The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-09-11
From Arthur's Home Magazine.
THE YOUNG MOTHERS LESSON.
BY T S. S.ARTHUR.

"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
niece.
IL feel sober, just at this time, Aunt"
"No unusual cause for uncomforta-
BILE 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 ev-
cry day You pain me by such an ac-
acknowledgement. What has gone wrong
with you ?"
Nothing wrong with myself, Aunt, :"
was replied but that oldest boy Of
mine is growing so self willed, disobe-
dent, and ungovernable, that I'm half
in despair about him."
I'm sorry for that, Bella. Perhaps
you have INDUCED and humored him too
much"
81 think not. From the very begin
ming have made it a rule to repress, as
lay in 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 a strange dispo-
silion. | don't know what to make of
him, sometimes. He seems bert on do
ing the thing interdict. Only half an
hour ago | found him in the library,
with a handsome book lying open upon
the floor, marking some of the fine H.
lustrations with pencil. Once before
had punished him for this very thing,
and here ii was again ?"
"And you punished him again -"
Il did; and severely"
Where is he 2" I5}J0
shut in room by himself"
Overhead ?"
Yes that's him pounding on the
floor now. Just hear what noise he is
making And il isn't ten minutes since
| threatened 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
You Edwards"
The hammering ceased in an instant.
What did | say to you about that
noise. little while ago %
No answer.
Edward - There was no kindness,
no soflness, no motherlo in the voice
that uttered the name. Do you hear,
sir -
Still no response.
"Why don't you answer me %
The mother was growing excited.
Edward !; il you don't answer me,
I'll punish you severely !"
A sulky mutleriug now come from the
room.
Don't let me hear that noise again,
sir. or you'll be sorry for it -
Can't come out, mother? Pm
tired of staying here"
No, sir; you can't come out, you
naughty boy !"
81 will come out = screamed the
child, with sudden wildness OF man.
ner. as if he had grown desperate and
he ratified the lock, aud kicked passion
ately against the door
This was more than the excited moth
er could endure. Springing up stairs.
she unlocked the door, aud entered the
prison room. Aunt Rachal sighed as
she heard rapidly falling strokes. and
the cries of Edward,
You see," said Bella, as she return
ed. with flushed face and angry look
ing eyes. to the sitting room, what
trouble I've got before me-"
Aunt Rachel did not reply.
1--we never seen just such child, "
the young mother continued "and /
don't know what is going TO become OF
him. He prefers wrong to right always
and recognizes authority only for the