A SOFT ANSWER.


"Oh, Emma, where are you going?" asked Kitty, as she ran after her
sister.

"I'm not going to tell you where I'm going; so there!" replied Emma.

"You're just the hatefulest girl I ever saw," said Kitty, beginning to
cry.

These two little girls did not remember the verse their teacher had
given them the Sunday before. It was this: "A soft answer turneth away
wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." Emma's rough answer stirred up
an angry feeling in Kitty's heart. They were grievous words and brought
a reply of the same kind. How much better it is to help each other to do
right and to be gentle.

Miss Maggie had heard what the girls said, for she was just coming into
the house. She had a rose in her hand, and just as Emma ran away,
leaving Kitty in tears, she held out the rose, saying to Kitty:

"Smell it, dear; is it not beautiful?"

The sweet words and the beautiful flower calmed Kitty's angry heart.
Miss Maggie told her to keep the rose, and when Emma came home, instead
of finding a cross little sister she found Kitty very happy.

"Come see my rose," said Kitty. Emma smelled it and said, "Oh! How sweet