Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-09-08

latter, WIN some severity OF nhhner,
soon as they were out OF The library
"You must not come between me and my
children. If you take their part when
reprove or punish, all my control ovel
Them viii be gone
"Dear sister, replied Mary with
much feeling ard tenderness of manner
"fcrgive me if have erred, and let the
pure love feel for you and your child
bo my analogy"
There was a silence for nearly min
ute. A calm was falling on the mother's
spirit.
'He has such a dreadful temper,
Mary! Ifnot sub5uod now it will curse
his whole life. You don't know how il
troubles me-.
"Your duly, it scenes 10 me. is very
plain, sister," was The answer.
81 must break that temper while he is
a Child"
"You cannot. Ii will only get strength
by con1ict." replied The sister.
is The case so hopeless? will not
b. lievo it, Mary"
Oh, no-no; hopeless by any means.
How does the oak gain strength and Wig
erous life2 Look at its gnarled and
twisted branches, aud read the history OF
its strife with tempest and tornado through
halfa century. So it is by action. resis-
lance, aud conflict that our Passioss are
matured. Do you imagine that the ex-
ciiement through which your child has
passed will weaken The bad temper OF
you complain! Has it not on the con-
traFy given ii increased strengih?''
The sister paused.
"There was not sign Of evil in his
happy lille face when we entered the
library"
But he was doing wrong" said his
mother
Had you told him he must not build
houses with booksl"
Yes, fjry times: There isn't all hour
in The day that | don't have to check, or
reprove or punish him for some kind Of
mischief or another. He knew it was
wrong
Maybe you check, and reprove, and
punish him TOO much, Anna" suggested
tie sis er- "There is danger in this di-
reciion, when the childiS mind is usually
active. Tho stream that glides along
smoothly enough through the level mead
ow aill fret and chaf,, and dash madly
forward frl ok: and cbstuclionS come its
way
But children must not be permitted
to do as they please: They woub! soon
be ruined" said the mother.
''If you pu. dam across a stream. or
throw huge rocks into The midst of its
gentle gliding current you DO not sop
, its progress; but only swell its volumn
until it overflows lis banks. or disloriS
its surface with twirling eddies. Mere
opposite TO a child's desires effect about
as little good. Ii only gives them a NOR
bid force. We should not repress activity.
but seek TO give it right direction. |
will venture 10 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, and
then pleason;ly explained to him that the
use be was making of his fathers books
was injuring them, and that he must re-
turn them to the library, he would have
replaced them on the shelves without q
word OF objection. There would have
been in that case, no mental injury sus-
tained ihroug Ia excitement of passionate
temper. The sky of his mind would
have remained clear, and sweet peace
would now be in his heart, instead Of sui
len rebellion. Dear sister, child's in
mortal soul is more precious than whole
libraries of costly books, or even the rich
furniture in kings palace. While we
guard his external surroundings with a
due regard TO order, and prevent, as well
for his sake as for others, disorder and
blind destruction, we must never forget
that the jewel is more 10 be regarded
than the casket. A scratched table, a
torn or defaced book, or even a costly
thing broken are small evils compared
with scratched face or distorted mind.
Forgive me for saying it, my sister, but
/ have always thought that parents are
most 10 blame for the bad tempers and
passionate out breaks of their children;
aud this little trouble with John only con-
firms the opinion. say il kindly; nay,
Anna, in tender love. Be no, huct, then,
nor offended; bat for the sake of your
bright beautiful boy, lay up my words
in your heart"
The mother sat sober and thoughtful
Her sissr had moi spoken in 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.
He heard his mothers footsteps; but did
not move. Experience had taught him
that reproof Git might be punishment,
,unr In Storo f,r hin. aud % ho n,uni.ol