The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-28

"There, there, not too fast you have
plenty to eat, and time enough to eat it
in
Harry settled himself down to the table
| as quietly as his mercurial spirits would
let him, and tried 20 wait until he was
helped, but in spite of bis efforts to do so,
his hand went over iEto the bread-basket
4 look from his mother caused him to
drop the slice he had raised 1t was uot
look in which there was much affe ction-
While waiting to be helped, his hands
! were busy with his knife and fork, making
! a most unpleasant clatter-
mPut dowu YOUR hands ~ harshly spo-
ken, remedied this evil, or rather sent the
active movement from the little fellows
hands to his feet, that commenced a
swinging motion, his heels striking noisily
against the chair.
'EKeep your feet stiH"' caused this to
cease.
after one or two more reproofs, the
| boy was left 10 himself. As soon as he
received his cup of tea, he porred the eu-
| tire contents into the saucer and then tried
to lift it steadily 10 bis lips. In doing so
he spilled one-third of the contents upon
| the table-eloth.
4 box on the ears and storm Of angry
words rewarded this feat
81 have told you over and over again,
| you iucorrigible, bad boy, not to pour the
whole of your tea into your saucer Just
sec what 4 mess you have made with that
clean lable-cloth? I declare l am out Of
all patience with you. Go away from the
table tkis Instant
Harry went crying away, not in anger,
but in grief He had spilled his tea by
| accident His mother had SD many re-
proofs aad injunctions to make that the
| bearing of them all in mind was q thing
! impossible. As to pouring out all his tea
/ at time, be had no recollection of any in
terdiction on that subject, although it had
| been made over and over again very often.
! In little while he came creeping slowly
! back and resumed his place at the table,
| his eyes on his mothers face Mr.. Bur
ton was sorry that she had sent him away
for what was an accident; she felt that
! she had hardly been just to the thought
less boy. She did not, therefore, object
to his coming back, aud said, as be took
his seat, meg. time see that you are more
careful. l have told you again and again
not to Eli your saucer 10 the brim; you
never can do it without spilfing the tea
upon the table cloth"
t This was not spoken in kindness.
4 scene somewhat similar to this was
enacted every meal; but instead of i'm
proving his behavior, the boy grew more
and more needless. Mr. Burton rarely
said anything to Harry about his unruly
manner, but when he did, word was
enough That word was always mildly
yet firmly spoken. He did not think him
bad boy or difficult to mauage-at least
he never found him SO. "I wish [ kneH
what to do with that child" said Mrs.
Burton after the little fellow had been
sent to bed an hour before his time, in
consequence of some violation Of Law aud
order ''he makes me constantly feel IN
happy. | dislike to be scoIding him for
/ ever, but what can l do? If did not
curb him iu some way, there would be
no living in the house with him l
| am afraid he viii cause Us great deal of
| trouble"
Mir Burton was silent. He wanted TO
say q word on the subject, but he feared
that its effect might not be what he de-
sired.
Il wish you would advise me what to
do, Mr.. Burton" said his wife little
! petulantly. "You sit, aud do not say a
single word, as if you had no kind of in
terest in the matter. What am l to do
have exhausted all my resources, and
feel completely at loss"
"There Is way, which, if you would
adopt it, I think might do good" Mr..
Burton spoke with slight appearance OF
besitatior. ''It you would speak gently
to Harry, [ am sure you would be able
to manage him far better than you do" !"
! Mrs. Burton's face vas crimsoued in an
instant; she felt the reproof deeply her
self-esteem was severely wounded.
"Speak gently, Indeed !" she replied
"I might as well speak to the wind;
am scarcely heard now at tho top of my
voice"
As her husband did not argue the mat.
ter with her, nor say anything that vas
calculated tokeep up the excitement under
which she was laboring, her feelings in 9
little while quieted down, and hel
thoughts became active. The words
"speak gently" were constantly IN her
mind, and there was reproving import
in them. On going to bed that night she
could not get to sleep for several hours
her mind was too busiIy engaged in review,
\ ing her conduct toward her child. She
clearly perceived that she had too fire.
quently suffered her mind TO get excited
and angry, and that she was often annoy
ed at trifes which oug ght to have been
overlooked.
| 81 am afraid have been unjust to nv