Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-06-21

In all things wisely ordered, just the thing
most needed her husband had sugges tcd-self
government. But she could not receive the
suggestion without pain, at least not from
him
Only few moments did Mrs. Lawrence sit
sobbing; then she arose, and passing from the
room, went to the chamber whore her children
were asleep, and throwing herself in half a
abandonment of feeling, across bed, let the
tears flow at will. An, that was indeed an
hour OF bitterness But the lesson had gone
home.
Mr.. Lawrence sighed as his wife left the
room, and then turned to his book, but he
knew as little Of its contents an hour after
wards as then.
On the next morning, with a prayer on her
lips for strength and patience, Mrs. Lawrence
left the pillow where sleel had been sweet for
at least portion Of the night Already the
voices Of her waking children admonished her
that duty must begin. Through many wakeful
hours had she reviewed the past admitted its
errors, and resolved to do differently in the
time to come, and now tho time was at hand,
An angry cry from one Of the children sent
SILVER along her nerves, and gave her heart a
quick throb. She understood its meaning.
Johnny, her oldest boy, had wilfully annoyed
his sister. Usually, on such occasions. which
were of daily, and sometimes Of almost hourly
occurrence, the mother would come down like
a storm on the offender, and she felt impelcd
10 do so now. But, conscious Of her own dis
turbcd state, and aware that. if she gave way
TO her feelings all solf-control was gone, she
stood still for a little while. to collect her
thoughts. and then went. with slow steps and
arcpressed manner, into the room occupied by
the children.
"What is the trouble here;" she asked, but
in a voice so strange TO them under the cir
cumstances that they all grew silent, and
looked at her in mute inquiry.
"What is it, Johnny There was no
threat Of punishment, no angel, no excitement
in the mothers tones, but tender concern,
that was almost sad
There it is said the boy, drawing his
hand from behind him, and reaching dolls
head to Lydia. He had just snatched it from
her. 9" | was only in fun
DO you think that the right kind of fun
johnny - asked Mrs., Lawrence, in calm.
serious voice. Then she added Come Ly-
dia; ! want You to dress quickly this morn
ing. You're almost always late in getting
ready
There was something so unusual in the way
their mother spoke TO them, that the children
moved to the work Of dressing themselves
with an aacrity and good temper that surpris-
ed Mrs. Lawrence. In acing one of his shoes,
Johnny broke the tic, when a word Of impa-
thence fell from his lips. On the very last
occasion Of similar accident, the snap of the
tie had been responded to by Mrs. Lawrence
in the sentence, angrily spoken, There it is
again, you careless boy believe you break
your shoe strings on purpose ~ OF course,
such speech did not in any way improve
Johnny's temper Now. with that inpatient
word, his eyes went up to the face of his moth
er, half ieariully, half deprecatingly. He had
felt the pleasant warmth Of her SUMMER mood
and did not wish it changed. 1t was grateful
to his young heart. The old impulse stirred
the mothers feelings at sound of the breaking
cord but she was in the better way, and
not easily to be pushed aside 1t was sure
ly worth au effort to keep her feet therein
SO, forcing back the wave of passion, she said
kindly:
is it broken so badly that we must throw
it away" And STOPPING to examine the
cord, she answered her own question, in a
cheerful way: 80, no. A knot here will
make it all right. Shall tic it for you,"
" o. no, mother, can do it myself" replied
pphhhDs III ullButs ulhNt NolCt, ana ne henk
over the shoe with the earnestnoss of a right
purpose.
- Don't pull quite so hard. dear" said Ms
Lawrence, as she saw Johnny begin the work
of lacing his boot again after the tie was
mended.
No, ma ma, I'll take care"
How quickly kind, thoughtful dealing
with this impulsive, self-willed child had
wrought change in his temper and his
mother, in seeing the effect, saw the cause al
so-and she felt both encouragement and re-
buke. What had wrought this almost magic
al change; 1t was selfdiscipline She per-
ceiyed and acknowledged the truth Getting
power over herself was the first and greatest
difficulty. That attained, and all beyond was
comparatively easy
AZ the breakfast table, Mrs. Lawrence no.
ticed that the children appeared to regard her
with half curious interest. Johnny took his
place quietly, instead of in the noisy. dashng
way peculiar to that young gentlemen and
Lydia freed from his annoyances forgot her
self so far as to give sisterly attention t. a
little brother who occupied high seat by her
side.
But an incident occurred that came near
destroying the harmonious balance of things
thus far maintained-a common incident and
one with which few mothers exercise patience.
a cup Of milk and water was overturned,
and the contents left upon the table cloth
1t was Johnny's work. and carelcssy done.
"You - Only that one word escaped the
lips of Mrs. Lawrence; but the flash in her
eyes, and the color on her face, betrayed the
irritation that was near overmasterng her
Instead of smarting reprool, however, there
came kind rem0nstrance. and The startled
boy looked grieved and grateful at the same
moment.
IL didn't mean to do it, mother. 1t was
an accident he said, with a troubled air, in
stead OF the defiant or indifferent one usual
on these occasion, "And I'm sorry"
A grave quiet followed this incident, for all
felt how narrowly they had escaped scene of
passionate disturbance, which ,eontrasted with
the harmony that prevailed, made them shrink
from its bare Imagination. Peace, order, and
spirit of mutual kindness were felt to be so
sweet, that the danger Of losing them gave
an Impression Of pain. BY none were the
means of escape more wildly realized than by
Mrs. Lawrence. She saw that on her sue
cessful effort ut controlling an impatient spr-
1t, everything was due. Had the stormy
words, which leaped TO her tongue found nm