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

attendance, and was crying out for it in q
manner that instantly disturbed the even
surface of the mother feelings. She VA,
abous telling him angrily to be quiet until
she could finish dressing herself, when the
words 'speak gently seemed whispered in
her ear. Their effect was magical-the
mothers spirit was subdued. g
81 will speak gently, she murmured, and
went in to Harry, who was still crying 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 instantly.
s'I can't find my stockings, mamma" he
said.
ssThere they are, under the bureau" re-
turned Mrs. Burton, as gently as she had at
first spoken.
"oh, yes, SO they are," cheerfully replied
Harry; couldn't see them nowhere"
"Did you think crying would bring
them ?'
This was said with smile, and in tone
30 unlike his mother, that the child looked
up again into her face with surprise that
Was, Mrs. Burton plainly saw, mingled with
pleasure.
"Do you want anything else 2" she
asked.
"No, mamma" he replied, cheerfally !;
81 can dress myself, now"
This first little effort was crowned with
the most encouraging results to the mother;
she felt deep peace settling in her bosom,
the consciousness of having gained true
victory over the perverse tendencies of both
her own and the heart of her boy. It was
little act, but it was the first fruits, and
the gathering even of so small . harvest
was sweet to her spirit.
AT the breakfast table the usual scene
was about being enacted, when. s'speak
gently coming into her mind prevented its
occurrence. 1t seemed almost a my sstery 10
her-the effect of words gently spoken, on
one who had scarcely needed her most pos
tive and angrily uttered reproofs and in
functions.
Although Harry was not as orderly in his
behavior at the table as the mother could
have wished, yet he did much better than
usual, and seemed really to desire to do
what was right. For nearly the whole of
that day Mrs. Burton was able to control
herself, and speak gently to her boy, but
towards evening she became fretful again
from some cause or other. From lhe in
stant this change made itself apparent, she
lost the sweet influence she had been able
to exercise over the mind of her child. He
no longer needed her words, and she could no
longer feel calm in spirit when he showed
perverse and evil tempers. When night
closed in, the aspect of affairs was but little
different from that of any preceding.
Heavy was the heart of Mrs. Burton
when she sought her pillow, and the Incl
dents and feelings of the day came up in
review before her mind. In the morning
her heart was calm and her perceptions
clear; she saw her duty plainly and felt
willing to walk in it's pleasant paths. In
treading these she had experienced an in
ternal delight unknown before, but ere the
day had passed, old habits, strong from
frequent indulgence, returned, and former
effects followed as natural consequence.
AS she lay for more than an hour resolving
and re-rssolving to do better, tho face Of
Harry often came up before her. Particu.
larly did she remember its peculiar express
sion when she spoke kindly, instead Of
harshly reproving him for acts Of rudeness
or disobedience. At these times she was
conscious of possessing real power over
him; this she never felt in any of her angry
efforts to subdue his stubborn will.
On awaking in the morning her mind was
renewed all passipn had sunk into quies-
cence; she could see her duty and ,eel will
ing to perform it. Harry, too, awoke as
usual, and that was in fretful, captious
mood, but this ripping Of the surface Of
his feelings all subsided when the voice Of
his mother in words gently spoken fell
soothingly upon his ear. lie even went 90
far as to put his arms around her neck and
kiss her, saying, ~ he did so-'sIndeed,
mamma, l will be good boy.o
For the first time in many months the
breakfast hour was pleasant to all. Harry
never once interrupted the conversation that
passed at intervals between his father and
mother. When he asked for anything it
was in way pleasing to all Once or twice
Mrs. Burton found it necessary to correct
some little fault of manner, but the way in
which she did it, not in tho least disturbed
her child 8 temper, and instead Of not seem.
ing to hear her words, ~ had almost al.
ways been the case, he regarded oil that she
said, and tried to do as she wished.
"Thers is wonderful power in gentle
wbrds," remarked Mr.. Burton to his wife,
after Harry had left the table.
eyes, wonderful. indeed; their effect
surprises me-"
s'Love is strong"
$50 it seems-stronger than any other
influence that we can bring to bear upon q
human being"
sWhether that being be child or full
grown man,
s'True, without doubt; hut how hard a