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Page 8
"It won't do any good, mother. He's a rude, bad boy, and I wish he would
stay at home. Won't you make him go home?"
"First go and speak to him in a gentler way than you did just now. Try to
subdue him with kindness."
William felt that he had been wrong in letting his angry feelings express
themselves in angry words. So he left his mother and went down upon the
lawn, where Henry was amusing himself by trying to trip the children with a
long stick, as they ran about on the green.
"Henry," he said, cheerfully and pleasantly, "if you were fishing in the
river, and I were to come and throw stones in where your line fell, and
scare away all the fish, would you like it?"
"No, I should not," the lad replied.
"It wouldn't be kind in me?"
"No, of course it wouldn't."
"Well, now, Henry," William tried to smile and to speak very pleasantly,
"we are playing here and trying to enjoy ourselves. Is it right for you to
come and interrupt us by tripping our feet, pulling us about, and pushing
us down? I am sure you will not think so if you reflect a moment. So don't
do it any more, Henry."
"No, I will not," replied Henry, promptly. "I am sorry that I disturbed
you. I didn't think what I was doing. And now I remember, father told me
not to stay, and I must run home."
So Henry Green went quickly away, and the children were left to enjoy
themselves.
"Didn't I tell you that kind words were more powerful than harsh words,
William?" said his mother, after Henry had gone away; "when we speak
harshly to our fellows, we arouse their angry feelings, and then evil
spirits have power over them; but when we speak kindly, we affect them with
gentleness, and good spirits flow into this latter state, and excite in
them better thoughts and intentions. How quickly Henry changed, when you
changed your manner and the character of your language. Do not forget this,
my son. Do not forget, that kind words have double the power of harsh
ones."
[Illustration: THE HERONS AND THE HERRINGS.]
THE HERONS AND THE HERRINGS.
A FABLE.
A Heron once came--I can scarcely tell why--
To the court of his cousins, the fishes,
With despatches, so heavy he scarcely could fly,
And his bosom brimfull of good wishes.
He wished the poor Herrings no harm, he said,
Though there seemed to be cause for suspicion;
His government wished to convert them, instead,
And this was the end of his mission.
The Herrings replied, and were civil enough,
Though a little inclined to be witty:
"We know we are heathenish, savage, and rough,
And are greatly obliged for your pity.
"But your plan of conversion we beg to decline,
With all due respect for your nation;
No doubt it would tend to exalt and refine,
Yet we fear it would check respiration."
The Heron returned to his peers in disdain,
And told how their love was requited.
"Poor creatures!" they said, "shall we let them remain
So ignorant, blind, and benighted?"
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