Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-28
Harry's Self .Control.

Every Sunday afternoon Mrs. Brainard
gathers her four children around her for a
talk. To this family conference meeting
questions and complaints and condolences are
brought for mamma 10 listen TO- and some
times little advice is given about the con
duct Of the coming week. At one Of these
sessions Mrs. Brainard gave a short lecture
on self-control that Impressed her hearers
very much, especially as she closed by say
ing my boys, II You want TO be men, you
must learn b. control ytnrselves."
Now that was exactly what the boys want
ed. All their ambition was in that direction.
Their hearts throbbcd with delight whenever
anybody said TO them, How you grow :"
and they looked forward with impatience 10
the time when they could drive horse, and
could 60 fishing without asking anybody.
But they didn't quite see how self-control
could make a boy grow.
81 shall be q man in ten years, anyway
said Harry, who was just eleven.
" And in thirteen years" said Joe.
" But it takes something more than twenty
one years TO make a man." said Mrs. Brain
ard. There's Mr.. Arnold, who has just
taken money that belonged 10 other people,
and Mr.. Bailey, who has failed in business
because he was a drunkard--they are men
would you 2"
"No indeed, said Harry but they are
not good men"
1T is self-control that makes real men,"
replied Mrs. Brainard, "men who have
large, strong souls, as well as large strong
bodies; and the time to learn self-control is
when you are boys
" But how shall we learn IL, mother 2" said
Joe.
/" In the same way that YOU learn every
thing else---by practice. There is plenty Of
chances for that, every day. Sometimes
your appetite wants something that isn't
good for you; sometimes your self-will
makes you disobey your parents or teachers
sometimes You get angry, and your better
self has no chance at all"
"Yes," said Joe, al got mad with Ed
Hart and struck HIM"
" A smaller boy than you, too" said Harry.
"That wasn't very heroic" replied Mrs.
Brainard.
"No, mamma, it wasn't. that's a fact
was sorry afterwards but you see was so
dreadful angry | didn't know what | was
doing"
"And so your temper controlled you, in
stead of your controlling yourself. In the
same way, Mr.. Baieys love of liquor con-
trolled him, and Mr.. Arnold's love of money
made him criminal. You see, nobody is
free who can't control himself | think
Harry was made sick by tyrant last week,
and kept out of school several days"
"Mince piel shouted Joe.
A poor, miserable enemy to conquer a
boy; but man. a strong man, cannot control
his appetite"
"Now, mamma" said Harry " I'm going
to try to do Just what the best part Of me
wants to do all this week"
al, too" echoed Joe.
81, too said the little girls, who had been
listening from their mothers lap.
Then you will do very well" said the
mother, " for | know that the best part of
you wants 70 bc very generous aud t,.aa. aud
noble. | have confidence in all of you II
s'au are careful TO act as your highest sell
/ requires"
The very next day after this cort,orsatian
| there came test for master Harry. He had
| n beautiful new sled, with Racer painted
| on it in gilt letters. He had hard work to
| keep his mind on his lessons all the morning /;
| his thoughts wanted so much 10 wander TO
| the coasting-hill; but he remembered the les
son about self-control, aud succeeded pretty
well. lie went home in high spirits, and
ate his lunch as was becoming to a boy aim
! ing at self-mastery, and then, taking his sled,
rushed out.
80, Harry" said win Green coming up
| 10 him, Ned Brown wants TO know if you'll
stay with him this afternoon; he's well enough
TO have company, and ! want to borrow your
sled"
This was al said in a breath, before Harry
| had time to think, and the matter-of-fact way
| in which the sled was asked for quite took
away his patience.
"Pm going to use my sled, aud you can
stay with Ned Brown yourself" was his an
CRY reply, and he ran down the street with
out waiting for further explanation. But
though he had capital fun, he wasn't entirely
comfortable during the afternoon. Ned
Brown was llarry's dearest friend he had
been very sick, and had not been able to see
any of his hoy friends for q long time.
| might have sent some excuse, he said,
to himself -" needn't have been such baby
about my sled; don't suppose win Green
would have taken ii from me by force"
AT supper, Harry was very serious every
body noticed it, because he was usually so gay
His mother asked him what was the matter
but he didn't care to explain, and when hi
little sister came TO him for a good frolic
such as they usually had before she went 4
bed, he spoke 10 her so coldly that she burs
into tears. The next day, Harry received
letter from the post-oflice, which we will rea'
with him
+" M Dear oh Boy Why didn't You come I
see me Yesterday, when ! sent for you2 | ha
such n spread, aud all foryou, for m not allowe
" eat anything but toast and broth. | had O
: anges and candy, and apples, aud nuts, and III
books yon like all out ON the table. What WI
the matter? VIII said you were cross. wis
you had let him have the sled, for his moth'
II poor, aud he is good boy Come and see m'
| I'm nightly lonesome shut up here by myself.
Yours as ever,
y NED brown"
aim great one at self-control," sal
, Harry, as he folded the letter. "If | ha
:, stopped one minute 10 think, | should hay
. given win the sled. don't care for III
: spread, but I'm ashamed OF being so mea
! and 30 forgetful of Ned It's just as MANN
= says: without selicontrol we never can
= as the best part of us wishes TO do"
= Harry told his mother how selfish aud /
= tempered he had been, and how he had fail'
y entirely in seli-eontrol.
\ "When a man has more enemies than
u can manage what is the best thing for hi
: 10 do ?"hsked Mrs. Brainard.
:, "Get help il he ean," replied Harry.
y "Of course, that is very plain ii is ju
u as plain that our nobler part needs constal
!, help from the loving Father of our spirit
= our experience every day tells us that v
% cannot overcome our faults without assis
> ance. When you learn 10 ask God 10 hel
y you in your struggles with self, you wi
y surely conquer" ."-C Christian Union.
LITTLE Folks DIcrIoSARY.-Aw writer
the Schoolslav Ndgdsine has gathered b