The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-25
THE QUICK-TEMPERED BOY.

THE QUICK-TEMPERED BOY.
About fifty years ago, boy was horn in one of the
cities Of New England, whose life is lesson TO all
the youth of the land, and whose story we are now
going to tell for their warning and instruction.
John was bright boy. He was sent to school ear
y. and although he not smarter than many 9TH
ers of his age with whom he studying, he SEEM
ed to take hold with quickness that gave promise of
progress. John was known among his school-mates
as a clever boy, but one who would get mad very
quickly, and when he was mad he was dangerous
boy to meddle with.
John was an only child. One would think that he
would on this account have been watched with great
care, and the bad habits Of his early years
ted before they became fixed and settled that they
could not be broken up. But his parents let him do
as he liked If he wanted to stay home from school,
they gave him leave to do so. If he wanted to fol-
low the soldiers through the streets, they let him CO.
When he to the table he helped himselfto what
he liked and if his father mother vehtured to tell
him that this was not good for him or that he had
enough already, he would fly in passion, and then
they would give to him to make him quiet In this
way, he soon found out that he was master of the
house, and that his parents must do as he said Per-
haps you think this all very pleasant for the boy,
and wish that you could have your way in every thing
You dislike to be told that you cannot have this, and
you cannot 60 there, when you have set your heart
upon it, and you sometimes think your parents are
very hard when they require you to do as they think
best, and give you reason for it. Well, John had
no such parents. They had but this one child, and
SO they let him do as he pleased.
Often he came from school with a black eye or
bloody nose having had fight with some of the boys
in the street, and then his mother was sorry for her
dear child that some dreadful wicked by in the street
had been beating terribly. She did not for mo-
ment think that Johnny had been in fault. He was
such dear good boy, that he could not have made
the first attack-but they believed his story, that he
walking along the street, thinking about his les.
sons, when great big boy came along and hit him
in the face, rpped him up, and then ran off as hard
as he could go.
These stories he in the habit of telling to his
parents whenever he got into trouble And they be-
lleved him and took any pains to find out the
truth; he was not slow in learning to tell lies.
He became confirmed liar. Perhaps if his parents
had punished him for getting angry so often, and had
punished him more severely for the lies that he told
to hide his faults, they might have broken up these
habits, at least restrained them in measure. so
that they would have led to such sad results in
his after life.
When he was old enough, he was sent to college.
Here, in the midst of young of his own age. he
distinguished for his ungovernable temper, and
often seized end held fast when he was about to
make an attack upon his companions. Such young
man in fair way to ruin He travelled after he
ed in every thing that he desired, he gave himself up
to the pursuit Of pleasure, and plunged into every ex-
cess of vice. He returned home. His parents were
now dead, and they had left little nothing for his
support. He was obliged to do something for him
SELF He had the best advantages for education and
his learning was now all that was left to him. He
became teacher. He married, and family was
gathered around him. But the habits of youth were
stronger than his love for wife and children He spent
all the money he could get in the indulgence of his
passions. He had not been taught to restrain them
when he was young, and now they governed him
ton, and his manners gave him high standing in
society. Those who did not know his secret charac-
ter respected him man Of learning and of taste,
and his family were admired and loved by all who
knew them.
To keep up appearances, and CRAFTY all the desires
of his bad heat. he wanted more money. He had a
friend who had helped him often, to whom he was
indebted for the place he held teacher, and which
gave him money 70 support his family, it he had reg
uated his expenses with prudence, and retalned from
the indulgence of his sinful passions But he want
ed more money. His friend lent him more. Itwould
have been kind to refuse him. But he had never
been refused anything. He always had his own way,
and got what he wanted
By and by, this borrowed money must be paid.
He had no means to pay it. He promised to pay,
but he always broke his promise. He had learned
to tell lies when he was a boy, and 1t was easy to
tell tnem now tnat ne was uldn. Dut lIIehu
sisted upon it that his debt must be paid, and that,
too, without any more delay.
He wrote to his friend to come to his study at
certain hour, and he would then pay him. His friend
came and there in the study, with the door shut, he
killed him!
He thought no body would find it out. He hid
the dead body, and went home to his wife and chill
dren as if nothing had happened. But his friend
was soon missed. He had been seen to 60 into that
room, and had never been to leave it. The room
was searched, and the mangIed body OF the murder
ed man was found. The murderer arrested in
the midst of his family, and shut "p in Jail. He
was tried and convicted. and sentenced to be hung.
He then confessed his horrd crime, and added these
words: "A quick temper has Been besetting sin OF
my life. was only chid-much induged-and
have acquired the control over my passions
that ought to have acquired early, and the conse-
quence is all this"
He was hung the 3Oth day of last month.
Mr.. Mckennan. the Minister of the Interior Of five
days existence, threw up the Office, he says ac-
count of his "pecuiar nervous temperament which
too readily responds of excitement and de-
PRESTON" more probable reason, however. is as
signed by the correspondent of the Philadelphia Bull
letin. Mr.. Ewing, it seems, had left the department
in so an embarrassing condition by improper bestow-
ais Of patronage characteristic intrigue. &c. that