Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-07-01
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
Governing Children.

"Tll not live in this way" exclaimed Mrs Lyon,
passionStely. "Such disorder, wrangng. and
irregularity robs me of all my peace; and makes
the house bedlam, instead of quiet home
Tom"-she spoke sharply to bright-eyed little
fellow, who was pounding away with wooden
hammer on chair, and making a most intolera-
Bile din--"stop that noise this instant! And YOU,
En-, not word from your lips. If Won can't live
in peace with your sister, I'll separate you. DYE
hear! Hush, this instantr'
"Then make julie give me my pin cushion
She's got it in her pocket
"It's no such thing-I havnt," retorted Julia.
"YOu have, say" ..........r -......
81 tell you havn't!'
''Will you hush!" The face of Mrs Lyon was
fiery red; and she stamped upon the floor as she
spoke.
81 want my Pin-cushion. Make julie give me
my pn-cushion." ..-
lrritated beyond control, Mrs, Lyon caught Ju-
liza by the arm, and thrusting her hand into her
pocket, drew out thimbe, piece of lace, and
pen-knife.
81 told you that it wasn't there! Couldn't you
believe me!' .. r.-. .--s..-l. -..... -
This impertinence was more than the mother
could endure; and, acting from her ndi gnant i'm.
pulses, she boxed the ears of Julia soundIy; con-
scious, at the same time, that Emily was chiefly
to blame for all this trouble, by wrong accusa-
ton of her sister, she turned upon her, also, ad-
ministsring an equal punishment. frightened
by all this, the younger children, whose incessant
noise had, for the last hour, contributed to the
overthrow of their mothers temper, became sud
denly quiet, and skulked away into corners--and
the baby, which was seated on the floor, between
two pillows, curved her quveriDg lips, and glanc-
ed fearfully up at the distorted face in which she
bad been used to see the love-light that made her
heaven. -ra ...
deep quiet followed this burst of passion, like
the hush which succeeds the storm. Alas, for
the evil traces that were left behnd Alas for
the repulsive image of that mother, daguerrotyped
in an instant on the memory of her children,
never to be effaced. How many, many times in
after years, will sigh heave their bosoms, as
that painful collection looks out upon them from
amid the dearer remembrances of childhood.
woman of good impulse, but with scarcely
any selfcontrol, was Mrs. Lyon. She loved her
children, and desired their good. That they
showed so little forbearance, one with the other,
manifested so little fraternal affection grieved her
deeply.
"My whole lite is rendered unhappy by t!'' she
would often say. "What is to be done! 1t s
dreadful to think of family growing in discord
and disunioR. Sister at variance with sister, and
brother lifting his hand against brother"
1t was usual, after an ebulition of passion,
Mrs. Lyon, deeply depressed in spirits, as well as
discouraged retired from her family to grieve and
weep. Lifting the frightened baby from the floor,
she drew its headtend0rly against her bosom; and
leaving the nursery, sought the quiet of her own
room. There in repentance and humiliation, she
recalled the stormy scene through " hch she had
lust passed, and blamed herself for yielding blind
| " to passion, instead of meetag the trouble
among her children with quiet discrimination
To weeping, calmness succeeded. Still she
was perplexed in mind, as well as grieved at hel
own want of seH-control. What was to be done
with her children! How are they to be governed