p. 397 | A Handsome Soul by S. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 26, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 25.

A Handsome Soul.

By S. W.

ONE day a boy who was taking his first lesson in the art of sliding down-hill, found his feet in too close contact with a lady's silk dress. Mortified and confused, he sprang from his sled, and, cap in hand, commenced an apology.

"I beg your pardon, ma'am; I am very sorry."

"Never mind that," exclaimed the lady, "there is no great harm done, and you feel worse about it than I do."

"But your dress is ruined. I thought you would be angry with me for being so careless."

"Oh, no," she replied, "better to have a soiled dress than a ruffled temper!"

"Oh, isn't she a beauty?" exclaimed the lad as the lady passed on.

"Who, that lady?" returned his comrade. "If you call her a beauty, you shan't choose for me. Why, she is more than thirty years old, and her face is wrinkled."

"I don't care if her face is wrinkled," replied the hero, "her soul is handsome, any how."

A shout of laughter followed from which he was glad to escape. Relating the incident to his mother, he remarked: "O mother, that lady did me good. I shall never forget it; and when I am tempted to indulge in angry passions, I will think of what she said, 'better to have a soiled dress than a ruffled temper.'"—S. W. Christian Advocate.