South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-21
VOLUME L.
THE FAMILY-HOME SCENE.
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

sharply TO bright little fellow, who was
pending away with a wooden hammer OIL
5 a chair, and making a most intolerable
din, "stop that noise this Instant And
you, En-, not word more from your lips
If yot can t live in peace with your sister
I'll separate you. Dye hear? Hushl thi:
instant.
"Then make julie give me my pin-cush.
ion. She's got it in her pocket.
It's no such thing; l have not, "retorted
Julia.
Yop have, ] sey. -, d
" L tell you l haven't. ="
"Will you hush2" The face of Mrs.
Lyon was fiery red, and she stamped upon
the floor as she spoke
want my pin, cushion. Make julie
give me my pin-eushio.. y
Irritated beyond control, Mrs. Lyon
caught Julia by the arm, and thrusting
her hand into her pocket, drew out a thin
BILE, a piece of lace and a pen-knife,
:" I told you it wasn't there. Couldn't
you believe me?"
This impertinence was more than the
mother could endure; and, acsing upon
her indignant iitipulses, she boxed the ears
of Julia soundly, conscious at the time
that Emily was chiefly to blame for all
this trouble, by wrong accusation of her
sister; she turned upon her, also, and ad-
niinistered an equal punishment. Fright
ened by all this, the younger children,
whose incessant noise, for the last hour,
had contributed to the overthrow of their
mothers temper, became suddenly quiet,
and skulked away into coTners-and the
] baby that was seated on the floor between
two pillows, c9rved her duivering lips, and
glanced tearfully up into the distorted face
IN which she had been used to see the love
light that made her heaven.
A deep quiet followed this burst of pas
sion like the hush that succeeds the storm
Alas, for the evil traces that were left be-
hindI Alas, for the repuisive image of
that mother, dagQerreotyped in an instant
on the memory OF her children, and never
to be efaced. How many, many times, in
after years, will not a sigh heave their
bosoms, as that painful reflection looks
out upon them amid the dearest remem-
brances of childhood.
A woman with good impulses, but with
scarcely any self-control, was Mrs.Lyon. |
She loved her children, and desired their |
good. That they showed so little forbear- |
ance, one with another, manifested so |
little fraternal affection, grieved her |
deeply.
"My whole life is made unhappy byitp
she would often say. "What is to be
done? 1t is dreadful to think of a family
growing up in discord and disuDion. Sis
ter at variance with sister, and brother
lifting up his hand against brother"
As was usual after an ebullition of pas
sion, Mrs. Lyon, deeply depressed in epir-
its, as well as discouraged, retired-fro
her family to grieve and weep. Lifting
the frightened baby from the floor, she
drew its head tenderly against her bosom,
and leaving the nursery, she sought the
quiet of her own room. There, in repent
ance and humiliation, she recalled the
stormy scene through which she had Just
passed, and blamed herself for yielding
blindly to passion, instead of meeting the
trouble among her children with q quiet
To weeping, calmness succeeded. Still
she was perplexed in mind, as well as
grieved at her own want of selfcontrol.
What was to be done with her children
How were they to be governed Alright?
Painful did she feel her own unftness for
the task. By this time the. baby was
asleep, and the mother felt something of
that tranquil peace that every true mother
knows when young babe is slumbering
on her bosom. A book lay on shelf near
H.
scarcely conscious of the act, reached out
her hand for the volume. She opened it
without feeling any interest in It's contents,
but she had only read few sentences
when this remark arrested her attention:
All right government of children begins .
With self1government."
The words seemed written for her, and ,
he truth expressed was elevated instantly /
nto perception She saw it in the clear !
st light, and closed the book and bowed !
Ter head in acknowledgment of her own !
,rrors. Thus for some time she had been ,
lifting, when the murmur of voices from !
)elow grew more and more distinct, and !
he was soon aroused to the painful fact, :
hat, as usual, when left alone, the chill :
lren were wrangling among themselves. !
Various noises, as of pounding on and :
hrowing about chairs, and other pieces OF ;
urniture, were heard, and at length loud !
cream, mingled with angry vociferations,
mote upon her ear.
Indignation swelled instantly to the .
leart of Mrs. Lyon, and hurriedly placing :
he sleeping babe in its crib, she started 6
Or the scene of disorder, moved by an s
impulse to punish severely the young :
ebels against her authority, and was half +
ray down the stairs, when her feet were :
hecked by a remembrance of the senti- '
lent: All right government of children q
egins with self government" /
"Will anger subdue anger? When E
torm meets storm, is the tempest stilled?" 6
'hese were questions asked of herself, al y
lost involuntarily. :
This is no spirit in which to meet my
hildren. 1t never has, never will enforce .
rder and obedience" she added as she 3
f1fa- 49,
Elf, and striving for the victory. From I
be nursery come louder sounds of dis :,
rider. How weak the mother felti Yet :,
! this way weakness was strength. o
must not stand idly here" she said, q
5 sharper cry of anguish smote her :
ars, and so she moved on quickly, and 7
pening the nursery door, stood revealed A
} her children. Julia had Just raised her h
and TO strike Emily, who stood confront =,
lg her with fiery face. Both were lit :,
e startled at their mothers sudden ap- .,
and both expecting the storm 4
hich usually came at such time, began .,
assume the defiant, stubborn air with .,
-hich her imtemperate reproofs were al
ays met. +,
A few moments did Mrs. Lyon stand b
'oking at her children-grief, not anger, t
pom her pale countenance. How still
/ became. What look of wonder came Ii
radually into the childrens' faces, as they n
anced one at the other. Something of S,
lame was next visible. And low the O
other was conscious of q new power S
yer the young rebels of the household a
Emily" said she, speaking mildly, and t,
IT with a touch of sorrow in her voice il
lie could not subdue, az wish you would &c
, up into my room, and sit with Mary Al
hile she sleeps "
Without sign of opposition, or even of t.
luctance, Emily went quietly from the t.
1rsery, in obedience to her mothers de- T
res. n
" This room is very much in disorder, V,
llia" al
Many times Mrs. Lyon had said. under In
ke circumstances, "Why don't YOU nut N
lings to rights?" or, 81 never saw such az
rls If all in the room was topsy turyv. 81
nd the floor an inch thick with dirt h,
1u'd never turn over hand to put things n
order" or go and get the broom, this cC
inute, and sweep up the room. You are m
le LATEST girl ever lvedI" Many, W
any times, as we have said, had is
lch language been addressed by Mrs er
|