Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-12-15
WHOLE NUMBER ,34l
Correct ThystIf!
FROM TME FRENCH.


Some years ago, there lived 10 the neigh
borh,od # Paris retired military 1f:cer
Of hish ar.k ard large forture. Possessed
OF many valuables qualities brave, Just,
aud bcnerab!e, there we're two sad d,an-S
backs to his cha'ac he was violent tenn
pered aid avaricious. He married beau
tiful and geIile 81 |. whom he foLay ley-
ed, but who nevertheless, often sonstt her
chamber, weeping bitterly at the hs sh and
unjust rrIrns cbes " hich her husband heap
ed on her wlea the meres, tr,Ae had excit-,
ed his ungoverned temper. Often, deed,
she felt terrible lest his violence. should te
more than verbal and although his fits ef
rage were regularly followed by penisss
apologies, she trembled at tbs thought tb I
he might some day forget himself so far as
to strike her.
1t was very sad to see the happiness Of
union formed under the most promis ng au-
spices thus destroyed by brutal aud uH-
me ariEg f:s Of rage, which each day be-
came more frequent Itrequied all the
young wife's tenderness aud fidelity to sus.
tain her beneath the constant grief aid ter
ror which she felt. One day when the Lus-
band in the presence Of several visitors had
given way to more than usually UutI age0us
explosion of temper, retired 10 BIS own
apartment whittier he was followed BY one
Of his faiends true friend, who never
shrank from administering a faithful re-
proof. Without regai ding the officer S an
ger, the d, ing e,n bers of which still allowed
tereely, this frieLd earnestly and severely
lectured him for his unkind and unjust con-
duct. The culp it listened with gloomy
air and then replied: ~Your reproaeb,s
are perfectly Just: cordemn my own con-
duct far more strongly than you can da
and make many resolutions Of amend
men., but without avail My unhappy
temper is too strong for me: and constantly
in few hours after the biterest repent
ance,I find myself again breaking out.
&Tis terrisler #-. iF.'
@it is indeed very trrible3' g.
81 have need Of strong lie son AID /
shall give myself one" So saying he look
several turns Up and down the room. pacing
with determined step. his eyes bent On the
ground, and his lips firmly closed. Evil
IDENTIFY some strong Internal conflict Mas
going on. Sndstenly be stopped, opened
casket which lay in his escrutuir; ard COX
from it a bauk note of thousands francs.
His friend watched him with curiosity nut
knowing hat he was about to do. Ho
twisted the baak note applied one end ofit
to lighted taper. aud hen throwing il on
the hearthstuue, watched until the Gu ling
fame had quite deyou.,d the light and
precious paper. @ 81 ar s..a
His f,ieIts an azed .at an action which
would seem strang' T.. any one, but espe-
cialy for Que whose parsImony Was uofu,i-
Gus, ran to him and caught his arm ,.ss
"Lef me al nep said the officer in
hoarse voice. 'Ha e. f- a- s13.tu
Il care you mads" aa-. eH -gt
mo .ss 60. -.,s. z...se-l. E5.t -.,. ..
. "Do you know W hat you have dane?'
II do: | have punished myself" Then
when Do trace of tas note remained, save a
little light dust, The hero, for so we may
call him, added 6rn,ly: II so'emnIy vow
that, whenever lose my temper, will u-
aict punishment on my love Of money. 1,
Il admire. your conduct, and approve Of
your sacrifice, said his friend 49,.
The promise was faithfully kept. From
that time the avaracious man paid for the
faults of the ill-tempered husband. &
After every outbreak, be appeared be-
fore his own tribunal, and submitted TO its
self imposed penalty. The condemned cul
prit then opened his casket, and, pale aad
trembling with suppressed agitation, took
out note and burned it. The expiatisn
was always in proporsiQp to the crime:
there was regular sca!eTof penalties. vary.
ing, according to the nature of offence,
from 100 to 1000 francs.
A few of these cbastisements bad the
happiest effect on both the defective phases
of our hero's character. By degrees he
became not only mild and good tempered,
but generous, and ready TO dispense his
treasures in ways which, Is more agreeable
to Ms friends, could not, however, be ca
teeme1 more usqfnl to himself than the notes
which he had brAvely consigned to the
flames E.s