Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-11-11

aunt's lips, as her eyes fell upon the
chid's animated face: but ere the words
were spoken. his mother had started
forward. and scized him by the arm
With sudden jerk she drew him sew.
errai feet away from his mimic build
ins. exclaiming, as she did so, in an
CRY tones.
"You bal boy' How dare you dc
this. just sec your fathers books
scattered all over the floor"
a moment or two she held him with
firm grip; then. pushing him from
her, she added.
Put every book in its place on the
shelves; and don't you dare to touch
them again"
Released from his mothers hanl,
John. instead of obeying her. threw
himself upon the floor, and commenced
XII king and screaming in uncontrolled
passion.
"Just see how he acts. Maryl' re-
peatcl the mother. That temper
viii be his ruin. John, hush this in
>tant. and get up as ! tell you"
But the child's passion was q whirl-
wind. AMI subsidsd not until It's force
was spent. In her blini anger the
mother stopped over the boy, AMI was
raising her hand to punish him, when
her sister drew her back, and whis-
pcrcl.
Don't. Anna 4 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 man
ncr, as soon as they were ont of the
library. You must not come betwe,n
me and my children. Ii you take their
part when re?rove or punish. all my
control over them will be gone"
! Dear sistcr!" replied Mary. with
much feeling. and great tenderness oi
manner, forgive me if | have erred,
ani let the pure love l feel for you AMI
your child be my apologist."
/ There was silence for nearly min
ute. y calm was falling upon the
mothers spirit.
"Hc has such dreadful temper,
Mary! If it is not subducd now. it
will curse his whole life. You don't
know how it troubles me-.
Your duty, it seems to me. is very
plain, sister," was the answer.
Il must break that temper while he
is chill.'
You can not. 1t will only gain
strength by conflict" replied the sis
ter.
"Is the case, then, SO hopeless?
will not believe it. Mary"
"Oh. no; not hopeless by any means
How does the oak gain strength and
vigorous life? Look at its ruggcd
trunk; its gnarled and twisted branch
es. and read the history of its strife
with tempest and tornado through hal
a century. SO it is, by action, resist
ance and conflict. that our passions srC
matured. Do You imagine that the
excitement through which your child
has passed will weaken the bad tcmpel
Of which you complaint Has it not
on the contrary, given it Increased
strength.
The sister paused.
There was not sign OF evil in his
happy little face when we entered til.
library"
But he was doing wrong" said
the mother
Had You told him that he must no
build houses with books?"
''Yes. forty times. There isn't al
hour in the day that don't have Il
check. or reprove. or punish him fo
one kind Of mischief or another. HI
knew it was wrong"
Maybe you check. and reprove
and punish him too much. Anna.
suggested the sister "Ihcre is dan
ger Of error in this direction. when th'
chiid's mind is unusually active. 1'h'
stream that glides along smoothly
enough through the level meadow. will
fret, and chafe, and dash madly for
ward If rocky distractions come in IL
way"
"But children must not be permit
tel to do as they please. They woul,
soon be ruined" said the mother.
IF You put dam across the stream
or throw huge rocks into the midst o
its gently gliding current. you do no