"A Soft Answer."


"WINNIE, that is mine; you shall not

have it." So said little Arthur Harcourt,

as he snatched a box of toys from his

younger brother. Winnie was but a baby,

and began to cry most heartily, as he toddled

after his brother and attempted to regain

possession of the playthings.

"Come, master Arthur, give him the

toys, there's a good boy," said nurse, rising

to interfere between the quarreling

children.

"No, I shan't," cried Arthur angrily;

"they are mine; and he spoils all my

things. I say he shall not have these."

"Then you are very, very naughty," exclaimed

nurse, as she took little Winnie on

her knee, and tried to console him for the

loss of his toys.

Arthur began to mutter something of

which only "don't care" was audible,

when the door opened, and a little girl entered.

"Winnie, darling," she said, "what is

the matter? Look! Sissy has brought you

such a pretty book full of pictures. If

there isn't Arthur sitting on the ground!

What has happened, nurse?"

The cause of the quarrel was soon explained,

and good-natured little Emily, in

another second, was kneeling by Arthur's

side, her arm clasped round his neck, and

her cheek pressed to his, as in her own

sweet way she was endeavoring to pacify

him.

"You know, Artie, darling, mamma did

so hope we should not give kind nurse any

trouble while she was away; I am sure

you would like to please her. Besides, it

was such a little thing to quarrel about, and

I am sure baby would have given you the

box if you had asked him gently, and had

let him have something else. But come

now, Arthur, and be friends, and then I

will have a game with you." Artie, however,

did not stir. "Now do, Artie," entreated

Emily; "I think I must remind

you of that little verse mamma so often repeats

to us

'Do to another as you'd have

Another do to you;

What you're unwilling to receive,

Be sure you never do.'

"And, Artie, mamma says that if we do

not love and forgive one another, we shall

never go and live with Jesus. Do you remember

how gentle and kind Harry was?

He never made Winnie cry." Artie's eyes

filled with tears. "I am very sorry," he

murmured. "Then come and tell nurse so,

and kiss Winnie." So saying, Emily took

his brother. All was soon peace again;

and, a short time afterward, the merry

peals of laughter which came from the

nursery testified that all unpleasantness

was forgotten.

Ah! If little boys and girls who read

this story, only knew and felt the influence

of kind words, how many a scene of strife

might be prevented, how many evil passions

be effectually subdued! Even in the

nursery, as in the school-room, and during

after life, a gentle tone, a soft answer, will

benefit those by whom we are surrounded.

None are too young to do good. Remember,

example is better than precept. And

you, my little friends, who have younger

brothers and sisters, take care to utter no

harsh words, but, like Emily, soothe the

angry feelings, and gently point out the errors

into which they may fall; for does not

the Bible assure us that "A soft answer

turneth away wrath"? 



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