Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-10-09

NO lNaNA u VIZ NbH'N
theirs face. Mrs. Burton was sorry that she
had sent him away for what was only an ac-
cident; she felt that she had hardly been just
to the thoughtless hoy. She did not, there
fore, object TO his coming back, but said, as
he took his seat, Next time you see that
you are more careful. have told You again
and again not to fill your saucer TO the brim
you never can do it without spilling the tea
over upon the table-cloth."
This was not spoken in kind ness.
A scene somewhat similar to this was en-
acted at every meal, but instead Of improving
in his behavior the boy grew more needless.
| Mr.. Burton rarely said any thing TO Harry
about his unruly manner, but when lie did.
a word was enough. That word was always
mild yet firmly spoken. He did not think
him a bad boy or difficult to mdnage-at least
he had never found him so.
81 wish | knew what to do with that child"
said Mrs. Burton, after the little fellow had
been sent 10 bed an hour before his time, in
consequence of some violation of law and
order; he makes inc feel unhappy all the
while. | dislike TO be s~colIing him forever,
but WHIT can | dol II did not curb him
in some way there would he no living in the
house with him. | am afraid he will cause us
a world of trouble"
Mr.. Burton sat silent. He wanted to say
Il Wv ~ tAt ou'l't ~ u ~ hN"'1N 'N
effect might not be what he desired.
81 wish you would ad wise me what to do,
Mr.. Burton" his wife said, a little p%etulant-
ly. You sit and don't say a single word,
as if you had no kind of interest in the mat
ter. What am l to do? | have exhausted all
my W resources, and feel completely at a
loss"
"There is a way which, if you would
adopt, think might do greatdeal of good"
Mr.. Burton spoke with a slight appearance
of hesitation. "If you would speak gently
to Harry, | am sure you would be able to
manage far better than you do"
Mrs. Burton's face was crimsoned in an in
slant she felt the reproof deeply her self
esteem was severely wounded.
"Speak gently, indeed !" she replied. al
might as well speak to the wind f; am scarce
ly heard, now, a. the top of my voice.
Mr.. Burton never contrnded with his wife.
She would have felt better sometimes if he
had done so, for then she could have exercis-
ed herself a little. His words were few,
mildly spoken, and always remembered. He
had expected some such effect from his sug-
geslion of a remedy in the case of Harry, and
was not, therefore, at all surprised at th9 eb-
u~llition it produced. On its subsistence he
believed her mind would be more transpar-
ent than before, and so it was.
"a IEl HNlSbdtlu ulb ~ uiSuO bllO ~
with her nor say anything that was c%alcula-
ted to keep up the excitement under which
she was laboring, her feelings in a little while
Quoted down and her thoughts became ac-
5 tive. The words "speak gently" were con-
t stantly in her mind, and there was a reprov-
( ing import in them. On going to bed that
night she could not get to sleep for several
: hours her mind was too busiIy engaged in
reviewing her conduct towards her child. She
= clearly perceived that she had too frequent
n ly suffered her mind to get excited and angry,
and that she was often annoyed at tribes
e which ought TO have been overlooked.
i 81 am afraid | have been unjust to my
y child" she sighed over and over again, turn
u ing restlessly upon her pillow.
. At length she fell asleep and dreamed about
Harry. She saw him lying on his bed, sick
5 and apparently near to death his pure, round
cheeks, where health had strewed her glow
ing blossoms, were pale and sunken his
J eyes were hollow-the weary lids had closed
. over them-he lay N a deep sleep. Mourn
fully she stood by his side and looked upon
S him in bitterness of spirit. Sadly she re-
memberod the days past in which she had
t spoken in harsh and angry tones to her boy,
when kinder words would have been far bet
e ter. In the anguish of her soul, bowed down
II by sorrow and a reproving conscience, she
G wept.
5 When she again looked up she saw that a
change had come over the beloved sleeper the
S glow of health was upon his cheek, and every
e vein seemed bounding with life and health,
but he slumbered still. She was about arous-
II ing him, when a hand was laid upon hers
e she turned-a mild face, full of goodness a.
the face Of an angel, looked into her own
She knew the face and form. but could not
call the stranger by name. With a finger
upon her lip, and her eyes cast first upon the
sleeping boy, and then upon the mother, tn
& visitor said ina low, earnest but sweet voice
e "Speak gently !"
The words sent thrill through the hear
o Of Mrs. Burton, and she awoke. Many earn.
est thoughts and sell-rpproaches kept hel
IS awake for a long time; but she slept again
and more quietly until morning.
The impression made by her husbands re-
proof, her own sober reflections and the dream
was deep. Earnest was the resolutions she
made TO deal more gently with her wayward
boy-to make love rule instead Of anger
n The evils with which she had been contend.
Ing so powerfully for years she saw to he in
IS herself, while she had been fighting them as
d if in her generOus-minded but badly-govern.
s ed child.
!, :" will try to do BETTER she said to her.
self. rs she arose, feeling but little refreshed
from sleep. Before she was ready to leave
her room, she heard Hlrry's voice calling hel
q from the nest Oh amber where he slept. The
0 tones were %iretlul; he wanted some attend.
ance, and was crying out for it in a manner
that instantly disturbed the even surface OF
o the mothers feelings. She was about telling
him angrily 10 be quiet until she could finish
y dressing herself, when the words, "speak
gently" seemed whispered in her ear. Their
e effect was magical-the mether's spirit was
subdued.
d 81 will speak gently" she murmured, and
went in TO Harry, who was still crying out
y f~relfully. "What do you want, my son.
she said in a quiet, kind voice.
The hoy looked up with surprise his eve
e frightened, and the whole expression of his
e face was changed in an instant.