Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-03-25
$l,5O A YEAR IN ADVANCE

AT laSt OOnu pusneu tne DOard IRON
him and wouldn't play any longer. HI
was angry. Still Agnes seemed bent OF
annoying him. John got book ane
sat down near the window to read III
had not been there long before Agne.
stole up behind him. whipped the book
out of his hand, and ran away. John
sprung after her and they had a sfrug
gle for the book, in which Agnes got q
blow upon the face. was looking al
them and l think the blow was acciden.
tai. 1t seemed so at the time, and John
declares that he did not mean to strike
her. That is all, mother
Call your brother said the lady, in a
subdued voice.
John entered the room in few mo.
ments. He was pale and looked troub
led.
MY son. said the mother, speaking
without apparent excitement, yet with
a touch Of sorrow in her voice, did you
strike Agnes on purpose ?
The boys lips quivered, but no an
swer came through them. He looked
into his mothers face for moment or
two, until tears blinded him, and then
he laid his face down upon her bosom
and sobbed. With loves tender in.
stnct the mother drew her arm tightly
round her boy, and then there was si-
lence for the space of nearly a minute.
1t was an accident, am sure whis.
pcred the mother, placing her lips close
to the ear Of her boy.
Indeed it was. John answered back
with earnestness. My hand slipped as
tried to get my book away from her,
and it struck her in the face. | was so
sorry"
What less could the mother do than
kiss with ardor the fair brow of her boy,
against whom, under the influence of
anger, she had passed hasty judgment.
She almost shuddered at the thought of
the unjust punishment she had come
nigh inficting while blind from sudden
excitement.
The chief blame, l see, rests with Ag-
nes, said the lady, turning with some
severity of voice and countenance tow
ards her little girl, who now stood with
the aspect of Gu prit instead Of an ac-
cuser.
1t was for fun, mother John spoke
up quickly. She loves to tease. YOU
know, and was wrong to get angry
But teasing does not come from a
good spirit. replied the mother, and
am sorry that my little girl can find no
higher enjoyment than the pleasure of
annoying her brothers and sisters. am
satisfied with you John, but not with
Agnes; and now you may leave US alone
John and Mary went out, and left
their mother alone with Agnes. When
the little girl joined her brothers and
sisters some time afterwards, she had a
sober face like one whose spirit was not
at ease with itself. She had been gull
ty of double wrong, and had come near
drawing down upon her innocent broth
er an unjust punishment. SO clearly had
her mother brought this to her view,
that shame followed conviction, and she
was now ready to ackno owledge her fault
and promise better conduct in the fu-
ture.
But the one who profted by this scene
of trouble, was the childrcn's MOTHER
After all was harmonzed again, and she
was alone with her own thoughts. she
lifted her heart of thankfulness for self
control, and prayed that she might ever
possess her spirit in calmness. II trem-
BILE in thinking of the evil that would
have followed blind punishment Of my
noble boy!