The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-09-24

SOHO nm "SSP.
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 repentance and humiliation, she re-
called the stormy scene through which
she had just passed, and blamed herself
for yielding thus blindly to passion, iu-
stead of meeting the trouble among her
children with a quiet discrimination.
To weeping, ca,mpsss succeeded
Still, she was perplexed, in mind, aud
gricved at her own want of CONTROL
What was to be done with her children ?
How were they to be governed Alright ?
Painfully did she feel her Vt unfiness
for the task. By this time the baby
was asleep, and the mother felt some.
thing of that tranquil peace that every
true mother knows, when a young babe
is slumbering on her bosom. A book
lay on the shelf neal where she was sit
thug, and Mrs. Lyon scarcely coacious
of the act, reached out her baud for the
volume. Shs-epencd it without feeling
any Interest in its contents, but she had
read only a few sentences when this re-
mark arrested her atteDtian:
'All right government of children be-
gin with self government
The words seemed written for her,
and the truth expressed was elevated
instantly into perception. She saw it
in the c~learest light, and closed the book
and bowed her head in sad acknowl-
edgement Of her own errors. Thus for
some time she had been sitting, when
the murnur of voices from below grew
louder and 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 eff pounding on and
throwing about chairs and other pieces
of furniture, were heard, and at length
a loud scream, mingled with angry vo-
alterations smote upon her ears.
Indignation swolled instantly in the
heart of Mrs. Lyon hurriedly placing
the sleeping baby in its crib, sic start
ed 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 8 All right government of chill
dren begins with self-government.'
will anger subdue anger? When
storm meets storm is the tempest still
ed p These were questions she asked
of herself alm-st irvoluntarily. This
is no spirit in which to meet my chill
dren. Itnever has, and never eau enforce
order and OBEDIENCE she added, as she
stood upon the stairs, struggling with
herself and striving fer Y Glory. From
order. How weak the mother felt :
Yetiu this very weakness was strength.
4 must not stand idle here, she said,
as S sharper cry of anguish smote her
ears. and so she moved on quickly aud
opening the nursery door stood revealed
to her children. Julia had just raised
her hand to strike Emily, who stood
confronting her With fiery face. Both
were a little startled at their mothers
sudden appearance and both expecting
the storm which usually came at such
times, began to assume the defiant stub
born air with which her Incorporate re-
proofs were always met.
A few moments did Mrs. Lyon stand
looking at her childrcu-g ief, not an
ger, upon her pale counteuance. How
still all became. What a look of won
der came gradually into the childron's
faces, as they glanced one at the other.
Something of shame was next visible.
Aud now the mother was conscious OF a
new power over the young rebels of her
household.
Emily said she, speaking mildly,
and yet with a touch Of sorrow in her
70 ce she could not subdue, 1 wish yau
would go up into my room and sit with
Mary while she sleeps
Without a sign of opposition, or
even of reluctance, Emily went quietly
from the nursery, in obedience to her
mothers desires. This room is very
much 10 disorder, Julia
Many times had Mrs. Lyon said, un-
der like circumstance, Why don't you
put things to rights q or 1 never saw
such girls! If all the room vas topsy
turvy, and the floor an inch thick with
dirt, you'd never turn over a hand to
put things in order or, GO aud get the
broom this moment, and sweep up the
room Many, many times, as we have
said, had such language been addressed
by Mrs. Lyon, under like circumstances,
to Julia and her sisters, without produ-
cling anything but a partial execution of
her wishes. But now the mild intima-
ton that the room was in disorder, pro-
duced the effects desired. Julia went
quickly about the restoring of things to
the right places, aad in 4 few minutes
order was apparent where confusion
| reigned before. Little Tommy whose
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