Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-26
s aHO BUSINESS pApsRHvo7ED TO poaseN AND DOMESTIC

read to him, sometimes | set him to
doing things by way of assisting me.
l take him out when can, and let
him go with the girls when l send
them on errands. ! provide him with
playthings that are suited to his age.
In word, 1 try to keep him in my
mind; and, therefore, find it not very
difficult so meet his varying states. /
never thrust him aside, and say 1 am
too busy to attend to him when he
comes with a request If l cannot
grant it, l try and not say no. for
that word comes too coldly upon the
eager desires of an ardent boy"
"But how can you help saying no.
II the request is one you can not
grant?"
" Sometimes | ask if something else
will not do as well. And sometimes
l endeavor TO create new interest in
bis mind. There are various ways in
which II may be done that readily sug-
gest themselve to those desirous for
the good Of their children. It's afieo-
lion that inspires thought. The love
of children always brings n quick
Intelligence touching their good"
Much more was said not needful
here 10 repeat. When the friend went
away, Tommy's mother, whase heart
convicted her OF the wrong TO her lit
tie boy. went up into the room where
she had sent him 10 spend four or Eve
lonely hours asia punishment for what
was in reality her own faull. and not
his.
Three hours OF the weary time had
already passed. She did uot remem-
Der to have heard sound from him
since she drove him away with angry
words. In fact, she had been too
deeply engaged in the new book she
was reading TO have heard any note
that was not Of an extraordinary char
acter.
AZ tho door Of the chamber she
stood and listened for moment. All
was silent within. The mothers heart
beat with heavy motion. On enter
ing, she found the order Of the room
undis.urbed. Tommy WAS asleep on
the bed. AS the mother bent over
him, she saw that tears were upon his
cheeks and eyelids. and that the pill
low was wet. A shocking sigh strug-
glcd up from her bosom. She felt q
rebuking consciousness Of having
wronged her child She tried to ava
ken him. but he only moaned and nut.
tered. The excitement had bro't on
a fever.
When the father came homo and
laid his hand upon the hot check Of
his sleeping boy, he uttered an excla.
nation OF alarm, aud started immedi.
ately for physician. All night the
wretched mother watched by the side
Of her sick child. unable from fear
and self.reproaches To sleep. When
the morning broke. and Thomas look
cd up into her face with a glance OF
affection, his fever was gone. and his
pulse calm. the mother laid her cheek
thankfully against that Of her boy.
and prayed to heaven for fstrength TO
bear with him, and wisdom to guide
her feet Alright; and as she did so. IN
the silence OF her own oyerilowing
heart, the lad threw his arms around
her neck, aud, bissing her, exclaim-
ed
Mother, do love you!"
That tears came gushing down the
mothers face. Is no cause Of wonder,
nor that she returned, half-wiIdly, the
mbrace and kiss OF her child.
Let us hope that in her future con-
duct towards her restless boy she may
be able to control herself; for then,
she will not find it hard to bring him
under subjection to what is right.