Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-10-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
SPEAK GENTLY.
ny T. 6. ARTHUR.

"Speak gently! Iii better far
To rule by love than fear:
Speak gently! Let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here"
al am entirely at a loss to know what to
do with that boy said Mrs. Burton TO her
husband, with much concern on her face and
in an anxious tone Of voice. &" never yield
70 his imrerious temper; | never indulge
him in any thing (; | think about hi II and care
about him all the time, but see no good re-
suit"
While Mrs. Burton was speaking, a bright,
active boy, eight years Of age, came dashing
into the room, and, without needing any on,
commenced hrating with two large sticks
agains, one Of the window stills and making
a defining noise.
Incorrigible boy - exclaimed his mother,
going quickly up to him and Jerking the
sticks out of his hand. Cant ] learn you
neither manners nor d~ecpncyl l have told
yon hundred times that when you came in
to u rcum where any one is sitting You must
be- quiet. Go up stairs this moment, and don't
let me see your Iace for an hour!'
The boy became sulky in an instant, and
stood where he was, pouting sadly.
"Do you hear what | say Go up stairs
this momPnt!"
MIS- fultbIt eI'hP III d very dHNIy lOuCg
and looked quite as angry as she spoke.
Slowly moved the boy towards the door, a
scowl darkening his face, that was but "A mo-
ment before so bright and cheerful. His steps
were too deliberate for the oyer-excited feel
ings of the mother: she spraug toward him,
and seizing him by the arm pushed him from
the room and closed the door loudly after him.
- declare | am cut of all h%earl!" she ex-
claimed, sinking down upon a chair. sit is
line npon line and precept upon prrcept, but
all TO no good purpose. That boy will break
my heart yeti"
Mr.. Burton said nothing, hut he saw plain
ly enough that it was not all the child's fault.
He doubted the use of coming out and say.
ing this unequivocally, although he had otter
and often been on the point Ct doing SO in.
Voluntarily. He knew the temper of his wife
so well, aud her peculiar sensitiveness about
every thing that looked like charging any
fault upon herself that he feared more harm
than good would result from an attempt on
his part to show her that she was much more
than half to blame for the boys perverseness
of temper.
Once or twice the little fellow showed him
self at the door, but was driven back with
harsh words until the hour for tea arrived.
The sound Of the tea-bell caused an instant
oblivion of all the disagreeable impressions
made on his mind. His little feet answered
the welcome luminous with a CHATTER that
stunned the ears of his mother.
go back, sir!' she said sternly, as he
burst open the dining room door, and sent il
swinging with a loud conclusion against the
wall, land see if you can't walk down stair:
more like a boy than a horse"
Master Harry Withdrew, pointing out his
rosy lips to the distance of full an inch. He
went up one flight of stairs and then returned,
go up to the third story where you first
started from and come down quietly all the
way, or you shall not have a mouthiul of sup
per-"
Il don't want to-" whined the boy.
$50 up, ! tell you, this instant, or | will
send you to bed without any thing to eat"
This wasa threat that former experience had
taught him might be executed, and so he
deemed ii better to submit than pay too dear.
ly for having his own way. The distance tC
the third story was made in "A few ligh
springs, and then he came p~aitering down a,
lightly, and took his place al the table quick
ly but silently.
"There-there, not too fast; you've 90
plenty to eat, and time enough TO eat il in
Harry settled himself down TO the table al
qnietly as his mercurial spirit would let him
and tried to wait until he was helped, but il
spite of his efforts to do so his hand wen
over into the bread basket. A look from hi,
mother caused him to drop the slice he hat
lifted it was not a look in which there was
much affection. While waiting to be helped
his hands were busy with his knife and fork.
making Il most unpleasant %c.tjter.
Put down your hands - har-h,v spoken
remedled this evil, or ra,arr sent Tue acuv,
movement from the little fellows hands Il
his feet, that commenced a swinging motion
his heels striking noisily against the chair
keep your feet still !" caused this tc
cease.
After ono or two more rcproors, the boy
was left tn himself. As soon as he re.
> ceIved his cup Of ten he poured the entire
contents into his saucer, and then tried to lf
1t steadily to his lips. In doing so, he spilled
ono-ihlfd Of the contents uponI the table-cloih
A box on the ears and a storm Of angr,
words rewarded this feat.
Haven't told you over and over again
you lncorTigible bad boy not to pour the
whole OF your tea into your saucer lust see
whit a 'muss' You have made with that clear
tbIe-cloth. | declare! | am out Of all man,
nrr OF patience with you. Go away from the
table this instant!'
Harry went crying away. not in ANGER. hal
IN grief. lie had spilled his tea by accident,
HIS mother had - many reproofs and ininnc.
ions TO make that the bearing OF them all in
mind was a thing impossible. As 20 pour.
ing out all Of his lea at a time, he had nc
recollection Of any Introduction on that sub,
Jeci, although it had been made over and
over again dozens Of times. In little while