The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-08-03


could speak calmly and under the infu-
ence of reason.
/ stood for few minutes looking at
the shivered glass, and then, without
trusting my lips to say anything, went
out for the dnst-pan and brush. was
glad that / had controlled myself. 1t is
nv experience that scolding almost always
does ,.arm; and even where it works cor
rection Of bad habits, am certain that
different way would have been better.
Ivas quite selfpossessed when return
ed. As I stopped to gather up the brGs
ken fragments of glass, John came up
close to me l did not speak to or look
at him. Edward had drawn back to e
distant part of the room. Silently the
work of collecting the pieces Of glass
went on, John standing near me all tho
time. 1t was done, and I was about ris-
ing, when / felt his arm across my shoul-
der. W..
I'm sorry he said in penitent
voice, laying his face down against mine,
which I had turned towards him: : it was
wrong to touch it, / know, but thought
l would be SO careful, can't tell what
made it slip out of my hand
:" Accidents are almost sure to happen
with us, my son. answered, gently, but
seriously, when we are not doing what is
just right. Let this disaster stand as u
lesson for the future
"' You shall take my money and buy a
new case, dear mother he answered, in a
spirit of manly justice that was very
grateful to my ears.
".If this little experience will make
you more careful Of doing right I re-
turned, none Of us will very deeply re-
gret the accident
-. He put his arms around my neck and
kissed me ! kissed him in return, and
then went out, thanking God in my heart
that He had helped me to self-control in
a moment of trial, when passion would
have hurt my boy. e
Not long Afterwards I heard the boys
talking together. Edward said:
"'If it had been my mother, she would
have scolded me until was mad enough
to break everything in the house. Why
didn't your mother scold you p
* - Because she loves me, and knows
that scolding wouldn't makeme hall so
sorry as l am
g. i wish that my mother loved me-
said Edward, in tone of voice SO sad and
longing that it brought tears to my eyes"
The mother of Edward canght her
breath at this Her lips moved as if she
were about to speak; but she repressed
what was in her thoughts, and kept 81
lent. sf4 s
g. Of course your mother loves you,
answered John" So the friend c5ntinu-
ed. But Edward said, No, I'm sure
she doesn't love me-
" Why do you say that p questioned
John.
q. If she loved me. she wouldn't lie al
ways scolding me and hurting me with
hard words, no matter what do. Oh,
John, if I had such mother as you, I'd
be the happiest boy alive! I'd do any
thing for her!'"
There was a silence for some time. It
was broken by the friend, who said:
Forgive me for having told you this.
The wounds of friend are better than
the kisses Of an enemy. Forgive what
may seem an exaltation of myself above
you. He who knows my heart knows that
in it there is no pride of superiority. He
knows how weak am, how often l fall
short, how often passion gets the better
sc hnx toh hoo NJ.
down yesterday. 1t was in His strength
that overcame, and helped my boy in
stead of hurting him In His strength
you may oveI come also. and win the love
Of child whose heart is athirst for yonr
love, as is the dropping flower athirst for
dew and rain"
The mother Of Edward bowed her face
into her hands For little while her
body shook with halfchoked sobs Then
she looked up at her friend Her eyes
were wet. her face pale, her lips curved
with pain and grief.
You are not hurt with me 2"
mo, no." she answered. mot with
you, but with myself. What have been
doing I What madness has possessed me?
I know that love begets love-that in
Mrs. Howitt's beautiful words, it has
reader will than fear. / know, also, that
hardness begets hardness; that driving is
more difficult, and far less certain, than
leading. And yet, knowing this, have
sought to rule my children by passion and
force!-to drive, instead Of leading them
into the right waysl No, no, ! am not
hurt with you. For all this plain speak
ing, which I so much needed, | thank you
from the bottom Of my heart, If it is not
better with both me and my children in
future. it will not be your fault. But it
shall be betterlv N
And it was better. How quickly all
was changed under the new order Of home
government Love and Kindness found
swift obedience where anger and harsh
ness had met obstruction. Sunshine drop
ped in through hundred places which
had been closely barred against its sweet
influences; and Edward, wondering at the
pleasant change, drew nearer and nea-er
to bis mother, and felt that she loved him.
n lovaf sueet tn all hearts, va who