The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-03-24

L
ed to degree that sadly marred her childish
features.
Johns face now became troubled. TIL,
. current of his feelings, which had been gil
ding along SO smoothly, with the sunshine OF
its breast, commenced rippling over stony OBJ
strlctions. He sat down upon the floor, be
side the box of paper dolls, and in listles.
kind Of way, commenced turning over the
figures and dresses. Presently he took ny
a bonnet, and began bending tho front of il
backwards, though not in a manner to injurt
or disligure it.
"Don't do thatr' said Amy, curtly.-
You'll spoil the bonnet" And she came
)quickly forward, and reached out her hand
to take the small piece of painted cardboard
from her brother. John, instead of giving il
up in kind way, was offended at his sisters
manner, and thrust the bonnet behind him
out of her reach ... .. a.. ..
"Giye it to me, Johnr' The chill's rcd.
dening facs marked her quickly rising anger
But John did not yield lie still kept the
bonnet beyond her grasp.
"Tll tell mother if you don't give me my
dslrs bonnet" cried Amy, with increasing
ill-natrrc
"Tcll her! don't carcr' replied John
"Give me the bonnet ~
81 won't until please"
"Motherm Amy turned to the door, cry.
in- o'lt in an imperative voice. ... ...
| "What do You want ?" The tone IL
which this query was uttered, showed the
mothers state Of feeling to b, quite as much
disturbed as tnat of her children.
'John won't give me my d lis bonnet"
"John !" the mother called to him sharply
I'm not hurting the bonnet" Answered
John.
"Yes, he Is, NJ ,ther He's bending it ali
up. AMI Spoilng,,it
ATS 70 such thing, Mother" responded
John. ....a
John ~ called the mother, sternly.
"Maan" ...
"Give Amy her dolls bonnet this very in
sant" ...... ...
There! take the bonnet, you mean, sclisl
thing" And John threw the bonnet upon
t floor.
rMo,iio:, He won't give it to mot" call
ed out the now thoroughly cxaSpeated .ittlt
5irl, q; SIC SiT the bvnlct tossed upon thl
.ioor.
At th, thu mother threw from her hands
the W rk upon which she was engaged, and
tarting up in a passion, came with quick
step and a rc'olute air, into the room where
her children We're in dispute.
! Int ! tell You to give your sister her
d1ll's bpnnet' sizing the now frightened
!iitta boy By the arm, and holding him with a
t;sa: grip. Sly, ,liln't tell you! What
d. you m.an by such conduct"
And without wiling for m exclamation,
Sh, struck him one or tN o blows.
! Il Il give 1t t, her" said John, rs soon
,S he could 'in,l his voice. There it is, ly-
IL: a: her feet now" ..........
You diia't give il to me. You only
t'now it at me-" MAS lii, ,;nanty answered
b, Amy,
The mother saw That Amy had partly de-
ccived her, anl that she had been too quick
to punish.
'f'u are naughty, storytelling girl ~
she said, turning with new indignation to-
wards Amy, and raising her hand to punish
her also. But something in the aspect ofthe
child stayed the uplifted hand and the smart
ing strokes fell not upon the frightened cul-
|prit.
Naughty children!" she said, as she re-
gained little sclfpossession. Naughty
children, to be always quarrelling with one
another! Pm surprised, and ashamed OF
you! What will your father think, when he
hears OF this? How will he feel when he
learns that his little boy and girl have been
angry with one another? 1t makes me sick
and sad to think that my children should act
SO wickedly!"
Very little of right impression did the
mothers censure make upon the minds OF
her unhappy children, the sunshine of whose
pleasant day her own darkening anger had
cloudcd. They stood with partly averted
faces; silent, moody, and with unkindness
in their hearts. Their apparent want Of pen
itcnoe fretted their weak mother mind.-
She looked for, or at least required, an obedi
ent yielding on their part. She expected
them to 'kiss and be friends again." at he1
word, as if love ana kindness were vassal.
that came and went at anothers hidding.-
But she could not command tho sun of Low,
to shine, nor scatter, with breath of her lip
the shadows that were around their youn.
spirits.
II must separate you," she at length said
with sternness Of voice and manner tina
showed more of angry indignation than love
"Amy, do you go over into my room, ant
stay there alone until call you; and you
John, go otto the garret, and don't let M
sec your face until your father comes home
shall tell HIN of all this"