Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-12-17
Coals Of Firei

Guy Morgan came in with rapid step
and an impctuous manner. His mother
looked up from her work. There was a
round, red spot in each cheek, and an omin-
GUS glitter in his eyes. She knew the
signs That naturally fierce temper Of his
had been stirred in some way to heat that
had kindled his whole nature He threw
down his cap, threw himself on an ottoman
at her feet, and then he said, with a little
Of the heat Of bis temper in bis tone,
" Never say, after this that don't love
you, mother"
81 think | never did say so, she an.
swered gently, as she passed her hand over
the tawny locks, and brushed them away
from the flushed brow. " But what special
thing have you done to prove your love for
me just now2'
"Taken a blow without returning it,"
She bent over and kisssj him where be
sat. lie was fifteen years old, a great tall
fellow, with muscles like steel; but he had
not grown above liking his mothers kisses
Then she said softly "Tell me all about
it, Guy"
"Oh, it was Dick Osgood You know
what mean, bullying fellow he is anyhow
He had been tormenting some ofthe younger
boys-nagging them till could not stand
it. They are every one afraid for their
lives where he is | told him he ought to
be ashamed of himself and tried to make
him leave of, till, after a while, | s'pose
he got stirred up, for he turned from them
and coming to me, he struck me in the
face. | believe the mark Of his claws is
there now ;" and he turned toward her the
other check, which he had kept carefully
away from her up to this time. She saw
the marks clearly, and she trembed her
self with sympathy and secret indignation.
Well" she said "and you-what did
you do?"
IL remembered what had promised you
for this year, and took it--thiuk Of it,
mother-took it and never touched him
| just looked into his eyes, and said, If
should strike you back, should lower my
self to your level He laughed a great,
scornful horse laugh and said be; You
hear, boys, Morgans turned preacher
You'd better wait, sir, before you lecture
the on my behavior to the little ones, till
you have pluck enough to defend them
| I've heard about the last impudencc
| shall from a coward like you The boy
! laughed, aud some of them said, Good lol
you, Osgood and | came home. | haC
done it for the sake Of my promise to you
for I'm stronger than he is any day; anC
Vou know, mother, whether there's a droI
Of towards blood in my veins though
you were the one 10 comfort me; thougl
it isn't comfort want so much, either.
Just want you to release me from that prom
Use, and let me 90 back and thrash him"
Mrs. Morgan's heart thrilled with silen
thanksgiving. Her boys temper had beel
her greatest grief His father was dead
and she had brought him up alone, an
sometimes she was afraid her too great ten
derness had spoiled him. She had tried j
vain to curb his passionate nature. 1t wa
a power which no bands could bind Sh
had concluded at last that the only hop
was in enisting his own powerful will, an
making him resolve to conquer himself
Now, she thought, he had shown himsel
capable Of self-control. In the midst G
his rage he had remembered his pledge t
her, aud had kept it. He would yet be hi
own master-this brave boy of hers-an
the kingdom Of his own mind would be
goodly sovereignty
Better heap Goals Of fire on his head
she said quietly.
"Yes, he deserves good scorching," p
{ pretending perversely to misunderstood he
-" but should not have thought go
would have been so vindctiven
You know well enough what kind {
Goals l meant, and lcho it was that sal,
IF thine enemy hunger, feed him if h
thirst, give him drink cannot releai
you from your promise till the year +,
which you made it is over. | think Ii
: Master who told US to render good for eyi
understood all the wants and passions
humanity better than any other teacher hi
ever understood them. | as sure th
what lie said must be wise and right al
best. want you to try His way first.
that fails there will be time enough aft
f this year to make different experiment
Well, promised YOU he said, "aI
/ I'll show you that, at least, I'm stroI
l enough to keep my word until you rolea
me from it. think, though, you dor
2 quite know how tough it is.
a Mrs. Morgan thought she did know ju
f about how "tough" it was to boy natu
. to be called a coward, but she knew, al.
Q that the truest bravery on earth is Il
bravery of endurance.
LOOK out for the Goals Of FIRE - s.
a said smilingly, us her boy started of (
school the next morning. Keep go
watch, and I'm pretty sure you'll find the
before the summer is over"
But he came home at night depress
and little gloomy. lie felt as if
q prestige were gone. There had alwa
a been a sort Of rivalry between him al
= Dick Osgood, and now the boys seemed
\ have gone over to the stronger side, and
a had that bitter feeling of humiliation a
disgrace, which is as bitter to boy as
y sense Of defeat ever is to a man.
/. The weeks went on, and the feeling VIC
. away little. Still that blow, unayeng
h and unatoned, ranked in Guys mind a
N maui nun ulloOtlul anu III ~ Suet. 4
y mother watched him with some ankle
n but cid not interfere. She had the IT
m wisdom to leave him to learn some Of
os lessons of life alone.
a. At length came the last day of scho
m m succeeded next day by picnic, in VIII
a. all the scholars were to join, superintenC
IS m.s by their teachers. Guy Morgan hesita
a. little, then concluded TO 90. The plI
es @ selected was lovely spot, known in all
~ neighborhood as I" the old mill" 1t =
n, on the banks of the Quassit River, VIII
20 the stream ran fast, and the grass on
be brink was green, aud great trees with dro
,ss ing boughs shut away the garish July s.
an light.
NJ NJ Among the rest were Dick Osgood I
bs b his little sister Hetty, the one human be
r. whom he seemed really and tenderly
love. The teachers eyes were on him
this one day, asd he neither ventured to
ks suit the older scholars or bully the Ii
ID. ones He aud Guy kept apart as much
py they conveniently could ! and Guy ente
h. into the spirit of the day, and really enjo
to it more than he had enjoyed anything
lie the past two months.
We Dinner was spread on the grass,
IN. nothing taken at home on civilized bl
walnut, and from regulation dishes,
ever tasted with half the zest which "
Al ia