Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-08-13

/ seemed almost mystery 10 HeI-the erect OF
words gently spoken on one who had scarcely
needed her most positive and angrily uttered re-
proofs and injunctions.
Although Harry was not as orderly in his be-
hayior at the table as the mother could have
wished yet he did much better than usual, and
seemed really to desire to do what was right
For nearly the whole of that day, Mrs Burton
was able to control herself and speak gently to
her boy, but towards evening, she became fret
full again, from some cause or Othel From the
instant this change made itself apparent, she
lost the sweet influence she had been able to ex-
ercse over the mind Of her child. He no lon
ger needed her words, and she could no longer
feel calm in spirit when he showed pcyerse and
evil temper When night closed in, the aspect
Of affairs was but little different from that of any
preceding day,
Heavy was the heart of Mrs. Burton, when
she sought her pillow, and the incidents and the
feelings of the day came up in review before her
mind. In the morning, her heart was calm and
her perceptions clear; she saw her duty plainly,
and felt wiling to walk in its pleasant paths
In tleadng these she had experienced an inter-
nal delight unknown before; but ere the day had
passed, old habits, strong from indulgence re-
turned, and former effects followed as natural
consequence.
As she lay for more than an hour, resolving,
and re-resolyng to do better, the face of Harry
often came up before her. Particularly did she
remember its peculiar expression when she spoke
kindly, instead of harshIy rcprovng him for acts
of rudeness or disobedience At times she was
conscious Of possessing a real power over him;
this she never felt in any of her angry efforts to
subdue his stubborn will.
On awaking in the morning, her mind was
renewed; all passion had sunk into quescnce;
she could see her duty and feel willing to perform
it, Harry, too awoke as usual and that was in
frefu captious mood; but this ripping of the
surface of his feelings all subsidized when the
voice of his mother, in words gently spoken, fell
soothngIy upon his ear. lie even went so far
as to put his arms around her neck and kiss her
saying as he did SO, Indeed mamma, will be
a good boy
For the first time in many months, the breakfast
table was pleasant to ALL Harry never once in
terrupted the conversation that passed at inter-
walls between his father and mother. When he
asked for any thing, it was in way pleasing to ALL
Once or twice, Mrs. Burton found it necessary
to correct some little fault in manner but the
way in which she did it, not in the least disturb
ed her child's temper, and instead Of not SEEM
ing to hear her words as had almost always been
the case, he regarded all That she said, and tried
to do as she wished.
"There is wonderful power in gentle
Words" remarked Mr.. Burton to his wife, after
Harry had left the table
Yes wonderful indeed their effect surpri-
SEES me-"
Love is strong"
" So it seems-stronger than any other inAu-
ence that we can bring to bear upon human
being"
" Whether that being be child or full
grown man"
True, without doubt; but how hard thing
is it for us to so control ourselves that the sphere
of all our actions shall be fall of love. All, me
the love theory is beautiful one, but who of u:
can always practice it? For me- confess thai
| cannot"
Not for the sake of your children"
For their sakes would make almost any
sacrifice, would deny myself of every comfort
would devote my life to their good and yet the
perfect control of my natural temper even witt
all the inducements my love for them brings
seems impossible"
" think you have done wonders already,
Mr.. Burton replied. If the first effort is $,
successful, | am sure you need not despair D
making the perfect conquest you desire"
81 am glad you are sanguine only wish
were equally SC"
i" 1t might not be as we'll if you were, 1t i
almost always the case that we are most in dan
ger of falling when we think ourselves secure
In conscious weakness, there is often real pow
err"
" If that consciousness gives power, then an
| strong enough, replied Mrs, Burton
And she was stronger than she supposed, anc
strong because she felt herself weak. Had she
been confident of strength she would not have
been watchlul over herself, but fearing every mo
ment lest she should betray her natural irascl
bility and fretlulness of temper, she was all th'
time upon her guard. To her own astonshmen
and that Of her husband, she was able to main
tain the power she had gained over Harry, ant
to be calm even when he was disturbed.
But in all our states of moral advancement
there are days and nights as in our natural life
There are times when all the downward tenden
cies of our nature are active, and appear to gov
err US entirely; when our sun has gone dow
and all within US is dark. At such times W.
are tempted to believe that it has become darl
forever, that the sun will no more appear in on
horizon. This is only the night before the NOR
ming which will certainly break and seem bright
err and full Of strength to the anxious spirit.
= Such changes, Mrs. Burton experienced an
. they were uncrring signs in her progress Som
times for days together she would not be able t
control herself; against all the pcryerso temper
of her child her FEELINGS would react unduiy.-