Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-03

and resumed his place ut the table, his eye,
upon his mothers face. Mrs. Burton wal
sorry that she had sent him away for wha,
was only IN accident she felt that she had
hardly been just to the thoughtless boy
She did not, therefore, object to his coming
back, hut said, as he took his seat-"Nex,
time see thai you are more careful. l have
told you again and again not to fll you.
saucer to the brim ;.you never can do it
without spilling the tea over upon the Ia
BILE -eloth."
This was not spoken in kindness.
A scene somewhat similar to this was
enacted at every meal, but instead Of i'm
proving in his behavior, the boy grew more
and more needless. Mr.. Burton rarely said
anything to Hsrry about his unruly man
nsr, but when he did, word was enough.
That word was always mildly yet firmly
spoken. He did not think him bad boy
or difficult to manage-at least he had
never found him SO.
81 wish knew what to do with that
child" said Mrs. Burton. after the little
fellow had been sent to bed an hour before
his time, in consequence Of some violation
OF law and order "he makes me feel un-
happy all the while. dislike to be scold :
ing him forever, but what can do! II /
did not curb him in some way there would
be no living in the house with him. am
afraid he will cause US world of trouble"
Mr.. Burton sat silent. He wanted to say
word on the subject, but feared that its
effect might not be what he desired.
81 wish you woult advise me what to do,
Mr.. Burton" his wife said, a little petu-
lantly. "You sit and don't say q single
word, as if you had no kind Of interest in
the matter. What am Ito do! Ihave ex-
hausted all my own resources, and feel COM
pletely at loss.''
"Thsrs is way, which, if you would
adopt, think might do great deal Of
good" Mr.. Burton spoke with a slight ap.
pearance Of hesitation. sIf you would
speak gently to Harry, am sure you would
be able to manage him far better than you
do
Mrs. Burton's face was crimsoned in an
instant; .he felt the reproof deeply her
self-esteem was severely wounded.
"Speak gently, indeed!' she replied.
81 might as we'll speak to the winds am
scarcely heard, now, at the top of my
voice.
Alr. Burton never contended with bis
wife. She would havef fell better sometimes
if he had done SO, for then she could have
excused herself a little. His words were
few, mildly spoken, and always remember
ed. lie had expected some such effect
from his suggestion Of remedy in the
case of Harry, and was not, therefore, az
all surprised at the ebullition it produced.
On its subsistence he believed her mind
would he moro transparent than before, and
SO il was.
As her husb"n did not argue the matter
with h,r, or say anything that was calcula-
ted to keep up the excitement .nder which
she was laboring, her feelings in little
while quieted down and her thoughts be-
came active. The words speak gentlyo
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 several hours her mind was too busily
engaged in reviewing her conduct towards
her child. She clearly perceived that she
had too frequently suffered her mind to get
excited and angry, and that she was too
often annoyed at tribes which ought to have
been overlooked.
81 am afraid have been unjust to my
child,' she sighed over and over again,
turning restlessly upon her pillow.
At length she fell 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
strewsd her glowing blossoms, were pale
and sunken; his eyes were hollow, the weary
lids 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 remembered the days past in which
she had spoken in harsh and angry tones to
her boy, when kinder words would have
seen far better. In the anguish Of her soul,
bowed down BY sorrow and reproviAg
conscience, she wept.
When she again looked up she saw that .
change had come over the beloved 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 rousing him, when hand was laid
upon hers; she turned mild face, full Of
goodness a. the face of m angel, looked
into her own. She knew the face and the
form, but could not call the stranger by
name. With finger npon her lip, and her
eyes cast 6rst upon the sleeping boy, and
then upon the mother, the visitor said, in q
low, earnest, but sweet voice -" Speak
gently!"
The words sent thrill through the heart
Of Mrs. Burton, and she awoke. Many
esraest thoughts and self reproaches kept
her awase for long time; but abe slept
again, and more quietly, until morning.
The impression made by her husband's
reproof, her own sober reflections and the
dream, was deep. Earnest were the reso-
buttons she made to deal more gently with
her Maynard boy to make love rule instead
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