THE POWER OF KINDNESS.

WILLIAM PENN, the founder of Philadelphia, in the United States, always treated the Indians with justice and kindness. The founders of colonies have too often trampled on the rights of the natives, and seized their lands by force. But this was not the method of Penn. He bought their land from the Indians, and paid them; he made a treaty with them, and kept it. He always treated them as men.

After his first purchase was made, Penn became desirous of obtaining another portion of their lands, and offered to buy it. They returned for answer that they had no wish to sell the spot where their fathers were buried; but to please their father Onas, as they named Penn, they said that they would sell him a part of it. A bargain accordingly was concluded, that in return for a certain amount of English goods, Penn, should have as much land as a young man could travel round in one day. But after the land was measured, the Indians were greatly dissatisfied; for the young Englishman walked much faster and further than they had expected. Penn noticed their dissatisfaction, and asked the cause.--"The walker cheated us," they re- plied. "Ah, how can that be?" said Penn, "did you not ourselves choose to have the land measured in this way?" -- "True," answered the Indians, "but white brother make a big walk." Some of Penn's comrades became indignant, and insisted that as the bargain was a fair one, the Indians should be com- pelled to abide by it. "Compelled," exclaimed Penn; "how can you compel them without bloodshed?" Then turning to the Indians, he said, "Well, brothers, if we have given you too little for your land, how much more will satisfy?" This proposal gratified them. The additional cloth and fish-hooks which they asked were cheerfully given; and the Indians, shaking hands with Penn, went away perfectly pleased. When they were gone, the governor, looking round on his friends, exclaimed, "Oh, how cheap and mighty a thing is kindness? Some of you spoke of compelling these poor creatures to abide by their bargain; I have com- pelled them, but by another force than the sword--the force of kindness!"

Nor did Penn go unrewarded for this kind conduct. The red men of the forest became the warm friends of the white stranger. Towards Penn and his followers they buried the war-hatchet. And when the colony of Pennsylvania was pressed for provisions during a time of scarcity, the Indians came cheerfully forward to its assistance with the produce of their hunting.

--The Law of Kindness.