Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-08-07
SUCH TEMPER.
BY r. s. ARTUU Il

ne Las such temper! Just Sc, how he acts
III John Hush this instant and do as
r you"
These sentences were uttered in an excited
voice by mother who had come suddenly
"non her little boy, bright, busy active little
fellow three years old, who had discovered a
new amusement, and was enjoying himself up
to his full capacity. That amusement was Il
rude attempt at castle building. The mate
1als used on tie occasion were books from
tae .ibrary Shelves. Ills mother, in company
cd an aunt who had arrived that day on q
,r,., opened to come upon him in the midst
z, n: pleasant sport
Dear little fellow y was on the aunt's lips,
as he. eyes fell upon ;he child's animated face;
bst ere he words were spoken his mother
had Started forward and seized him by the
arm. With a sudden jerk she drew him sew
era, fet away from his mimic building ey-
Glazing as she dii 50, in angry tones
!. n bad boy. II,.w lige goa ,io this p
Ju5 So III lathei books scattered all over
the floor y
4 moment or two she held him with a
firm grip; then fishing him from her she
added:
Put every book in its place on the
shelves and don't you dare to touch them
again 7!
Released from his mothers hand John in
stead Of obeying her, threw himself upon the
floor. and commenced keeling in uncontroll-
ed passion
just sec how he acts, Mary!' repeated
the mother "That temper will be his ruin.
John, hush this instant, and get up as | tell
! YOU"
But the chlld's passion was in a whirl
wild, and Subsidcd not unit! its force was
spent. In her blind anger the mother stoop-
ed over the boy. ani was raising her hand to
punish him. when her sister drew her back
aal whispered:
Don't Anna \ blow now will do harm"
And she drew tie excited m0thcr from tie
room.
Mary This is not right, " said tie latter
with some severity Of manner, as soon as
they were out of the library. You must not
cone between me and my children. Ifyou
take their part when reprove or punish, all
my control over item will be gone
81 Dear sister" replied Mary with much feel
| ing au tenderness of manner. forgive me If
[ have erred and let the pure love feel for
You and your child ne my apol"gy.''
There was a silence for nearly minute
A calm was falling on tie mothers spirit.
lie has such a dreadful temper, Mary
If not subdued now, it will curse lis whole
llfe. You don't know how it troubles me-"
: Ionr duty, it seems t. me, is very plain,
sister," was The answer.
: must break that temper while he is
child"
You cannot 1t will ony get strength by
conflc;" replied the sister
as Tie case 50 hopeless ? | will not be-
lee It, Mary"
"Oh, no--not hopeless by any means.-
How does The oak gam strength and vigor-
Gus life! LCO'i at its rugged trunk its gnarled
and twisted branches, and read the history Of
it strife with tempest and tornado through
half century. 50 il is, bv action, resistance
aud conflict that our passions are matured.
DO YOU imagine tnat the excitement through
which your child has passed will weaken the
bad temper of which you complain? Has it
not on the contrary gwen it increased
strength p The lister paused.
"Thcre was not q sign of evil in his
happy little face when we entered the H.
brary'
''But he was doing wrong" said the
mother.
Had YOU told him he 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 some kind OF mis-
chief or another. He knew it was !
wrong"
"Maybe You check, and reprovc, AMI pun
ish him too much, Anna, suggested the Sis
ter.
"Thcrc is danger in this direction, when
the chld's mnd is unusually active. The /
stream that gIides along smoothly enough |
through, the level meadow, will fret, and
chafe and dash madly toward ifrocky ohstruc-
tiun> come in its way
Bu. children must not be permitted to do |
as they please. They would soon he runed," |
sa il the MOI her.
." If yon put a dam across stream, or
throw lu ,e rocks into the midst Of its gently |
old ng curi eut vou do not stop It's progress
but o'ly swell lis v0lumn until it Overflows !
its banks, or disiors its surface with twir-
lin eddies. Mere opposition to chil1's de
sir,s effects about a li,tle good. 1t only
gives them a morbid force. We should not
repress activity, but seek TO give it a right
direction. | will venture t, affirm, Anna,
that if. when we were into the library Just
now, we bad entered with some manifestation
OF interest into what John was d ing, and
thea pleasantly explained to hIm that the use
he was making Of bis fathers books was in
inring then, and that he must return them
to the library. he would have replaced
them OH the shelves wi hout a word Of OBJ
lection There wonl1 have been in that
case. no mental injury sustained through ex-
citement Of passionate temper. The sky Of
his mind won d have remained clearard sweet
peace won,L now be in his heart, instead of
splen rebellion. Dear sister. a chiId's immor-
tai soul is more precious thing than whole
libraries OF costly 10 ks, orcvcn the rich fur
nitnre in & kings palace. While we guard
his external surroundings with due regard
to order and prevent a, well for his sake as
for others, disorder and blind destruction. we
must never forget that the jewel is more to
be regarded than the caskct. A scratched
tabie.a torn or defaccd book or even a costly
thing broken, are small wills compared with
scratched delaced or distorted mind. Forgive
me ior what | say, my sister, but | have
always thought that parents are most to blame
for the bad tempess snd pass. onae outbreaks
Of their children; and this little trouble will,
John only confirms the opinion. | say it
kindly nay, Anna, in tender love. Be not
hurt, then, nor oil;.nded but for the sake of
your bright, beautiful boy, lay up my words
in your heart"
The mother sat S ber and thoughtful Her
sister had not spoken in vain. Truth had
awakened conviction. Suddenly rising, and
kissing her sster,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 foot
steps; but did not move. Experience had
taught him that reproof Git might be punish
ment) was in store for him ;and 50 he wait
ed, in stubborn silence, for whatever unpcas-
ant consequence might come.
'.John." 1t was low, soft, tend, r, almost
sad voice, and the word was spoken close to
his ear. He started in sudden surp ise. and
raised his face from the floor.
'' Come, dear" The voice was even tender