Kindness our armour

This appeared in an October 24th issue of the newspaper the Soper democrat. The section appears to be a student newspaper named the clarion. I think this was written by a student

How much better do you feel to have kind words spoken to you, instead of harsh words that cut to the heart? It makes you feel just as good to speak kind words, as it does to have kind words spoken to you. Your success in your day's work may be turned into a complete failure by speaking one harsh word.

A kind word, a cheerful expression, and a ready smile will certainly get us by, with lots left over. But harsh words and frowns neither make nor keep friends. Neither does it make nor tend toward success.

We have many battles to fight in the world, after we go out alone, and usually we have to fight them alone. From our very earliest days we are forming those habits which make the armour that we are to wear in these battles. If this armour is not made of correct habits, and thoughts, it will not last, and we will come out on the bottom in each battle.

How humiliating! To own we are beaten certainly gets our goat. But to say, "I fought the fight and won," is gaining a reputation for ourselves.