
A story for the Children.

"Please to help me minute, sister,
said little Frank.
"Oh. don't disturb me-" said; "I'm
reading"
"Bnt Just hold this stick, won't you,
while / drive this pin through y said
Frank.
81 can't now, I want to finish this
story" said ], emphatically; and my lit
tie brother turned away with disap
poir ted look in search of some one else
to assist him,
Frank was bright boy Of ten years,
and my only brother. lie had been Wis
iting young friend, and had seen a
windmill, and as soon MS he came home
his energies were all employed in making
n small one; for he WIS always trying Ia
make tops, wcccharrows, kites, and all
sorts of things, such as boys delight in.
He had worked patiently all the morning
with saw and knife, and now it only
needed putting together TO complete it;
and his only sister had refused 10 assist
him, and he had gone away with his
Young heart saddencd.
thought of all this Immediately after
| he left me, and my book gave me 10
| pleasure. 1t was not intentional m-
kindness, only thoughtlcssness, for |
loved my brother, and was generally
kind to him; still, had refused to help
him. ! would have gone after him, and
afforded the assistance, but / knew he
had found some one else. But | had
neglected an opportunity Of gladdening
a childish heart.
In half an hour Frank came bounding
into the house, exclaiming: Come,
Mary, I've got it up. just see .how it
gocsp His tones were Joyous, and !
saw he had forgotten my petulnce, so |
determined to atone by unusual kindness
| went with him, and sure enough ON
the roof of the out house was fastened
miniature windmill, and the arms
were whirling around fast enough {,
please any boy. / praised the windmill
and my little brothers ingenuity, anG
he seemed happy, and entirely forgetfu
of my unkindness, and | resolved, as
had 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 glce were
hushed, and our boy lay in darkened
room with anxious faces around him.
his cheeks flushed, and his eyes unnat
urally bright Sometimes his temples
would moisten and his muscles relax
and then hope would como into ON
| ,.1 Nvnnll Gil ttttI
thankful tears. IL was in one of those
deceitful calms in his disease that he
heard the noise of his little wheel, and
said: 81 hear my windmill"
"Does it make your head ache ?" J
asked. "Shall we take it down?'
"Oh, no" he replied, 'it seems as ii
I were out of doors, and it makes IL,
feel better" He muscd II moment, an'
then added: "Don't you remember
Mary, that ] wanted you to help me fin
ish it, and you were reading, and toll
me you could not? But it didn't max
A., any difference, for mamma helped me.
Oh, how sadly those words fell upc
my ear and what bitter memorie
they awakened How repented as
kissed little Franks forehead that ha
} ever spoken unkindly to him Hours
sorrow went by, and We watched h
,, couch, hope growing fainter and fainte
and anguish deeper, until one wee
from the morning on which bespoke OF h
childish sports, we had closed tho eye
once 80 sparkling, and folded his hand
, over his pulseless heart. he sleel
now in the grave, and home is desolatt
, hnt tbe little windmill, the work of hi
bnsv hands, is still whirling in tn
9 breeze, just where he placed it, upon tn
l roof of the old woodshed; and ever.
: t;me see the tiny arms revolving ! re
member the lost little Frank-and ! re
member also the thoughtless, unkin
. words
z Brothers and sisters, be kind to on
a another Be gentle, considerate, an
loving.