The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-06-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
"Correct Thyself!" +"
FROM THE FRENCH.

Some two years ago, there lived in the
neighborhood of Paris retired military Off
Ger Of high rank and large fortune. Possess
ed of many valuable qualities brave, Just,
and honorable, there were two sad drawbacks
to his character-he was yiolent-tempered
and avaricious He married beautiful and
gentle girl, whom he fondly loved, but who,
nevertheless, often sought her chamber,
wee ing bitterly at the harsh and unjust re-
proaches which her husband heaped ON her
when the merest trife had excited his ungov-
erned temper. Often. indeed, she felt terri
fled lest his violence should be more than
verbal; and although his fits of rage were
regularly followed by penitent apologies, she
trembled at the thought that he might some
day forget himself so far as to strike her.
1t was very sad to see the happiest of a
union formed under the most promising aus
pices thus destroyed by brutal and unmeaning
fits of rage, which each day became more
frequent. 1t required all the young wife's
tenderness and fidelity to sustain her beneath
the constant grief and terror which she felt
One day when the husband, in the presence
of several visitors, had given way to more
than usually outrageous explosion of temper
he retired to his own apartment, whittier he
was followed by one OF his triends-a true
friend, who never shrank from administer
ing a faithful reproof. Without regarding
the officers anger, the dying embers of which
still glowed fiercely, this friend earnestly anC
severely lectured him for his unkind and un
| just conduct The culprit listened with q
gloomy air, and then replied: Your re-
proaches are perfectly just: condemn my
own conduct far more strongly than you car
do, and make many resolutions of amend
ment, but without avail. My unhappy tenn.
per is too strong for me; and constantly in Z
few hours after the bitterest repentance,
find myself again breaking out. 'Tis terri
blep
1T is, indeed, very terrible 7
4 have need of a strong lesson, and shal
give myself one.' So saying, he took seyera
turns up. and down the room, pacing with
determined step, hiseyes bent on the ground
and his lips firmly closed. Evidently som,
strong internal conflict was going on. Sud
denly he stopped, opened a casket which 10,
in his scrutoire, and took from it bank not
of thousand francs. His friend watche,
him with curiosity, not knowing what h
was about to do. He twisted the bank note
applied one end of it to a lighted taper, an,
tthen throwing it on the hearthstone, watche,
until the curling flame had quite devoure,
the light and precious paper.
4 His friend, amazed at an action whicl
would seem strange for any one, but espe
lcially Tor one whose parsimony was notori
Gus, ran to him, and caught his arm.
.Let ealone ! said the officer in hoars
voice. .1l s
Are you mad 2
do you know what you have done p
q do: ] have punished myself The
when no trace of the note remained, save
little light dust, the hero, for SO we may cal
him, added firmly: Il solemnly vow tha,
whenever lose my temper, will inflic
1 punishment on my love of money ~
r Il admire your conduct, and approve Q
! your sacrifice said his friend
The promise was faithfully kept. Fror
81 that time the avaricious man paid for tn
faults Of the ill-tempered husband
After every outbreak, he appeared befor
hisown tribunal, and submitted to its sell
imposed penalty. The condemned culpri
then opened his casket, and, pale and tren
: bling with suppressed agitation, took out
: note and burnedit The expiation was q
I. ways in proportionfto the crime; there WI
9 regular scale of penalties, varying. acco
ding e the nsture Of the offence, from 10
70 1000 francs. i,8s IN
Al "A few of these chastieements had Inc In,