The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-05-10


All me How binding is sudden anger !!
For awhile, Mr. Bray sat communing with
himself, and then taking up a pen drew a
check for two hundred dollars. Calling
to his clerk, he said,
Here, Thomas, run with this 10 Mr..
Carlton"
The young man took the check and
went out hurriedy. He came back in
few minutes with the check in his hand
away didn't he take it p asked Mr.
Bray, his face deepening in color as he
put the question.
"He said he was much obliged TO you,
but Mr. Agnew had accommodated him. >
Mr.. Bray III a very quiet manner, tore
the cheek into small fragments. He felt
badly. Mr. Agnew had the reputation of
being the toughest, NEST unaccommodat-
ing man in the neighbol hood; while lie
took pride in the thought of being held in
very different estimation. Even Mr.. .Ag-
new had exceeded him in amiablo COM
pliance and prompt business courtesy.
lie felt rebuked and humbled.
90, dcar wish had little decent
self-control" " he said sharply to himself
" This quick feeling, and hasty action
therefrom are always getting me into some
kind of trouble"
As Mr.. Bray walked homeward, after
leaving his store that afternoon, he saw
Mr.. Carlton approaching at the distance
of half a block ahead of him. lie was
conveniently near the corner of street,
and SO taking the fag-stones he crossed
over, aud thus avoided meeting his neigh
Dor.
81 don't like this" he said in some hu-
initiation to himself, as he breathed a lit
tie more freely "Skulking like Grim
nal don't suit me at all Why should l
fear to look any man in the face ?"
Mr.. Bray was usually cheerful man at
home though he sometimes darkened
the hone-light for season through fits Of
sudden passion that soon subsidized. But
even the briefly ruling tempest leaves,
usually, some mighty traces Of its course
that requires many days Of sunshine, gen.
tie rains and refreshing dews to oblterate
1t was so with the tempest of Mr. Bray
too easily awakened anger. 1t never
darkencd the sky, nor swept fercely along
the earth without leaving its ugly marks
behind
But usually he was cheerful in his fam
lily, bringil home with him the bright,
warm sunshine. 1t was not so, however,
on the present occasion. The little act of
discourtesy to Mr.. Carlton had not only
shadowed his feelings, but left his mind
disturbed. He was just in a state to be
annoyed by the mercot trifes.
Two little bows were playing in the pas
sage as he came in from the street. At
the very moment of his entrance one of
them hurt the other by accident The
latter screamed out, and, under the pas
sionate impulse of the moment, charged
his brother with striking him. In diff
ferent state of mind Mr. Bray would have
tried little moral suasion il the case, or,
at least, withheld punishment until he
saw clearly that duty to his child required
its administration. But now, obeying an
unhappy impulse, he caught up the child
who was charged with the offence of strik
ing, and punished him with smart;ng
strokes. At the moment Of doing so the
mother of the children, who had seen all
that had passed between them, called out
earnestly,
"Stop! stop, Henry! He didn't strike
his brother on purpose 1t was all an ac-
cident."
But this appeal came too late. The
wrong had been done.
It's a shame !" said the mother, who
felt every painful blow the child had re-
ceived, and who spoke from the moments
indignant impulse.
Mr.. Bray did rot feel any better. Set
ting the child down without venturlng a
reply to his wife's remark, he strobe up
stairs to the sitting-room and threw him
self into the great armchair. No one
ventured near him for sometime; so he
had fair opportunity for self. communion.
At last, toddling little curly-head, who
generally hailed her fathers return with
JOY, came sidellng into the room, and with
a half timid air made her way, by almost
stealthy approaches, to the side Of the
moody man Curiously she lifted her eyes
to his clouded countenance stood for
moment or two, as if in doubt, and then
clambered up and laid her golden tresses
against his bosom. AS she did so, the fa-
theirs arms was drawn around her. But
little curly head was not, in her unselfsh
innocence, content with the sunshine of
favor for herself alone.
"Pa!" Hervoice had in it something
Of doubt
"What is it, my little pet?" And Mr..
Bray, who was penetrated by the child's
sphere of tenderness, kissed her lips.
Z !