News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-06
SPEAK GENTLY TO EACH OTHER.


"Please to help me a minute, sister, ="
said little Frank.
ooh, don't disturb me-" L said; I'm
reading"
But just hold this stick, won't you,
while drive this pin through q said
Frank.
II can't now, I want to finish this
story, said !, emphatically; and my lit
tie brother turned away with Il disap-
pointed look in search of some one else
TO assist him,
Frank was a bright boy of ten years,
and my only brother He had been Wis
iting a young friend, and had seen a
windmill. and as soon as he came home
his energies We're all employed il making
n small one; for he was always trying to
make tops. weeelbarrows, kites, and all
sorts of things, such as boys delight in.
He had worked patiently nil the morning
with saw and knife, and now it only
needed putting together to complete it;
and his only sister had refused to assist
him, and he had gone away with his
young heart saddened.
I thought of all this Immediately after
he left me. and my book gave me no
pleasure. 1t was not intentional I'M
kindness, only thoughtlessness, for l
loved my brother, and was generally
kind to him: still, had refused to help
him. I would have gone after him, and
afforded the assistance, but | knew he
had found some one else. But | had
neglected an opportunity Of gladdenlng
a childish heart
In half an hour Frank came bounding
into the house, cXclaiming: Come,
Mary, I've got it up. Just see how It
goes y His tones were joyous, and |
saw he had forgotten my petulance. so L
! determined to atone by unusual kindness
l went with him, and sure enough on
| the roof of the out house was fastened
| Il miniature windmill. and the arms
were whirling around fast enough to
please any boy. [ praised the windmill
and my little brothers ingenuity, and
he seemed happy, and entirely forgettul
of my unkindness. and 1 resolved, as |
had many times before, to lee always
loving and gentle.
4 few days passed by. and the shadow
of 4 great sorrow darkened our dwelling.
The Joyous laugh and noisy glec We're
hushed, and our boy lay in a darkened
room with anxious faces around him,
his cheeks flushed. and his eyes Unnat-
uraIlv bright. Sometimes his temples
would moisten and his muscles relax,
and then hope would come into oUr
hearts, and our eyes would fill with
thankful tears. Tt was in one of those
deccitful Gains in his disease that ne
heard the noise of his little wheel, and
said: 81 hear my windmill
Docs it make your head ache = L
asked "ShaIl We take down?'
ooh, no, he replied. sit seems as II
I were out of doors, and it makes me
feel better" He unused 4 moment, and
then aided: 'Don't you remember,
Mary. that | wanted YOU to help mo fin
ish it. and YOU were reading, and told
me You could not? But it didn't make
any difference, for mamma helped me. y
On, how sadly those words fell upon
nv ear and what bitter memories
they awakened How I repented as |
kissed little Frank forehead that | had
ever spoken Unkindly TO him Hours Of
sorrow went by, and we watched his
couch, hope growing fainter and fainter,
and anguish deeper, until on" week
from the moruingO on which bespoke OF hls
childish sports, we had closed the eyes
once so sparkling, and folded his hands
over his pulseless heart. lie sleeps
now in the grave, and home is desolate;
but the little windmill, the work OF his
busy hands, is still whirIing in the
breeze, just where he placed it, upon the
roof Of the old woodsEed: and every
time [ see the tiny arms revolving I re
member the lost little Frank-and 7 re
member also the thoughtless, unzind
words
Brothers and sisters, he kind to one
another. Be gentle, considcrate, and
loving.