The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-09-15

Perpetual IcUuhc, auu iCip ~ iohS "Ae~'
the sun went down. My punishment
was greater than his. But the lesson OF
yesterday did not suffice. This morning
l was again betrayed into captious lam
guage, that wounded the same young
man, and threw him so much off his
guard that he answered me back with
some feeling. This | regarded as i'm
pertinence, and threatened to dismiss
him from my service if he dared venture
a repetition of his language. When feel
ing subsided and thought became clear
again, I saw that l had been wrong, and
/ felt unhappy about it ever since. |
wish that / had more of self control !;
that could bride my tongue, when feel
ing is suddenly spurred. But tempera-
ment and ong-indulged habits are all
against me-"
Mrs. Landell encouraged and soothed
her husband, and so won his mind away
from his brooding self-reproaches.
On the next morning as Mr.: Landell
was about leaving for his store, his wife
looked up at him, and with meaning
smile, said
"Don't!"
There was just the slighte st perceptive
warning in her tone.
Don't what ?" Mr.. Landell seemed
little puzzled.
Don't get yourself! !"
"Oh" Light broke in upon his mind.
"Thank you will not" and he went
forth to meet the trials of the day.
Almost the first thing that fell under
the notice of Mr.. Landell was an impor-
tant letter, which, after writing, he had
given to clerk to copy and mail. In
stead of being in Boston, where it should
have been, it lay upon his desk. Neglect
like that he felt to be objectionable.
John !" he called sharply to young
man at the far end of the store.
Don't PIT seemed to him like the
voice Of his wife in his ear" don't for
get yourself!"
This mental warning came just in sea-
son. The clerk came quietly towards
him. By the time he reached the desk
of Mr.. Landell, the latter was under self
control
why was not this letter mailed,
John % The tone was neither impera-
tive nor captious, but kind; and the
question was asked in way that said,
of course there is good reason for omis-
sion, and SO there was.
Il think, sir" answered John. "that
there is mistake. and l thought it not
best to put the letter in the mail"
A mistake How ?" and Mr.. Lam
dell opened the letter.
1t reads" said the clerk, "three
hundred cases of shawls."
"Oh. no thirty cases." replied Mr..
Landell. But as he said this his eyes
rested on the three hundred. $50 it is.
How could have made such an error
You did right. John. in not sending the
letter away"
The clerk went back to his place, and
the merchant said to himself, How
! glad am that was able to control N.Y.
self. If had spoken to that young man
as felt, would have wronged and al
ienated him, and made trouble for my
self all day."
Not long after this case of goods fell
through one of the hatchways, crashing
down upon the landing with noise that
caused Mr.. Landell, whose temperament
was exceedingly nervous, to spring to
his feet. To blame somebody was his
first impulse. "What careless fellow has
done this ?" was on his tongue.
"Don't!" the inward monitor spoke in
time. Mr.. Landell shut his lips tightly.
and kept silent until he could command
himself. He then calmly inquired into
the cause of the accident, and found the
special blame attached to no one. Open
ing the case of goods the damage was
found to be trifing.
"Another conquest" said Mr.. Lam
dell as he turned to his desk Self con-
troll is easy enough. if the trial be made
in earnest.
A dozen times that day was the torch
applied to Nj. Landell's quick temper,
as often was he in danger of blazing
out. But he kept his temper down un-
til the sun went down; then he turned
his steps homeward. feeling more COM
Portable in mind than he had felt in many
weeks. There was no shadow on his
countenance when he met his his wife.
but smiling good humor.
"You said don't as I left you this