Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-08-07
PoNERoY COUNTY, TUESDAY,

motherleye, than in her most impera-
tive command, or sternest interdiction.
Her mission is to lead, not drive her
children in the right way"
Aunt Rachel paused to note the eff
fects of her plainly spoken admonition.
Her niece had startled look, but she
made no reply.
81 have not heard you speak single
kind, approving word to that boy since
| have been here" resumed Aunt Ra-
chel
GLOW can 1 speak approvingly when
he does wrong? How can I encourage
him to disobedience by smiling when he
sets my commands at defance?"
II fear, Bella, that you call many
things wrong that are done innocently
Oh his part. You follow him up too
closely, sand sco1d him to much for
things trivial, or of no account. You
have not once, that have seen, this af-
ternoon, tried to divert him from any
thing that he was doing not strictly in
the line of your approval; it was always
command, and always harshly made.
Forgive me, Bella, for this plain speech;
but see your error 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 honeyl I am sadly
afraid that you are shadowing the life
of that ehild-shutting out the sunshine
by which alone good plants can vegetate
in the garden of his soul I 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, few flowers of affection were
family visible. Oh, Bella, search for
these as for precious treasures; water
them with the dews of love, and let the
hearts warm sunshine 60 down into the
earth around them Don't think so
much about the repression and extermi-
nation of evil, about the growth and de-
velopement of good. But, first of all,
put your own house in order. Regulate
your own heart. Repress anger, pride,
self-will, love of ruling, Indignation at
rebellion-let only affection reign in
your heart, and thoughts of your child's
good fill your mind
Bella sat in kind of bewildered ST.
lsnce, 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 the love
in your voice, and see it in your eyes;
and, as the magnet attracts iron, so will
you attract him. Forget that he has
offended you, or if you think of it, and
speak of it, let it be as though you were
grieved, not angry. Love for his
mother will bind him to the law of obe-
dience when fear of punishment would
only impel him to its violation"
Bella arose quickly. She looked into
her aunt's face, but made no response.
Tears were in her eyes as she left the
apartment. Going up stairs to the room
into whion Edward had been banished,
she opened the door and went in with a
quiet step. The boy started as she en-
tered, and looked around from his work
of marking with pencil 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, instead of blazing out upon
him, as was wont, sat down in a 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 a tenderness that made
his heart leap. Her hands were held
out toward him. Dropping the pencil,
he advanced a step or two, looking won
deringly at his mother. She still held
out her hand. "Come, dear" He was.
by her side in an instant.
"Do you love mother?" An arm was
drawn gently around him. He did not
answer in words, but put his arms about
her neck and kissed her. What thrill
of pleasure went trembling to her heart.
Il love Eddy The little arms
tightened about her neck, and the little
head went down, nesting upon her bo-
som.
"Oh! [ love you so muchr' The
half smothered voice was full of child
ish earnestness.
'Will Eddy be good for mother?''
81 wont never be naughty again!' -
Edward stood up, speaking in resolute
way, and looking full into his mothers
face eff can help it," he added, a
little less confidently.
"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, dear2 What were you
going to say2'
Thus encouraged, Edward said, drop
ping his eyes as he spoke,
"Ill forget, sometimes; I'm most sure
I will. But
He paused with the sentence unfn-
ished
"But what, dear?'
"Don't scold me then, mamma. Kiss
me, and I'll be so sorry!"
He caught his breath with sob, and
his mother drew his head against her
bosom, and laid her fearful face down
among his 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 a gentle
way, and stood, with happy-looking
face, by her side.
Scarcely within her memory had the
mother spent so pleasant an afternoon.
Edward, of course, soon forgot himself,
soon meddled with forbidden things,
made unseemly noises, or conducted
himself in a way that tried severely his
mothers patience. But, she compelled
herself, and it required no light effort,
to use the honey instead of vinegar-to
speak in afectionate remonstrance in