The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-07-05
"CORRECT YHlSELF!"
FROM THE FRENCH.

COKRECT YillSELF!
FROM THE FRENCH.
Some years ago, there lived in the
nolghborhood Of Paris a retired military
officer of high rank and largo fortune.
Possessed Of many valuable qualities
brave, just and honorable, there We're
two sad drawbacks to his character
he vas violent tempered and avaricious.
He married beautiful and gentle girl,
whom he fondly loved, but who, never
thel"Ss, often sought her chamber, weep
ing bitterly at the harsh and unjust re-
proaches which her husband heapcd on
her when the mcrest triile had excited
his unsovcrned temper. Often, indeed,
she felt terrified lest his violence should
be more than verbal; and although his
fits of rage We're regularly followed by
penitent apologies, she trembled at the
thought that he might some day forget
himself SO FAR as to striNcher.
II was very sadto see the happiness Of
a union formed under the most promis-
ing auspices thus destroyed by brutal
and unmcanng fits of rage, which each
day became more frequent. 1t rcqul-
red all the young wile's tenderness and
fidelity to sustain her beneath the con-
slant grief and terror which she felt
One day when the husband, in the pres
ence of several visitors, had given way
to more than usually outrageous eXplo-
sion of temper, he retired TO his own
apartment, whittier he was followed by
one of his iricndS-a true friend, who
never shrank from administering faith
full reproof Without regarding the Of
ticer's anger, the dying embers Of which
still glowed fercely, this friend earnest
ly and severely lectured him for his UNI
kind and unjust conduct. The culprit
listened with gloomy air, and then re-
piled: "Your reproaches are perfectly
just: | condemn my own conduct far
more strongly than you can do, and |
make many resolutions Of amendment,
but without avail. My unhappy temper
is too strong for me; and constantly in a
few hours after the bittereSt repentance,
find myself again breaking out. lis
terrible!'
at is indeed, very terrible -
81 have need Of strong lesson, and |
shall give myself one" SO saying, he
took several turns up and down the room,
pacing with determined step, his eyes
bent on the ground, and his lips firmly
closed. Evidently some strong internal
conflict was o>ing on. Suddenly he
stopped, opened a caslet which lay in
his scruoire, and took from it bank
note of a thousand francs. His friend
watched him with curiosity, not know
ing what he was about to do. He twis-
ted the bank note, applied one end oft
to lighted taper, and then throwing it
on the hearthstone, watched until the
curling flame had quite devoured the
light and precious paper.
His friend, amazed at an action which
would seem strange tor any one, but es-
peclally for one whose parsimony was
notorious, ran to him, and caught his
arm.
'Let me alone ~ said the officer in a
hoarSe voice.
"Are you mad !"
"No."
'Do you know what you have done z"
81 do: nave punished myself"
Then when no trace OF the note remain
ed, save little light dust, the hero, for
so we may call him, added firmly: 81
solemnly VOW that, whenever | lose my
temper, will inAict punishment on my
love of money."
81 admire your conduct, and approve
of your sacrifice" said his friend.
The promise was faithfully kept.
From that time the avaricious man paid
for the faults of the ill-tempered hlls-
band.
After every outbreak, he appeared be-
fore his own tribunal, and submitted to
its self-imposed penalty. The condemn
ed culpritthen opened his casket, and,
pale and trembling with suppressed agi-
tatlon, took out a note and burned it.
The eXplatlon was always in proportion
10 the crime: there was q /reglllar scale