Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-06-22
SUCH A TEMPER.
BY +. s. kTHUR.

"That child will be the death Of me We
Oh, lie has such a temper! Just See how
he acts. You, John! Hush this instant,
and do as tell you'll
These sentences were uttered In an ex-
cited voice by a mother who had come
suddenly upon her little boy, bright,
busy, active little fellow three years Old,
who had discovered new amusement,
and was enjoying himself up to his full
capacity. That amusement was rude
attempt at castle building. The materials
used on the occasion We're books from the
library shelves. His mother, in company
with an aunt, who had arrived that day on
a short visit, happened to come upon him
in the midst of his pleasant sport.
-etD earlittle fellowi,'e was -ollstlle- aamt s
lips, AS her eyes fell upon the child's
animated face; but ere the words were
spoken his mother had started forward
and seized him by the arm. With sud
den jerk she drew him several feet away
from his mimic building, exclaiming rs she
did SO, in angry tones.
"You bad boy How dare you do this?
Just see your fathers books scattered all
over the floor"
A moment or two she held him with a
firm grip, then, pushing him from her,
she added
"Put every book in its place on the
shelves; ard don't you dare touch them
again.
Released from his mothers had, John,
instead of obeying her, threw himself upoA
the floor, and commenced kicking ard
screaming in uncontrolled passion.
Just see how he acts, Mary!' repeated
the mother "That temper will be his
ruin. John, hush this instant, and get up
as l tell you"
But the child's passion was whirlwind,
and subsided not until its force was spent.
In her blind anger the mother stopped
over the boy, and was raising her hand to
punish him, when her sister drew her
back and whispered
"Don't, Anna! A blow now will do
harm," and she drew the excited mother
from the room.
MARY! This is not right" said the
latter, with some severity of manner, as
soon as they were out of the library.
"You must not come between me and M =
children. If you take their part when /
reprove or punish, all my control over them
will be gone.''
Dear sister!'' replied Mary, with much
feeling and great tenderness of manner,
"forgive me II have erred; and let the
pure love feel for you and your child be
my apologist."
There was silence for nearly minute
. A calm was failing upon the mothers
spirit.
"He has such dreadful temper, Mary
II it is not subdued now, it will curse his
whole life. You don't know how i
troubles me.''
"Ytu' duty. it seems to me, is very
plain, sister," was the answer
, 81 must break that temper while he il
/ child
"You cannot. twill only gain strength
by conflict" replied the sister.
'1s the case, then, SO hopeless? viii
i not believe it Mary"
i "Oh, no--not hopeless by any means
How does the oak gam strength and Wig
orOus life? Look at iCs rugged trunk; il
:. guarded and twisted branches, and rea
the history of its strife with tempest an
tornado through half century. So it is
: by action, resistance, and conflict that on
= passions are matured. Do you imagin
t that the excitement through which you
d child has passed will weaken the bad TEN
per of which You complain? Has
p no., on the contrary, given it increase
sLrength?'
The sister paused.
:, "There was not sign of evil in hi
: happy little face when we entered I'll
>, library"
3" But he was doing wrong" said I'll
r mother.
:. Had you told him lha. he must n,
ii bu ld.houses with bUoks?.'
r. "Yes, forty times. There ism All no,
in the day that don't have to check