Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-02-22
scif-Controi---A. Family Incident.
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

Mother !'> cried q little girl, rush.
ing into tho room where lady. sat
"mother," John struck me in
the face with all his might! Oh dear
it hurts so J"
And the child pressed her hand
against her cheek, and threw her head
backward and forward, as if she was
in great pain.
The lady's face reddened, instantly,
and the book fell from her hand to the
floor. There was anger in her heart
against John, and in the blindness of
her sudden Indignation, she resolved to
punish him with severe chastisement.
But, ere she reached the apartment in
which her child had been playing, she
paused suddenly and stood still. A
timely thought glancing through her
mind, had arrested her steps.
"Tnis will not do. l must control
myself" she said, speaking half aloud.
Then, after resolute strife with her
angry feelings, the mother went back
to the room where she had left her
weeping chilli. and sitting down in her
old place, said, with as steady voice
as she could assume:
agnes, let me see your cheek"
ooh dear how it hurts !" sobbed
Agnes, as she came to her moth err
side, her hand still pressed to her face.
The lady gently removed the hand,
and examined her little girls cheek. -
L here was red mark, as if blow
had been received, but no evidence of
a brulse.
Agnes" said the mother, now
speaking very calmly an: gently, yet
with hrmness that at once subducd
the excitement cf her child's mind, -!
want you to stop crying, and ;el ne
all about chs trouble with John"
The chil1's tears ceased to flow, and
she looked up into her mother's face
Agnes, who gave the first prQvoca-
ton in this matter, you CT John ?"
John struck nc in tie face !" re-
Piled the child, eviIloing Il great doa,
of angry feelings toward her brother.
why did he strike yen p
Agnes was silent.
"Who was TIC trouble between-you
and John 2" inquired the mother
"Why, Mary saw it. She'll tell you
that John struck me in the face with all
his might ?" ..
TELL Mary | wish to sec her,
Agnes went for her sister. When
theg returned, tie mother said
NOW, Mary, tell me all about this
Trouble With John and Agnes"
"Yoa saw him strike me, didn't you,
Mary Z" said Agnes, with the eager
ness Of resentment.
Il will question Mary" said the
mother, "and while l am doing so,
you, Agnes, must have nothing to say
After Mary has finished, then you can
d statement if you wish to.
Nm y, say on''
~ ell, mother, iii tell you Just how
it was" said Mary. "Agnes was
teasing John, aud John 60, angry"
"And stuck his sister 2" There
was j tone Of severitj in the mothers
voice.
II think the blow was accidentally
said Mary. john declared that it
Was, and tried bis best to comfort 4 g
mes even promising to give he- his
pet kitten, if she would stop cryn =, >..ti.
not make trouble by telling you. But
she was angry, and would not listen to
hiE."
"Tell me JUST what occurred, Merry,
and then l shall know exactly how far
both were to blame"
"We!l,' answered Mary, "John and
[ were playing checkers, an; Agnes
would, every now and then. steal up
behind John aai push his elbow when
he vas making a move. It worried
him, and he asked her over and over
again not to do so. But she didn't
mind what he said. At last John push
ed the board from him and wouldn't
play any longer. He was angry. Still
Agnes seemed bent on annoying him.
John got book and sat down near the
window to read. He had not been
there long before Agnes stoleup behind
him, whipped the book out Of his hand,
and ran away. John sprung after her,
and they had a struggle for the book,
in which Agnes GIT blow upon the
face. was looking at them, and |
think the blow was accidental. 1t
seemed so at the time, and John de-
cared that he did not mean to strike
her. That is all, mothcr'' .
"Call you: BROTHER" said the lady,
in sndduod voice. John entered
the room in a few moments. lie was
pale, and looked troubled.
"My son." said The i0other, speak.
ins without apparent excitement, yet
with touch IF sorrow in her voice,
"did you strike Agnes on purpose?"
the boys lips quivered, but no an
swer came through them. He looked
into his mothers eyes FOR moment
or two, until tears blinded him, and
then he laid his face Gown upon her
bosom and sobbed. With loves ten
der instinct the mother drew her arm
tightly round her boy, and then there
was a silence for the space Of nearly
minute.
lit was an accident I am sure"
whispered the mother, placing her lips
close to the ear Of the boy.
"Indeed it was!" John answered back |
with earnestness. ''My hand slipped
as 1 tried tc get my book from her,
and it struck her in the face. I was
sorry" tt