Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-07-20
VOLUME XVI
TIE FAMILY-HoME SCENE.
BY T. $. ARTHUR.

SbSau u quteb NOME. iou! BIC SpOhe
sharply to bright little fellow, who was
pounding away with wooden hammer on
chair, and making a most intole able
din, "stop that noise this instantl And
you, EN-, not word more from your lips
If you can't live in peace with your sister
I'll separate you. Dye hear? Hush! this
instant"
"Then make julie give me ti.y pin cush
ion. She's got it in her pocket
cts no such thing; L have not, "retortet
Julia
"You have, I say"
tell you haven't.
"Wiil you hush?" The face of Mrs
Lyon was fiery red, and she stamped upon
the foot as she Spoke.
L want my pin cushion. Make julie
give me my pin cushion. !"
Irritated beyond control, Mrs. Lyon
caught Julia by the arm, and thrusting
her hand into her pocket, drew out d thin
BILE, a piece of lace and pen-knife.
Z" I told you it wasn't there. Couldn't
you believe me?"
This impertinence was mora than the
mother could endure, and, acting upon
her indignant impulses, she boxed the ear;
of Julia soundly, conscious at the time
that Emily was chiefly to blame for al
this trouble, by wrong accusation of hei
sister; she turned upon her, also, and ad-
ministered 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 corners-and the
baby that was seated on the floor between
two pillows, curved her quiyering 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 sto5 m.
Alas, for the evil traces that were left be-
hindl Alas, for the repulsive image of
that mother, daguerreotyped in an instant
on the memory of her children, ard never
to be effaced. How many, many times, in
after years, will not 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 selfcontrol, 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.
"Ny whole life is made unhappy by it,
she would often say. "What is to be
done2 1t is dreadful to think of family
growing up in discord and disunion. 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 spir-
its, as well as discouraged, retired from
her family to grieve and weep. Lifting g
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 a quiet
discrimination.
To weeping, calmness succeeded. Still
she was perplexed in mind, as well as
grieved at her own want of self-control
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 psace that every true mother
knows when a young babe is slumbering
on her bosom. A book lay on shelf near
where she was sitting, and Mrs. Lyon,
scarcely conscious of the act, reached out
her hand for the volume. She opened il
without feeling any interest in its contents
but she had only read a few sentences
when this remark arrested her attention
"All right government of children begins
with self government"
The words seemed written for her, and
fy11th oil oil 4Jv
into perception. She saw it in the clear
her head in acknowledgment of her OWL
errors. Thus for some time she had beer
sitting, when the murmur of voices from
below grew more and more distinct, and
she was soon aroused to the painful fact
that, as usual, when left alone, the chill
dren were wrangling among themselves
Various noises, as of pounding OF anC
throwing about chairs, and other pieces O.
furniture, were heard, and at length a lou6
scream, mingled with angry vociferations
smote upon her ear.
Indignation swelled instantly to the
heart of Mrs. Lyon, and hurriedly placing
the sleeping babe in its crib, she started
for the scene of disorder, moved by al
impulse to punish severely the young
rebels against her authority, and was hal
way down the stairs, when her feet were
checked by a remembrance of the senti
ment: Cali right government of childre1
begins with self government"
"Will anger subdue anger? Whe1
storm meets storm, is the tempest stilled q
These were questions asked Of herself, al
most involuntarily.
''This is no spirit in which to meet m,
children. 1t never has, never will enforc
order and obedience" she added as sh
stood upon the stairs, struggling with her
self, and striving for the victory. From
the nursery come louder sounds of dis
order. How weak the mother feltl Ye
| in this way weakness was strength.
Il must not stand idly here" she said
as a sharper cry of anguish smote he
ears, and so she moved on quickly, ant
opening the nursery door, stood reveale,
to her children. Julia had just raised he
hand to strike Emily, who stood confront
ing her with fiery face. Both were lii
| tie startled at their mothers sudden ar
pearance, and both expecting the storr
which usually came at such time, bega
to assume the defiant, stubborn air wit
which her imtemperate reproofs were a
ways met.
| A few moments did Mrs. Lyon stan
| 1OOAiu d1 ACI CuIll,ICu- SIIOl, uOb dugS
upon her pale countenance How sti
all became. What look of wonder cam
| gradually into the childrens' faces, as the
glanced one at the other Something {
shame was next visible. And now tn
mother was conscious of new powt
over the young rebels of the household.
Emily" said she, speaking mildly, an
yet with touch of sorrow in her voic
she could not subdue, 81 wish you woul
go up into my room, and sit with Maj
while she sleeps"
Without a sign Of opposition, or even
reluctance, Emily went quietly from Il
nursery, in obedience to her mothers d
sires.
"This room is very much in disorde
Julia"
Many times Mrs. Lyon had said, und
like circumstances, why don't you p1
things to rig hts ?" or, 81 never saw SUI
girls! If all in the room was topsy turv
and the floor an inch thick with dil
you'd never turn over hand to put thin
in order," or Go and get the broom, tt
minute, and sweep up the room. You a
the LATEST girl ever livedp Man