The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-09-16


matter with her nor say anything that
was calculated to keep up the excite
ment under which she was laboring, her
feelings in little while quieted down
and her thoughts became active. The
words "speak gently" were constantly
in her mind, and there was a reproving
import in them. On going to-bed that
night she could not get to sleep for sew
eral hours her mind was too busily en-
gagged in reviewing her conduct towards
her child. She clearly perceived that
he was too often annoyed at trifes
which ought to have been overlooked.
{" l am afraid have been unjust to
my child" she sighed over and over
again, turning restlessly upon her pill
low. @
- At length she ieel asleep and dreamed
about Harry. She saw him lying on his
bed, sick and apparently near to death ;
his pure, round cheeks, where health
had strewed her glowing blossoms, were
pale aud sunken his eyes were hollow
the weary lid, had closed over them
he lay in deep sleep. Mournfully she
stood by his side and looked upon him
in bitterness of spirit. Sadly she re,
|membered the days past in which she
had spoken in barsh and angry tones to
her boy, when kinder words would have
been far better. In the anguish of her
soul, bowed down by sorrow and a re-
proving conscienc she wept
When she again looked up she saw
that a change had come over the be-
loved sleeper; the glow of health was
upon his cheek, and every vein seemed
bounding with life and health, but he
slumbered still. She was about arousing
him, when hand was laid upon hers ;
she turned-a mild face, full Of goodness
as the face of an angel, looked into her
own. She knew the face and the form,
but could not call the stranger by name
With a finger upon her lip, and her eye
cast first upon the sleeping boy and then
upon the mother, the visitor said in a
low, earnest, but sa eet voice" Speak
gently"
The words sent thrill through the
heart of Mrs. Burton, and she awoke.
Many earnest thoughts and self-rc-
proaches kept her awake for a long time !;
but she slept again, and more quietly
until orning. .....sl.,-. .s. =.
The impression made by her husbands S
reproof, her own sober reflections and
the dream, was deep. Earnest were
the resolutions she made to deal more
gently with her wayward boy-to make
love rule instead of anger. The evils
against which she had been contending
SO powerfully for years she saw to be in
herself, while she had been fighting
them as if in her generous minded but
badly-governed child. 81,
"I will try to do BETTER" she said to
herself, as she arose, feeling but little
from sleep. Before she was
+ ady to leave her room she heard
Harry's voice calling her from the next
chamber, where he slept. The tones
were fretful ; he wanted some attend
ance, and was crying out for it in a
that instantly disturbed the even
surface of the mothers feelings She
was about telling him angrily to be
quiet until she could finish dressing her.
self, when the words "speak gently"
seemed whispered in her ear Their
effect was magical-the mothers spirit
was subdued. t Ha
81 will speak gently" she murmured,
and went in to Harry, who was still cry
ing out fretfully.
"'What do you want, my son :" she
said, in quiet, kind voice.
The boy looked up with surprise his
eye frightened, and the whole expression
of his face was changed in an instant.
Z" l can't find my stockings, mamma"
he said. .t.
"There they are, under the bureau"
returned Mrs. Burton, as gently as she
had at first spoken.
"Oh, yes, so they are," chcerfully
replied Harry; I" couldn't see them
nowhere" ..... ..- ... -.
"Did you think crying would bring
them :"
This was said with smile, and in
tone so unlike bis mother, that the child
looked up again into her face with sur
prise, that was, Mrs. Burton plainly saw,
with pleasure.
"Did you want anything else ?" she
asked. a,I
"No, mamma" he replied, ,cheerfully,
I" can dress myself now"
This first little effort was crowned