A stout boy who worked in a grocer’s store was one day carrying a big basket filled with oranges and parcels of tea, coffee, sugar, and other good things, along a narrow lane to a house on the edge of the village. As he walked slowly along with his load, a merry little fellow came running in the opposite direction whistling like a lark on a sunny morning. He was a little careless, for he tilted plump against the grocer lad’s basket, and knocked it off his arm. Away rolled the bright oranges, and out went the parcels on the dusty path, very much to the chagrin of the errand boy. With hot face, flashing eyes, and closed fists, he squared himself for a fight.
But the little fellow did not wish to fight, for he felt innocent of any intention to do harm to the other. So with a pleasant smile he said,
“I’m very sorry. I was careless, didn’t mean to upset your basket. Come, let me help pick up the things.”
These were soft words. The spirit of kindness was in them, and it melted the anger from the other boy’s heart in a moment. He dropped his arms, and went to picking up his scattered goods. When everything was replaced, the boys wished each other good morning, and went their way cheerful and happy.
Now suppose the careless boy had used hard instead of soft words. What then? There would have been trouble, of course. Soft words prevented all this, you see. Are not soft words delightful and blessed things? Yes, they are precious pearls.
Remember this, and keep. lots of them in your month ready to drop out when needed. The wise king said,
ML 01/03/1943