Полліанна
Sermons and Woodboxes
Onandonreadtheminister—awordhere,alinethere,aparagraphsomewhereelse:
"Whatmenandwomenneedisencouragement. Theirnaturalresistingpowersshouldbestrengthened,notweakened.... Insteadofalwaysharpingonaman’sfaults,tellhimofhisvirtues. Trytopullhimoutofhisrutofbadhabits. Holduptohimhisbetterself,hisREALselfthatcandareanddoandwinout!... Theinfluenceofabeautiful,helpful,hopefulcharacteriscontagious,andmayrevolutionizeawholetown.... Peopleradiatewhatisintheirmindsandintheirhearts. Ifamanfeelskindlyandobliging,hisneighborswillfeelthatway,too,beforelong. Butifhescoldsandscowlsandcriticizes—hisneighborswillreturnscowlforscowl,andaddinterest!... Whenyoulookforthebad,expectingit,youwillgetit. Whenyouknowyouwillfindthegood—youwillgetthat.... TellyoursonTomyouKNOWhe’llbegladtofillthatwoodbox—thenwatchhimstart,alertandinterested!"
Theministerdroppedthepaperandliftedhischin. Inamomenthewasonhisfeet,trampingthenarrowroombackandforth,backandforth. Later,sometimelater,hedrewalongbreath,anddroppedhimselfinthechairathisdesk.
