The Hillsborough recorder., 1858-08-04

his mother had started forward and seized him
by the arm. With sudden jerk she drew
him several feet away from his mimic build.
ing, exclaimng as she did so, in angry tones /:
You bad boy How dare you do tins !
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 ad !.
led-
/" Put every book in its place ON the
shelves; and don't you dare to touch them
again"
Released from his mothers hand. John. in.
stead OF obeying her, threw himself upon the
floor and commenced kicking and screaming
IN uncomfortable passion.
Just see how he acts, Mary" repe ated
The mother. "That temper will be his ruin.
John, hush this instant, and get up as tell
you."
But the child's passion was a whirlwind,
and subsidized not until his 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 whis-
pered-
Don't, Anna! blow now will do harm"
And she drew the excited mother from the
room.
Mary This is not right" said the lat.
ter with some severity of manner, as soon
as they were out Of the library. /" You must
not come between me and my children. IL
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, i" for
gI'e ME It have erred; and let the pure
love ieel for you and your child be my apol-
ogist.'
There was silence for nearly minote.
A calm was falling upon the mothers spirit.
lie has such dreadful temper, Mary
Ii it is mt subdued 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.
81 must break that temper while lie is a
child"
You cannot. 1t will only gain strength
by conflict" replied the sister.
= Is the case then SO hopeless? will not
believe it. Mary"
Oh, no-nut hopeless by any means. How
does The oak gain strength and vigorous life
Look at this rugged trunk; its gnsrled and
twisted branches, and the history Of its strife
with tempest and tornado through half CEN
tury. So II is by actiuns, resistance, and
conflict, that our passions are matured. DO
you imagine that the excitement through
which your child has passed will weaken the
bad temper OF which YOU complain? Has
u not, on the contrary, given il increased
strength :"
The sister paused.
/" There was not sign of evil in his happy
little face when we entered the library"
/" But he was doing wrong" said the mo-
ther.
q Had you told him lie must not build
houses with books;"
Yes, forty times. There isn't an hour
IN The day that don't have to check, or re.
prove or punish him for one kind of mischief
or another. lie knew II was wrong"
Maybe you cheek. and reproye, and pun.
ish him too much, Anna suggested the sis
ter. There is danger Of error 10 this di-
rectiOn. when the chlld's mind is unusually ac.
tive. The stream that gldcs along smoothly
enough through the level meadow, will fret,
and chaie, and dash madly forward, II rocky
obstruttiuns come in its way"
But children must not be- permitted TO do
as they please. They would soon be ruined"
said the mother.
IL you put a dam across the stream. or
throw huge rocks into the midst Of its genily
gliding current, you do not stop its progress;
but only swell its volume until il oyerflows
the banks, or distorts its surface with whirl.
ing eddys. Mere opposition TO chlld's de-
slres effects about a. little good. II only
gives them morbid force. We should not
resist activity, but seek to give il right
direction. | will venture 10 affirm, An.
GA; that u, when We went into the library
just now, we had entered with some mani
festatiun Uf interest into what John was do.
ing, aud then pleasantly explained TO him
that the use he was making Of his fathers
books was injuring them, and that he must
return them TO the library, lie without
word Of objection. would instantly have
obeyed you. There would have been 10 that
case, no mental injury sustained through
excitement OF a passionate temper. Tie SKY
oi his mind would have remained clear, and
sweet peace would nav be in his heart, in.
stead uf sullen rebellion. Dear sister,
chllds immortal soul is more precious thing
than whole libraries u custly books. or even
the rich furniture ola kings palace. While
we regard his external surroundings with
due regard to nr,ler, aud prevent, IS well for
his sake as lor these, disorder aud blind des. /
truction, We must never forget that the jewel
is more be regarded than the casket. A
scratched table, a torn or defaced book, or
even a costly thing broken, are small evils
compared with a scratched. delaeed. or disUr. +
dered mind. Fo'gi,c me for saying it, nv
sister, but have alwa,s thought that parents
are most TO blame iof the tempers and passion.
ate outbreaks Uf their children; and this little
trouble with john only confirms the opinion.
! say il kindly; nav, Anna, in tender love.
Be not hurt, then, nor UIlenteil but, Tor the
sake Of your bright, beautiful boy, lay up my
words IN YOUR hcart.n
The mother sat sober and thoughtful. Her
sister had not spoken in vain. Truth had