The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-17
Sweet COurtesies of Life.

Every Christian grace should be cul-
tivated from early childhood. The lit
tie Words" please " and thank you"
when favors are solicited and conferred
fall pleasantly upon the ear:
One little act of kindness done
One little soft word spoken
Hath power to make thrill of joy,
Fen in heart that's broken.
In teaching little folks the sweet
courtesies of life, we must repeat over
and over the same lesson, day after
day, for the first few years. Some little
girls can wait on visitor, in their
mothers absence, with as much pro-
priety as young ladies, can answer
questions put to them clearly and d.
rectly, and always politely, and it is
pleasure to be a guest where children
thus behave.
Little Alfred's mother had taken
pains to instruct her baby boy in some
of the simple forms of politeness and
hospitality, and, though not three years
old, he used to put his lesson in prac-
tice. One day a dear friend of his
mothers called, and he ran at once to
bring chair for her, inviting her to sit
by the fire. Then he brought a foot
stool for her feet, and asked her to let
him take her bonnet. 81 wish you
would stay to dinner" he lisped, " and
stay all day and forever" Then he
looked up into her face with bright
smile, and said, 81 try to be polite"
"Thank you, Charlie" said Mrs.
Brown, as her little son handed her a
paper he was requested TO bring.
Thank you, Bridget" said the little
fellow few hours later, as he received
a glass of water from his nurse.
Well, Mrs. Brown, you have the
best-mannered children | ever saw"
said a neighbour; 81 should be thankful
if mine were as polite to me as yours
are to the servants. You never spend
half as much time ON your children's
clothes as l do, and yet every one no.
tees them, they are so well-behaved."
"We always try to treat our childre n
politely" was the quiet reply.
This was the whole secret. When i
hear parents grumbling about the i'll
manners of their children, l always
wish TO ask, Have you always treated
them with politeness?"
What sight is more lovely than this
pleasant, modest, Christian courtesy in
little folks, at home and abroad? 1t i:
like apples of gold in pictures of sill
ver."
Hearts, like doors, can ope with ease
To very, very little keys;
And don't forget that they are these,
thank you, sir, and II you please
When the Duke of Wellington wa;
sick, the last thing he took was little
tea. On his servants handing it tt
him in saucer, and asking if he would
have it, the duke replied, eyes, if you
please" These were his last words
How much kindness and courtesy is ex
pressed by theml He who had com
manded the greatest armies of Europe
and was long accustomed to tone o.
authority, did not despise or overlook
the smallest courtesies of life.
All, how many boys dol What {
rude tone they often use to their little
brothers and sisters, and sometimes t
their mothersl
A look will sometimes send a pang
OF anguish to the heart
A tone will often cause tear
In sorrows eye to start.
Children, don't forget three littl,
words, If you please."i
Then, let us watch those little things,
And so respect each other,
That not a word, or look, or tone,
May wound a friend OF brother
Author of"AppIes of Cold"