Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-06-22

There is danger Of error IN this direction,
when the child's mind is unusually active.
The stream that glides along smoothly
enough through the level meadow, will fret,
and chafe, and dash madly forward if rocky
distractions come in its way"
''But children must not be permitted to
do as they please. They would soon be
ruined, said the mother. 4 u y ~, s.ss 4
s:If you put A dam aeress the stream,
or throw hhEs rock ! INTO the fifdst0f its'
gently gliding current, you do not stop its
progress; but only swell its volume until
it overfiows the banks, or distort its sur
face with swirling eddys. Mere opppsi
little good. 1t only gives them morbid
force. We should not rep'ess activity,
but seek to give it a right direction. l
will venture 70 affirm, Anna, that if when
we went into the library just now, we had
entered with some manifestation OF interest
into what John was doing, aud then pleas
antly explained to him thai the use he was
making of his father's book, was injuring
them, and that he must return them to
the library, he would have replaced them
on the shelves wi;houta woId OF objection.
There would have been, in that case, no
mental injury sustained through excite
ment of a passionate temper. His mind
would have remained clear, and sweet
peace would now be in his heart, instead
of sullen rebellion. Dear sister, a child's
immortal soul is a more precious thing
than whole libraries of costly books, or
even the rich furniture in kings palace.
While we guard his sexternal surroundings
with due regard to order, and prevent,
as well for his sake as for these, disorder
and blind destruction, we must never for
get that the jewel is more to be regarded
than the casket. A scratched table,
torn or defaced book, or even costly
thing broken. are ismall evils compared
with n scratched, deiaced, or distorted
mind. Forgive me for saying it, nay sis
ter, but have always thought that pa
rents are most to blame for tho bad tempers
and passionate outbreaks Of their children
and this little trouble with John only con-
firms the opinion. say it kindly; nay.
Anna, in tender love. BE not hurt, then,
nor offended; but, for the sake of your
bright. beautiful boy, lay up my words in
your heart.
The mother sat sober and thoughtful.
Her sister lad not spoken N vain. Truth
had awakened conviction. Suddenly
rising. and kissing her sister in token of
forgiveness, she left the room and went TO
the library. John was still lying upon
the floor where he had thrown himself.
But he had ceased crying. He heard his
mothers footsteps; but did not move. Ex-
perience had taught him that reproof, it
might be punishment, was in store for
him; and so he awaited in stubborn silence,
for whatever unpleasant consequence
might come.
"John." 1t was low, soft, tender, al
most sad voice, and the word was spoken
close to his car. He started in sudden
surprise, aid raised his face from the floor.
Come, dear" The voice was even
tendcrer and warm hand grasped his
with firm pressure.
ooh, moLher!" The child started up
with this exclamation, and, in passion ol
tears, threw his arms about her neck, and
hid his face in her bosom. Tightly she
held him there, and lovingly she kissed his
pure forehead.
al didn't mean to do wrong, mother?'
said the boy. Il love to build houses
father said yesterday that if didn't hurt
the books, might take some of them"
The mother only kissed him again, end
drew her arms, in token of love, more
tightly around him. What could she say
to words that came to her ear with such
cutting rebuke?
"You love me, mother, don't you"
asked the child.
.'Yes, dear, yes! Better than all th'
world" was the almost sobbing answer
"And Ilove you, mother. And III Lry
to be good always. Won't you ask fathe
to buy me some building blocks; and thel
I'll not want his books?''
Yes You shall have box full to
morrow"
You're a good mother" said it'll
John. "Only sometimes"
The child paused, as if in doubt.
. "Only what, dear?"
"You won't be angry if l say it, will
/ you?"
Mono, dear. Say on"
"Only sometimes you scold me 30, ant
jerk me up when amt doing any harm a
1 can see. And then 1 get mad-and
cant helpit. And I'm sorry. o, dear
, [ wish never was mad!''
And with half shudder, as il som
i very painful idea was forced upon hi
young mind, little Johnny buried his fac
!. close down upon his mothers bosom agaiI
: and lay there very still.
8 No more words passed then betwec
4 the mother and child; but scales had bee
4 removed from :he mothers vision, and st
!. saw that her precious boy had generou
n feelings and right impulses, and that fc
e his many exhibitions Of naturally quic
~ temper, she was most to blame.
"Thanks for your truthful words, dss
!, sister," she said little while afterwart
d II shall have cause to bless You for the
in all coming time"
And it was even so.
IL A SINGULAR WAY OF PuEIsHISo MUi
DERER.--We copy the following from q