The Van Buren press., 1871-08-08

and at length loud scream, mingled
with angry vociferstions, smote upon her
ear.
Indignation swelled instantly to the
heart OF Mrs Lyon, and hurriedly plac-
ing the sleeping babe in its crib. she
started for the scene OF the disorder.
moved by an impulse to punish severely
the Young rebels against her authority,
and was half way down tue stairs, when
her feet were checked by q remembrance
of the sentiment: "All right government
ofchldren begins with self-government.'
"Will anger subdue anger? When
storm meets storm. is the tempest still
ed 7" These we're questions asked OF
herself, almost involuntarily.
This is no spirit in which to meet my
children. 1t never has, never will enforce
order and obedience, she added as she
stood upon the stairs, struggling with
herself, and striving for the victory
From the nursery come louder sounds
OF disorder. How weak the mother felt
Yet in this way weakness was strength.
~ mustn not stand idly here, she said,
as sharper cry Of anguish smote her
ears, and so she moved on quickly, and
opening the nursery door, stood revealed
to her children. Julia had just raised her
hand to strike Emily, who stood con
fronting her with fiery face. Both were
little startled at their mothers sudden
appearance. and both expecting the storm
which usually came at such time, began
TO assume the defiant, stubborn air with
which her incorporate reproofs were al
ways met.
A few moments did Mrs. Lyon stand
looking at her rchildren-grief, not anger.
upen her pale countenance. How still
all became What look Of wonder came
gradually into the childrens' faces, as
they glanced one at the other Some
thing Of shame was next visible. And
now the mother was conscious OF new
power over the young rebels OF the house
hold.
Emily" said she, speaking mildly,
and yet with touch Of sorrow in her
voice she could not subdue, 81 wish you
would 60 up into my room. and sit with
Mary while she sleeps. "
Without n sign Of opposition, or even
OF reluctance, Emily went quietly from
the nursery, in obedience to her mothers
desires
This room Is very much IN disorder,
Julia"
Many times Mrs Lyon had said, under
like circumstances, "Why don't you put
things to rights p or, " l never saw such
girls II all in the room was topsy tur'
w, and the floor an inch thick with dirt,
you'd never turn over hand to put
things in ORDER" or go and get the
broom, this minute, and sweep up the
room. You are the LATEST girl ever
livedw Many, muny times. as we have
said, had such language been addressed
by Mrs Lyon, under like circumstances,
to Julia and her sisters, without procur'
ing anything like even partial execution
or her wishes. But now, the mild in.
formation that the room was in disorder
produced all the effects desired. Julia
went quickly about the work Of restoring
things TO the right places, and in few
minutes order was apparent where confu'
sion reigne,, before. Little Tommy,
whose love of hammerng was an inces
SAINT annoyance to his mother, ceased his
din on her sudden appearance and Tor
q few moments, stood in expectation OF
a boxed ear; for time he stood puzzled
at the new aspect Of affairs. Finding 1hat
he was not undor the ban, as usual he
commenced slapping n stick over the top
OF an old hblc, making \ most ear -pierc.
ing noise. Instantly julia said, in low
voice, to him:
Don't Tommy; don't do that. You
know it makes mothers head ache. "
docs it make your head ache, moth
er - asked the child. curiously, and with
a pitying tone in his voice, as he came
creeping up to his mothers side, and
looking Mt her as if in doubt whether he
would he rcpulscd or not.
Somctimes it does, my son. replied
Mrs. Lyon, kindly, land it is always un'
pleasant. Won't youtry to play without
making so much noise p
Yes, mother, III try, a." answered the
little fellow, cheerfully. But I'll for.
get sometimes.
He looked earnestly at his mother, as
il something moro was in his thoughts
"Well, dear, what else p said she, en-
couragingly
when forget, you'll tell me, won't
you"
YES. love
"Ard then I'll stop. But don't scold
me. mother, for then cant stop.
The mothers heart was touched. She
caught her breath and bent her head
down to conceal it's expression until 1t
rested on the siken hair of her child.
"Bs good boy, Tommy, and mother
will never scold you any more, she
murmurcd gently in his ear.
His arms stole upward, and ns they
were ,wined closely about her neck, thus
sealing his part Of the contract with
kiss.
How sweet to the mothers taste were
those first fruits of self control In the
effort to govern herself, what power
had she acquired. in stlling the TEN
pest Of passion in her own bosom. she
had poured the oil OF peace over the
storm fretted hearts of her children.
Only the first fruits we're there. In all
her after life did that mother strive with
herself, ere she entered into a contest
with the inherited evils OF her children,
and just 90 far she was able to overcome
evil in them Often, very often, did sho
fall back into old states, and often, very
often. was self resistance only slight