The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-01-17
Speak Gently.

never yield to his imperious temper; !
never indulge him in anything; L think
about him, and care about him at all
times, but see no good results.
While Mrs. Burton was Speaking, a
bright active boy, eight years of age came
dashlng into the room, and, without heed
ing any one, commenced beating with
two large sticks against one of the win
dow.sills and making deafening noise.
lncorrigible boyl" exclaimed his moth
er, going quickly up to him, and jerking
the sticks out of his hand, " can [ teach
you neither manners nor decency? l have
told you hundred times that when you
come into room where any one is sitting
you must be quiet Get up stairs this
moment, and do not let me see your face
for an hourw
The boy became sulky in an instant,
and stood where he was. pouting sadly
" Did you hear what | said, get up
stairs this momentw
Mrs Burton spoke in a very angry
tone, and looked up quite as angry as She
spoke.
Slowly moved the boy toward the door,
scowl darkening his face, that was but
a moment before SO bright and cheerful
/ His steps were too deliberate for the over
excite feeling of the mother; she sprang
toward him, and seizing him by the arm,
pushed him from the room and closed the
door loudly after him.
" declare am out Of all hearth she
exclaimed sinking down upon chair. =
" 1t Is line upon line and precept upon
precept, but all to no good purpose. -
That boy will break my heart yet"
Mr.. Burton said nothing, but he saw
plainly enough that it was not all the
child's fault He doubted the use of
speaking out and saying this unequivo-
cally, although he had often and often
been on the point of doing so involuutarily.
He knew the temper of his wife so well,
and her peculiar senstiveness about ev-
erything that looked like charging any
fault upon herself that he feared more
harm than good would result from an at
tempt on his part to show her that she
was much more than half to blame for the
\ boys perverseness of temper.
Once or twice the little fellow showed
himself at the door but was driven back
with harsh words until the hour for tea
arrived. The sound of the tea bell caus-
ed an instant oblivion of all the disagree
able impressions made on his mind. His
little feet answered the welcome summons
with a clatter that stunned the ears of
his mother
Go back, sir!' she said, sternly, as
he burst open the dining room door, aad
sent it swimming with loud conclusion
against the wall, g and see if you cannot
walk down stairs more like boy than a
horse"
Master Henry withdrew, pouting out
his rosy lips to the distance of nearly an
inch. He went up one flight of stairs,
and then returned.
Go up to the third story where you
first started from, and come down quietly
all the way, or you shall not have a
nouthful of supper"
L do not want to-" whined the boy.
Go up, l tell you, this instant, or l
will send you to bed without anything to
eat"
This was threat which former expe-
rience had taught him might be exccu-
/ ted, and so he deemed it better to submit
than pay too dearly for having his own
way. The distance to the third story was
made in few light springs, and then he
rcame pattering down as lightly, and took
his place at the table, quietly, but silently.
There-there, not too fast; you have
plenty to eat, and time enough to eat in"
Harry settled himself down to the table
as quietly as his mercurlal spirits would
let him, and tried to wait until he was
helped, but in spite of all his efforts to do
so, his hand went over into the bread
basket. A look from his mother caused
him to drop the slice he had raised; it
was not look in which there was much
affection. While waiting to be helped
his hands were busy with his Knife and
fork, making most unpleasant clatter.
Put down 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 swing
ing motion, his heels striking noisily
against the chair.
Keep your feet still?" caused this to
cease.
After one or. two more reproofs, the
boy was left to himself As soon as he
received his cup OF tea he poured the en-
tire contents into the saucer, and then
tried to lift it steadily to his lips. In do
ing so he spilled one third Of the contents
upon the table cloth
A box on the ears and storm Of angry
words rewarded his feat.
Have | not told you over and over a
gain, you incorrigible, bad boy, not to pour
the whole of your tea into your saucer
just see what a mess you have made with
that clean table cloth? / declare | am
out Of all patience with you? Go away
from the table this Instant
Harry went crying away, not in anger,
but in grief. He had spilled his tea by
accident. His mother had so many re-
xrnnfs and ininnctinns 70 mil o that haar-