Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-10-19
An 1utcrcstino Storp.
THE YOUNG MOTHERS LESSON.

You look sober, Bella. What's the
matter %
The remark and question came from
Aunt Rachel, who had called to spend
an afternoon and take tea with her neice.
9 feel sober just at this time, aunt. :"
No unusual cause for uncomfortable
feelings, hope" said aunt Rachel, the
pleasant light which had come into her
face beginning gradually to fade away
Oh, no nothing unusual. It's the
old story with me. There are very few
days now in which am not disturbed or
made to feel unhappy"
Why, Bella, this is strange news.
Disturbed and made to feel unhappy
every day! You pain me by such ac-
acknowledgement. What has gone wrong
with you? 2"
Nothing wrong with myself, aunt -
was the reply; {" but that Oldest boy Of
mine is growing 50 self-willed, disobedi-
ent and uugovernable, that I'm half in
dispair about him"
F." pm sorry for that, Bella. Perhaps
you have INDUCED and humored him too
much"
Il think not. From the very be-
ginning, have made it a rule to repress,
so far as lay in my power, everything
disorderly and evil; to require strict
obedience to my word on pain of certain
punishment. No, aunt, do not think
the fault lies at my door. Edward has
strange disposition. l don't know what
to make of him sometimes. lie seems
bent on doing the things | interdict.-
Only half an hour ago / found him in
the library with handsome book lying
upon the floor, marking some Of the fine
illustrations with pencil. Once before
| had punished him for this very thing,
and here it was again"
And you punished him again p
" did, severely"
where is he 7"
"Shut in room by himself"
Overhead 2"
Yes, that's him pounding on the floor
now. Just hear the noise he is making
And it isn't ten minutes since l threat
ened to whip him, if he did it again"
Bella went hastily from the room, and
going half way up stairs, called, in a
sharp, commanding voice
E" You, Edward p
The hammering ceased in an instant
What did l say to you about that
noise little while ago Z"
No answer.
Edward !" There was no kindness,
no softness, no motherly love in the voice
that uttered the name. "Do you hear,
sir p
Still no response.
why don't you answer me ?"
The mother was growing excited.
a" Edward, if you don't answer me,
I'll punish you severely p
A sulky muttering now came from the
room.
+" Don't let me hear that noise again,
sir, or you will be sorry for it !"
Can't come out, mother? / am
tired Of staying here"
a" No sir; you can't come out. you
naughty boy~
Il DW come out :" screamed the child,
with sudden wildness of manner, as if
he'had grown desperate and he ratified
the lock and kicked passionately sgainst
the door.
This was more than the excited mother
could endure and springing up stairs,
she unlocked the door and entered the
prison room. Aunt Rachel sighed as
she heard rapidly falling strokes, and the
cries Of Edward.
You see," said Bella, as she re-
turned, with flushed face and angry
looking eye, to the sitting room, what
trouble | have got before me-"
Aunt Rachel did not reply.
i've never seen just such child"
the young mother continued, land |
don't know what is TO become Of him.
He prefers wrong to right always, and
recognizes authority only for the sake Of
disobedience. If, in sending him from
the room in consequence Of some misde-
meanor, tell him to 60 up stairs, he
will almost surely 20 down; if / have