The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-11
WHAT KINDNESS DID.

: Us
1t Seem Like Heaven Upon Earth.
Leighton says: Good words do
more than hard speeches, as the sun
beams without any noise will make
the traveller cast off his cloak, which
all the clustering winds could not do,
but only make him bind it closer to
him."
Shakespeare wrote: "Use every man
land that of course means every wom-
an and child as WE'LL after his desert,
and who shall say scape whipping?"
And yet we often hear boys and girls
say of some of their acquaintance
who are suffering: Let them go.
Who cares? They've only got what
they deserve" Well, it may be so,
''they have got what hey Deserve"
but still they need your kindness.
/ Little Harry Woodruff had been
brought up by a wise and gentle
mother. She had taught him that no
day passes without some opportunity
being offered of service to the Master
by doing some little Kindness to His
children. He-poor little soul!-was
in great II ed of kindness, but very
little, except from the patient, loving,
busy mother, came to his share.
Arthur Benton, a boy Harry's own
age, treated him with plenty of the
opposite quality--crdelty
Perhaps some of you have read about
Svlla commanding the bones Of Marius
to be broken, his eyes to be pulled out,
his hands to be cut off, and his body to
be torn in pieces; and you have
thought with indignation: "What hor-'
rible crueltyn' Yes, it was horrible
cruelty; but alas! there are cruel Syllas
among boys and girls, and Arthur
Benton was one of them. He would
rend the sad heart of Harry by hurting
at MIN, whenever he saw him, cruel
remarks, such as: "How's Daddy Red
nose! Where's mammy's red apron?
l can always see the string" and
''Hark harlll hear the dogs bark,
The beggars are coming to town;
Some in rags and some in tags,
But never, oh never! velvet gown.
Poor little Harry knew nothing about
the broken bones of Marius, but he felt
that his own heart must be broken, it
ached so at Arthurs unfeeling taunts.
His drunken fathers red nose. Was
it necessary for Arthur to fling it in
his face? Did he not see it even when
away from it, in his minds eye? Was
it not great blot upon his child life?
And his ''mammy's red apron" as
Arthur called it, was it not right for
him to put it on to help his mother
rub the clothes she ''took imp Poor
tired mother" his lips quivered.
And the "apron string" that Arthur
averred he saw-well. well, if Arthur
was so mean as to call his devotion to
the dear mother who had no one but
him to cling to, ''tied to an apron
string" he could do so; he aC0ald be
tied to her as long as she should live;
he WGnted to be. As for 'some in
rags" etc, well, he supposed those
were the drunkards' children, and he
was drunkard's child; not from
choice, and-"Oh, it is so hardn' he
walled to himself.
One winter day Harry carried a
package of clean clothes to lady liv-
ing mile from his home. He skated
on the creek most of the way, although
on account of the mild weather he
was obliged to pick his way, thus avoid
ing unsafe spots. When nearly home
he met Arthur Benton, who dashed his
sensitive soul as usual, calling out, as
he initiated drunken mans swaying:
Daddy Red-nose
Can't manage his poor toes;
Poor Daddy Red.nose-"
"Ycrd better shut up" he said, his
face flushing, his eyes flashing; "and,
Arthur Benton, seem you can't swim
you might manage your own toes
there's thin place over there.
The advice was not needed, Arthur
going recklessly on as Harry sped
homeward with this parting shot ring,
ing in his ears: "Hurry, Apron Strings,
nanny wants you" But above theil
ringing there came a scream of terror,
and Harry wheeled suddenly about,
his face white with HORROR There was
q hole in the ice, and Arthur had dis
appeared. Thoughts rushed swiftly
through his brain. Arthur is his
mother S only son. I must save him
but oh, why don't he come upP How
the ice crackles under my feet!"
1t was the work of but moment tt
take off his thin corduroy-the rag
tag" of the drowning boys banterins
and fling himself down upon the
ice. Crawling carefully on hands anC
knees towards the hole in the ice, hi
uttered a swift but silent prayer: "Oh
God, save him-he isn'tft to die"
1t was with a transport of joy tina
the noble little fellow saw Arthur
head rise through the opening. Tho
face was white, and wan and scared
but its expression changed as a CHEEKY
voice calksd: Don't for PHYS sake