Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-03-25
Self Control-A Family Incl
dent.
ny T. s. ARTHUR.

Mother cried little girl, rushing
into the room where lady sat reading
mother John struck me in the face
with all his might Oh dear oh dear
it hurts me so y
And the child pressed her hand against
her cheek, and threw her head back
ward and forward, as if she was in great
pain.
The lady's face reddened instantly.
and the book fell from her hand to the
floor. There WAS anger in her heart
against John, and in the blindness of her
sudden indignation, she resolved to pun
ish him with a severe chastisemcnt.-
But ere she reached the apartment. in
which her child had been playing, she
paused suddenly and stood still. A
timely thought glancng through Ter
mind, had arrested her steps.
This will not do. l must control
myself, she said, speaking half aloud
Then after a resolute strife with her an
cry feelings, the mother went back to
the room where she had left the weeping
child, and setting down in her old place,
SAID, with as calm and steady voice as
she could assume
Agnes, let me see your check
oh dear how it hurts y sobbed Ag-
mes, as she came to her mothers side.
her hand still pressed to her face.
The lady gently removed the hand, and
examined her little girls cheek. There
was red mark as if a blow had been
received, but no evidence of bruse.
Agnes, said the mother, now speak
ing very calmly and gently, yet with a
6rmness that at once subducd the ex-
citement of her ch. Ids mind, 4 want
you to stop crying. and tell me all about
this trouble with john
The childs tears ceased to flow, and
she looked up into her mothers face.
Agnes, who gave the first provoca.. on
in this matter, you or John: =
'Jchn struck me in the face y replied
the child evincing a great deal of angry
feeling towards her brother.
why did he strike you:'
Agnes was silent.
who saw the trouble between you
and John 2? inquired the mother.
Why, Mary saw it She'll tell you
that John struck me in the face with all
his might
Tell Mary that wish to see her.
Agnes went for her sister. When
they returned the mother s; id
Now, Mary. tell me all about this
trouble with John and Agnes
You saw him strike me, didn't you
Nary said Agnes, with the eagerness
of resentment.
Il will question Mary said the moth
or. and while am doing so. you, Agnes,
must have nothing to say. After Mary
has finished, then you can correct her
statement if you wish to do so. Now
Mary say on
well, mother, III tell you just how
it was, said Mary. Agnes was teasing
John, and John got angry
And struck his sister, There was
tone Of severity in the mothers voice.
Il think the blow was accidental,
said Mary. John declared that it was;
and tried his best to comfort Agnes.
even promising to give her his pet kit
ten, if she would stop crying, and not
make trouble by telling you. But she
was angry, and would not listen to him
Tell me just what occurred, Mary,
and then shall know exactly how far
both were to blame
We'll, answered Mary. John and l
were playing checkers, and Agnes would
every now and then steal up behind John
and push his elbow when he was max
ing move. 1t worried him, and he
asked her over and over again not to do