The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-11
GrIeYnuS Words.

but grievous words stir up anger. A
soft ans wer turneth away wrath; but
grievous words stir up anger"
Little Flossie I,atimere was sitting on
the calico-covered lounge, busily study
ing her "verse" for the Sabbath. Over
at the table, Belle, Flossie's older sister,
was wiping the. dinner dishes. Bellies
lips were firmly compressed, and there
was an angry glean in the blue eyes
that were so like Flossie's.
There was no sound in the room eX-
cept the soft, monotonous voice of the
child repeating the verse. And the
words seemed to Belle to be set to sad,
mournful music The impatient look
gradually fadded from the young girls
face, and when she had finished her
dishes and swept the floor, she went
and stood by Flossie's side.
'I've got it learned" the child cried,
triumphantly, pulling Belle down on
the lounge and nesting her golden
head in her sisters lap. Hear me
say it," And once more the childish
voice repeated the words.
."What does it mean, BELIEF" she
asked, abruptly. "What are grievous
words, and how do they stir up anger"''
"It means cross words, DEAR" and
Belle smoothed the bright hair. "And
they stir up cross feelings in the heart
of the person to whom they are spok-
en-, and the result is quarrel"
Like you and Ralph, to-day" Flos-
sic interrupted. "They must have
been grievous words you said, weren't
they BELIEF"
Belle did not reply. After moment,
she laid the head of the child who was
half asleep, upon the pillow, shhd went
softly up to her room. Flossie ques,
ton had stung her, and as she stood
before the glass brushing her hair, she
reviewed the scene to which the child
had referred.
Mrs. Latimere was away on Visit,
so Belle was house-keeper. She had
gone to the sitting-room a half hour
after dinner and found disorder reign
ing there. Ralph had carried the cush-
ions from the chair to the couch, scat
tered the. papers over the table, and
overturned bis sisters work-basket.
Belle scolded. II wish you would
stay out here,'' she said, by way Of
conclusion. ."You are always making
work.. .,
"Just giving your tongue exercise"
Ralph replied, teasingly. Say, Belle,
do you like to scold?"
"That is all you care. You are the
worst boy know, and l am ashamed
of you" ." -.
Ralph sprang up from the couch at
that. II don't claim to be goody
goody like you," he cried, notify.
"You're pretty Christian, Belle Latl-
mere" and Ralph slapped the door af-
ter him.
Eyes, Flossie, dear, they were
grievous words" and Belle leaned
against the window frame, letting her
eyes wander over the gaily tinted Oc-
tober woods. II wish I could be a
better sister to Ralph. Ilove him, but
oh, my horried temper" And she
brushed away the tears.
She finished her simple toilet. AS
she descended the stairs she murmur-
ed, "I've proved the last part of
Flossie's verse, now I'll try the first"
and a quick prayer winged its way to
where no cry for help is ever unheed-
ed.
Belle went straight to the sitting
room and began putting it in order.
In few moments Flossle came IN,
bright and CHEEKY after her nap.
"Please, sis, can't 60 out where papa
and Ralph are?"
"Papa has gone to town. But you
can 60 down to the west barn where
Ralph is packing apples" Belle said,
kissing the pink cheek. Get your hat'
Blossom"
ops hungry, sister, hungry for crul-
lers."
Belle laughed and hurried to the
pantry. Coming back, she gave the
child, besides her own crullers, three
wrapped in paper.
"Give them to Ralph, say your verse
to him, and tell him Belle said she
wished she had studied the first part of
it this afternoon"
Gall right" and Flossie ran, away.
An hour later, when she came in,
Belle, who was filling the shining
copper tea-kettle preparatory to begin
ming supper asked, softly, "What did
Ralph say?"
"He said to tell you the crulers were
jolly, and he'd learn the verse, too:
Won't that be funny, though, for US all
to learn it ?"
Ralph was washing in the kitchen
sink when Belle came from the cellar.
She placed the pitcher of cream and
the ball of golden butter she carried on
the table and hesitated a moment.
You know how hard it is to confess
a fault, and it was no easier for Belle
than for me or you. But help came to
her in that moment of silence-shall
we say in answer to the prayer of few
hours before?
"Forgive me, Ralph, for my hastily
words" her voice trembled little.
Il am ashamed of myself for"
"Now, don't say anything more,
Belle" and a blush burned its way
through the tan on the boyish cheeks.
81 was the one to blame, and, sister,
Pm sorry 1 said what did about-well
you know"
Eyes, I know, Ralph, and I don't
blame you. 1 am faulty Christian,
but am going to try to be a better
one. You know I have dreadful
temper.
"Well, you are not alone there.
That is a family possession of the
Latimoore's Belle, We'll fight it out
together after this"
"Yes," and pleasant smile fingered
around the girls lips. "We'll prove
that a soft answer turneth away
wrath, as we'll as 'greivous words stiri
up wrath"
The aim of all intellectual training
for the mass OF the people should be to
cultivate common sense.-J. Stewart