The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-06-29
MAGGIE'S TEMPER.

BY MRS. EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER.
If there was anything Maggie heartily
believed in, it was her temper. Ever
since she could remember she had heard
about 1t, and long before that time,
when she was mite Of thing in long
white frocks, the nurse used to excuse
herself for letting her break costly Or
naments from the mantel piece by say
ing,
''Indeed, marm, she would have it :
and she screamed that bad she was like
to 60 into fits. It's no use to cross her,
she's got such a temper"
When she grew little older, she had
her choice of all the playthings in the
nursery, and her brothers and sisters
soon learned that it was better to give
up right at once than to rouse Maggie's q
temper.
Her mother sighed and wept over her,
but after all she pitied more than she
blamed, the poor child had such tenn
per. So it was no wonder that Maggie
herself by the time she was ten years
old, came to believe in her temper, and
no wonder that in spite Of a great deal
Of loneliness, and warm, aflectionate
heart, it made her disliked by almost all
her mates. l don't like to think what
kind Of a woman this little girl would
have made, if this evil temper had been
allowed to go on gaining in strength for
ten years longer. 1 am afraid she
would have been like some ( + those in
our Saviour's day who were grievously
tormented by the wicked spirits that
had entered into them.
But just about this time, Maggie's
Uncle Will came to make them visit,
end of all persons in the world she most
admired Uncle Will. He was a tall,
handsome man, who had travelled half
over the world, and could tell the most
delightful! stories in the most delightful
way. He had been away for two years
in Italy, and Maggie's mamma had told
her with many tears, of the lovely
young wife who was so frail and delicate
that she had faded away even in beauti.
full Florence, and was brought sadly
back to be buried among her own kin.
dred in New England. Aud so Uncle
Will was alone again, and living at dear
old Elmwood, with only Mrs. Jarvis,
the housekeeper, and black Cinthy the
cook.
For few days after he came, Maggie
was on her guard. She bit her lips res
olute!y when the angry words came up,
and as the other children were equally
cautious about crossing her in anything,
she got on very we'll, and Uncle Will
thought he had seldom seen lovelier
child. He said as much to Maggie's 8
mother one day, and she assented with
sigh.
"Ies, Maggie is bright and lovab,e,
but you've no idea what a temper she
has. 1t worries me dreadfully to know
what to do with her, but I suppose she
isn't altogether to blame; it's her nat
ural disposition"
"Ah ?" said Uncle Will.
"There's such a difference in chill
dren," said his sister; now Susie is the
best-tempered little thing, but then
she's selfish and dreadfully lazy; Pm
afraid she'll never accomplish much,
but Maggie might make asplendid wo-
man If it wasn't for that awful temper
Others"
"Ah?" said Uncle Will again, and he
set himself to watch Maggie very close
ly during the rest OF his stay. The re-
suit was that he invited her to come to
Elmwood and spend week with him
during vacation.
Maggie fairly trembled with delight,
and mamma with fear; would she, could
she behave well for whole week
Perhaps so, with nobody to cross or
trouble her, but when mamma kew that
two little schoolmates were to be invi-
ted also, then her hope failed her, and
she went about the work Of getting
Maggie ready with heavy heart. The
children heard the news with a little
pang of envy, that was relieved by the
thought that they should be free for a
whole week TO choose their own plays.
In the kitchen, Kathleen did her best
with her fiuting irons over Maggie's
white dresses, and pretty ruflled aprons,
but privately remarked to Bridget that
she hoped Maggie wouldn't go and get
in her tantrums out at Elmwood, for
that Mrs. Jarvis was . dreadful high
stepping piece, and wouldn't take any
"sarce" from anybody"
"Indade thin." said Bridget, "And it's
my opinion shell boondle Miss Maggie
out Of the house, nick aud crop, in less
than two days. Wasn't she fit to kill
me only yesterday for putting taxte too
much starruch in her pink frock. She
has temper not fit for haythen."
AS for Maggie herself, she was always
joyous and jubilant, and scarcely heard
her mothers warnings, so sure did she
feel that she should not need them.