The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-06
&c ransily-Honae scene.
BY T. 8. ARTHUR.

sZ 00SA- WIZ mt
lrity rob mesof my peace, and make the house a bed
larn instead Of a quiet home. sfTom - she spoke
sharply to a bright fellow who was pounding away
with a wooden hammer on a chair, and making a
most intolerable dir, stop that noise this instant /!
And you, En-, not & word more from your lips. Tyou
can't live in peace with your sister, LII separate you
Dive hear hush this instant"
HThen make Julia give me my pm CUSHION. ohe >
got it in her pocket"
:. It's no such thing, 1 haven't" retorted Julia.
You have, [ say
eel fell YOU T haven't
vou hush 20 The face of Mrs. Lyon was
fiery red. she stamped upon the floor as she spoke.
Il want my pin cushion. Make julie give me my
pin cushion
Irritated beyond control, Mrs. Lyon caught Julia
by the arm, and thrusting her hand into her pocket
drew cut a piece of lace and a penknife.
:" told YOU it wasn't there, couldn't you believe
me 90
This impertinenee was more than the mother could
endure and acting upon her indignant impulses, she
boxed the ears of Julia soundly, conscious at the same
time that Emily was chiefly to blame for all of this
trouble, by a wrong accusation OF her sister she
turned upon her also, administering to her likewise
an equal punishment. Frightened by all this, the
younger children, whose incessant noise for the last
half hour, had contributed TO the overthrow of their
mothers temper, became suddenly quiet, and skulked
away into the corners and the baby that was seated
on the floor between two pillows, curved her quivering
lips, and gllncing f~earfully up at the distorted face
in which she had been used to see the loYe-light that
made her heaven.
A deep quiet followed this, burst of passion like the
hush which succeeds the storm. Alas, for the re-
pulsive image of that mother, daguerre typed in an
instant, on the memory of her children and never to
be efaeed. How many, many times in after years,
will not q sigh heave in their bosoms, as that painful
reflection looks out upon them from amid the dear
remembrances Of childhood.
A woman with good impulses, but with scarcely
any self-control, was Mrs. Lyon. She loved her
children and desired their good. That they showed
so little forbearance one with another, manifested so
little ~fraternal feeling, grieyed her deeply.
HMy whole life is made unhappy by it, she would
often say, 6 what is to be done? 1t is dreadful to
think of a family grown up in disorder and disunion.
Sister at variance with sister, and brother lifting his
hand against brother
As was usual after the ebulition of passion, Mrs.
Lyon, deeply depressed in spirits as well as discour-
aged, retired from her family to grieve and weep.
Lifting the frightened baby from the floor, she drew
its head tenderly against her bosom and leaving the
nursery sought the quiet of her room. There in re-
pentance and humiliation she recalled the stormy
scene through which she had just passed, and blamed
herself for yielding blindly to passion, instead of meet
ing the trouble among her children with a quiet dis
elimination.
To weeping ~calmness succeeded. Still she was as per-
picked in mind, as grieyed at her own want Of con-
troll. What was to be done with her children How
were they to be governed Alright Painfully did she
feel her own %unftness for the task. BY this time the
baby was asleep, and the mother felt something of
that tranquil peace that every true mother knows,
when a young babe is siumbering on her bosom.
book lay on the shelf near where she was sitting. and
MIS-. Lyon, scarcely conscious OF the act. reached ont
her hand Tor the volume. She opened without feeling
any interest in its contents, but she had read only q
few sentences when this remark arrested her attention.
A right government of children begins with
selfgovernment.''
The words seemed written for her. and the trnth
expressed was elevated instantly into perception. She
saw it in the clearest light, and bowed her head in
sad acknowledgement of her own errors. Thus for
some time she had been sitting, when the murmur of
the voices from below grew more distinct, and she
was soon aroused to the painful fact that, as usual.
when left alone, the children were in a wrangle among
themselves. Various noises, as of pounding and
throwing chairs and other pieces of furniture were
heard, and at length q loud scream mingled with loud
vociferations smote upon her ears.
Indignation swelled instantly in the heart of Mrs.
Lyon hurrledly placing the sleeping babe in its
crib, she started for the scene of disorder, moved by
an impulse to punish severely the young rebels against
authority, and was half way down stairs when her
feet were checked by a remembrance of the senti-
ment-"A All right government of children begins with
selfgovernment."
Will anger subdue anger? When storm meets
storm, is the tempest stilled 2" These were questions
asked of herself almost involuntarily. ssThis is no
spirit IN which to meet my children. It never has,
and never will enforce obedience, y she added, as she
stood upon the stairs struggling with herself and
striving for victory. From the nursery came louder
sounds of disorder. How weak the mother felt Yet
in this very weakness was strength. ,
sI must not stand idle here she said as a sharper
cry OF anguish smote on her ears, and so she moved =
on quickly and opening the nursery door stood re- L
yealed to her children. Julia had just raised her
hand to strike Emily, who stood confronting her with
D fiery face. Both were q little started ut their
mothers sudden appearance, and both expecting the
storm which usually came at such times, began to
assume the defiant, stubborn air with which her in
repreofs were always met.
A few moments did Mrs. Lyon stand looking at her
not anger upon her pale countenance.
still all became. What a look of wonder came
gradually in the %children's faces, as they glanced one
at the other. Something of shame was next visible.
And now the mother was conscious of a new power
the young rebels of her household. =
Ss Emily" said she speaking mildly, and vet with
touch of sorrow in her voice she could not subdue.
Il wish you would SO up into my room and sit with
Mary while she sleeps +
Without a sign OF opposition or even Of reluctance, I
emily went quietly from the nursery, in obedience to :
Ter mothers desire.
"This room is very much in disorder, Julia"
Many times had Mrs. Lyon said, under similar :
sswhy don't you put things to rights? . I
r SCI never saw such girls If all the room was
opsy turvey, and the floor an inch thick with dirt, :
tou'd never turn over a hand to put thingsi in orders
r 9 go and get the broom this moment, and sweep '
p the room" ldany, many times, as we have said.
ad such language been addressed by Mrs. LYON.
nder like circumstances to Julia and her sisters.
Without producing any thing but grumbling, partial b
xecutioR Of her wishes. But now the mild intima- .
ION that the room was in disorder, produced the =
meets desired julia Vent quickly about the restoring
I things to the right places, and in a few minutes 6
rder was apparent where confusion reirned before. til
little Tommy. whose love of hammerinr was an inces- o
ant annoyance to his mother. ceased bs din On bor m