NEVER BE CHARY OF PRAISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 109, 8 May 1903, Page 2

NEVER BE CHARY OF PRAISE.

A friend of mine oncV told me of a lesson she had, of how she was awakened to a; knowledge of something she had not known before, says a writer ma. Home magazine. She tad only one little daughter, and she wanted her to_>ie perfect, and she was not aware that the child rarely had any climate of praise. It was always, "Now, if you want to be a perfect woman you will have pO be a perfect little girl," so that, unconsciously to herself, she was giving no climate of praise. One day she >eni> ;to her secret place of prayer, and the little girl stole noiselessly in. She was praying aloud—and she thanked God for, all the mercies of her life, .and especially for giving her such a lovely child. When she ceased praying the child threw her arms around her mother's neck, exclaiming, "Oh, mamma, how you did brag about me to God, now I will be good!" That child needed praise. Some time I think I will. relieve my mind on this subject of praise. I am so convinced that the absence of praise (not flattery) is keeping people from blossoming out as the flowers do when; in the warm climate. The famous artist. Michael Angelo, was once asked by a friend how much _c hrtd progressed with a work of art since lie had seen it last. The great artist replied, "I have touched it here and there." His friend said, "Oh, those are only trifles." "Yes," was the reply, ' f but trifles make perfection, , and; .perfection is no ; trifle.'' Now suppose you try it for just about a month—to praise those around you. Begin, of course, with your own family. Just the little deeds of kindness—the little words of praise—they make the climate, and it is the climate/in the home that makes every member of the family feel that there is no place so sweet as _iomej where the contrary winds never blow, because there is a spirit there that is like the spirit of Him who walked on the waters. .