Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-03
speak Gently.
BY T. $. ARru,ts.
'sopssk geatiy! II is tstter far
To rule by love than fear,

Speak .ntiy Le. not hafsh word. nsr
The go,d We might do bere."
81 am entirely At . loss to know what to
do with that boy" said Mrs. Burton to her
husband, with much concern on her face
and in an anxious tone of voice. "I never
yield to his imperious temper never in
dsise him in anything, think about him
and care about him all the time, but see no
good -resalts."
"While Mrs Brown wa. speaking, a
bright, sct,ve boy Of eight years Of age,
cssAs dashing into the room, and, without
hesaiag any one, cenmeneed beating with
two large sticks against one Of the window
sills and making dsafening noise.
ssIncorrigible boy ~ exclaimed his moth
sr, going quickly up to him ond jerking the
sticks out of his hand. ssCan learn you
neither manners nor decency? have told
you hundred times that when you come
into room where any one is sitting, you
must be quiet. Go up stairs this moment,
and don't let me see your face for an hour r
The boy became sulky in an instant, and
stood where he was, pouting sadly.
"Did you hear what said2 Coup stairs
this moment ~ 8
Mrs. Burton spoke in a very angry tone,
and looked quite as angry as she spoke.
Slowly moved tho boy towards the door,
a.scowl darkening his face, that was but o
moment before 80 bright and cheerful.
His steps were too deliberate for the over
excited feelings Of the mother; she sprang
towards him, and seizing him by the arm
pushed HIM from the room aud closed the
door loudly after him.
81 declare, am out of all heart - she
exclaimed, sinking down upon chair. 1t
is line upon line and precept upon precept,
but all to no good purpose. That boy will
break my heart yet!'
Mr.. Barton said nothing, but he saw plain
ly enough that it was not all the child's
fault. He doubted the use of coming out
and saying this unequivocally, although he
had often and often been on the point of
deing so, involuntarily. He knew the tenn
per of his wife SO well, and her peculiar
sensitiveness about everything that looA ed
like charging any fault upon herself, that
he feared more harm than good would re-
suit from an attempt upon has part to show
that she was much more than half to blame
for the boys perverseness of temper.
Once or twice the little fellow showed
himself at the door, but was driven back
with harsh words until the hour for tea ar
rived. The sound of the tea. bell caused an
instant oblivion of all the disagreeable i'm
pressions made on his mind His little
feet answered the welcome summons with a
clatter thar stunned the ears of his mother.
"Go back, sir she said sternly. as he
burst open the dining room door and sent it
swinging with q loud concussion against
the wall, Sand see If you can't walk down
tho stairs more like boy than horse"
Master Harry withdrew, pouting out his
rosy lips to the distance Of full an inch.
lie went up one fight of stairs and then re-
turned.
'Go up to the thrd story where you first
started from and come down quietly all the
way, or you shall not have mouthful of
SUPPER
81 don't want to- whined the boy.
"Go up, ! tell you this instant or will
send you TO bed without anything to eat.'
This was threat that former experi-
enec had taught him might be executed, so
he deemed it better to submit than p, y too
dearly for having his own way. The dis
tancc to the third story was made in few
light springs, and then he came pattering
down as lightly, and took his place at the
table quickly but silently.
"There there, not too fast I; you've got
plenty to eat, and time enough to eat it in.''
Harry settled himself down to the table
as quietly as his mercurial spirits would let
him, and sried to wait until he was helped,
but, spite Of his efforts to do so, bis hand
went over into the bread basket. A look
from his mother caused him to drop the
slice he had lifted il was not q look in
which there vas much affection. While
waiting TO be helped, his hands were busy
with his knife ard fork, making most un-
pleasant clatter.
sTt t0s~vwh yOuS nsnue1 uo1eoAy SpoAou3
rswedied this evil, or rather sent the ac-
tire movement from the little fellows hands
s'his feet, thst commenced swinging mo-
tion, his heels striking noisily against the
chair. ! ua2
h.sKesp your feet still 70 caused this to
csasss 80 sae
After one Or two more reproofs, the boy
was left to himself. A soon as he received
his cup Of ten he poured the entire contents
into. his saucer, and then tried to lift it
ssssdily 10 his lips. In doing so he spilled
one-third Of the contents upon the table,
4 box on the ears and storm Of angry
words rewarded this feat.
ssHavsn't told you over atd over again,
yea ineerrigible bad boy not to pat the
whole ofyour. tea into your saucer? just
see what moss you hare made with that
clean table cloth. declare. am out OF
ap.mannsr of patience with you. Go way
from tho table this instant ="
nssry went crying away, not IN sngsr,
bat ID grief. lie had spilled his tea by ae-
sidsnt. His mother had 90 many reproofs
aud ;n;nnotiaps IN m ak "a that the haor;vr n