The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-26

AT the breakfast the usual scene WINS about
being enacted, when speak gently coming
into her mind prevented It's occurrence. 1t
seemed almost n mystery to her-the effect
of words gently spoken on one who had
scarcely needed her most positive and angri-
ly uttered reproois and injunctions.
Although Harry was not so orderly in his
behavior 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 ffetfhl again from some cause or 9th
en-. From the instant this change made itself
apparent she lost the sweet influence she
had been able to exercise over the mind of
her child. He no longer needed her words,
and she could no longer feel calm in spirit
when he showed perverse and evil tempers,
When night closed in, the aspect Of affairs
was but little different from that of any pre-
ceding day,
Heavy was the heart of Mrs. Burton when
she sought her pillow, and the incidents and
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 willing to walk in its
pleasant paths. In treading these she had
experienced an internal delight unknown be-
fore; but ere the day had passed, old habits,
strong from frequent indulgence, returned,
and former effects followed as n natural con-
sequence.
As she lay for more than an hour resolv-
ing and re-resolving to do better, the face of
Harry often came up before her. Par
ticularly did she remember its peculiar eX-
preston when she spoke kindly instead of
! A., liz, 81
disobedience. At these times she was con-
scious OF possessing real power over him;
this she never felt in any ofthe angry efforts to
subdue his stubborn will.
On awakening in the morning her mind
was renewed, all passion had sunk into qui-
escence; she could see her duty and felt will
ling TO perform il. Harry, too, awoke as u
sual, and that was in fretul, captous mood;
but this ripping of the surface of his feelings
all subsidized when the voice of his mother in
words gently spoken fell soothingly upon his
ear, He even went so far as TO put his arms
around her neck and kiss her saying as he did
so-'Indeed, mamma, will be good boy
For the first time in many months the
breakfast hour was pleasant TO all. Harry
never once interrupted the conversation that
passed at intervals between his father and
mother. When ne asked for anything it was
in way pleasing to all. Once or twice Mrs.
Burton found it necessary TO correct some
little fault of manner, but the way in which
see did it,not in the least disturbed her child's
temper, and instead ofnot seeming to hear
her words, Us had almost always been the
case, he regarded all 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 sur
prses me-
Love is strong
so it seems-stronger than any other in
fluence that we can bring 10 bear upon hui
man being,
Whether that being be a child or full
grown man.
True without doubt; but how hard thing
il is for us TO control ourselves that the sphere
ofall our actions shall be full of love. All,
me! the ovc-thcory is beautiful one, butwho
of us can always practice it? For me, con-
fess that cannot
Not for the sake Of your children"
'For their sake would make almost any
sacrifice. would deny myself every comfort
i would devote my life TO their good: and
vet the perfect control ofmy natural temper,
even with all the inducements my love for
them brings, seems impossible
ItIink YOU have done wonders already
MIR Burton replied. 'Ifthe first effort is so
successful, ] am sure you need not despair of
making the perfect conquest you desire
Il am glad you are sanguine; only wish
was equally So
1T might not be as well if you were. 1t is
almost always the case that we are most in
danger of falling when we think ourselves
secure. III conscious weakness there is oft
en- real power
If that consciousness gives power then l
am strong enough replied Mrs. Burton.
And she was stronger than she supposed,
and strong because she felt herself weak
Had she been confident ofstrength,she would
not have been watchful over herself, hut fear
ing every moment lest she should betray her
natural Feasibility and fretfuIness of temper,
she was all the time upon her guard. 10 her
own astonishment and that of her husband
she was able to maintain the power she had
gained over Harry, and to be calm even when
ne was disturbed.
Such changes Mrs. Burton experienced,
and they were the unerring signs OF her
progress. Sometimes for days together she
would not be able to control herself; against
all the perverse tempers of her child her
feelings would react unduly. But these
seasons were of shorter and shorter duration
on every recurrence them, and tho reason
was, she strove most earnestly for the sake
of that child to reduce her whole mind into a
state of order.
1t must not be supposed that Mrs. Burton
always found the will of her boy ready to
yield itself UP to the control of gentieness
and love- With him, too, was there nlgh'
and morning, season when all the per
verse affections of his mind came forth into
disorderly manifestations, refusing to heark'
en- even to the gentle words of his mother
and a season when these were all qulescen
and truly human, because good affections
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