Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-04-07

at least he never found him so. ''I wish
knew what TO DO with that child, 4"
said Mrs. Burton, after the fellow had
been sent TO bed an hour before his time
IN consequence of some violation of law
and order, "he makes me constantly feel
unhappy. L dislike to be scolding him
forever, but what can do? If 1 did not
curb him in some way there would be
no living in the house with him. / am
afraid he will cause us great deal of
trouble"
Mr.. Burton sat silent. He wanted to
say word on the subject, but he feared
that its effect might not be what he de-
sired.
'I wish you would advise me what to
do, Mr.. Burton, said his wife, little
petulantly. you sit, and do not say a
single word, as if you had no kind of
interest liz the matter. What am l to do?
have exhausted all my own resources,
aud feel completely at loss"
''There is way which, if you would
adopt it, l think might do good" Mr..
Burton spoke with slight appearance
ofhesitation. "Ifyou would speak gently
20 Harry, l am sure you would be able to
manage him far better than you do"
Mrs. Burton's face crimsoned in an
instant; she felt the reproof deeply; her
self-esteem was severely wounded.
"Speak gently, indeedu' she replied,
II might as well speak to the wind, l
am scarcely heard now, at the top of my
voice.
AS her husband did not argue the
matter with her, nor say anything that
was calculated to keep up the eXcitment
n pd dor xzvb binh Shn lah har faal-
ings, in a little while, quieted down and
her 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
did notget tO..sleep for several hours; her
mind was too busily engaged in review
ing her conduct towards her child. She
clearly perceived that she had too fire.
quently suffered her mind to get excited
and angry, and that she was often an
noyed at trifles which ought to have
been overlooked.
81 am afraid l have been unjust to my
child,n she sighed over and over again,
turning restlessly upon her pillow.
II Will try and do BETTER" she said to
herself, as she rose in the morning, fell
ing but little refreshed from sleep. Be-
fore she was ready to leave her room,
she heard Harry's voice calling her from
the next chamber where he slept. The
tones were fretful; he wanted some
attendance, and was crying out for it
in manner that instantly disturbed
the even surface of the mothers feel
ings. She was about telling him, ,angrily
to be quiet until she could finish dress
ing herself, when the words, speak
gently" seemed whispered in her ear.
-, .,ot, la ,aric
spirit was subdued.
az will speak gently" she murmured,
and went to Harry, who was still crying
out, fretfully.
"What do you want, my SOM" she
said, in quiet, kind voice.
The boy looked up with surprise; his
eyes frightened, and the whole express
sion of his face was changed in an in
slant.
81 Icannot find my stockings, mamma
he said.
"There they are, under the BUREAU"
returned Mrs. Burton, as gently as she
had first spoken.
"Oh! yes, so they are," cheerfully re-
piled Harry; 81 could not see them any
where"
"Did you think crying would bring
them?u
This was said with smile, and in a
tone so unlike his mother, that the child
looked up again in her face with sur
prise that was, Mrs. Burton saw, min
gled with pleasure.
"Do you want anything else?" she
asked.
"No, mamma" he replied cheerfully,
'sI can dress myself now."
This little effort was crowned with the
most encouraging results to the mother;
she felt deep peace settling in her
bosom, the consciousness of having
gained true victory over the perverse
tendencies of both her own heart and
that of her boy. 1t was little act, but
| it was the first fruits, and the gathering,
even of so small a harvest, was sweet to
her spirit.
For the first time in many months,
the breakfast-table was pleasant to all.
Harry never once interrupted the con-
versation that passed at intervals be-
tween his father and mother. When he
asked for anything it was in a way
pleasing to all. Once or twice, Mrs.
Burton fonnd it necessary to correct
some little fault in his manner, but the
way in which she did it, did not in the
least disturb her child's temper, and
instead of not seeming to hear her
words, as had always been the case, he
regarded all that was said, and tried to
do as she wished.
"There is a wonderful power in kind
and gentle words" remarked Mr.. Bur-
ton to his wife, after Harry had left the
table.
Eyes, wonderful indeed; their effect
surprises mel"
Love is strongW
Days, weeks, months, and years pass
ed by; during all this time the mother
continued to strive very earnestly with
herself, and very kindly with her child.
The happiest results followed; the fret
ful, passionate, disorderly boy, became
even minded and orderly in his habits.
A word, gently spoken, was all-power-
! full in its influence for good, but the east
shade of harshness would arouse his
stubborn will, and deform his fair young
face.
Whenever mothers complain to Mrs.
Burton of the difficulty they find in
managing their children, she has one
piece of advice to give, and that is,
Command yourself" and "Speak
gently"