The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1860-07-19

! approving word to that boy since have bee,
here" resumed Aunt Rachel.
"How can speak approvingly when h
, does wrong? How can l encourage him t,
} disobediencc by smiling when he sets my
commands at defiance ~
81 fear, Bella, that you call many thing
wrong that are done iunocently on his part
You follow him up too closely, and scold hin
too much for things trivial, or of no account
You have not once, that have seen, this af
telnoon, tried to divert him from anything
that he was doing not strictly in the line o
your approval; it was always a commond
and always harshly made. Forgive Inc Bella
for shis plain speech but see your erro,
so plainly, that must point it out. You
have forgotten the pithy adage about honey
catching more flies than vinegar Try the
honey, my dear-try the honey am sadly
afraid that you are shadowing the life of that
child-shutting out the sunshine, by which
alone good plants can vegetate in the garden
of his soul. l have seen little besides an
evil growth to-day yet, down among the
rankly-springing weeds, trying to struggle
up into the air and light, a few flowers of af.
fcction were family visible. Oh, Bella, search
for these as for precious treasures water
them with the dews Of love, and let the heart S
warm sunshine go down into the earth around
them. Don't think so much about the re-
preston and determination of evil, as about
the growth and development of good But,
first of all, put your own house in order
Regulate your own heart. Repress anger,
pride, selfwill, love of ruling, indignation at
rebellion-let only affection reign in your
heart, and thoughts of your child's good ell
your mind" o ..
Bella sat in kind of bewildering silence,
and her aunt kept on
"Will you not act on my suggestion Go
to Edward, and speak to him as if you loved
him. Let him feel that love in your voice,
and see it in your eyes; and, as the magnet
attracts iron, so will you attract him. For
get that he has offended you, or, ifyou think
oft, and speak of it, let 1t be as though you
were grieved, not angry. Love for his moth
er will bind him to the law of obedience
when fear or punishment would only impel
him to its violation"
Bella arose quickly. She looked into her
aunts face but made no response. Tears
were in her eyes as she left the apartment.
Goingup stairs to the room into which Ed
ward had been banished, she opened the
door and went in with a quiet step. The
boy started as she entered, and looked
around from his work ofmarking with a pen
Gil on the white window sash. He was doing
wrong, and being caught in the act, expected
punishment, or an angry lecture So he put
on look Of defiance. But his mother, in
stead ofblazing out upon him, as was her
wont, sat down in strange, quiet way, and
said, Edward" so softly and gently that
he could only stand and look at her in
surprise.
Edward" she repeated his name, and
now with tenderness that made his heart
leap. Her hands were held out towards him.
Dropping the pencil, he advanced step or
two, looking wonderingly at his mother
She stil held out her hand. "Comc, dear"
He was by her side in an instant.
ado you love mother ?" An arm was
drawn gently around him. He did not an
swer in words, but put his arms about her
neck and kissed her. What a thrill of pleas
ure went trembling to her heart.
81 love Eddy" The little arms tigttened
about her neck, and the little head went down
nesting upon her bosom.
"Oh | love you so much - The half.
smothered voice was full of childish earnest
ness.
"Will Eddy be good for mother ~
81 wont never be naughty again ~ Ed
ward stood ur, speaking in a resolute way,
and looking full into his mothers face. 'If
| can help it." he added, little less conf
IDENTIFY.
"Oh, Eddy can help it if he WILL" said his
mother, smiling encouragement into his face.
Something was on the lip of the boy, but
he kept it back from utterance.
"What is it, dear What were you going
to say?"
Thus encouraged, Edward said dropping
his eyes as he spoke,
"I'l forget, sometimes I'm most sure
will. But"
He paused with the sentence unfinished.
"But what, dear ~
"Dont scold me then, mamma. Kiss me,
and I'll be sorry -
He caught his breath with a sob, and his
mother drew his head against her bosom, and
laid her fearful face down among lis golden
curls
When they entered the sitting-room Aunt
Rachel saw that it was all right with them.
She held out her hand to Edward, who came
to her in gentle way, and stood, with a
happy looking face, by her side.
Scarcely within hermemory had the moth
er spent so pleasant an afternoon. Edward,
ofcourse, soon forgot himself, soon meddled
with forbidden things, made unseemly noises,
or conducted himself in way that tried Sc
versly his mothers patience. But, she COM
PEELED herself, and it required olight effort,
to use honey instead of vinegar-to speak
in affectionate remonstrance instead of
angry threats-and instantly, the troubled