Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-30
That Boys Temper.


PERHAPS there is nothing else that so
much excites mothers anxiety for a
child's future as a violent temper IL is a
dangerous thing. When we see the trown
ing brow and crimson cheek and flashing
eyes, the tiny hand clinched, while fierce,
bitter, defiant words leap from the little
mouth-or the child throws his toys away
from him, and himself screaming on the
iloor-it may well cause anxiety, that Will
not stop short of persistent, watchful,
prayerful effort. 1t is a pitiable, terrible
sight.
And vet there is a bright side of this tur-
bulent nature. The very passion indicates
depth a,.d strength without which no
reliable, forceful character can be bailt.
The richer the nature, the more material It
holds for good-the greater dan ger per,
version. Talent, generosity, courage and
| deep feeling-the capabiity Of ardent, self
| sacrificing, devoted affection, are almost
always accompanied by quick passions
| The reason is self-evident. A strong ma
| ture is strong in all its feelings,all its ten
dencies. 1t issaid, no doubt truly, that man
/ cannot hate like woman; he cannot love
as she does Aud the very natuIes, thatu
/ perverted, go widest and farthest astray,
! are the ones that once brought (and they
J can be only by the influence of love
| never by fear) into allegiance to ChrlSt,
rise to the loftiest planes of self-abnegation
and loving service, trust aud endurance.
| He who best knew the human heart, said ;
"They to whom much is forgiven, love
much. e-,,
What the riveris when the storm swells
il into foaming fury, and it o7erfiows It's
4 banks-dark, turbid, esistible-carryiug
/ devastation wherever it runs its mad
course. such is the soul borne along by
passions wild current. But is the river q
thing of evil? Nay, is it not-kept within
its rightf1l bounds and directed to lbs
normal ends-a thing of noblest use and
beauty? Can we dispense with II?
Wait till the tempest has passed and the
winds are lplled and the sun shines ou
again Then see the sriver rs 1t Is. Is
there ANYTHING more beautiful? Anything
on which we look longer or with deeper
thrill of pleasure? See it flowing along
calm, blue, silvery its tiny rippies chaslns
one another in the glad sunlight; its elea
Ctepths rejecting the changing sky; th'
meadows, on either hand, green from ii
refreshing; the trees and flowers drinking
life and bloom from its fullness; white
ducks sailing and diving in its waters; th'
u quiet, brown eyed cows wading alon!
its edge and quenching their thrs
with tie weary, healed horse; In
old way. worn mau and the little chile
sharing its benison with the birds OF, IN
wood And then, farther on, as it trace
its winding way past field and forest ant
hill, making sweet music rs il goes, grow
ing deeper and broader, till il bears th
snowy,winged vessel and painting steamer
with their freight Of human die aud cosl
ly merchandise.
The analogy is complete. No fear g
, the horse pond! That is very well In II
5 way-a good and useful thing But woul
you exchange the river for itY
But you must guard the river. Til
, dyke is indispensable in some places, an
it must be strong and sure. And yo
? must gusrd. your a4ild{ AL the dpe, yo
I. have, through chfldh6odi lahR yodth,'
none too long to teach him selfgoven
lneAt-that without which all outward COZ
troll must titIl.f = II -uu..,.sfl JI.L
; Aud as to ways and means trst al al
!, we need to remember That. fire nevt
uuenches. The mother who most stead
, ly, fully, couscienti usly rules her .ow
, spirit, is the one that best governs Il
child Mere outward force viii not dol
Severe punisllment will not do u I b.
rather increases the evil. The old eayir
about whipping six devils in while tryir
d to whip one out, Il far more true than el
r gaut. ,sEr,f hHG t9ffuts
Much may be done in the way of pr
> vehtinn. And we cannot begin to earl
1t is never wise or kind, needlessly to VI
Q or try a child. In .iHfancy) what oug
A not to be given, can, as a ageneral thing,
4, kept out of the way-at least, outpf reae
!. Some object to this, and talk about teac
, ing. the child obedience and selfdenisl.
/ But my perceptions are not sufficient
s. acute to see. the practicability lof givi
S. moral lessons to babies. 1t is never we
b at a later day, tolreiuse request needle
= N. There are times enough when it mt
IL be refused, out of inability or for 4
child's good-things enough which
must SEQ and not have. If we are OF
d, faithful 70 duties that really exist, we ne
n. not make them unto ourselves or fear thu
will not be- a. sufficient number, An I
reasonable control sours q childian tel
Us TO induce obstinacy, fretfulness, and dec
m tion. A reasonable and Just governm
he ! wins his respect and cheerful obedien