Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-04-19
A Mighty Cure.All.

Several gentlemen were talking one even
ing at the house Of a friend, when one oil
them extl lined, "Ah! depend upon II, a so't
answer Is a mighty cure.slIl" A hoy, who
yat behind ats tsblc, stud, ing his Latin
gtsmmnr, began to listen, and repeoted-as
be thought quite to himselr-"A soft an
swor is q mighty cure-all." ayes, that's
IT," cried The gentleman, starting, and turn.
ing round 10 see where the echo came from.
"fes, that's IL; don't you think so my iad!'
The boy b'ushed a little at 6nding himself
40 unexpectedly addressed, but answered,
81 don't know whether 1 understand YOU,
cir" "Well, III explain, them" s1id ,he
gentleman, wheeling round in his chair; Tor
it 10 a principle which is going to conquer
tue world The boy looked more puzzled
than ever, and thought he should ike To
know something equal to Alexander him
self.
IL might as we'll explain" said he. "by
telling you about the first time It conquer
ed me. My father was an officer; and his
notion was, to settle every thing by fight
ing. II a boy gave me a suucy word, il was,
Fight 'am, Charley; fight 'em! BY and
BY, | was sent 10 the famous - school;
and 1t SO happened my seat was next TO II
lad named Tom Tucker. When found he
lived in a small house behind the academy,
began to strut a little, and talk about what
my father was; but ts he was a capital
scholnr, very much thought Of by the boys,
besides being excellent at bat. and.ball, we
we're soon on pretty good terms, and 30 it
went on for some time. After a while,
some of the fellows Of my stamp, and !
with the rest, got into difficulty with one Of
the ushers; ard, somehow or other, we got
the notion that Tom Tucker was OF the
bottom Of it.
r"'Tom Tucker! who 10 her | cried angri.
'Iy. I'm let him know who | amir and we
ratified on, till we fairly talked %ourseis IS int
parcel Of wolves. The boys then set me
on to 20 down to Tom fuckers and let hin
know what he had to expect. Swelling
with rage, | bolted into bis yard, where h,
was at work with Trip and his little sister
'Irl teach you to talk about me in this way!
Numbered, marching up to him. lie neve
WINGED, or seemed the leas. frightened, buI
stood still, looking at me as mild as a lamb
TELL me- I cried throwing down my books
doubling up my fist, and siding up to him
',sll me, or Iir-kill you, I was going t,
say, for murder was in nv heart.
"He stepped on one side, but answers,
firmly, yet mildly, Charley, you may s,rlk,
me as much as you please; I tell you,
shsn't strike back again. Fighting is
poor woy of sett ing difficulties. I'm think
ing, when you are Charles Everett, III tai
with you
"OI what an answer was that! how
COW ed me down-so firm, yet so mild! fel
there was no fun in having the fight all o
one side. | was ashamed of myself, an
my temper, and every thing shout me.
longsd to get out Of his sight. saw wha
poor, foolish wny my way of doing thing
was. felt that Tom had completely 90
the better of me, that there was n power Il
his principles superior to any thing | ha
ever seen before; and from that hour Tor
Tucker had an influence over me which no
body else ever had before or since, 1t ha
been for good, too. That, you see, 10 III
power, the mighty moral of a soft answer
IL have been about tho world a great des
since Their; and I bclieve,'' said.t the gentle
man, shat nearly all, II not quite all tn
chickering's, the quarrsls and deputies whic
arse among men, women, or children, |
families, neighborhoods, churches, or eve
nations, might be cured by the mighty mora
power Of q soft answer; for the Scripture
has IL. "A son answer ,urneth away wrath
Advocate of Peace.