The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-18

Some years ago, there lived in the neigbborhood
Of Paris retired military officer of high rank and
large fortune. Possessed of many valuable quail
ties-brave, just and honorable there were two
sad drawbacks TO his characterize was violent
tempered and avaricious. He married beautiful
and gentle girl, whom he fondly loved, but who,
tseverlheless, often sought her chamber, weeping
bitterly at the harsh and unjust reproaches which
her husband heaped on her when the merest trfe
had excited his uDgoverned temper. Often, indeed
she felt terrified lest his violence should he more
than verbal and although his fits of outrage were
regularly followed by pentent apologies, she trem-
bled at the thought that he might some day forget
himself no far as to strike her.
1t was very sad to see the happiness of union
formed under the most promising auspices thus de-
sroyed by brutal and unmeaning fits Of rage, which
each day became more frequent. 1t required all
the young wfes tenderness and fidelity 10 sustain
her beneath the constant grief and terror which
she felt. One day when the husband, in the pre-.
sence of several visitors, had given way to more
than usually outrageous explosion of temper, re.
tired to his own apartment, whittier he was follow.
ed by one Of his friends-a true friend, who never
shrank from administering faithful reproof With.
out regarding the officers anger, the dying embers
of which still glowed fercely, this friend earnestly
and severely ectured him for his unkind and unjus
| conduct The cuIpri, listened with gloomy air
and then replied " Your reproaches are perfectly
just; condemn my own conduct far more strongl y
| than you can do, and | make many resolutions o.
per is too strong for me: and constantly in few
hours after the btterest repentance, find mysel
| again breaking out 'Tis terrible! -
" 1t is, indeed very terrible "
81 have need Of strong lesson, and | shall give
myself one" So saying, he took several turns up
step, his eyes bent the ground, and his lips firm
ly closed. Evidently some strong internal confic
was going on. Suddenly he stopped, opened ,
cssket which lay in his scrutoire, and took from i
bank note Of thousand francs. His frent
watched him with curiosity, not knowing what h,
was about to do. He twisted he bank note ap
piled end of it to lighted taper, and thel
throwing it on the hearthstone, watched until thu
curling fame had quite devoured the light and pre-
| cious paper
| His friend, amazed at an action which would seen
strange to any one, but especially for one who's
parsimony was notorious, ran to him and caugh
| his arm.
Let me alone p said the officer, in hoerse voice
Are you mad?"
"Do you know what you have done p"
| 81 do: | have punished myself" Then, whe
no trace of the note remained, save little ligh
dust, the hero, for may call him, added firm
ly: " l solemnly vow that whenever | lose IN
| temper, will infict punishment on my love Q
money"
admire your conduct, and approve of you
sacrifice" said his friend.
The promise was faithfully kept. From tina
time the avaricious man paid for the faults of tn
illtempered husband.
After every outbreak, he appeared before hi
own tribunal, and submitted to its selfimposed ps
nalty. The condemned cuprit then opened hi
casket, and, pale and trembling with suppresse
agitation, took on, a note and burned it. The e,
patton was always in proportion TO the crime
there regular scale of penalties, varying
according to the nature of the offence, from 100
1000 francs.
A few of these chastisements had the happies
effect on both the defective phases of our hero
character. BY degrees he became not only mil
and good tempered, but generous, and ready to dis
pense his treasure in ways which, if more agreea
able 10 his friends, could not, however, be ei
teemed more useful 10 himself than the notes whic
he had bravely consigned to the flames.